full disclosure: our family may not be an adoptive family. We tried, and our marriage couldn’t handle it. luckily, we found out earlier that a foster child was joining our family. however, from that experience, I discovered a passion for the theology of orphan care and began reading every Christian book on foster care I could find.
(I talk a bit about our history and serving foster families through respite care in this list of tips on how to read aloud to kids from tough places.)
You are reading: Christian books on adoption
Please note that the books on this list of Christian books only deal with the theology of adoption and care of orphans. there are a lot of really great secular books on foster care and adoption, but I only included non-fiction and overtly Christian books on foster care. there are also many excellent Christian and secular memoirs on adoption and foster care; I didn’t include them either. theology or bust!
If I had to start somewhere, if you’re new to foster care and adoption, I’d recommend ordinary, followed by orphanology. If you are already a foster parent, I recommend rethinking foster care. however, all of these Christian foster parenting books are worth reading for both groups!
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Christian books on foster care and adoption
honest adoption by mike and kristen berry
i recommend christian foster care books by the berry because i feel they are real. those perfect instagram influencers who show photos of their multicultural adoptive families and say that all families are called to adopt are not real.
If you’re just starting to think about caring for orphans, or if you or your spouse aren’t on the same page about welcoming children into your home, this is the Christian foster care book for you. begin. will clear up a lot of misconceptions people have about the process, all with a little humor and personal experience. it will also help you have the vocabulary to talk about these topics effectively with your spouse or church. highly recommended as a starting point. Probably less helpful for those in the middle of the journey, but might help those around you who love you and have questions.
(of course i don’t agree with everything mike and kristin say in this book or on their popular podcast but that’s why i think you should read a variety of resources and overall it’s very useful information ).
ordinary: how to turn the world upside down by tony merida
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Don’t be fooled by the ordinary small size. it is a short book that packs a theological punch. The premise of this Christian book on foster care and adoption is that it’s not just special people who are called to love others, it’s what God intended for all of us. It’s hard to argue when the author and his wife have adopted five children! there is a very nice video series that goes with the book. By the way, after our little group wrote this book together, two families ended up in foster care and one in adoption. then wait for results!
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adopted for life by russell d. more
This is the book to give to extended family members who say you shouldn’t have strange children in your home. (Hasn’t happened yet? It will. Sorry.) Adopted for Life gives a theological answer to “why should Christians adopt?” This is a must read if you are considering adoption, or if someone you love is adopting. it’s also the book you can give to family members who say, “why the hell would you do that?” Moore explains the Bible’s answers to some of the really hard questions surrounding adoption. weaves theology into his own life story as the father of two adopted children.
orphanology: awakening to gospel-centered adoption and caring for orphans by tony merida and rick morton
orphanology is, in my opinion, more academic than some of the other Christian foster parenting books on this list, but I like that. it dives into some deep theology about caring for the little ones, and it also has some really amazing statistics. you should come out of the book with a desire to help and some clear steps on how to do just that.
reframing foster care by jason johnson
foster care is awesome, incredible and an amazing ministry. it can also be harsh, isolated, and surprisingly exhausting. But above all, it is caring for the people that God loves deeply, and that is why it is important.
Reframing Foster Care is a brief look at 20 topics related to foster care and Christians, intended to be conducted as a small group study. is a great resource if you are considering becoming a foster family, already have foster children in your home, or want to help support other foster families. (I’m pretty sure those three groups cover everyone, right?)
warns that it has typos and grammatical errors, which literally causes me physical pain. so focus on the message and know that I wouldn’t recommend it if the message wasn’t great.
(Also check out Jason Johnson’s blog on foster care from a Christian perspective. Note that I don’t always agree with everything he says, but it’s still a great resource.)
everyone can do something by jason johnson
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everyone can do something is marketed as pastors or ministry leaders who are leading orphan care ministries. however, I think the message is for anyone who loves foster families: everyone can do something! maybe your “something” is organizing a nice paper delivery for a host family. or maybe it’s more. More academic and focused on action steps, I recommend this Christian book on foster care to those who are ready to get serious about helping, but aren’t called to care for themselves, and anyone in local ministry. of families.
too small to ignore: why what matters least is what matters most by wes stafford
too small to ignore is for those who have never really thought about parentless children before, and those who are just getting into orphan care ministry. It will help you to see the real needs and to think in terms of action steps to help the children, maybe bringing them home, maybe not. warns that this ancient book focuses on why children are important. If you’ve come across this list of Christian foster parenting books, you probably know this already. but this particular book might help you clear your thoughts, or help you if you’re writing or speaking on the subject. (By the way, Wes Stafford was the head of International Compassion for a long time, and this book focuses on international children.)
secular books for christians on trauma
god made our brains wonderfully and wonderfully! he also created our children’s brains so that trauma can affect them in predictable ways. all foster or adoptive parents should use all available resources to learn how trauma affects their child’s development.
However, reading books about the brain and trauma is not only important for foster parents, but for all Christians. let me say it again for the church greeters in the back: being trauma informed is important for the whole church!
Awareness of trauma is a crucial step in supporting those families in your life who are raising a child from difficult places. these are excellent (yet accessible) secular books on trauma that will help you understand why you’re struggling to reach the foster child in your Sunday school class, and help you empathize with families raising children from tough places who have to sit in the back of the sanctuary each week.
the body keeps track of bessel van der kolk
This fascinating book explains exactly how the experiences of early life affect us throughout our lives. it’s extremely informative and will help you empathize with everyone who shares your pew on Sunday. For my scientifically minded friends, this is the book for you. however, even those who may not necessarily find it interesting to hear about the exact hormones that wreak havoc on our brains will get a lot from this book. highly recommended.
the connected child and the connected father by karyn purvis and lisa qualls
These two books on trauma-informed parenting are excellent. warns that the connected child is ready once the child has a permanent plan (also known as adoption). for that reason, if you’re hosting, you’d definitely start with the parent attached. I love Karyn Purvis’ ideas in general, and the Karyn Purvis Child Development Institute resource website could be of great help if you’re looking for resources specific to trauma-informed parents or trauma-informed churches. (many of them are free!)
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