God's Children Adoption Agency

Amy Twedt, Executive Director:
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My husband, Roger, and I are blessed to be the parents of twelve children, ten of whom have been adopted into our home. Needless to say, we believe very strongly in the purpose of adoption and the power of providing a home for a child in need. Our children have taught us so much, through both life’s trials and joys…we have been blessed beyond measure.

I have been involved in child advocacy for many years, as a foster parent, adoptive parent, Guardian ad Litem with the court system, Parent Resource Developer with the North American Council on Adoptable Children and presently, as the Executive Director of God’s Children Adoption Agency, Inc. I believe Christian families are being called into the ministry of adoption and that God ordains children into the adoptive homes He intends. It is my prayer that your time with God’s Children Adoption Agency, Inc. will be a blessing and that you experience God’s provisions and miracles throughout your adoption journey.

Lindsey Ness, LSW, Family Case Manager
Serving outstate Minnesota and North Dakota:
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My husband of five years and I are blessed to be parenting two children through adoption. Ava joined our family through domestic infant adoption and Major was welcomed home through an international placement from Haiti. I have been employed with God’s Children Adoption Agency since 2006 and have a degree in social work from Minnesota State University Moorhead. During college, I worked with children and adults who were developmentally delayed or were struggling with behaviors stemming from mental health diagnoses. Adoption has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a large adoptive family, being the oldest of twelve children, ten who joined my family through adoption. My younger adoptive brothers and sisters have taught me the value of commitment, the goal to never give up on each other and the worth of a loving, supportive family. Needless to say, I am passionate about adoption and orphan ministry. I feel so fortunate to be working in adoption and be a small part of bringing children into their forever homes.

Kristin Goodreau, Family Case Manager:
Serving Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding area:
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I have been married to husband, Chris, for 18 years. We have been blessed to have four beautiful children. Our three oldest children are biological and our fourth child joined our family through the miracle of adoption! We were blessed to be able to meet our daughter’s birth mom, a very amazing experience and one we will forever cherish. We know that we have a big job ahead of us and are doing everything possible to best raise our daughter to thrive in our trans-racial family. My grandmother was adopted through Minnesota’s foster care system in the 1920’s so I have a very personal connection to the meaning of adoption! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and am currently working toward a Master’s of Arts Degree. I have worked many positions in the social work realm, with children and adults, and have spent 10 years with my primary job being a stay-at- home mom to my children. I absolutely believe that God designed adoption as an amazing way to create a family and I am blessed to work with families along their adoption journey!

Anita Ruthenbeck, Family Case Manager:
Serving Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding area:
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l have been married to Joel, my high school sweetheart, for 20 years. We had three biological children and in 2008 we began our journey of adopting from the foster care system. We were hoping to be matched with a sibling group of two or three and we realized that God had a different plan. He enabled us to face our fears and we brought home a sibling group of five in January 2009. We have experienced His many blessings over the past two years and He continues to provide for us and show us that we are following His will. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and I have completed my coursework for a Master’s Degree in Teaching. I have worked many positions over the past twenty years including home daycare provider, director of a childcare center, retail management, and a 2nd grade teacher. I began working with God’s Children Adoption Agency, Inc in June of 2010 and it has been such a pleasure to work in a field them I am passionate about!!

Alison Olson, Office Manager:
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My husband I have been blessed with three daughters through adoption. All three of our girls joined our family through domestic adoption, they are currently ages 3,4 and 5. I have been employed with God’s Children Adoption Agency since October 2010. Adoption has played a large part of our lives as my husband, Andrew, was adopted as an infant. We were privileged to meet his birth family three years ago and have enjoyed spending time with our now very large extended families. I have a passion for all aspects of adoption I feel blessed to be working in the office at God's Children Adoption Agency, Inc. and to be a tiny part of your families miracle!

Kip & Cathy Johnson, Elijah's Truth:

We were very excited to begin a family. We had the desire to adopt children since we both were very young. When we decided to begin trying to start a family, we discovered some challenges. This confirmed in us our desire to pursue adoption, and to grow our family. We knew that God was calling us to adopt, and we had to trust that He would provide for us. We received three grants that allowed us to bring Elijah home, which was a huge answer to prayer, and we were/are so greatful!

We were so excited to bring home our new bundle of joy. We were blessed with 2.5 months with our Eli before he became sick. We took him to the hospital and found out that he was in liver failure. After a brave 3 week fight, through surgeries and pokes, our little boy went home to be with Jesus during transplant surgery. Our time with Eli was too short, but we trust Him and know that one day we will be with our little Eli again. We have hope because Christ died so that those who trust Him will be with Him again some day. The following months after his passing were/are hard, but we haven’t had to go through it alone. God has blessed us by revealing Himself to us in new and deeper ways. Our desire to have a family continued, and we decided to adopt again. We knew that having another child wouldn’t replace Eli, but we also knew that God had good things for us as well.

We named this beautiful addition to our family Aaron. We know that God has much more planned for our future. This has been a hard journey, but God is good and we praise him for blessing us with two beautiful baby boys in less than one year. All of this was possible because of the grants we received, which lessened the financial burden of the adoption costs. As a memorial to our beautiful baby boy, Elijah, we started Elijah's Truth - to help other families with their adoption journey.