Impact of One

Take the story of Eugene and Carol Allison.  What started as a pursuit of their first adoption of two children from Russia in 2001 resulted in a journey that included a hurdle common to many adoptive families — a financial barrier to complete the adoption. Humbled by the generosity of friends and church family who helped them complete their adoption, God placed in their hearts the desire to help other Christian families trying to adopt but in need of financial assistance. This one adoption lead to the founding of ABBA Fund in 2004 to provide interest-free loans to assist families, a second adoption from Russia of two more children in 2005, the assistance of several other ministries starting financial adoption assistance programs — and nearly 10 years later, almost 700 orphans from 24 different countries becoming sons and daughters in more than 500 Christian families through more than $4 million in adoption assistance through ABBA Fund. That’s the impact of one.

For Dwain and Heidi Gullion, their one adoption of a daughter from China led to a second adoption of a daughter from China, and a lifetime of ministry and encouragement to adoptive families all across the country. The ABBA Fund teams affectionately calls Dwain, who sits on the ABBA Fund Board and serves as the ministry’s President, the “itinerant pastor to the Christian adoption community” because of the way he pours himself out to serve adoptive families, orphans and ministry leaders around the world — and is usually the name someone gives an adoptive family to call who has a question. The Gullions have helped hundreds of families exploring adoption, and ministered to hundreds of adoptive families navigating the challenges that come after their adoption. Dwain has also connected business leaders and ministries together with the medical professionals, researchers and others serving the adoptive community, resulting in relationships and resources that have impacted thousands adoptive parents, their children and professionals. That’s the impact of one.

Jason and Shawnda Kovacs, one of the the earliest families assisted by ABBA Fund, have four adopted children. With a keen understanding and passion for the missional aspect of adoption and the scriptural basis of adoption, Jason has become a well known blogger, speaker and champion for adoptive families. In addition to spearheading the development of church adoption loan fund programs, Jason also helped co-found the Together for Adoption conferences and resources that have ministered to several thousand adoptive families around the country. Jason continues to blog and share about his domestic and international adoption experiences at conferences and retreats all over the country for ABBA Fund, but serves full-time at The Austin Stone Community Church where he oversees the Austin Stone Counseling Center and specializes in caring for and developing resources for adoptive families. That’s the impact of one.