Friedens Gives Start to Adoption Process

"When you want to start, it’s hard to know where to begin," member Doris Schlenvogt said.

Schlenvogt is talking about adoption, something that the church she belongs to has long had a reputation with and also operates a special Forever Families Ministry to support the cause.

Members of Friedens, 454 N. Milwaukee St., Port Washington, are tackling the topic again with plans to host Adoption 101, an informational session where those interested in expanding their families via adoption can speak with a panel of experts.

From 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, individuals can discuss the benefits of adoption with those that know the ins and outs of the process.  An adoption agency worker, an adoptive father of 19 and a foster mother to nearly 100 children will be present to share their stories and to answer questions about the process.

Schlenvogt, who is helping to organize Adoption 101, said that the session can help families considering adoption to "make a good, informed decision — if that’s right for them."

Nearly a quarter of the congregation at Friedens have adopted or fostered children, Pastor Brandon Lemons said. Shlenvogt adopted a son from Romania 13 years ago with her husband, Gary; earlier this year, Lemons and his wife, Shelly, adopted a son from Ethiopia.  

The Lemons family are big advocates of adoption. Pastor Lemons cites his faith as motivation for adopting, and his wife confessed that she can hardly help from sharing how amazing the process has been; although difficult, she said she reminded herself that "nothing truly amazing in life is easy."

"Adoption is a beautiful process of grafting a family together through love and connection and prayers," she said.

And Shelly Lemons is also very grateful to have her son grow up in an environment where adoption is common and where he can see other families "that visually look like his," she said.

Friedens' culture of adoption has a history that spans several decades — the two previous senior pastors at the church also had adopted children, Shelly Lemon said.

"I would say it is very rare to have three senior pastors in a row with a desire to see God grow their family through adoption," she said.

The mission to help families with adoption developed organically over the past several years, Shlenvogt explained.

"It was something we just realized, and it just happened," she said.

In 2010, the church began its Forever Families ministry to help families who have or are considering fostering or adopting children.  Last fall, the church hosted a run and silent auction to raise money to offset the costs associated with adoptions and donated some of the proceeds to foster families and foreign orphanages. 

The Adoption 101 program is an extension of the Forever Families ministry, and hopes to reach beyond just Friedens Church, Schlenvogt said. Those interested in attending Adoption 101 on Saturday at Friedens Church should RSVP by calling 262-284-2471.