O How He Loves Us: An Adoption Story

I hope this precious story will remind you again how amazing our God is!

Sunday morning January 10, 2016 started in a startling way.

While Rebecca David was on her way to pick up Claudia Fowler and her preteen son Nickolas,
she received a call from Nickolas that something was wrong with his mother. Rebecca arrived soon,  and called 911.

The paramedics arrived quickly and began CPR.  When Rebecca left the apartment, the EMT’s continued trying to revive Claudia.

Rebecca brought Nickolas to church and talked with Mike and I.  She was shaken, because she realized that Claudia's condition was serious.

Rebecca was torn about what to do but we encouraged her to go up to the hospital. Nickolas was at home in the Kid Zone and one in her class would step up to lead.  And of course their class spent their morning praying.

Nickolas went with me to worship that day.  Just before we left for worship, I had a text from Rebecca that Claudia died at the hospital.  I wanted Rebecca to be back before Nickolas heard about his mom.  So standing by Nickolas in worship with my arm around his shoulder I was praying without ceasing for him.  The next song we sang was "The King of Glory."  When we sang the phrase "Who makes the orphan a son or daughter..." My tears flowed.  God was going to take care of Nickolas!  And oh how He has!

A few months back, Claudia and Nickolas had fallen on hard times so Rebecca had invited them to live with her.  They lived there for several weeks until they were able to rent their own apartment.  So, through that time, Rebecca had gotten very close to them and them to her.  Looking back at that I stand in awe of God and His amazing provision.  He knew what was coming and He was getting things in place for Nickolas.

After worship Rebecca and Nickolas went to my office and Rebecca told Nickolas about his Mom.  It was so precious to hear Rebecca remind Nickolas of the time she had gone to their temporary hotel room to meet with his mom.  She asked Claudia how she (our church) could help.  She expected her to ask for a material need because clearly there were many.  However, Claudia said "I need to get right with God."  That night she prayed to receive Christ and to live for Him.  Rebecca was able to tell Nickolas that we could know for certain where his mom was.  Even to a young boy (age 10), whose heart was broken because of his loss, it was clear that this truth did bring much comfort to him.

He went home with Rebecca and for the next few weeks they worked through their grief, finding other relatives, understanding what the law was, and deciding that the best place for Nickolas was with Rebecca and her family who already knew him.  He already felt at home. So many friends stepped up to help Rebecca get Nickolas everywhere he needed to be so she could continue to work. It's a beautiful thing to watch the body of Christ at work.  Every need was met!
Later I learned that Rebecca’s daughter Jennifer, a nurse, was working at the hospital the morning Claudia came in. So, together, Rebecca and Jennifer  laid hands on Claudia and promised that they would take care of Nickolas until God showed them the right path for him. Soon, Jennifer and her husband Casey became a huge part of Nickolas’ everyday life and quickly fell in love with him. Though there were many legal hurdles to jump, Jennifer and Casey Morefield were able to adopt Nickolas on September 14, 2016!

---

Needless to say they hosted a celebration party and praised the Lord for what He had done!  Nickolas knows how very much he is loved by his new family, his church and most of all by God.  Nickolas has now become a Christian too and was Baptized this past Sunday.  We should never doubt that even in our darkest hour God is in control.  He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He is able to do "above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us...to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen” (Eph 3:20-21)
Karen Claunch