This month, ICA was thrilled to once again host the Empowered to Connect simulcast at Calvary Chapel Murrieta. With both repeat attendees and new faces, as well as some brand new ETC content, participants were challenged, encouraged, and given the opportunity to be stretched in new directions.   The Empowered to Connect Conference is a two day event presented by Show Hope and the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development. It strives to equip families, churches, and professionals to better serve children impacted by adoption and foster care. The end goal of ETC is to bring attachment and connection within the family. We asked a few attendees to briefly share some some of their favorite tidbits that they gleaned from the conference.   Michael and Trisha are just beginning the adoption process. They loved how the speakers placed the focus on the relationship with the child rather than allowing discipline to be the sole focus. "I was convicted, challenged, and encouraged", says Michael. They felt that that tools presented will benefit them with any future adoptive children as well as their biological children.   Jeff and Krystle are in the process of adopting and attended ETC to complete self-training hours. [...]

Rose Again Foundation was founded in May 2013 by high school senior Natalie Dixon. Moved by what she saw on mission trips to Mexico and Guatemala, she was resolute in her desire to be a solution to the world orphan crisis. Since its founding, Rose Again Foundation has worked to improve the health, wellness, education, and self esteem of abused, abandoned, and neglected foster children in the Temecula and Murrieta area, as well as to the five orphans they sponsor in Kenya. They have partnered with ICA on numerous occasions to bless both children and families. Thanks to the love and generosity of Rose Again Foundation, ICA foster families have received Christmas gifts. Foster children have been gifted swim lessons, basketball camp scholarships, guitar lessons, drama summer camp scholarships, and archery lessons. In addition, Rose Again has benevolently been a sponsor of ICA's Family Appreciation events at Mulligan's, and the Lake Elsinore Storm. Rhonda Reinke, CEO of the Rose Again Foundation, says "Serving God's children has been a blessing to myself, my family, and our amazing volunteer board members Jeff and Natalie Dixon, Craig Shadle, Kristen Hufford, Suzanne Bailey and Wendy Gorham. We have served over 200 local foster children [...]

Jubilee Exchange advocates for LOVE this Valentines Day! ♥ Especially LOVE that supports fairness, the strengthening of families, protection of children against trafficking and unlawful labor practices, and the support of sustainable jobs, etc. Did you know that $1.7 Billion is spent of 58 million pounds of chocolate to celebrate Valentine's Day? If that's the case, how about celebrating love that gives back? Stop by Jubilee Exchange and check out our new arrival of Divine Chocolates and other gifts to give your special sweetheart this Valentine's Day! Share the fair trade love that gives back to others while enjoying these delectable treats.   We've got something for everyone! In stock: Bars for $4 (3.5 oz) and $2 (1.5 oz).  Basic Bars: Milk Chocolate and 70% Dark Chocolate. (3.5 oz and 1.5 oz bars) Specialty Bars: White Chocolate with Strawberries, Orange-Ginger, Pink Himalayan Salt, Mint, Mango & Coconut, Toffee and Sea Salt, Raspberries, Whole Almonds, Milk with Hazelnuts, etc. (3.5 oz bars) For that special (aka "indecisive") someone, we have a gift pack of 6 petite bars at $5 that give a smidgen of delightful flavors! Why Divine Chocolates? Well, we like them because they are dedicated to "using business as a force for good." Divine Chocolates is a Certified Corporation [...]

Last spring, ICA was privileged to be able to host its very own Empowered To Connect Simulcast at Calvary Chapel, Murrieta. ETC is designed to help adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals better understand how to connect with “children from hard places” in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be. Featuring Dr. Karyn Purvis, this two day event is made for parents, whether children are biological or adopted, as well as those serving and supporting, such as social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, and therapists. This April, ICA will once again be hosting a live simulcast. The testimonies from families that attended last years event have proven ETC to be a priceless resource. Gina and her husband attended ETC last year. After a difficult eight year season, they found that they were struggling to stay connected to their children. Both adopted at birth, they are now sixteen and nine. "We were grasping at straws, using typical consequences. Nothing worked. There was such a wall up. We were talking at our children, but not being received. Things were getting worse", Gina said. After attending ETC things began to [...]

This summer four families participated in Welcome Home USA. The program provides children in the foster system the opportunity to stay with a host family for one week. In that week they participate in activities, learn new skills, and interact with host families. This year, three boys and two girls were able to be a part of Welcome Home. During the week they were with host families, they attended daily meetings where they participated in ice-breaking activities, like the M&M game. This game gave the children the opportunity to become more comfortable with speaking out loud through the answer of questions associated with the color of M&M's. Games like Nose Dive provided many giggles, as children used Vaseline on their nose to transport cotton balls. In addition to meeting and game times, the children attended a pool party at a host family's home, and had their first bowling experience. They also got to spend a day riding an ATV, petting goats, feeding chickens, and admiring bunnies at a day camp put on by Mountainside Ministries. Each weekday, the children worked on personal Lifebooks. The Lifebook gave them the opportunity to document their likes, dislikes, feelings, as well as the story [...]

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction... International Christian Adoptions is driven by the Biblical mandate to care for orphans. The needs of orphaned children know no end, and ICA is always looking for people to with a heart for orphaned children to invest in their ministry. Did you know that: Every 20 seconds another child is orphaned Every day 5,760 children over the age of 4 become orphaned 143,000,000 orphans in the world today spend an average of 10 years in an orphanage or foster care system 14,050,000 will grow up as orphans and “age out” of a system Every 2.2 seconds another orphan “ages out” In many countries, 15% commit suicide before age 18 In many countries, 60% – 70% are trafficked The statistics are staggering, and the need to help these children is overwhelming. International Christian Adoptions exists to support people as they pursue adoption, as well as the many other means to help these children. Members of the ICA staff regularly give presentations at churches, events, Bible studies, small groups, schools, and organizations. These presentations discuss the different programs offered by [...]