tap-es-try

[tap-uh-stree]  n.  –  a  fabric woven together by hand to produce a rich and complex design, often consisting of multi-colored threads

Our Journey

From the time this ministry began in 2005, we have focused on serving families as they travel the adoption and foster care journey. All who have been touched by adoption share a common bond, but each journey is unique and is marked with both joys and challenges.

We are couples who have traveled the road of infertility; we are couples and singles alike who have felt God’s call to adopt or foster; we are families with children who look like their parents and families with children who do not; we are families whose members represent birth countries and cultures from five continents; we are families whose members speak different languages; we are those who are waiting to adopt or foster and those whose wait has just recently come to an end; we are adoptive families and foster families – and the list goes on.  In the end, we are families just the same, and we believe that God is doing something truly remarkable among us as He forms families and transforms lives through the miracle of adoption.

There are many different families representing many beautiful “God stories” that make up the community we call Tapestry.

Click here to read more about the history of Tapestry.

Connect.  Encourage.  Equip.

The focus at Tapestry is primarily three fold: to connect, encourage and equip. Tapestry provides a loving, supportive and authentic community that encourages families along their adoption journey. It has been our experience that communities such as ours are a unique resource at each stage of the adoption or foster journey, and are particularly valuable to families during the difficult times. For those families we offer our prayers, our love and support, our friendship and the collective wisdom and insight of those who have successfully navigated similar paths.

We also provide quality, objective information about adoption and foster care. This includes honest and accurate information about the adoption and foster care process and a realistic understanding of both the joys and challenges adoptive and foster families often face. We focus specifically on helping those who are considering adoption or foster care to make informed decisions based on facts and realities, rather than idealized notions of “saving the world,” sensationalized stereotypes or fear. Recognizing that in many ways the journey has only begun when a child is welcomed into a family, we provide effective information and educational resources as well as support and encouragement (through a variety of large and small group events and activities) for adoptive families to help them as they continue along their journey.

What is Tapestry all about? Watch as several families talk about what Tapestry has meant to them as they traveled the adoption and foster care journey.

Reaching Out

The number of orphans worldwide is truly staggering – and heartbreaking. The realities concerning children in foster care in North Texas are no less overwhelming. But as followers of Jesus Christ we are called to love and serve the orphan and fatherless and it is our privilege to do so. Reaching out to these children is, as James reminds us, the essence of “pure and faultless” religion (James 1:27).

Irving Bible Church is committed to loving and serving these children – whether they are half a world away or literally in our own neighborhoods. Irving Bible Church’s international initiatives offers many different opportunities focused on serving orphans and children at risk around the world. In addition, Tapestry is helping raise awareness of the needs of the thousands of North Texas children in foster care, including the nearly 1,000 children in our community who are waiting to be adopted by a forever family. Read about some of the ways that Tapestry is helping people love and serve local children in foster care.

Helping Other Church Adoption/Foster Care Ministries

We believe that the local church can and should play a unique role in connecting, encouraging and informing adoptive and foster families. That is why we are committed to helping other churches launch and grow adoption and foster care ministries. Whether by sharing our resources, ideas or experiences, we are available to help other churches (in the North Texas area and elsewhere) plan, launch and grow healthy, church adoption and foster care ministries. You can find a variety of resources to help church adoption/foster care ministries here. You can also contact us at [email protected] if we can help you and your church move forward with an adoption. foster care or orphan care ministry.