America World’s 20th Anniversary – Note from our CEO
Dear Friends,
Last night, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of America World Adoption Association. When my wife, Renee and I founded America World in 1994, we were in the process of adopting our first child from China. Many do not know that we never set out to open a full-service adoption agency. We merely wanted to establish a group to help support other families like ours who were going through the adoption process, but God had other plans. Twenty years later, America World has united nearly 4,000 children throughout the world with families. I am continually amazed by the work God has accomplished through this agency. America World is a living testimony that God’s plans are far beyond anything we could ever dream or accomplish on our own. All praise and honor belongs to Him!
Over the last twenty years, America World has grown from a local agency focused on adoptions from China, to serving families throughout the United States and children in ten different countries. Within the past three years, we’ve launched a domestic adoption program in Virginia, a hosting program bringing children to the United States on short-term cultural exchange trips, and a missions program that allows families to serve children living in our partner orphanages. Renee and I are grateful to the wonderful families who choose to grow their families through adoption and the staff who selflessly labor each day to give children a mom and dad.
Adoption has changed so much since America World opened its doors in May 1994. The majority of adoptions finalized today are of older or special needs children. While these adoptions present unique challenges, I am excited to see God raising up families for these children who desperately need to experience the love of a family. As we look to the future, it is our goal to increase the number of children adopted by opening adoption programs in more countries, actively advocating for the adoption of older children and those with special needs, and continuing to provide life-saving humanitarian aid in every country in which we operate.
Since 1994, we have seen nearly 4,000 children come home. If just $100 was given in honor of each child, we could raise $400,000 to serve children who are still waiting to hear the words “I love you†from a mom and dad. Will you please join us as a ministry partner by giving a tax-deductible gift to our General Fund?
Please also join me in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his favor to America World and asking for his continued blessing on our agency during the next twenty years. Renee and I are so blessed to be called to this ministry, and we look forward to serving children with you in the years to come.
In Christ,
Brian A. Luwis, Founder and CEO