Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith

Nightlight was founded in 1959 with the name “Evangelical Welfare Agency.”  Since that time, our board of directors and our leadership have been committed to a Christian statement of faith.  We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures and arose bodily from the dead, and that He ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of God He is now our Lord and Savior. We believe that the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God and the final authority for all Christian faith and life.

The evangelical Christian heritage of our organization is evident in our mission statement, and informs our core values and beliefs.  These beliefs include a commitment by our board and leadership to a biblical definition of family, God’s priority of the family as an image of Himself, and the sanctity of life beginning at conception.

Nightlight is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals, and a member of the National Christian Adoption Fellowship.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to share God’s love by:

  • Helping children, both domestic and international, to find loving families
  • Assisting birthparents and genetic parents in making a wise and loving plan for their child’s future
  • Securing permanency for children in foster care, whether through family reunification or certifying foster parents open to adoption
  • Preparing and supporting families to be committed and effective parents to adoptive children
  • Recognizing and advocating the personhood of pre-born children

We are committed to carrying out our mission in a way that will bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What if we are not Christians; will you still work with us?

The “Christian” in our name explains who we are.  We work with families from various backgrounds, and do not discriminate regarding who can apply. Many of the birth mothers who seek our services are interested in placing their child with a Christian family. Similarly, our Snowflake donor families are often drawn to our organization because of our Christian values.  Birthmothers and donor families may have specific criteria for the adoptive family that relate to faith, marital status, number of children in the home, income, age, etc.  Because we want our families to be successful, we can let you know if we believe the wait for a match with a birth mother or donor family may be longer based on your background.  We often pray with our birth parents and our adoptive parents, and share the Gospel when there is an appropriate opportunity.

What’s “Christian” about adoption?

1. Adoption Fulfills the Great Commandment

Olya was adopted from Russia as a teenager. She wrote the following about her experience: “What does it mean to me to have been adopted and have a family? A gift. A second chance. A renewed hope. Joy. A miracle. A future. Unconditional love. Security. I was given a life. I was saved. I don’t have all the right words to even begin to paint a picture of what adoption has done for me. I am aware that too many children have not found homes, especially if they are older. Many of them end up on the street without an item to their name, begging for food and shelter. I myself have spent some time begging for food from strangers.

“The family that adopted me at the age of twelve could have easily overlooked my picture, fast forwarded past my part on the video. Then and there could have been the end of my happy future. But they didn’t. They stopped…they watched. They wanted me, despite my age and despite the problems I could have been bringing with me. They chose me! This still brings tears to my eyes. Tears of happiness and disbelief that they picked me out of thousands of other children that they could have picked. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for picking me.

“I still have to pinch myself just to see that this is not merely a dream. I know that only by God’s grace and His perfect sovereign plan am I here today…alive and well and very happy. I am one lucky and thankful girl.”

 Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:37, NIV). We know this as the “great commandment” to love God and our neighbor. Adoption is one of the most tangible, certain, permanent, and effective ways to love our neighbor. We know that another life will be permanently improved by bringing a child into a loving family.

2. Adoption Fulfills the Great Commission

Natasha is a 14 year-old Chinese girl adopted from foster care when she was 2. Her father went on a business trip, and when he opened his suitcase he found the following note: “Dad, you are my hero. You adopted me, and brought me to Christ. You let me be weird, and I love you in all the weird ways I can. You are a light, my motivation, and my question-answerer. I love you, dad!”

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt 28:18-19, NIV). We know this as the Great Commission to share the good news about salvation through Jesus with all people. Adoption is one of the most effective ways to make disciples of all nations.

3. Adoption is Central to the Christian Message

When we think of adoption, we consider the permanent entrance and complete acceptance into a new family. That’s exactly what God offers.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “In love God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1.4, NIV). Since Jesus was God’s son, those who join His family, by adoption, have the right to call upon God as their father. This means they have the inheritance fitting of children of God, such as salvation, eternal life in heaven, and forgiveness of sins. “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15, NIV).

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