For those of you who have been asking about the Murschells’ little girl, Chloe Jane, for whose adoption referral fees Global Grace / Hannah’s Heart helped to raise financial support, here is an important update: Beth Murschell is on her way right now to get Chloe Jane and bring her home! The Murschells couldn’t afford to take the whole family to Korea (although they’re already seeing some possible reasons God in His providence did not permit that - for one thing, Andrew got hit with the Christmas flu that’s been going around). So Mick and Chloe’s siblings-to-be have gone to South Carolina to celebrate Christmas, and Beth boarded a plane on Christmas day. She is en route to Korea (by way of an unexpectedly long delay in Japan). You can keep up with the Murschells’ latest news at either of the following websites:
http://juxtaposition.wordpress.com
http://www.murschell.com
And Bob and Jennie Bixby left for South Carolina a couple of weeks ago to attend Bob’s sister’s wedding and to await the arrival of little Samuel Corban. After a couple of false alarms, they are just praying Corban will arrive soon. Bob flew back to Rockford for Morning Star’s Christmas Eve services and is now back with Jennie and Patience in South Carolina, awaiting Corban’s imminent arrival and enjoying the company of their family members. Please pray for the Lord to continue to work out the details for Corban’s adoption, and pray that the Lord would use this time to prepare and bless the Bixby family. You can keep up with their baby updates at either of the following websites:
http://www.youbelong.net/requested (password must be requested)
http://weblog.wordcentered.org
http://rbixbyfam.blogspot.com
In addition to continuing work in Mississippi and helping out a more local widow’s family with some building needs, Global Grace and its adoption-financing part, Hannah’s Heart, have undertaken yet another project. Not surprising. But this project is particularly close to the hearts of Morning Star Baptist Church members.
In His providence and perfect timing, God has given our pastor’s family another opportunity to adopt: The Corban Project
“With the addition of little Corban, the Bixbys will become a multiracial family, and they are exulting in that prospect. They are not perfect people, and they would not claim to be perfect parents. But Bob and Jennie believe this opportunity is God’s answer to their prayers for another child. Not only do they want to bring Corban into a loving, healthy, two-parent home, but they want to teach him about the one true God Who adopts sinners into His own household, both for His glory and their good.”
Bob and Jennie have had very little notice to prepare for this little boy (they just learned about him three weeks ago!), but they have been praying for him for years. They have taken out a loan to cover the immediate costs and are already in South Carolina waiting for Corban’s birth. Hannah’s Heart has taken the initiative to consider the Bixbys official “applicants” for whatever aid we can raise to contribute toward Corban’s adoption costs.
Chris Metras, the new director of Global Grace, wrote that
“as Morning Star Baptist Church’s missions and disaster relief arm, we believe the financing of Christian adoptions is one way to live out the love of Christ by addressing both physical and spiritual needs of people with whom we come into contact. Because of this, Global Grace has officially embraced Hannah’s Heart, an adoption-financing endeavor that originally began in August 2005 as the burden of Morning Star’s single adults fellowship.” (Read the rest of Global Grace’s endorsement of Hannah’s Heart here.)
With Global Grace’s help in handling the funds, Hannah’s Heart has been able to help a couple of other Christian families with their adoptions. But now we have an opportunity to help our own pastor with an adoption opportunity that has been materializing over the last three weeks. It is an especially joyful privilege for those of us who have prayed with Pastor and Jennie for a long time to be able to contribute toward their needs. Please visit “The Corban Project” page to learn about the most recent developments.