Biblical Mandate for the Vulnerable
Pastor Chris challenges the Church and the community to hear the gospel call to care for the vulnerable. Learn how caring for the vulnerable changed Pastor Chris's vocation and family one child at a time. Orphan Sunday is a way for churches to grow and develop in supporting orphan care. We as the church need to come alongside the government to help the orphan crisis.
GUEST
Chris Johnson joined Lifeline in March 2020 and serves as the National Director of Church Partnerships. He previously served as a pastor for 24 years and as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives. Chris has also served as a consultant and has been a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences, churches, and community gatherings, sharing his family’s story and challenging others to answer the gospel call to care for vulnerable children and families. He was born and raised in metro Atlanta, GA and currently lives in Birmingham. Chris attended Regent University and studied Educational Leadership and also Trinity Baptist College, where he studied Church Ministries. He has an amazing wife named Alicia and they have 10 children (3 biological and 7 adopted from foster care). They have also served as foster parents to more than 40 children. For fun, Chris likes reading, spending time with his family, and cheering on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets! He loves football!! Chris’s 3 simple joys are: holding his wife’s hand, hearing about his kids’ days and watching a good football game. His favorite thing about working for Lifeline is “the heart and passion of the staff. Getting to engage and support churches in utilizing the amazing tools and resources that Lifeline offers to care for the vulnerable.”
RESOURCES
October 7 — Road Map to International Adoption Webinar
Chris Johnson joined Lifeline in March 2020 and serves as the National Director of Church Partnerships. He previously served as a pastor for 24 years and as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives. Chris has also served as a consultant and has been a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences, churches, and community gatherings, sharing his family’s story and challenging others to answer the gospel call to care for vulnerable children and families. He was born and raised in metro Atlanta, GA and currently lives in Birmingham. Chris attended Regent University and studied Educational Leadership and also Trinity Baptist College, where he studied Church Ministries. He has an amazing wife named Alicia and they have 10 children (3 biological and 7 adopted from foster care). They have also served as foster parents to more than 40 children. For fun, Chris likes reading, spending time with his family, and cheering on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets! He loves football!! Chris’s 3 simple joys are: holding his wife’s hand, hearing about his kids’ days and watching a good football game. His favorite thing about working for Lifeline is “the heart and passion of the staff. Getting to engage and support churches in utilizing the amazing tools and resources that Lifeline offers to care for the vulnerable.”
RESOURCES
October 7 — Road Map to International Adoption Webinar
If you’re considering international adoption but are stuck with too many questions to list, we invite you to join our upcoming webinar, Road
Map to International Adoption, on October 11.
Map to International Adoption, on October 11.
Topics include application process, what’s a home study, what does travel look like, financing your adoption, and more.
Register for free at lifelinechild.org/info-meetings/
HOST
Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.
LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES
HOST
Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.
LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples.
Creators and Guests
Host
Herbie Newell
Herbie Newell serves as the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, holds an MBA in Accounting from Samford University and brings years of experience from his work as an independent auditor at WAKM Companies, LLC. Serving as Lifeline's Executive Director since 2003, Herbie has significantly expanded international outreach, obtained licensure in 17 states, and led the establishment of the foster care arm. A passionate advocate, he co-founded (un)adopted in 2009, focusing on equipping orphaned children with life skills for community transformation. Herbie, also the author of "Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-birth to Pro-Life," emphasizes that being pro-life extends beyond opposing abortion, urging a broader ethic that includes fighting for racial equality and embracing every individual with the love of Christ. Herbie and his wife, Ashley, reside in Birmingham, Alabama, and are the parents to three children.
Host
Rick Morton
As Vice President of Engagement, Rick Morton shepherds the ministry’s outreach to individual, church, and organizational ministry partners as well as the ministry’s commitment to publishing resources that aid families and churches in discipling orphans and vulnerable children. Prior to Lifeline, Rick served for 15 years as a college and seminary professor, and he also served local churches in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He is an accomplished writer and sought after speaker. Most notably, Rick is the co-author of the popular Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-centered Adoption and Orphan Care and the author of KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology. Rick and his lovely wife Denise have been married for over 32 years, and they have 3 children, all of whom joined their family through international adoption. God has continued to grow their family, and he now enjoys the role of “Doc” to his precious granddaughter!