Happy Father’s Day from Ting Ministries to our Team Ting dads all around the world!
Ting Ministries co-director and founder, Brian Carpenter, is the father to 11 adopted children! A graduate of Evangelical Seminary, his passion for serving orphans and vulnerable children are rooted in God’s Word. (James 1:27). He seeks to share the Truth of Scripture. We are so thankful for the humble leadership, loving sacrifice and grace-filled wisdom that he lives out each day.
Psalm 68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Ting Ministries’ heart is to serve The Least of These, recognizing that we have all been adopted by our Heavenly Father into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5). We are thankful for all the fathers who are part of Team Ting in the Philippines, South Asia, Russia, Pakistan and more! Happy Father’s Day!
From Stephanie Carpenter, co-founder and co-director of Ting Ministries:
“In our current culture where identity is such a hot topic I encourage you to take a listen to my oldest daughter’s testimony/story. Click HERE to listen to her interview with Spirit of Adoption Radio.
This is her story and that of her birthmother. I have had the privilege and honor to meet and hug Sasha’s birthmother and I love her with all my heart. She is my family. This is also her story. Out of her trauma, heartache and grief I was given one of the greatest joys of my life. Every life is precious. Be careful of judgement particularly when answering your adopted children’s questions regarding their birth family because often we do not know the WHOLE STORY!
Our God – because of Jesus Christ – has allowed Sasha to bring 2 mothers together from opposite ends of the world. This is their story!
Sasha ‘s name is Natalya Aleksandra ( we each gave her a portion of her name)
and the verses that go with the name Natalya are from Psalms 9:1-2:
‘I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.'”
From Sasha Carpenter;
“I had the honor and blessing of speaking with Spirit of Adoption Radio about an important topic in the adoption community: My identity as an abortion survivor and disabled, international adoptee who found my birth family, but most importantly, who knows that all the questions of “Why?” and “Who Am I?” adoptees often struggle with can only be answered by the Great I AM – my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Pictured Left: Sasha in the arms of her adoptive mother as a baby in Russia
Pictured Right: Sasha in the arms of her birth mother, 21 years later
Meet the Gulnac family! They are a first-time adoptive family in process to bring home a special-needs daughter child from China!
A Heart for the Orphan: God’s Call to a Pastor’s Family
“We are the Gulnac family! We are blessed with two girls Lydia (10) and Madilyn (7). We feel honored that Dan has been called to be the lead Pastor of Palmyra Grace church and have been there for 1.5 years. Jessica is a part-time lab scientist with UPMC Pinnacle. The Lord works in amazing ways. Through His Word, lots of prayer, late night conversations and even the mouths of our children He warmed our hearts to another child and specifically a child with special needs. We are adopting Katie, who is about 2 years old at this time and in Beijing in foster care receiving care along with additional therapy for her condition, cerebral palsy.
Katie
It is amazing how God used His Word to affirm our decision to adopt in its early stages. Scriptures such as James 1:27, Ephesians 1:5 or Proverbs 31:8-9 as well as passages such as Romans 8:15-16, Psalm 146:5-9 have encouraged us. In general, I was always aware of God’s heart for the orphan throughout scripture, but being in the process has enhanced my ability to see the rescuing heart of God all throughout the Bible – you can’t miss it! And the Spirit uses each passage to remind me that adoption is a way in which we get to reflect the heart of God in our world.
God’s heart is love, especially for the least of these, the marginalized, and lost, and the orphan. As we face each challenge, every piece of paperwork, every bill, God is reminding us just how far He went to show His love toward us and we are encouraged to live out that love toward Katie. We can’t wait to bring her home and love her as our own!
The Gulnac Family – Pastor Dan, Jessica, and their daughters Lydia and Madilyn
“We had many conversations with the girls as we were processing our decision to adopt Katie. Lydia has a very compassionate heart and from the beginning was a huge advocate for Katie in our conversations and prayers about whether or not to adopt. Madilyn is our youngest and she had some concerns about another child. Completely legitimate concerns about sharing toys and such. But one night during bedtime devotions she confessed that even though it may be hard she wanted us to do this because God was calling us to do it and it isn’t about her but what He wants. It was very encouraging to see how God worked on each of our hearts individually and how He united us in our decision as a family.
We have felt absolutely supported, as many closest to us were praying for us during our discerning phase, as we sought the Lord to provide us with clarity and affirmation. We have also received support from others that have adopted or have adopted members in their family by sharing their stories of trials and hope. Lastly, some have chosen to support us financially or with donations of items we will need for Katie.
At this point in the process it would be a lie to say each step is easy and filled with excitement. However, if God is calling you to adoption – you will get to see Him show up all along the journey. Our family was blessed by the documentary “Find Me.” (If you haven’t watched it find it on Amazon Prime or Right Now Media). God’s hand is clearly over us and this process and when we pay attention we get to see Him move in mighty ways. In ways we’ll never forget. This draws us to love, cherish, and worship Him all the more.”
Fundraiser and Donation Information:
Please mark your calendars for a pork barbecue fundraiser and time of fellowship with the Gulnac family!
Date: Saturday, February 29, 2020
Time: 2-4 pm (drop-in for as long as you are able!) Take-out is also available!
Location: Fairland Brethren in Christ Church, 529 West Penn Avenue, Cleona, PA 17042 (Across from the McDonalds on 422)
Cost: By donation, no tickets necessary
Also, if you feel led to give a gift to help Katie come home to her family: may give a gift:
1. Online: www.paypal.me/Tingministries
2. By check: Ting Ministries, 29 East Poplar Street, Lebanon, PA 17042
Photo Credits: Gulnac Family
Interview Compiled by: Sasha Carpenter, Administrative Assistant for Ting Ministries
This interview is posted here in its entirety. This interview first appeared in 2 separate parts on Ting Ministries’ Facebook and Instagram on December 12 & 13, 2019.
Read the awesome story of the Kelley family, friends of Ting Ministries, whose daughters put together an artwork fundraiser to bring home their brother from China! Zhong is the best friend of one of their daughters who was adopted from China last year! This is their third China adoption but first adoption fundraiser – so let’s share the word and some encouragement! Check out some of their artwork below and visit their website to see more!
The Story
“Zhong’s three sisters, Grace, Ruthie & Mackenzie, have been working hard on creating a set of Christmas cards and greeting cards in an effort to help bring their new brother home! Our goal is to raise enough money for all of Zhong’s plane tickets home […] then, if the Lord wills, we can also work on paying toward all the other adoption expenses we owe and upcoming travel expenses.”
The Artwork:
“All of the watercolors & stamped backgrounds were created by Ruthie, our 13 year old, & Grace our 8 year old who has cerebral palsy (mentioning her CP as I’m super pleased with her artistic efforts despite her challenges with hand coordination) and then Mackenzie, 22, added her hand calligraphy to all the cards […]”
“Envelopes are included. We are taking pre-orders for two weeks before printing so that we can get exactly what you want and not have too many extras of one kind or another. We will work hard to have the cards available to pick up and/or shipped to you by Thanksgiving.”
The Kelley girls are selling Christmas cards, greeting cards, birthday cards, thank yous, get well soon cards and MORE!
Guest Artist: From a Fellow Adoptive Mother, Gallery Artist, and Children’s Book Illustrator
“Cady Driver, a fellow adoptive mom, who is a professional artist in North Carolina, is sharing her prints with me to add to our fundraiser!!! She already sold enough of her beautiful watercolors on antique hymnal prints to fully fund her entire China adoption expenses, so now she wants to bless others! She allowed me to select 5 of her bird hymnal prints and is having her printer ship the prints directly to me at printing cost. Cady is not taking a dime. Cady is a gallery artist and children’s book illustrator and she wants to give God the glory for her talent and bless others with it. When Cady learned about the girls’ card fundraiser, she offered to let us also make available her gorgeous hymnal prints! These can be easily framed in an inexpensive 8×10 frame or matted or floated in a larger frame. These make beautiful gifts!
“The hymnal prints are coming from North Carolina and will take about 1.5 weeks turn around once I tell the printer how many we need…. so I should have those ready for you to pick up first week of Dec. For shipped prints, I would expect them to arrive to you during the second week of December.”
Orders
*We are taking preorders now through November 20th, 12pm EST* (after Nov 20th please ask me about remaining stock)
Please fill out the entire order from, or I will not get your order. You will receive an email confirmation if you completed your order. Also please remember to go to the DONATE tab to submit donation & shipping! Thank you!
Suggested Donation Amount:
Cards – $25 for each 20-pack of cards (with envelopes) and “
Hymnal Prints -$25 for each 8×10 hymnal print.
Pickup & Shipping: We will have free local pick up from my front porch (near the Greenfield Walmart). I’m happy to ship any quantity of cards or hymnal prints for the $5 shipping to anywhere in the country.
For example, if you order 100 cards or say 10 of Cady’s hymnal prints…..it’s still only $5 to ship everything! I can take cash, check, or Paypal donations using the link below. We will do our very best to get everything to you as fast as we possibly can! This is our third China adoption BUT our first ever adoption fundraiser so this project will be a huge learning curve!
Today, as my Avi wisdom I am going to share a need – a need for a little girl that is still an orphan but loved and chosen by God for a very special family! This family needs help to bring her home. We know this family from a divine encounter at a medical appointment for one of our girls.
Today.15 weeks and 3 days since our princess went with Jesus. Yes I am counting not only the weeks but the days and hours as I wait to be running with Avi hand in hand. It is also one week until her 12th birthday – February 27th. Everything is as raw and painful as it was on that very first day. I am not a writer at heart. I don’t like to write. I would rather be outside running or pretty much doing anything else. But today I need to write.
Photo: Avi
Today, I read the book of Ecclesiastes in search of something. I did not find what I was searching for but I still stand on what I believe. The Bible is true – all of it! I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that He rose again. The only song that we sang in church this week that held any meaning for me was “My Hope is Built On Nothing Less”
My hope is built on nothing less / Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; / I dare not trust the sweetest frame, / But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. / On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; /All other ground is sinking sand. / When darkness veils His lovely face, / I rest on His unchanging grace; / In every high and stormy gale, / My anchor holds within the veil. / His oath, His covenant, His blood, / Support me in the whelming flood; / When all around my soul gives way, / He then is all my hope and stay. / When He shall come with trumpet sound, / Oh, may I then in Him be found; / In Him, my righteousness, alone, / Faultless to stand before the throne.
I could share everything that is wrapped up in every tear I shed every day of missing her physically here with us but what I need to share is the importance and value of her life. Avi inspires us to do more – be a louder voice – help more – adopt more – love more – give more.
When we adopted Avi, we needed help to bring Avi home and someone gave. Someone gave the remainder of her adoption costs and to this day, I still do not know who that person was.
Today I am asking that in honor of our Avi that you would read this adoption story below and HELP! Please give and no amount is too small – all donations will be tax deductible and every penny will go directly to paying their costs to bring home their third daughter from China.
By check: Ting Ministries 29 East Poplar Street, Lebanon Pa 17042
Please note: For Mercy
A friend of mine has written so beautifully what is on my heart about a child with more severe special needs. I am the blessed one to have been given the gift of Avi and her sisters. I ask you to please read and share this story and gift with others. Thank you from a very humbled heart -Stephanie
Mercy & Her Sisters: An Adoption Story
“Adoption. It’s always been on my heart to be family for children who need a mommy and daddy. Special needs children were always tugging at my heart. I yearned to nurture and love them, wanting them to see they have value and worth as a person.
So we began our journey of adoption summer of 2016 and brought home Miah from China, who had just turned 3 years old. Despite doctors’ predictions regarding her cerebral palsy and other medical challenges, she can now walk with the assistance of medical equipment. When we were in the process of her adoption there was another little girl whom we wanted to go back to adopt. So in September of that year we started the adoption process again. But the medical review was very negative, and when we received the update from the orphanage we were devastated. The report indicated extreme developmental impairment. We decided not to go ahead with her adoption, and I was determined to put this child out of my mind. We began to search for another child to bring home. In 2017 we brought home Malia at age 6 years old with cleft lip, cleft palate.
Miah and Malia
The summer of 2018 God spoke to me and said that we needed to go back and get the little girl we had said “no” to. I realized then that the decision we had made was based on fear and selfishness. I did not want to parent a child that would require lifelong care. You see, we are soon to be 56 and 57 years of age with four adult children. I wanted time to myself. But, I began to meditate on the fact that we are not our own, we are bought with a price by the blood of Jesus. I am not here for myself but to bring honor and glory to Him. I desperately needed to find out if this thought of returning for the child we had said “no” to was my own feeling or the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I had deleted all of this child’s information from my computer never to read it again. But I was able to recover all of her information and history by a few phone calls. As I read over and looked at the updated video I was no longer filled with fear. I had a peace about it. I started praying about it and that if it was the Lord telling me we needed to adopt her then my husband would have to agree. He did not. So I put her picture on the refrigerator and asked him to pray about her and then proceeded to write him a long letter detailing my own journey from fear to courage. I got down on my knees every day in front of that picture and prayed that the Lord would speak to my husband’s heart, since there was no way we could go ahead with this adoption if we were not of the same mind.
One morning as I was reading my devotions, I read, “He will refresh you with mercy”, and I knew right then we were to name her Mercy.
Satan did not want this little girl to come home and decided to ramp up his tactics. I was now facing much resistance from other family members. I asked a few prayer warriors to join me in the fight. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. I knew God was urging me to fight for this child despite the resistance.
A few months later my husband agreed to go ahead with the adoption. He had slowly realized that to say “no” to adopting this child would be disobedience and a sin since God was clearly asking us to bring her into our family.
Mercy’s sisters
Children with special needs have value. They are made perfect and designed just the way God wanted them to be. I want the world to see what they will add to our lives in regards to their gifts and strengths, and how they are wanted and valued, instead of what they take or require. We live in a society preoccupied with deficits as opposed to strengths. We need to dwell in possibility, helping our child thrive, respecting their timeline for development, setting a foundation for engaging our child’s gifts, whatever that may look like for the child, instead of trying to fix what is wrong. Many of these special needs children grow up and go on to accomplish great things.
But there are lives that come into the world neither to do great work nor to bear great burdens, but simply to be. They are the flowers of the garden which have no active mission. But they gladden the sight of Jesus. By their mere perfume, by their mere beauty, they have brought Him joy: by the very preservation of their loveliness in the valley they have lifted the Master’s heart.
Is adoption hard? Yes, but hardships develop beauty in the soul; they thrive on them; they bring out all the best in them; ease and comfort only leave them barren.
We still are carrying the financial loan from Malia’s adoption and now will be adding to that loan with Mercy. But nothing is hard for God. Without a sound or sign, from sources invisible and seemingly impossible, He will provide when the timing is right.” ~Judy, friend of Ting Ministries
Ting Ministries – Proverbs 31:8-9 BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
