More than 114,000 children in the U.S. are currently awaiting an adoptive home and a forever family (AFCARS, 2021). Lutheran leaders across the nation are urgently called to attend the Lutheran Adoption Conference, April 10-11, 2024 in Houston, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport. At this conference, Lutheran pro-life leaders, policy makers, adoption experts, and life advocates will collaborate and explore ways to impact the national adoption crisis through the increasing of biblically-based Christian adoptions.

“The recent Dobbs decision has increased the need for adoption, and there is a void of biblically-based Christian adoption agencies in the U.S. These two realities necessitate urgent action and collaboration to help renew the Church and her people’s involvement in this life- and faith-giving act of love in caring for these precious souls,” said Rev. Max Phillips, Executive Director, Lutheran Family Service.

The Lutheran Adoption Conference is designed to connect dedicated leaders and organizations across the U.S., to act as a unified group with urgency, and to impact the souls of thousands of babies each year. People hear the voices of pro-life leaders and organizations; however, this is the time to match word with action and be a force for God’s truth for life. The conference is based upon the premise of Esther 4:14 – for such a time as this. The Lutheran Adoption Conference will be the birthplace of the “Lutherans Adopt” movement, and attendees have the opportunity for ground-floor participation and shaping the future of biblically-based, Christian adoption in America.

“Gospel-motivated Lutherans can’t ignore the hundreds of thousands of children in need of families and homes. For several decades we’ve been able to collaborate in good faith with government and public sector in reaching them, but that’s becoming endangered by immoral and non-biblical ideologies. Given the Christian Church’s centuries-long legacy of orphan care, it’s time for us to take the lead again. This conference represents an important step in that course of action,” states Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director, Lutherans for Life.

Keynote speaker and former adoptee, Mark Schultz, will share both his adoption story and talents as a Dove Award-winning and Christian music artist. Additional adoption stories will be shared touching on embryo rescue, infant adoption and foster care. Lutheran leaders will facilitate important round table discussions and lead informative and engaging sessions. Hear from and collaborate with Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources; Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life; Rev. Max Phillips, Executive Director of Lutheran Family Service; Rev. Dr. Jim Lamb, Life Advocate for Lutheran Family Service; Kim Laube, Deputy Director of Lutheran Family Service. Additional leaders and experts are currently being added to the speaker/facilitator roster as well as the attendee list. Discover expert information, mission-driven collaboration, and exciting opportunities.

“Adoption represents the opportunity to imitate Christ’s love and share the message of salvation. This conference is the inaugural step in what we hope will connect generations of children with Lutheran homes grounded in biblical truth at the cross of Christ,” said Rev. Robert Fleischmann.

Those encouraged to attend the Lutheran Adoption Conference, April 10-11, 2024 in Houston, Texas are Bible-based, Christian/Lutheran leaders, policy makers, adoption agencies and experts, life advocates, congregations, pastors, lay leaders, pregnancy resource centers and experts, social service leaders and experts, foster care leaders and experts, as well as people who are ready to lead the charge to increase the number of biblically-based Christian/Lutheran adoptions. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport hotel located in North Houston. Conference registration deadline is Friday, March 8, 2024. Learn more and register to attend at LutheransAdopt.org.

Founding sponsor organizations of the Lutheran Adoption Conference are Lutherans for Life, Christian Life Resources, and Lutheran Family Service. Additional sponsors are being added. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, visit LutheransAdopt.org.

Prayerfully consider helping to promote the Lutheran Adoption Conference in your congregation, ministry or community by downloading and using/printing the resources below.

Lutheran Adoption Conference Flyer/Poster (8.5″ x 11″ PDF)

Lutheran Adoption Conference Flyer/Poster Graphic (PNG)

Lutheran Adoption Conference Bulletin Insert (2 per page – 11″ x 8.5″ PDF)

Lutheran Adoption Conference Bulletin Messages (Word)

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About Lutheran Family Service

Since 1901, Lutheran Family Service (a private, not-for-profit ministry) has been finding loving, Christian homes for orphan children. As a fully-licensed adoption agency, they specialize in domestic infant adoption, Down Syndrome adoption, international adoption, and embryo rescue through adoption. Lutheran Family Service life advocacy teams work to educate congregations and impact public policy to end abortion and prevent physician assisted suicide promoting God’s truth for life from the moment of fertilization until natural death. Learn more about Lutheran Family Service at https://lutheranfamilyservice.org/.

About Lutherans for Life

Lutherans For Life exists to equip Lutherans and their neighbors to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.  For forty-six years its conferences, counsel, print and digital resources, and nationwide network of volunteer communities have connected Holy Scripture and Lutheran doctrine to life issues like surprise pregnancy and terminal diagnosis. Through initiatives like Y4Life student programming and Word of Hope crisis care, the ministry engages hundreds of thousands every year with the joy and hope that God creates, redeems, and calls every human being from fertilization to forever. Investigate and connect at https://lutheransforlife.org/.

About Christian Life Resources

Christian Life Resources uses life and family issues as bridges to talk to people about Jesus. Its affiliates operate 11 pregnancy care centers and a residential home for single mothers. Through its Bioethics Institute, CLR explores complicated contemporary issues in the light of God’s Word. Christian Life Resources is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Learn more about Christian Life Resources at https://christianliferesources.com/.