50+ Indian Adoptees Reunite at Alabama Church Event

More than 50 children adopted from India came together at North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham this July, celebrating their heritage alongside the families who chose them.

Lifeline Children's Services, a Christian adoption agency, organized the reunion to help adoptive families connect with others on similar journeys. The event gave kids a chance to see other children who look like them and parents an opportunity to share wisdom about raising children across cultures.

Pastor Jared Cornutt and his wife Kandace adopted two of their five children from India. For them, the gathering offered something precious: conversation with people who truly understand their unique family story.

"It was just incredible to see 50-plus kids from India walking around with Christian parents in this church," Cornutt said. He and his wife brought home Andrew in 2018 and Benjamin in 2023, both as toddlers.

The pastor's heart for adoption began years earlier on a missions trip to Zimbabwe. A mother handed him her baby, hoping an American could give her child better opportunities. That moment planted a seed that would eventually grow into his family.

Brandon and Andria Owen attended with their three biological children and 18-month-old Kai, recently adopted from India. They chose India because one-fifth of the world's orphans live there, more than 30 million children.

"Being where the greatest need was just felt like a very clear lead from the Lord," Brandon said. The family views India's culture as something beautiful to embrace, not erase.

Sunny's Take

The reunion became a full-circle moment when the Owen family met their Indian guide, Vikram Naidu, in person for the first time. Case managers and the people who helped bring these children home joined the celebration, witnessing the families they helped create.

Parents further along in their adoption journeys offered advice to newer families navigating questions about identity and belonging. Those just beginning shared their fresh excitement and hopes.

Lifeline continues supporting families long after adoption papers are signed. The agency prepares parents for difficult conversations ahead and remains a resource as children grow and ask deeper questions about their stories.

For Cornutt, adoption reflects something even bigger than family building. "Adoption is a picture of the gospel," he said, encouraging anyone considering it to pray seriously about the calling.

These 50-plus children are growing up hearing about faith while staying connected to their Indian heritage, proof that love builds bridges across any distance.