Media

Nightlight Volunteers turn Tragedy into Hope

Three months ago and on the other side of the globe, a 2-year-old African orphan named Vivian died of bacterial meningitis. While the news might not seem so out of the ordinary considering the continent’s state of affairs, Vivian’s death was a blow to two local residents who had met and come to love the Ugandan toddler.

Temecula residents Kellie Falk and Courtney Atnip had traveled to Uganda last October to visit the orphanage where Vivian lived and deliver supplies and comfort to the toddler and others staying at the facility. There, they fell in love with little Vivian, Falk said.

EAAC Premieres Must-See Videos on Successful Embryo Adoptions

You may be familiar with many of the services and programs Nightlight Christian Adoptions has to offer, from international adoption to domestic adoption to the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption program.

But did you know that Nightlight also operates a federal grant to increase public awareness of human embryo adoption? In 2007, the agency established the Embryo Adoption Awareness Center (EAAC) to manage all grant activities. These activities have included an informative web site, educational webinars and a yearly law student essay contest.

The EAAC has also produced many informative videos on this unique adoption alternative. This week, the program premieres three brand new videos sharing inspiring stories from Snowflake adoptive families.

Anyone who has considered alternative family building options will relate to some element in these stories. From multiple miscarriages to premature ovarian failure these families gave birth to their children as a result of choosing the extraordinary option of embryo donation and adoption.

So what are you waiting for? Click on the links below to hear these incredible stories – ones that are likely to change the way you think about this unique adoption option.

Hope Restored by Embryo Adoption

Mike and Son

Mike and Stephanie’s dreams of starting a family seemed dim after being diagnosed with male infertility factor. A family member told them about embryo adoption and the couple found new hope.

“My doctor was hopeful that I could carry a baby to term and have a successful pregnancy. We didn’t pursue IVF because that wasn’t an option for us or any other fertility treatments. (Embryo Adoption)  just seemed like a perfect fit for us and it ended up being a great avenue for us into starting our family.” [Stephanie]

Now after two successful pregnancies through embryo adoption, Mike and Stephanie have two healthy boys and took time to share how it all happened. Continue reading →

Nightlight Christian Adoptions, Snowflakes mentioned in President Bush’s “Decision Points”

Many noteworthy things happened to Nightlight Christian Adoptions and its extended family during 2010, but one of the most exciting was being mentioned in Decision Points, the recently-released memoir of President George W. Bush.

In the book, President Bush recalls the first veto of his Presidency – a decision to overrule the passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2006 – which would have allowed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research that would destroy embryos.

Included in the organizations and individuals invited to the White House on July 19, 2006 were families and employees from Nightlight Christian Adoptions and the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program.

Here is a brief excerpt from Decision Points, where President Bush discusses the events leading up to this historic moment:

“That same day, I also met representatives of National Right to Life. They opposed any research that destroyed embryos. They pointed out that each tiny stem cell cluster had the potential to grow into a person. In fact, all of us had started our lives in this early state. As evidence, they pointed to a new program run by Nightlight Christian Adoptions. The agency secured permission from IVF patients to place their unused frozen embryos up for adoption. Loving mothers had the embryos implanted in them and carried the babies – known as snowflakes – to term. The message was unmistakable: within every frozen embryo were the beginnings of a child…” Continue reading →

“Like Dandelion Dust”: A Film of Pain and Courage

(This post is by Ron Stoddart, Executive Director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions.)
like_dandelion_dustI had an opportunity to preview a new movie about adoption. “Like Dandelion Dust,” with Mira Sorvino, is a movie best described with two words – pain and courage. Although the premise of the movie may cause unnecessary concern for adopting parents as it is based on a very unusual set of circumstances, it nevertheless portrays the pain, courage and love involved in every adoption in a balanced and powerful way. For those who cannot understand how a biological parent could ever place a child for adoption, the emotions and decision-making is explored with realism and compassion. For those who cannot understand how parents could ever love an adopted child as much as a biological child, there is no room left to wonder. I suppose it says a lot when a movie is over and you find yourself able to empathize or identify with each of the main characters. A very good movie – but take a box of tissues with you.

“Like Dandelion Dust” begins a nationwide release on September 24, 2010.

Open Adoption story in USA Today

motherwithbabyYesterday, USA Today (online) ran an emotionally-stirring piece about a single mother of three teenagers who became pregnant and chose adoption for the child: “Struggling families look at adoption.”

Openness in adoption is a major theme in the article. The interplay between the financial crisis and an uptick in domestic adoptions (and abortions) is also addressed here. No one will be surprised that killing babies and giving them two-parent families are presented as approximately equally acceptable options.

Together for Adoption Conference Audio

Together for Adoption has posted the audio from their Nov. 1 conference. Check it out at their 2008 Conference Audio page. The audio titles are:

  • Jason Kovacs and Maridel Sandberg – “Conference Welcome and the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ Vision for Orphan Ministry”
  • Dan Cruver – “Adoption in God’s Story of Redemption”
  • Rick Phillips – “The Good News of Adoption”
  • Carl Robbins – “Adoption and the Multi-Ethnic Family of God”
  • Tullian Tchividjian – “Our Adoption and Visiting Orphans in Their Affliction”

Good Morning America Interviews Chapman Family

Steven Curtis Chapman and family were interviewed on Good Morning America today about the death of Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman. Watch the interview here (Note: Interview begins with a short clip of the interview, moves into a commercial, and then shows the full seven minute interview).