jennhesse

3 Ways the Church Can Advocate for Birthmothers

Cowritten with Brittany Salmon The Church is no stranger to adoption. Many congregations in the United States observe Orphan Care Sunday, host fundraisers for prospective adoptive parents, and sponsor adoption charities and scholarships. As we celebrate two adoption awareness events in November, National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day, we might feel confident advocating forContinue reading “3 Ways the Church Can Advocate for Birthmothers”

How I Learned to Stop Loathing the Platform

There’s this viral Simpsons meme that perfectly captures my feelings about the word “platform.” The image shows a newspaper with a photo of Grandpa Simpson shaking his fist at the sky under the headline “OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD.” People post it to mock those who are resistant to change, typically older folks who refuseContinue reading “How I Learned to Stop Loathing the Platform”

Why Adoption Is a Redemptive Pro-life Option

The day Brooke Orthman walked into a pregnancy counseling center, she made a list. After seeing a faint positive on a gas station pregnancy test earlier that week, she wanted to find out if it was right. Getting pregnant wasn’t something she’d planned on as a 17-year-old working at a fast food restaurant. When theContinue reading “Why Adoption Is a Redemptive Pro-life Option”

The Happiest Place on Earth

Earlier this summer, our family made a pilgrimage to the ultimate summer vacation destination, Disneyland. As we navigated the crowds, I noticed a common trait among our fellow mouse-eared tourists. With the exception of a few overstimulated toddlers and stressed-out parents, everyone around us was smiling and laughing. The strangers we met waiting in line,Continue reading “The Happiest Place on Earth”

Pro-life for All: Adoption

For many years, I longed to give life. It wasn’t that I merely coveted the title of “mother” or felt obligated to take the next step following marriage. No, the yearning ran far deeper than external pressures or an internal ticking clock. I was an image bearer who wanted to bear image bearers. But IContinue reading “Pro-life for All: Adoption”