2013 - 2014ANNUAL REPORT

Mission StatementTo place infants and children regardless of ethnicity, age or special

circumstances into loving, Christian adoptive homes and to remove

barriers to adoption (financial, perceptual, and practical).

Antioch Adoptions is a licensed, non-profit adoption agency that has been

providing services to Washington families since the year 2000. Although

we provide the same services as any other fully licensed adoption agency,

we refuse to place a price tag on a child. Therefore, we do not charge a fee

for our services. By lifting the financial burden of adoption, the floodgates

are opened for more children to be adopted. As we grow in influence, we

desire to see more private agencies remove their excessive adoption fees

and varying costs based on a child’s race. We intend to change a culture that

has made normal practice of buying and selling children based on supply

and demand. We will continue to defend the fatherless and take care of the

orphan as the Bible commands all of us to do. We currently serve families

residing in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties and are always

making efforts to expand our reach.

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Dear Stakeholders and Friends,

While in the early stages of our tenure as Board Members of Antioch Adoptions, we have witnessed God’s glory throughout the network of adoptions. What were once past dreams, are now achieved realities as we continue to see more children joined with their forever family.

We are excited and blessed to see the growth that the LORD has granted this ministry. As the Board moves forward to engage the ministry vision, “To lead the way for all churches in removing barriers to adoption and obeying the biblical mandate to take care of our orphans”, we anticipate Antioch Adoptions having greater impact throughout the community. Our goal is to step up our involvement with surrounding churches, hospitals, schools, and other community groups in an effort to affect change in three distinct ways. First, countless more individuals will realize the need for families to answer the call and embrace children whose only desire is to be loved. Second, we seek to motivate churches to be unified in their encouragement and support of families whom God has chosen to adopt a child. Finally, to pave the way in providing a place of refuge for birthparents, while teaching alternatives to abortion.

On behalf of the entire Board, we wish to thank the growing network of stakeholders, ministry partners, and families who continue to support Antioch Adoptions with enthusiasm and commitment. We would also like to challenge you to share this passion with others whom the Lord may be calling to this ministry. Working together, our outreach will be broad and our impact will be heartfelt. Thank you for being a part of God’s plan for Antioch Adoptions and for the children and families we serve.

Sincerely,Duane StewartAdvisory Board Chair

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3%8%

89%

How We Used the Gifts

Adoption Program

Training & Development

Administrative

Redmond Office

4%

39%

21%

36%

Gifts Received

Fund Raising

Individuals

Grant

Program Other

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StaffChris Foster DirectorAnibal Ruiz Case Management SupervisorDani Pohlman Case ManagerTamara Geddes Case ManagerStephanie Williams Licensing Case ManagerYuliya Karpuk Case ManagerAmy Sophie Family Development CoordinatorSarah Shelton Placement CoordinatorBonnie DeCaro-Monahan Ministry Development DirectorMeri Ruth Singletary Ministry Development DirectorSuzanne Merhej Weed Administrative Assistant

Advisory BoardBriand AngiuliDuane StewartTony Angiuli

Redmond Board and Staff Listings

Alan and Laurie Back, 2014 “Hope Brings Life” Hosts

Amanda Weber, Volunteer Coordinator

Brad Board, Church Advocate for Pine Lake Covenant Church

Brad and Kari Halbach of Seek Ye First Foundation, Committed Ministry Partners/Grants

Briand Angiuli, Committed Volunteer and Advisory Board Member

Derek and Janice LaFontaine, Church Advocates for Mars Hill Bellevue

Duane Stewart, Advisory Board Member

Eric and Denise Kliskey, Church Advocates for Northwest Foursquare Church in Federal Way

Gary and Jennifer Rubens of Rubens Family Foundation, Committed Ministry Partners/Grants

Harvest Hands Alliance, Community Partners

Joe Monahan of Class Act Catering, Committed Volunteer/Event Sponsor

Kurt & Collette Roy, Community Advocates

Lauren Higbee, Volunteer Quilt Maker

Matt Brown, Committed Ministry Partner/Event Sponsor

Mike Sweeney, Committed Volunteer

Nicole Neumann, Grant Writing Proofreader

Pine Lake Covenant Church in Sammamish, 2014 Spring Banquet Host

Precision Press, Discounted Printing Services

R & R Rentals, Discounted Event Rentals

Ruth Webster, Church Advocate for Mars Hill Bellevue

Staff and Church Family at Antioch Bible Church

Tony and Roxanne Kar, Church Advocates for Northshore Baptist Church in Kirkland

Tony Angiuli, Advisory Board Member

Timberlake Church in Redmond, 2013 National Adoption Day Celebration Host

Urban COFFEE lounge, Event Sponsor

Special Thanks To...

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Dear Families and Friends,

Last year, Antioch Adoptions was blessed to place 17 children into Christian families while finalizing adoptions on seven. This means that the lives of these children will, as one stakeholder put it, resemble normalcy. Secure with permanent and loving, Christian parents, they will no longer have to wonder where home is and can go on with the task of growing up. Worries about being part of a family can be replaced with practicing skateboarding, basketball, or dance instead of becoming experts in how to adjust to new schools and new foster homes.

I would like to thank all those who have taken ownership in this ministry. Your continued commitment to Antioch Adoptions has positively affected children and families right here in our communities. We look forward to strengthening this relationship as we continue toward God’s plan for the future.

I would also like to thank all the prospective and adoptive parents for your desire and loving intent to build your family through Antioch Adoptions. It is a privilege to walk with you as you seek to follow God’s command, bringing riches beyond measure as lives are changed forever. May this be your most rewarding journey.

Sincerely,

Chris Foster, Director

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We have learned unconditional love through

our life as an adoptive family.

This may sound simple to some folks, but for us as we look back at the past ten years, one thing keeps standing out....how completely and desperately God loves us! Even those seemingly forgotten while living in abusive homes or caught in the foster care system. Corrie ten Boom once said, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Through the years we have seen how deep God’s love is.

We chose to adopt older children because we heard the Lord say that no one is forgotten, no one is too old to be someone’s baby! We feel that no person on this earth should have to live not knowing they are loved.

God has shown us through our girls that, given the chance to be adopted, raised in and shown the unconditional love of God, they have a trust in Him that many of us never seem to figure out! Both girls know that God answers prayer because they have seen that He never leaves them or forsakes them.

As a family, we went through a very deep pit and for three years we had to trust God, trust His love, pray, and fight for our family to not fall apart. As a mom, I would try to hide times of grief, but they saw right through it. And then they would blow my mind with their faith. My little babies, young teens during this season, would sit down with me and we would pray together. Never once did I hear them pray out of fear....only faith and trust. They had faith that God was going to restore and heal our family. It was in walking through this painful experience together that we realized how deep our girls know the love of God.

We felt that our girls sharing their hearts about being adopted conveys the true depth of God’s love the best. As teenagers now, they can look back and see what God’s love did in their lives.

From our youngest daughter: “Before I was adopted, there was nobody that I knew that loved me, except my sister. Everywhere I looked seemed dark, scary, and evil. I still remember a little space behind the couch that I would crawl behind. My birth mom told me that the policemen stuffed little kids in a dark hole

and never let them out. But when I first saw Daddy I had a feeling that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. When I first saw Mommy, my first thought was, “she’s pretty” and wishing she could be my mom. When I first saw my new big brother, I thought the same thing as I did about Daddy. In the last ten years, I have learned that not all the world is evil. I know now there are nice people around me. But, most of all, there is a heavenly Father who loves me more than anything.”

From our oldest daughter: “I’m thankful that I was adopted because I know I’m better off here. I love living with my family now because I know I am well taken care of. Before I was adopted, I wasn’t sure whether I would get to eat or be loved. I am ever so grateful for the plans God has made for my life. Even though life has had its ups and downs, I am so glad that I was adopted by my family. I would never change right now for something else. If I wasn’t adopted by my mom and dad, I probably would have never met the Lord or any of the wonderful people I know now. “

Our reward has been the deep, deep, love of God. We thank God each day for the treasures we have in our girls! We have by no means been the perfect parents, but we remind ourselves that we are the perfect parents for our girls. We fumble, we fail, we wonder at times why we decided to take this path and then we are reminded that it was God who set this course in our hearts. He directed the timing, the place, the special package that He knew was ours. So we trust, we walk out each day, we do not give up, and we live in His love!!

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Adoption Celebration National Day

November 22, 2014 from 9:30 to 11:30 am

Fun for the whole family as we celebrate the gift of adoption with a full pancake breakfast, live music, inflatable and face

painting!

February 27 & 28, 2015Overlake Christian Church

in RedmondThis 2-day event is designed

for foster and adoptive parents, kinship providers, grandparents, and others who care for God’s

orphaned and vulnerable children. We understand

firsthand that this journey can be difficult and lonely, so

we’re partnering with local and national orphan care leaders to

give you this time to escape from the distractions and chaos of life

and be refreshed, equipped, and inspired.

www.therefreshconference.org

Spring Fund Raising Banquet

March 2015 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm

Tickets available January 2015Join us for an inspirational evening as we hear about

transformation in the lives of those touched by adoption.

Please consider hosting a table to help us reach others who need to hear about our ministry! More details available on our website

in January 2015.

2014-2015 Events

Child Placement Activity Redmond Office

Total adoptions finalized since 2000 296(Redmond-278, Wenatchee-10, Spokane-8)

Total number of children placed in FY 2013-2014 17

Total adoptions finalized in FY 2013-2014 7

Sibling group placements in FY 2013-2014 3

Total number of families we are serving 40

Total number of children waiting for finalization 15

Children living in Foster Care in WA 10,192*

Children available for adoption in WA 1,580** 3/31/13 Statistics from the State of Washington DSHS Region 2

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“EVERY CHILD DESERVES A LOVING FAMILY.” I sat up and took notice as my Pastor spoke these words recently. He went on to challenge the congregation to accept this huge undertaking, along with other churches in this nation, to make sure there are no foster children without loving homes in this country. In Washington State alone, 1,580* kids are waiting to be matched with a forever family through the Department of Social and Health Services. He choked back tears as he told of reading about a sixteen year old boy whose younger siblings had been adopted who said, “All I want is a family. Can you imagine,” he exclaimed, “being a kid growing up thinking ‘no one wants me.’”Choking back tears as well, I knew this reality in a personal way. My younger years were spent in foster homes and I am well aware of the truth of his words. Scriptures were quoted declaring God’s concern for the widows and orphans. Psalms 68:5-6 points to the importance of Christians to, “take up the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widows.” God is the defender of the oppressed and he does so through you and me. My pastor again asked a pointed question, “How much do we care for the most vulnerable in our community?” reminding us that, “God takes this very seriously.” My heart filled with excitement

as I listened to this profound message. Now, having taken that message to heart, I am a social worker, passionate about placing foster children in Christian foster to adopt homes in Spokane. I know the difference that loving nurturing parents can make to lonely frightened children. Let me give you just one example of what I mean. Todd and Kimberli Sandberg are an amazing couple who love the Lord and desired to expand their family of four by providing a home to children in need. Through Antioch Adoptions, a sibling group of two sisters, ages four and six, were matched with their family last summer. After contact with the state social worker, the Sandberg’s met these two little girls at a park. They also enjoyed other visits with the girls so that the family could get to know the children better, ending with a weekend visit before placement of them in the Sandberg home. Nine months later, adoption plans were in the works so that they could become the forever family of these two beautiful little girls who needed just that! Real life can be messy, of course, and Kimberli shared that there were challenges in the adjustment of the girls with their two older biological children ages nine and eleven. As the little girls began to feel safe, deep internal issues began to surface, causing the need for extra care and outside support. The older children also struggled to adjust to sharing their parents. These transitions are normal, however, and Kimberli has been amazed how everyone in the home has grown and matured through the process. Loving and nurturing characteristics blossomed in their eleven year old daughter as she took the two girls under her wing. Their son is now showing signs of protection over the girls

and the whole family is becoming unified. The family shared that they are delighted about the blessings that have taken place because of their foster/adopt adventure, and the girls are secure in knowing that they are officially “Sandberg’s” as of their adoption finalization in April of 2014!

In a recent e-mail, Kimberli asked that we share the following, “We are so grateful for the continued support, prayers, guidance and resources that Antioch Adoptions’ angels have provided us throughout the adoption process and beyond. They have been amazing at preparing us for and supporting us through both the precious and painful experiences that come along with becoming a forever family for God’s children through adoption. Antioch Adoptions’ presence has forever changed the course of our family’s life and most importantly the lives of our two incredible daughters, giving grace and hope for their future. For this we cannot possibly be more humbly grateful and thankful.”

By Linda HankeCase Manager for Antioch Adoptions Spokaneand former foster child

*3/31/13 Statistics from the State of Washington DSHS Region 2

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Spokane Staff ListingsKathy Ahern Co-DirectorSherri Davis Co-DirectorLinda Hanke Case ManagerMelissa Pemberton Case ManagerAnna Rowe Education CoordinatorMelody Slachter Administrative Assistant

Special Thanks To… Amber Copelin, Committed Volunteer

Christ the Redeemer, Church Partner

Eastpoint, Church Partner

Godparents: Alex Evans, Elizabeth Hovatter, Hunt Family, Klossner Family, Oberg Family, Pemberton Family, Roth Family

Kathy Ahern, Committed Volunteer

Life Center, Church Partner

Lifeline Ministries, Community Partner

Melody Slachter, Committed Volunteer

Off the Wall Ministry from CTR, Support Group

Photographers for Smile event: Stacey Ashcroft, Jamie Brown, Jason Estes, Ray Hanna, Bethany Hein, Georgia Gannon

Reggin Family, Committed Volunteers

Sherri Davis, Committed Volunteer

Summit, Church Partner and Support Group

Valley Real Life, Church Partner

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40%

39%

21%

4%30%

66%

Spokane OfficeGifts Received

Church Partnership

Fund Raising

Individuals

How We Used the Gifts

Administrative

Adoption Program

Training & Development

2014-2015 EventsChild Placement Activity

Spokane Office

Total adoptions finalized since inception in August 2011 11

Total number of children placed in FY 2013-2014 5

Total adoptions finalized in FY 2013-2014 3

Total number of families we are serving 27

Total number of children waiting for finalization 7 September 21, 2014Smiles for Antioch Fund Raiser

March 14, 2015Spokane Orphan Summit

May 3, 2015Team Antioch for Bloomsday

Spring 2015Fund Raising Concert

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www.antiochadoptions.org

STREET ADDRESS12316 134th Court NE, Redmond, WA 98052

(425) 558-0921 office • (425) 702-2171 fax1-800-455-5110 toll free

MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 2763

Redmond, WA 98073

SPOKANE OFFICE723 W. Indiana Avenue

Spokane, WA 99205-4627(509) 328-2700