What God Has Opened

Matthew Termeer
Matthew Termeer Columbus, Ohio

Thanks for taking the time to read our story! We hope that we’re able to communicate why and how we’ve developed a heart for adoption, and how God has continued to open our hearts to this exciting venture.

We are Matt and Chelsea Termeer. We have three biological kids – Abigail (8), Samuel (6), and Ezekiel (3) – who keep us busy, but also keep us joyful. We make our home in Columbus, OH – a house where Chelsea homeschools our kids and Matt works from home. We officially started our adoption journey in the summer of 2022, and we couldn’t be more excited! But unofficially, the journey started over a decade ago.

Even before we were married in 2012, when we discussed what we wanted our future family to look like, we would mention that adoption could be an option for us. In our first years of marriage, we were members of a church that was very passionate about adoption, and very supportive of its adoptive families. It was then that we began to see the theological reasons behind adoption: that it is an expression of true religion as mentioned in James 1:27; and that it is an imitation of God the Father, who has graciously adopted us into his family. As our family has grown through the addition of our three biological children, we see that God is clearly leading us to adopt our next child, again for a couple of reasons. First, Chelsea has had increasingly difficult pregnancies and deliveries, to the point that Ezekiel, our third child, was delivered purposefully a month early to avoid complications. The second reason is the Supreme Court’s decision in the summer of 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. We felt God telling us to act, and so that very day, we decided to start the adoption process, in order to give a home to a newborn baby that might not otherwise have had the chance to live. And third, we feel that God has challenged us to open our home to others, and now we have the chance to include another child in that.

We know that this process will be both joyful and difficult, and we know that welcoming a newborn into our family will be bittersweet as we celebrate her arrival while also considering the tough decision that the birth mother has had to make. But we trust that God is faithful, and that he will provide wisdom, patience, compassion, and love. We are excited about this journey (our kids even more so)!

On September 14, 2023, we were matched with an expectant mother from Florida, whose baby girl is due on Valentine's Day of 2024. We are beyond thrilled! Receiving the news that we'd been chosen is easily one of the highlights of our lives. We can't wait to meet our little girl and welcome into our family and into our home, and to give her her name: Hannah Hope.

We are thrilled to have been awarded an $8000 matching grant through Hope That Binds Adoption Fund and Lifesong for Orphans. However, our overall fundraising goal for our adoption is $45,000. We would be honored if you would prayerfully consider partnering with us in achieving this goal. All donations made are tax-deductible.

And please join us in prayer! We have been going before our Heavenly Father, constantly asking that he would prepare us, our kids, and the baby to be united as a family. We pray for the birth mother, whoever and wherever she may be, that God would give her peace and wisdom and health. We would love for you to partner with us in this way, too.


STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Termeer 10376”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.

Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

  • In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
  • Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
  • *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card
Read more
Raised to date by 16 people
 of  $45,000
93 days left

My Story

Thanks for taking the time to read our story! We hope that we’re able to communicate why and how we’ve developed a heart for adoption, and how God has continued to open our hearts to this exciting venture.

We are Matt and Chelsea Termeer. We have three biological kids – Abigail (8), Samuel (6), and Ezekiel (3) – who keep us busy, but also keep us joyful. We make our home in Columbus, OH – a house where Chelsea homeschools our kids and Matt works from home. We officially started our adoption journey in the summer of 2022, and we couldn’t be more excited! But unofficially, the journey started over a decade ago.

Even before we were married in 2012, when we discussed what we wanted our future family to look like, we would mention that adoption could be an option for us. In our first years of marriage, we were members of a church that was very passionate about adoption, and very supportive of its adoptive families. It was then that we began to see the theological reasons behind adoption: that it is an expression of true religion as mentioned in James 1:27; and that it is an imitation of God the Father, who has graciously adopted us into his family. As our family has grown through the addition of our three biological children, we see that God is clearly leading us to adopt our next child, again for a couple of reasons. First, Chelsea has had increasingly difficult pregnancies and deliveries, to the point that Ezekiel, our third child, was delivered purposefully a month early to avoid complications. The second reason is the Supreme Court’s decision in the summer of 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. We felt God telling us to act, and so that very day, we decided to start the adoption process, in order to give a home to a newborn baby that might not otherwise have had the chance to live. And third, we feel that God has challenged us to open our home to others, and now we have the chance to include another child in that.

We know that this process will be both joyful and difficult, and we know that welcoming a newborn into our family will be bittersweet as we celebrate her arrival while also considering the tough decision that the birth mother has had to make. But we trust that God is faithful, and that he will provide wisdom, patience, compassion, and love. We are excited about this journey (our kids even more so)!

On September 14, 2023, we were matched with an expectant mother from Florida, whose baby girl is due on Valentine's Day of 2024. We are beyond thrilled! Receiving the news that we'd been chosen is easily one of the highlights of our lives. We can't wait to meet our little girl and welcome into our family and into our home, and to give her her name: Hannah Hope.

We are thrilled to have been awarded an $8000 matching grant through Hope That Binds Adoption Fund and Lifesong for Orphans. However, our overall fundraising goal for our adoption is $45,000. We would be honored if you would prayerfully consider partnering with us in achieving this goal. All donations made are tax-deductible.

And please join us in prayer! We have been going before our Heavenly Father, constantly asking that he would prepare us, our kids, and the baby to be united as a family. We pray for the birth mother, whoever and wherever she may be, that God would give her peace and wisdom and health. We would love for you to partner with us in this way, too.


STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Termeer 10376”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.

Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

  • In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
  • Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
  • *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card
Read more

Comments

$1,000

Pamela

Dec 20, 2023

“Matt and Chelsea, From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year with your growing family.”

$10

Pamela

Dec 19, 2023

“test donation with Chrome 12/19/23 759 pm”

$150

Kevin & Catherine

Dec 17, 2023

“SO excited for your sweet family to be making room for one more!”

$1,500

Leo

Jul 10, 2023

“Matt and Chelsea, we have continued to see your love for God, your family and others. Praying with you for your upcoming adoption! Leo and Annette”

$200

Offline Donation

May 30, 2023

$1,000

Offline Donation

May 18, 2023

$500

Offline Donation

May 16, 2023

$154

Offline Donation

May 1, 2023

$685

Offline Donation

May 1, 2023

$100

Margie

Apr 12, 2023

$100

Offline Donation

Mar 29, 2023

$2,175

Offline Donation

Mar 20, 2023

$1,000

Offline Donation

Mar 20, 2023

$50

Marilee

Mar 16, 2023

“Blessings on your adoption journey!”

$500

Elizabeth

Mar 6, 2023

$100

Jacey

Mar 4, 2023

“Praying for your adoption! Thank you for sharing your story with us!”