Lifeline Children’s Services, a Christian adoption agency, held its 2026 Indian family reunion at North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham on July 25 for families to immerse themselves in their adopted child or children’s culture, as well as connect with others who have similar adoption stories.
Connecting with ‘people who look like them’
North Shelby Baptist lead pastor Jared Cornutt and his wife, Kandace, adopted two of their five children from India. He said the reunion allowed his adopted sons to see other people who look like them.
“Their story’s not the same as our story, but they’re living the same kind of life that we’re living,” Cornutt said.
Being able to sit down with people who are further along in their adoption journey was refreshing, Cornutt said. He was able to gain advice from parents who have answered difficult questions as their children grew older and give advice to those families who are beginning their new normal.
Led to adopt
The Cornutts adopted their oldest son, Andrew, in 2018 when he was nearly 2 years old. They adopted their third oldest child, Benjamin, in 2023 when he was almost 3 years old.
Cornutt said God began opening his heart to adoption when he was in his early 20s on a missions trip to Zimbabwe. He said the missions team was working at a hospital when a lady handed her baby to him. The group’s guide gave the baby back to the mother and explained that the woman recognized Cornutt as an American who could give her child a better life, he recalled.
“That’s when I kind of started doing some research about adoption,” Cornutt said. “God kind of put that on my heart.”
When Cornutt and his wife began dating, they shared that they both felt led to adopt. After they were married, they decided to adopt first before having biological children.
“One-fifth of all the orphans in the world live in India, more than 30 million orphans,” Cornutt said. “We wanted to adopt from there.”
Connecting with Lifeline
The couple had heard of Lifeline and how the organization focused on providing children to Christian families so they can hear the gospel. When the couple was ready to begin their adoption journey, Lifeline had just created an India program.
“It just seemed like God was working out all the details,” Cornutt said. “That’s how we came to partner with Lifeline and choose the India program which is now 12 years old.”
Brandon and Andria Owen also adopted from India and attended the reunion. The couple has three biological children and recently adopted their son, Kai, who is now 18 months old.
The family heard about Lifeline through their church and friends who had adopted from the agency.
The Owen family chose to adopt from India because of its large orphan population. The couple also had friends who adopted from India and Brandon had visited India before.
“Being where the greatest need was just felt like a very clear lead from the Lord,” Brandon said.
Andria said the family views India as a large part of their family’s culture. Brandon said he doesn’t want his son to feel like he lost his native culture when he was adopted.
“We just view India and India’s culture to be a beautiful thing and something we want to embrace and honor,” Andria said. “We just want Kai to always feel that we’re proud of where he’s from.”
A ‘surreal’ reunion
Cornutt said his experience at this year’s India reunion was “surreal” since the program was small when his family first adopted.
“It was just incredible to see 50-plus kids from India walking around with Christian parents in this church,” Cornutt said. “It’s just so cool to see these kids that are growing up hearing the gospel of Jesus because their parents were willing to do what some people would call a hard thing.”
During the Indian reunion, the Owen family was able to introduce Kai to some of the people who helped bring him home, including their case manager and Indian guide. The family was also able to meet their guide, Vikram Naidu, in person during the reunion.
Brandon said it was nice to connect with other families who have gone through similar adoption experiences.
“They instantly kind of understand what you have gone through or what you’re currently going through as it relates to parenting an adopted child from India,” Brandon said.
A redemption story
Cornutt said adoption is a challenging endeavor but that it has been one of the most rewarding things he has ever done. He is grateful Andrew and Benjamin’s mothers chose life for their sons.
“It was really cool to see just the stories of God’s redemption in the lives of these children,” Cornutt said. “Not only are they redeemed into a family but we’re praying by the grace of God, they’ll be redeemed into a spiritual family as well.”
Lifeline’s support
“Lifeline does an incredible job of preparing families for difficult conversations down the road,” he said. “For Christians, it is the best adoption agency that you could ever choose.”
Lifeline continues to support families after adoption is finalized and families return home.
“Lifeline doesn’t just help you get across the finish line or get started,” Cornutt said. “Lifeline is with you until the end.”
‘A picture of the gospel’
Cornutt said “adoption is a picture of the gospel” and he encourages anyone considering adoption to pray and fast. He said not everyone is called to adopt but everyone can support adoption and other families who are going through the process.
“In your own strength, you are not able to do this, but in our weakness, the strength of Christ is made perfect,” Cornutt said. “If God’s called you to adopt, He will see it to completion.”
Andria said God met physical, emotional and spiritual needs throughout the adoption process.
“The Lord just went before us and when we needed the money for our next payment, it was always there,” Andria said. “We’ve just really experienced deeper faith and trusting in Him as we’re just saying ‘yes’ to the unknown.
“Don’t ignore [the tug toward adopting if you are sensing it] because the Lord needs people to say ‘yes’,” Andria said. “There’s nothing greater than being obedient to the things that God’s put before us.”
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