Diversity is the strength of a family’s unity.

USA (MNN)–The diversity of a family creates unique opportunity for ministry. A case in point: Charlie and his wife, Kim, who’ve adopted through Adoption Associates.

They have two children from China, ages 5 and 3, a three-year old from Russia, and a special needs African American baby from Detroit.

Charlie explains, “When we go out to dinner, or we go out to the mall, we’re a walking billboard. A lot of people just stop and they just gape at us, because they see this kaleidoscope of kids.”

He says this is where the door opens for them to share a little about their faith. A natural curiosity. “Nine times out of ten, we’ve got a perfect opportunity then because they praise us, and we just tell them, ‘It’s not us; it’s God working through us.'”

Although Kim has dreamt of adopting children from China since she was a child, for both Charlie and Kim, their adoptive decisions are an issue of obedience.

At age 50, Charlie just didn’t see himself parenting young kids. However, since their first adoption, they’ve never looked back. Quoting James 1:27 as their family mandate, “To look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. So, that’s our calling, is to help out the orphans and the widows, and to pull up alongside of them, because they have no voice.”

Charlie and Kim now recruit prospective adoptive families on behalf of Adoption Associates, Inc., sharing their story, their faith and their desire to help orphans who need homes.