National Adoption Day

This year, National Adoption Day falls on November 22, a day that reminds us of the heart of God. If you trace the storyline of Scripture, you’ll find that our God delights in taking the fatherless and giving them a family.

So when our nation pauses to celebrate adoption, the church should be the first to step forward with gratitude, prayer, and action. Here are six ways your church can respond today with intentionality:

Invite a Foster or Adoptive Family to Share a 2–3 Minute Testimony.

One of the simplest ways to help your church feel the importance of National Adoption Day is to let a family tell their story. Ask them to share briefly why they said yes, how God met them, and what the church’s support has meant to them.

Recognize the Families Who Said “Yes.”

Take a moment to recognize that foster and adoptive families are in your congregation. Have them stand, thank them publicly, and pray for them. Even a small recognition communicates, “You’re not carrying this alone.” For some families, that affirmation will be the encouragement they desperately needed.

Pray for the Children Who Are Still Waiting.

This day is not only about families who have completed the journey, it’s about the children who are still waiting for one. Lead your congregation in prayer for the kids in your county and in our country who need a family. Pray for the teens nearing adulthood without a stable home. Pray for sibling groups who long to stay together. A church that prays for the waiting becomes a church willing to step toward them.

Take Up a Special Offering or Collection.

Find a foster or adoption agency to partner with by financially supporting them.

Consider receiving a special offering to support emergency placement needs, PLACED Bags, caseworker appreciation, or basic supplies for children entering care. When a church invests financially, it signals that vulnerable children are not an afterthought; they’re part of our mission.

Recognize Caseworkers and Social Workers.

Caseworkers carry burdens most of us never see, long hours, impossible decisions, and the emotional weight of walking into broken stories every single day. Whether you have some in your congregation or not, take a moment to honor them. A simple acknowledgment, a prayer over their work, or even a heartfelt “thank you” tells them they’re not invisible.

Teach the Gospel Connection.

Use National Adoption Day to remind your church that adoption is not merely a humanitarian issue; it’s a gospel issue.

Scripture tells us that God adopted us into His family through Christ (Eph. 1:5). When we care for vulnerable children, we are reflecting the heart of the Father who welcomed us