Thursday, February 18, 2010

Voice of Truth

Recently, CBS aired a story about corruption in Ethiopian Adoptions. A similar story was aired in September on an Australian network. Both stories attacked CWA with false allegations of unethical adoption practices in Ethiopia. CWA has spent many hours investigating the allegations and defending itself against a twisted story full of inaccuracies and allegations.

If you haven’t seen either of the news pieces, I caution you to not even waste your time or let the media poison your mind. If you must watch, please do so but with the knowledge that the story was created to make a good media story. Please look at every position, factor, and motive behind the story before forming an opinion.

I must applaud CWA though, for their 1 hour + rebuttal interview in which they put to rest the allegations made by the Australian journalist. It’s even quite entertaining. If you saw both news pieces, I encourage you to watch the 8 part interview with CWA’s attorney on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChristianWorldAdopt
It’s a long watch, but so worth it.

They have also made two statements, which can be found here:
http://www.cwa.org/ethiopia-statement.htm
http://www.cwa.org/cbsnews-response.htm

When you defend the defenseless, there is always going to be those who question and oppose that, so that’s not a surprise. What is surprising is that news media can report on things without being accountable for their accusations. Adoptions are risky. In order to defend the defenseless, there is always risk involved. As our Pastor spoke about several weeks ago, "We are the servants who are given a life. If we take our lives and take risk to build God’s kingdom, we are rewarded in heaven. If we take our lives and play it safe, it’s actually a riskier way to live. . ."  His sermon was based on Psalms 82:3-4 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break; your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them." MSG   Brad and I were on-stage guests that week and spoke about our upcoming adoption and what it means to us to defend the defenseless. We also talked about the risks involved in an adoption. We know that the risks are there, but we are trying not to dwell on them. We must first embrace the process as we walk thu one step at a time. (I’ll post later about our good friend, Sam, and his sermon about “Embracing the Process.”)

I could go into lots of details about the claims, but bottom line – CWA has done an excellent, excellent job of preparing us for many of the risks involved in the process and once the child comes home. They have been very transparent.  They also require 10 hours of training, including on-line courses, lots of reading, dvds with testimonies of adoptive parents that have brought children home, entire segments on special medical needs of Ethiopian children, etc.

I can understand that occasionally, things may go wrong, things that parents may not have prepared their hearts for. . . things that may seem unfair. That happens in every family whether biological or adopted.  It stinks!! But, I think many times people look for someone to blame. But that doesn't necessarily justify attacking CWA.

One of the biggest things in the media is that people want a ‘guarantee’ that a child will be healthy or a guarantee that there will be no problems, or a guarantee that life will be peachy . . . I’m sorry.. children, families, and life in general doesn’t come with a guarantee. We are all clay in God’s hands to mold and sculpt to glorify Him.   

Unfortunately, the unjustified accusations will ultimately hurt and hinder international adoptions. At the end of the day that directly affects children who are in need of a forever family and families that are waiting in the process.  Please pray for the children and families that are waiting, and for the management and staff at CWA that they can continue to combat the allegations as they continue doing God's work in defending the defenseless. 

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

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