Terry Parkman landed in China for the first time to adopt his first daughter. In October 2019, just before the COVID-19 lockdown, he and his wife Christina returned to adopt their second daughter. The couple’s commitment to adoption is rooted in God’s calling and their submission to Scripture.
Reflecting on the decision to adopt, as a NextGen pastor in a church in Minneapolis, Terry emphasized that adoption is not merely an option but a biblical command.
“We are called to care for orphans and widows,” he said. “It’s not a question of whether we should do it, but how we should do it.” For some, this might mean providing financial support to orphanages or care programs. For Terry and Christina, it meant personally welcoming orphans into their family through adoption.
It was Christina who initially felt a strong calling to adopt, a conviction Terry soon shared. As they prayed about where to adopt, God placed China in their hearts as a family, just as He had called Terry to be a pastor. The family also prayed for China and the believers there.
Terry placed their personal experience within the broader context of adoption trends in the U.S. He noted that during the 1990s, widespread media coverage in America highlighted the need for adoption. Churches across the country responded generously, funding adoptions and orphan care initiatives. This momentum led to a surge of Christian parents stepping forward to adopt from all over the world, including from China.
“Whenever there's a need, especially a humanitarian need, churches are always the first to respond,” Terry said.
Terry described their adoption journey as “wonderful” and credited China for blessing their family with two beautiful daughters. The agency in China they worked with guided them through the paperwork and ensured they had the resources needed. “The process of adoption is very beneficial and easy to navigate,” he said.
However, Terry acknowledged that the greatest challenge in adoption lies in building attachment. “If you don’t get the attachment, then you don’t have that parent-child relationship,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Terry expressed hope for the reopening of international adoptions in China.
