Conference Speakers
Our 2011 keynote speaker is Dr. Karyn Purvis. Dr. Karyn Purvis is the Director of the Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. During the past decade, she and her colleagues at the Institute have invested their efforts towards developing research-based interventions for at-risk children. Throughout her life, Karyn’s personal and professional calling has been to create a welcoming, loving environment for children who come from "hard places". Dr. Purvis is also co-author of the acclaimed book, The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family, and is a co-contributor to the Empowered to Connect project.
Sessions:
Keynote Address
Empowering, Connecting, and Correcting
Kim Johnson and her husband Dave suffered through 6 years of infertility prior to having a biological daughter conceived through IUI. After Emily's birth, they tried IUI for another year with no success. They were happy with the choice to only have one child until God placed adoption on their hearts. Dave an Kim are long time members of Lake Pointe Church and have served in the Lake Pointe Church Adoption & Foster Care Ministry since 2006. They adopted their daughter Abbey from Russia in 2006 and have recently returned home from Russia where they adopted their son Nathan.
Sessions:
Adoption 101
David & Leslie Brewer married in 1996 and have three wonderful children, two boys and a girl. The first child was the result of successful infertility treatment (IUI), the second child was adopted domestically, and the third child was an unexpected miracle! David & Leslie like to share their adoption story and to mentor and pray for other couples going through the process. The most important thing they learned during their adoption was to trust God's plan even when things looked bleak.
Sessions:
Domestic Adoption 101
Jay and Courtney Jordan have been happily married for 12 years. They are the proud parents of two beautiful children, Callie and Jae Min who was adopted from South Korea in the spring of 2009. After having one biological child and plans to grow their family larger, they began to realize that God's plan was to grow their family through the miracle of adoption. They have been a part of the Lake Pointe Adoption & Foster Care Ministry for the past 5 years and are currently serving in the role of International Adoption Coordinators for the ministry.
Sessions:
International Adoption 101
Financing Adoption
Russell Rogers is founder and executive director of SALT Family Ministries, which is dedicated to training and encouraging churches and families to start Foster and Adoption ministries. He is a Texas Governor appointee to the Texas Adoption Review Committee, whose responsibilities include advising on the restructuring of CPS in Texas. He is a spokesman for the Texas DFPS (CPS) Faith-based department. Russell is also Founder and Senior Pastor of Trinity Life Baptist Church in Garland, TX. Russell and his wife Shelly were licensed Foster & Adoptive parents for 11 years, and have 5 children including 3 that were adopted.
Sessions:
Foster Parenting 101
Life As a Foster Family
Foster Care Redesign in Texas
Gary and Charlotte Moreau have been involved in foster care ministry since 1999. They started a weekly ministry called Disciple Live at Buckner and served foster kids ages 6-17. In 2004, God provided an opportunity for their family to foster a 6 month old baby girl from Mexico while her mother finished serving a prison sentence. In 2006, God brought the Moreau family a baby boy in state care who has now become a permanent member of their family along with two other children. Matthew, Lexi, and Justin were foster children who were adopted through the CPS system. The Moreau family has a heart for foster children, foster birth families, and adoption.
Sessions:
Adopting Children From the Foster Care System
Todd and Veronica Westlake have been happily married for 17 years. Prior to adopting their daughter, they suffered through several unsuccessful infertility treatments including IUI, IVF and Frozen Embryo Transplant. After much prayer, God placed it on their hearts that the creation of a family is not just about biology, but a decision to love others as our Heavenly Father has loved us. Through their experience, they want to encourage others to see beyond the science of becoming a parent to the realization of parenthood through adoption.
Sessions:
Infertility & Adoption
Beverley Lewin is a licensed social worker and teacher. Beverley has been involved in child placement through international and domestic adoption for 18 years. She has also taught pre-school for over 30 years and has an avid interest in young children and their emotional development. Beverley's pre-placement counsel of adoptive parents have helped many families be prepared with practical advice on helping their children attach successfully.
Sessions:
Will My Child Attach?
The Home Study
Andrew and Tricia Steele are proud parents of four children. They adopted their youngest child, Jessie, from China in 2006. The Steele's have been involved in adoption and orphan ministry for 5 years and have a passion for helping adoptive and foster families in their journeys. Andrew and Tricia currently serve in the Lake Pointe Church Adoption & Orphan Ministries.
Sessions:
Launching an Orphan Ministry in Your Church
Establishing a Church Adoption Fund
Jason and Kelly Decker have been married 16 years and have three children. Their first two children were born premature through difficult pregnancies for Kelly. Their third child, Elliana, was was adopted domestically via a private agency. They have been involved in the Lake Pointe Church Adoption Ministry since 2006 and have facilitated various adoption classes. They have seen God's heart for adoption and feel blessed to be able to encourage other families in their adoption journeys.
Sessions:
Preparing Your Heart and Your Family for Adoption
Your Adopted Child's Identity - Panel Discussion
Bruce and Denise Kendrick are co-founders of Embrace the orphan care ministry at Rhea's Mill Baptist Church (a small suburban church in North Texas). The Kendrick's have been foster parents for the past 8 years caring for nearly 30 children in that timeframe. Now parents of 7 children ranging in ages from 2-18 years old, they serve as full-time missionaries to see the church reclaim the care of orphans and waiting children. You will often find the Kendrick's camping, perfecting their Tex-Mex cuisine or planning their 2015 road trip across the US.
Sessions:
Living as a Multi-racial Family
Supporting Adoptive and Foster Families in Your Church
Cyndi Krawietz began her journey as an educator upon completing her M.Ed. in 1991. When she began a season as a stay-at-home mom a few years later, she could have never imagined what God had in mind for her teaching career! She has homeschooled her two oldest children since kindergarten, and her youngest son (adopted from Ethiopia) since he came home at age 9 in 2008. She is a mom to three great kids- Bethany, 18 , a freshman in college, Kyle, 15, in his sophomore year of high school, and Minte (MIN-tay), 13, ESL 7th grade. She and her husband Luke have been married for 20 years and enjoy participating in ministry and mission work through the non-profit International Hope and Heritage as well as Lake Pointe Church where they are members.
Sessions:
Home Schooling Your Adopted and Foster Children
Dr. Garcia is a board certified pediatrician and a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children's Medical Center Dallas. She has extensive expertise in international health with her infectious disease background, including care of children with HIV infection, and with over 10 years of training in Venezuela. Her areas of interest are infectious diseases, international health, and care of underserved children.
Sessions:
International Adoption Medical Concerns
Jeanine Thomas has over 13 years of experience with children's sensory development. Jeanine is the co-owner of Excel Pediatric Therapy in Rockwall Texas and is a SIPT certified Occupational Therapist. Jeanine has worked with many children in hospital, school, and clinical settings.
Sessions:
Introduction to Sensory Integration
Sensory Integration Strategies