The Defender Podcast

National Council for Adoption is a great organization speaking out for children's rights. Today we discuss with Chuck Johnson the state of foster care and adoption on the national level. Chuck once served as Executive Director at Lifeline.

Show Notes

Lifeline Store - https://store.lifelinechild.org/

GUEST 
Chuck Johnson serves as president and CEO of the National Council For Adoption. He is responsible for all aspects of NCFA, including management as well as implementing the organization’s mission. He is an advocate for children, birth parents, and adoptive families, and is a frequent writer, speaker, and commentator on adoption policy and practice.

Prior to joining NCFA, Chuck served 17 years with a licensed child-placing agency in Alabama, including eight years as its executive director. He was a consultant and on-camera participant to Hallmark Entertainment’s A Family for Li. His recent citations include Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, Reuters, TIME Magazine, Associated Press, MSNBC, Washington Post, Washington Times, and The New York Times. Chuck is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Social Work and holds a Masters degree from Birmingham Theological Seminary. He and his wife are parents by adoption and live in Maryland.


RESOURCES
We have hundreds of helpful articles, activity ideas, and other materials on our Resources Page. Topics covered include: adoption, attachment, siblings, medical needs, children’s behavioral challenges, birth parents, how to address grief and trauma, and more.  Visit www.lifelinechild.org/resources or see our show notes for more details. 


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 & 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 Senior 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!

What is The Defender Podcast?

The Defender Podcast is a ministry of Lifeline Children's Services where we seek to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and families. We hope this podcast will provide encouragement, inspiration, and ways to connect with others who have a heart for the orphan.