Dr. Ken Hutcherson, Senior Pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Washington, wanted to provide all foster to adopt children placed into loving Christian families. Dr. Hutcherson said, "in May of 1998, we distributed $20,000 to our congregation. I spoke from the Book of Matthew on the parable of the talents and then told the congregation, 'everyone here is going to get cash from us today'." B
y the end of the service the congregation knew what was expected. Everyone ranging in age from 5 to 17 were given a $5 bill. Those 18 and older were given a $10 bill. "We want you to keep this money for six months, mix it with your God-given talent and we will take a collection in December," Hutcherson concluded. Over $280,000 was collected and those funds provided start-up money for Antioch Adoptions.
21 years later, we're still changing the face of foster to adopt. Birth parent adoption has recently been added to the services provided by Antioch Adoptions. We now have over 500 foster children who have found a forever home through Antioch Adoptions. We continue to pray for churches in Washington State to partner with us. If every church in Washington would send one family every year to Antioch Adoptions, the 3,000 foster children currently on the path to adoption in our state would all have a forever home. We are charging the faith-based community to step forward and answer God's call to care for the orphan. Our team will continue to work to fulfill God's word in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
