Is America really as

unreligious as the media

reports?Page 13

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Sermon’s message has people talkingUnder your skin

A Belton congregation wants toget under your skin. LifeQuestChurch says they’re seeing outsidethe box with a new fundraiser titled“Generously Inked.” The church is holding a drawing

for two professional tattoos valued at$300 each, according to Mylissa Rus-sell, Community Transformation Di-rector. LifeQuest hopes to raise at a min-

imum of $10,000 from the Gener-ously Inked project to include in thechurch capital campaign. Ten percentof funds raised in the campaign willgo to missions.“The project is teaching us gen-

erosity with our time, money, andcommitments to see people reachedwith the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” addsRussell.

Pastor Greg Laurie, the lead pastor atHarvest Church in Riverside, Calif., sharedin August about four spiritual awakeningsAmerica has seen in its history and rea-soned whether America can have anotherrevival in our time, based on the messageof the Book of Jonah. The message issparking the imagination of Christianswho come across it on the Internet. Jonah is “a story about one of the

largest spiritual awakenings in human his-tory… a story of the revival of one of thewickedest cities ever, the city of Nineveh,”Laurie said one Sunday as he began hismessage titled, “Revival in our time?” The people of Nineveh were “leg-

endary for their cruelty,” the pastor said.They were known for being savage; theywould take boys and girls and burn themalive, torture adults, and behead people.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria,which had ruled the world for 200 yearsand had the strongest military power atthe time. However, a greater militarypower, Babylon, was about to take over. “The days of this nation were num-

bered,” Laurie said, adding that the days of

every nation are numbered. And that’strue also for the United States of America. “We know the judgment is coming.

We cannot say we will pray a prayer thatwill avert the judgment of God.” We knowthat the United States will no longer be thesuperpower, he said. But let’s wish we haveone more spiritual awakening for theUnited States of America, “or maybe twoor three” before that happens. And thatshould be our prayer, the pastor said. “If God can bring a mighty revival in

Nineveh with no better representativethan Jonah, and no more Gospel than hepreached, certainly God can do the samefor the United States,” he said. Revival starts with you; “it starts with

me,” Laurie said. “Nothing can happenthrough me until it happens to me.” Laurie marvelled that the people of

Nineveh turned to God through a simple

Greg Laurie talks about possible revival in the United States and how God brings it about.

by CPNewsby Dwight Widaman

See REVIVAL page 23

localnewsSecond Petition RevsUp in Johnson County

A second citizens' grand jury petition re-lated to the Overland Park arboretum’s "sex-ting" statue is being launched in JohnsonCounty, Kan.

Petition backers contend that the first ef-fort was subverted with the appearance of a"wink and nod" from county to city govern-ment.

“The nearly 5,000 petition signers werehandled and denied justiceas not one of the fourteenpetition witness were al-lowed to testify,” says PhillipCosby with the AmericanFamily Association of Kansasand Missouri. “Shockingly,

the first grand jury was empaneled and dis-missed after only a few hours, despite thelaw allowing for up to 90 days for investiga-tion and hearing.”

Subsequently the 2013 Kansas state legis-lature, in spite of objections from the DistrictAttorneys Association, did concur with AFA-KSMO and revived the original watchdog roleof the Citizens Grand Jury process. The Kan.legislature passed into law, by a super ma-jority and bi-partisan vote, multiple safe-guards to insure a more independent, robustCitizen's Grand Jury investigative process, in-sulated from government mischief.

For more information visit afa-ksmo.net.

Our search began fiveyears ago, when I waspraying for God to unitemy husband Toby’sheart with my own onadoption or take awaymy desire to adopt. Wealready had two childrenbiologically. I was soeager to go find our“missing child” throughinternational adoptionand, well, I was really an-noying my husband.

My desperate prayerat that time was for Godto change Toby’s heartor change mine, be-cause not being on thesame page was agony.

All that praying paidoff when he finallyagreed to begin thesteps with an interna-tional agency. We weregoing to adopt fromEthiopia. I was thrilled!

Toby and I began the paperwork in April

Answered Prayers

See ADOPTION page 6By Melissa Sutherland

My story of changed heartsand saved lives

See Page 6 for Our 2013 Adoption and Foster Care Guide.

Greg Laurie preaches on revivalin America on Sunday, August11, 2013, in Southern California.

Cosby

2009, and began slowly working throughthe process. I was wrong.

God in His infinite wisdom had a dif-ferent plan, and I had some patience tolearn. I was diagnosed with cancer the fol-lowing November. Cancer. Surgery. Radi-ation. And the greatest time of peace ourfamily has ever known. We knew God wasworking in our lives and hearts and restedin that knowledge. We were growing.

Having cancer disqualified me from in-ternational adoption. We would have towait five years to begin again. I was con-fused. How could adopting a child not beGod’s plan for us? By this time, we wereall radically changed. We were not contentwith our “normal American life”, andknew we needed to put our faith to action.

We kept hearing about adoption andcaring for orphans and foster care. Wehad never considered becoming fosterparents before. But it was everywhere.Radio programs, sermons, neighbors,friends. Friends who knew of friends. Youget the picture. We went to an informa-tional meeting just to see what it was allabout. Would we have what it takes? Ourhearts were united and fully committed aswe began our STARS training that fall, al-most one year after we were told we weredisqualified.

God knew all along where we needed

to be, and had not only united our hearts,He awakened a deep passion for orphans,children in foster care, and their families.

Foster care is hard. It is messy. It isnerve-wracking. But it is beautiful. Wegot our first placements immediately aftergetting our license. Two brothers. And weimmediately wondered what had we gotourselves into! These boys were loud, de-fiant, and hard to manage. “Didn’t you saythere was an aunt? How’s the home studycoming on that aunt?” I would say count-less times to their caseworker.

And then the call for a 1-year-old girl,“Yes, honey. I know we weren’t taking anymore babies, but it’s just for three monthsuntil her adoptive home is ready. It’s just

temporary.” Followed by, “If the girls aregoing to be adopted together anyway, itmakes sense that we go ahead and let thembond. A nine year old will probably behelpful. She’ll be alone for Christmas. It’sjust temporary.”

Except for a brief kinship placement,joyously reunited and so happy today,none of our children ever left. I am sothankful that the aunt didn’t followthrough, and our home wasn’t temporary,and we took the chance on an older child.We adopted our boys this past May, two-and-a-half long years after first receivingthem into our lives. We also adopted ournine-year-old daughter this past May, sixmonths after taking her in so she wouldn’tbe alone for Christmas.

Our final adoption date was the end ofJuly, just over a year after we accepted ournot-so-temporary baby girl. Hers is anopen adoption, something we neverthought we would be comfortable with,but we love her sweet mama just as muchas we love her. We’re family.

None of our children fit neatly into ouroriginal home study. Actually, they reallydon’t fit at all. And none of our childrenare from Ethiopia. They are not at all whatwe imagined when we began this process.

They are more. They are rowdy and smelly from ex-

ploring the backyard. They are so proudof their bikes. They are compassionateand truly empathize with others. They areloud. They are emotional. They are cre-ative. They are daughters and sons of theKing. They are exactly the way their Fa-ther created them to be, and they are fi-nally thriving because they are loved.

We never imagined we would have sixchildren. The past three years have beenexhausting and amazing. Our only sad-ness is realizing we are done–that our sea-son of foster care is over. We are at thestate maximum and will have to close ourlicense with our last adoption at the endof this month.

There are so many more children whoneed godly homes, even if it is temporary.Temporary is long enough to introducethem to Jesus. Our hearts may break ifthey leave, but James 1:27 still calls us todo it anyway. If we hadn’t taken a “tem-porary” chance, I’m not sure where ourchildren would be today. God is good, andwe will trust in Him as we enter the nextseason of life and see what He has in storefor us.

––Melissa is a homeschooling, foster,adoptive mom and wife to her high schoolsweetheart, Toby. They live in Independencewith their six children: Casen, Moneesha,Kendall, DaQuane, Davion and Jasmine.

6 • October 2013–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Metro Voice

2013ADOPTION

FOSTER

GUIDE

&

ADOPTIONcontinued from page 1

For over 30 years Love Basket has beenassisting families in preparing for and suc-cessfully completing both domestic (U.S.-born infant) and internationaladoptions. Love Basket has a two-foldmission: to help children needing families,and families desiring children to unitethrough adoption; and to help those be-yond the reach of adoption to receiveneeded sustenance services and evangelis-tic outreach, with the hope of enhancingtheir independence and well-being.

Love Basket began in the hearts of twomissionary couples who traveled exten-sively in underdeveloped countries. Theysaw the plight of helpless children whowere destitute, starving, and often home-less. These couples recognized the need forloving, capable Christian families to carefor children around the world and itwasn’t long before they themselvesadopted. That set off a spark and soonafter, others in the community began toeagerly pursue adoption for their families.As the number of international adoptionsincreased, the missionaries simply couldnot keep up with the requests for assis-tance and Love Basket was established.

Since then we have continued build-ing families and changing lives throughadoption. Love Basket is licensed to com-plete adoptions and has offices in Mis-souri, Minnesota and Kentucky. We workwith families in all states and place chil-dren from the countries of Haiti andIndia. Love Basket has been approved bythe nation of Kazakhstan, but approval forthis country’s adoption program to openhas not yet been given.

Based near St. Louis (in Hillsboro,MO), Love Basket has had a Social Workeremployed in the Kansas City area formany years. Lori Reynolds provides excel-lent services to pregnant women, helpingthem choose the adoptive parents for theirchild and walk through this difficult

time. She also prepares adoptive familiesfor adoption by providing Home Studyand Post-Placement Services in the MetroKansas City area.

Love Basket is a nonprofit (501 C 3)organization and a member of the Evan-

gelical Council for Financial Accountabil-ity (ECFA), National Christian AdoptionFellowship (NCAF), the National Councilfor Adoption (NCFA), and is accredited bythe Council on Accreditation to partici-pate in intercountry adoption.

Metro Voice –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– October 2013 • 7

To Celebrate November as

National AdoptionMonth, Metro Voicededicates both our

October and November editionsto Adoption and

Foster Care

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Bringing children & families togetherthrough the ministry of adoption

Working with Missouri families to complete bothdomestic (US-born infant)and international adoptions.

Home Study & Post-placement Services provided; Love Basket is a Christian agency.

Staff in Lee’s Summit, MO

Visit us on the web at www.LoveBasket.org, or call 1-888-LOV-BSKT. Since 1982�

Do you want to do something beautiful forGod? There is a person who needs you.This is your chance. ––Mother Teresa

The Gospel is not a picture of adoption,adoption is a picture of the Gospel.

- John Piper

If anybody understands God's ardor for hischildren, it's someone who has rescued an

orphan from despair, for that is what Godhas done for us. God has adopted you. Godsought you, found you, signed the papersand took you home.

––Max Lucado

Time and experience have taught me apriceless lesson: Any child you take foryour own becomes your own if you give of

yourself to that child. I have born two chil-dren and had seven others by adoption,and they are all my children, equallybeloved and precious.

––Dale Evans

The first time I saw you was like a dreamcome true. �No I didn't give you the gift oflife�Life gave me the gift of you.

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Love Basket unites children and families

ind us onacebook facebook.com/metro voice news

Aaron’s House Maternity Home cele-brated its one-year anniversary on August31. One year earlier, the home had wel-comed its first resident––a 19-year-old girlwho was seven months pregnant and liv-ing in her car in downtown Kansas City.They have journeyed with three youngwomen in the past year and are gratefulfor two beautiful,healthy baby boys withanother one due injust a few days.

The organizationbegan from the expe-rience of its founder,Jeannine Eddins. As ateenager, she had cho-sen to terminate apregnancy. Throughher grief and healing,she felt God asking herto start a maternityhome for young, preg-nant girls. She has been so thankful to seethe vision God gave her finally fulfilled.

Aaron’s House is located in Har-risonville. The organization offers manyservices to its clients, including temporaryhousing, educational assistance and em-ployment assistance. While living atAaron’s House, girls are given practicaltools to manage a household, shop on abudget, and resolve conflict with others.

The home pro-vides access toparenting andbirth classes, hop-ing to give theseyoung women theresources theyneed to begin theextraordinaryjourney calledmotherhood.

Aaron’s Houseis looking for op-portunities tospeak to groups

or churches in the Kansas City area. Theyalso currently need volunteers to join theirboard of directors, event-planning com-

mittee, and resident mentors. If interested,please send an email to volunteer@aaron-shouse.org.

Aaron’s House is a 501(c)3 tax-exemptorganization that depends on the gener-ous financial partnerships of churches, in-dividuals, and local organizations. Theywill be hosting their annual fundraisingevent, Abundant Life, on November 3.The event will be held at the Church of theNazarene, 2305 E. South Street in Har-risonville at 3 p.m. Tours of Aaron’s Houseare available from 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Ifinterested in attending the banquet, pleasecontact Executive Director ClorisaBridgers at 816-738-1602. If you’d like tomake a donation to Aaron’s House, pleasemail it to PO Box 1097, Harrisonville, MO64701.

8 • October 2013–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Metro Voice

for eternity

O�ering children in need: • Traditional family settings• A Christ-centered

environment & education • Licensed Professional

Counselors (LPC)

• Their own “Path to Purpose”

in the life of a child

Show-Me ChristianYouth Home

Pray • Refer • Volunteer • Give

for eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternityfor eternity

for eternityfor eternityfor eternity

olunteer • GivePray • Refer • VPray • Refer • Volunteer • Give

olunteer • Give

660-347-5982 | www.showmekids.orgegrows@showmekids.orglov

Show-Me Christian Y

660-347-5982 | www.showmekids.orgegrows@showmekids.org

outh HomeShow-Me Christian YShow-Me Christian Youth Home

Youth Home

Aaron’s House on a journey

“The home providesaccess to parenting andbirth classes, hoping togive these young womenthe resources they needto begin the extraordinary

journey calledmotherhood. ”

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Aaron’s House Maternity HomePO Box 1097, 1303 Meadow Harrisonville, MOClorisa Bridgers816.738.1602director@aaronshouse.orgwww.aaronshouse.org

Adoption & Beyond, Inc.16236 Metcalf Ave.Overland Park, KS 66085Steffany A. Aye913-381-6919          adopt@adoption-beyond.org            www.adoption-beyond.org

Alpha Christian Children’s Home15017 27th StreetPO Box 727Perry, Kansas 66073-0727Michelle Kincaid785-597-5235office@alphachristianchildrenshome.comwww.alphachristianchildrenshome.com

If Not For GracePO Box 836Grain Valley, MO 64029Lori Driggs816-847-2911info@infg.orgwww.infg.org

Love Basket, Inc.Lori Reynolds, MSW816-419-9898lori.reynolds@lovebasket.orgwww.lovebasket.org10306 Business 21Hillsboro, MOCheryl Jackson - International AdoptionLara Kelso - Domestic Adoption636-797-4100info@lovebasket.orgwww.lovebasket.org

Missouri Baptist Children’s HomeDawn Hensley816-795-8878dawn.hensley@mbch.orgwww.mbch.org

Mother’s Refuge14400 E. 42nd St. South, Suite 220Independence, MO 64055Robert Zornes816-353-8070 office@mothersrefuge.orgwww.mothersrefuge.org

Show-Me Christian Youth HomeMain Campus24302 Mahin Rd.La Monte, MO 65337Chris Ruhnke660-347-5982info@showmekids.orgwww.showmehelpingkids.org

The Light HousePO Box 22553Kansas City, MO 64113Dawn Shipman816-361-2233dawn@lighthouse-inc.orgwww.lighthousekc.org

The Women’s Clinic of Kansas CityDeborah NeelIndependence Clinic815 N Noland Road, Suites 4 & 5Independence, MO 64050Grandview Clinic11904 Blue Ridge BlvdGrandview, MO 64030816.836.9000ea@thewomensclinic.netwww.thewomensclinic.net

ADOPTION &FOSTER CAREDIRECTORY

Orphan SundayOn Orphan Sunday, Christians stand

for the orphan. We are a people calledto defend the fatherless…to care for thechild that has no family…to visit or-phans in their distress.

On November 3rd, 2013, thousandsof events will echo across America andaround the globe, all sharing a singlegoal: that God’s great love for the or-phan will find echo in our lives as well.

National Adoption DayNational Adoption Day is an effort

to raise awareness of the more than100,000 children in foster care waitingto find permanent, loving families. Thisannual, one-day event has made thedreams of thousands of children cometrue by working with policymakers,practitioners and advocates to finalizeadoptions and create and celebrateadoptive families.

This year the National Adoption DayCoalition expects 4,500 children in fos-ter care to be adopted on November 23,2013.

Metro Voice –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– October 2013 • 9

Kansas City’s The LIGHT House givespeople an avenue through which to pro-

vide young women with crisis pregnanciesthe help they need to ensure the life of

their unborn infants. Your support givesyou an opportunity to do something pos-

itive about theabortion problemwe still face in thisgreat country ofours. Yes, it is stillimportant forGod’s people tooffer an alterna-tive to these girlsor this problemwill continue togrow worse andinfants that de-serve life will con-tinue to die.

Since 1985,The LIGHTHouse has beenproviding Christ-

centered care to young mothers and theirbabies. Every woman receives education,counseling and life skills training alongwith prenatal and pregnancy classes. TheLIGHT House strives to provide the mostcomprehensive, Christ-centered care toyoung ladies facing unplanned pregnan-cies. The LIGHT House also providesoutreach services and is a full serviceadoption agency licensed by the state ofMissouri.

Did you know that Missouri MaternityHome Tax Credits are available to LIGHTHouse donors who owe taxes in Missouri?And tax credits can apply against morethan just the state income tax for individ-uals, corporations, business partners or in-dividual shareholders of S-corporations.The credit can also be applied against Mis-souri:

1) Corporate Income Tax,

2) Corporate Franchise Tax, 3) Financial Institution Tax, 4) Gross Receipts Tax, 5) Gross Premium Receipts Tax and6) Fiduciary Tax.Using these tax credits allows you to

double, triple or even quadruple your giftwhen it comes to making a difference inthe lives of these young women and theirunborn infants. This is because by usingtax credits anywhere from 50 percent to95.6 percent of your gift would come outof your taxes instead of out of your pocket.This allows you to do much more thanotherwise possible.

One of our donors has said: “When Ilearned about these tax credits, I discov-ered that I would never have to pay in-come tax to Missouri again. Each year Imake a tax credit gift that is twice what Iwould otherwise give to Missouri in taxes.

So when I give $2,000to The LIGHT House,the State of Missourirefunds me $1,000from my tax owed. Anadditional benefit isthat I get a federal andstate charitable deduc-tion on the entire$2,000 gift as well.”

Even if you do notitemize deductions (butstill owe Missouritaxes), you can leverageyour giving and givetwice as much with nomore coming out ofyour pocket. This is like“designating” your statetaxes to be used by TheLIGHT House to helpyoung women and un-born babies.

Call our Develop-ment Director, Dr.Robert Springate, at816-898-0008 or ourDevelopment Officer,Dr. Tim Ek, at 816-730-7202. Either can an-swer your questions orcalculate what your taxbenefits would be basedon your federal taxbracket.

10 • October 2013 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Metro Voice

Adoption has been gaining attentionas a national priority in the United States.More than 150,000 adoptions take placeeach year, but there are still 127,000 chil-dren waiting for adoption in the U.S. fos-ter care system, as well as infants born tobirth mothers not ready to parent. In lightof Christ's command to care for orphans,the number of children without lovinghomes is more than just another socialissue; adoption is a Christian concern.

Defined as the permanent, legal trans-fer of parental rights over a child from bi-ological parents to adoptive parents,adoption is an important social practicethat promotes the well-being of children,families and society. Though there are

several different categories of adoption,every adoption scenario gives adoptiveparents the same rights, responsibilitiesand joys as biological parents, and givesadopted children the same legal, socialand emotional benefits of birth children.

Adoption positively affects all those in-volved with the process.

It gives birth mothers the assurancethat their children will be raised in stablefamilies, gives adoptive parents the joy ofparenting, and gives children the oppor-tunity to join a permanent family andgrow up in a loving home. Adoption alsopromotes the social and economic well-being of our nation because an adoptedchild is less likely (than the child of a sin-

gle mother) to grow up in poverty, morelikely to obtain an education, and morelikely to have an involved father.

Adoption is also connected to impor-tant social issues, such as the sanctity ofhuman life and the definition of family.Adoption upholds the sanctity of humanlife by providing a positive alternative toabortion for birth mothers who feel un-able to parent.

Adoption contributes positively tofamily formation by creating the oppor-tunity for children waiting in foster careto have a loving mother and father—re-placing what the child has lost.

And yet, the adoption process has beenrecently burdened by initiatives that ig-

nore its purpose and promote unrelatedgoals. It is no wonder then that the fun-damental purposes of adoption havecome under attack and that adoption hasbecome a topic of political controversy.

Christians should recognize the im-portance of adoption and current politi-

cal threats to the practice. Whether yourfamily is led to adopt, or not, you can stillbe committed to not only promotingadoption among churches and families,but also to advocating adoption policiesthat promote and defend the well-beingof children, parents and families.

The LIGHT House helps young mothers, offers tax credits to donors

Adoption’s impact on society keeps growing

Mother’s Refuge has been a safehaven for more than 1,350 youngmothers and their babies since 1987.One year ago, on October 8, 2012, adevastating fire destroyed the residen-tial living quarters and extensivelydamaged the remaining structure.Today, they continue to use tempo-rary housing offered by a local churchat the Gathering Place ConferenceCenter, located at Hwy 291 andGudgel in Independence.

In order to rebuild, Mother’sRefuge will have to meet currentbuilding codes, which will necessitatea larger footprint to house the samenumber of mothers and babies previ-ously served. The need for housing foryoung mother’s in Kansas City con-tinues to be significant, with many ofthe mothers homeless and without re-sources. Insurance and private donations will only make up aportion of what is necessary for rebuilding.

Executive Director Robert Zornes said he will never forgetthe words that one of the young mothers said as the van carried

the young moms and babies awayfrom the home the night of the fire.Zornes says she spoke softly saying, “Inow have no home again.”

Zornes said those six little wordswill forever echo in my mind and theministry has never been more deter-mined to rebuild and continue to pro-vide a safe home for young moms andbabies.

Fundraising efforts are under wayto rebuild and refurnish the home. Inaddition to private donations,Mother’s Refuge is hosting “Taste ofCompassion” on November 2, 2013,at the Truman Memorial Buildingfrom 5-8 p.m. Live music, food do-nated from local restaurants includingRed Lobster, Olive Garden, CrackerBarrel, The Hotel Rieger, and severalmore are the center of the evening,

rounded out by a silent auction and raffle.Tickets are $25. For more information visit

www.mothersrefuge.org or call 816-353-8070.

Metro Voice –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– October 2013 • 11

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One year after fire, Mother’s Refuge waits to rebuild“In order to rebuild, Mother’sRefuge will have to meet cur-rent building codes which willnecessitate a larger footprint tohouse the same number of

mothers and babies previouslyserved. The need for housingfor young mother’s in KansasCity continues to be significant,with many of the mothershomeless and without re-

sources.”

Adoption &Beyond

unique amongagencies

Founded in 1998, Adoption & Beyondis a not-for-profit child placing agency li-censed in the states of Kansas and Mis-souri. It has a board of directors whooversees the operation of the agency, andit is run on a daily basis by its founder &director, Steffany Aye, along with the as-sistance of a wonderful team of adoptionprofessionals.

How we’re unique:n We offer free no-obligation consul-

tations to families so they can learn moreabout adoption.nWe are a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit child

placement agency licensed in both Kansasand Missouri.nWe have regional case workers placed

throughout Kansas and Missouri whichenables us to work with families residinganywhere within both states.nWe believe in working together with

other adoption professionals to find lovingfamilies for children. Therefore, we havebeen networking with local, national andinternational adoption resources since weopened our doors in 1998.n We are held in high regard for the

quality of our home study services andour home studies can be utilized for alocal, national or international adoption.n We offer an organized home study

process which includes a detailed homestudy packet that is easy to follow.n We offer knowledgeable and com-

mitted staff who have been both person-ally and professionally touched byadoption.n We take the time to talk personally

with families when they call with ques-tions, and we remain available to answerquestions throughout the adoptionprocess and beyond.nWe are committed to providing hu-

manitarian aid to children in need.

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