Greetings from Michigan! We are Steve and Holly Schutter. Right now we are a family of three. Steve is a trooper with the Michigan State Police and Holly is a busy trying to keep up with our adopted son, Samuel, as a stay at home mom. Sam is a high energy four-year-old who never stops moving and learning. He loves playing with other kids and is very much looking forward to having a baby brother or sister.
As for Holly and I, we have always wanted our home to be a safe haven for children in need and have always shared a love for adoption. As Jesus told the disciples (and all his followers) to let the children come to him, we have longed to show his love to children in the way he would if he were here in the flesh. Several years ago, we became foster parents for this purpose and eventually adopted our beautiful son Samuel out of foster care.
Throughout this journey we have hoped to bring a baby home from the hospital. The Lord has not seen fit to give us this gift biologically but has been gracious to us by giving us a passion for adoption before we knew it was likely our only avenue for babies. Through the pain of this journey he has been by our side in so many ways. He has given us a son that we cannot imagine loving more if he was biologically ours. Though we do not know what child he will allow us to adopt, we already feel God’s blessing on us and love for this little person he will knit together for us to raise.
We are currently working with Faithful Adoption Consultants, a consulting agency that will assist us through the process and present our adoption profile to expecting mothers in five states. Their slogan is, “a heart for mothers, a hope for families, a home for children.” They seek to come alongside women who are in some level of distress about their pregnancy, provide help for them and a home for their child if they decide to give that child up for adoption.
We would be honored if you would prayerfully consider how you might be a part of our village. We are asking for a lot of prayer during this process as we have been told to expect to present to around 40 expecting mothers before being chosen to receive a baby.
Financially there are many obstacles. The cases we have presented on so far average around $50,000 of future costs to us. We have spent about $8,000 and God has been so good in our fundraising so far. We are about 25% funded, so we still have a ways to go. Despite the high cost and obstacles involved, we are thrilled to be actively presenting to expecting mothers and are confident that the Lord will provide for his plan. We are trusting in him and asking that you prayerfully consider whether he would use you to help bring baby Schutter home.