Joliet church hosts "Orphan Sunday" Nov. 2

JOLIET – The country of Uganda has two-and-a-half million orphans and, according to UNICEF, most will end up in orphanages.

Except those orphanages aren’t homes. And the staff isn’t family.

Ryan McCammack knows. He has been there.

Two years ago, McCammack, pastor of preaching and vision at Gospel Life Church in Joliet, and his wife Tricia adopted an Ugandan baby. On Sunday, Gospel Life Church will host “Orphan Sunday,”

The day will be devoted to adoption and fostering. Members will share adoption stories and answer questions about their experiences and the process. The two morning groups and the evening discussion are open to the public.

“This is a way for us to focus on this issue that is often neglected,” McCammack said.

Despite that neglect, McCammack said the Bible is very clear on the topic.

“This is an area where the Bible clearly gives Christians instructions,” McCammack said, citing such scripture as James 1:27, which reads, “Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

Christians, McCammack believes, have a responsibility to care for orphans and, of all people, should understand adoption.

“Orphan care is a tremendous way for those who have trusted in Christ to model the Gospel to the world,” McCammack said. “We ourselves have been adopted by God. He is our Father.”

McCammack said he and his wife had talked about adopting, perhaps when their children were older. But they felt compelled to begin the process much earlier when a church member told them of a young pregnant relative on her way to prison.

The McCammacks were asked if they would adopt the baby.

That adoption fell through, but by that time, the McCammacks had made a place in their hearts for an adoption and began inquiring about Ugandan babies.

Their inquiries soon led them to a child in need, and they flew to Africa to complete the paperwork. They bonded with their new 18-month-old boy during the adoption process. The acceptance came immediately.

Their son Paton, McCammack believes, was one of the lucky orphans.

Staff really wanted to help the children in the orphanage, McCammack said, but the orphanage was still an institution.

“There were three ladies to 25 kids, all ages 2 and under,” McCammack said. “There’s no way you can really nurture and attach to kids in that way.”

The McCammacks brought Paton to his new home the day before Thanksgiving in 2012. Caring for Paton during the adjustment period wasn’t easy. Paton had screaming outbursts and meltdowns, McCammack said.

Today, Paton is a well-adjusted child, and the family has taken to him completely. McCammack can’t imagine life without him.

“He is a hundred miles an hour all the time,” McCammack said with a laugh. “He’s a firecracker. He’s energetic, smiley and gregarious. The kids just love him to pieces.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Orphan Sunday: Fostering for Hope

WHEN: Nov. 2

WHERE: Gospel Life Church, 1006 New Lenox Road, Joliet

ETC: Adult Bible fellowship with guest speaker addressing orphan and foster care. Instruction, stories and encouragement for those who are considering fostering is at 9:30 a.m. Worship service with testimony and focus on the orphans and message with Biblical references is at 10:45 a.m. Evening discussion with guests speaking on their experience with foster care and an opportunity to ask questions is at 6 p.m.

VISIT: www.glcjoliet.org

CONTACT: Gospel Life Church at 815-727-3130