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Quick to Listen

What Bethany’s International Adoption Halt Means for Orphans Around the World

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3622 Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2020

⏱️ 46 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Transcribed highlights of the show can be found in our episode summaries. Last week, the largest Christian adoption agency in the United States announced it will end international adoptions. More than 15,000 children had been adopted since the late 1970s through Bethany Christian Services.Bethany’s decision was not because they didn’t believe in the program but because of their “desire to serve children in their own communities,” said Kristi Gleason, the vice president for global services at Bethany, in a statement. “The future of adoption is working with local governments, churches, and social services professionals around the world to recruit and support local families for children and to develop and improve effective, safe in-country child welfare systems.” To that end, part of these efforts has meant turning away from institutionalized care, or orphanages. One of the leaders in this effort has been Ukraine, says Micala Siler, the executive director of A Family for Every Orphan.“From what I've seen in Romania and Ukraine firsthand most recently, because of the hard work of Christians to change cultural mindsets and help refine government system, these countries have the foundation to be countries without orphanages in the next 15 to 20 years.” said Siler. Siler joined digital media producer Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss the bigger reasons why there’s been a move to move children from orphanages to familial situations, how adoption culture is growing in countries around the world, and the difference Christians have made in this conversation. What is Quick to Listen? Read more Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Read LifeWay’s research on American Christians and adoptions Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Bunmi Ishola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.

0:11.1

Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion. Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.

0:21.9

Last week, the largest Christian adoption agency in the United States announced that it would end international adoptions.

0:29.6

More than 15,000 children had been adopted since the late 1970s through Bethany Christian Services.

0:35.7

Christy Gleason, the Vice president for global services at Bethany,

0:39.2

explained the ministry's rationale.

0:41.3

So I will just be reading a part of her statement here.

0:44.1

She said,

0:44.5

our decision to phase out international adoption is not a criticism of the program,

0:48.9

but a reflection of our desire to serve children in their communities.

0:52.5

The future of adoption is working with local governments,

0:55.4

churches, and social services professionals around the world to recruit and support local

1:00.2

families for children and to develop and improve effective, safe in-country child welfare systems.

1:06.4

Through these efforts, we served more children around the world in 2019 than we previously served

1:11.4

in a single year. We wanted to discuss the growth of in-country adoption around the world,

1:16.8

why there's been a move to move children from orphanages to familial situations, and what

1:22.0

difference Christians have made in this conversation.

1:26.1

Today is Wednesday, February 5th, and you are listening to Quick to Listen, where we go beyond

1:31.0

hashtags and hot takes as this is a major cultural event.

1:34.3

I'm Morgan Lee, digital media producer here at Christianity today.

1:37.5

And I'm Ted Olson, an editorial director at the same publication.

1:51.9

Thank you. at the same publication. All right, Ted, it is great to have you here.

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