An Important Update About AGCI’s Intercountry Adoption Program
In 1991, Ron and Jan Beazely felt the tug on their hearts, a clear signal from God, that their family was meant to grow through adoption. This profound journey took a tangible form when their eldest daughter, Heather, at only age 18, courageously ventured to the conflict-ridden terrains of Romania—to bring her new youngest sister, Hannah, home.
Their return to the U.S. was a moment of revelation, not just for the family but for the world. Media captured their touching reunion, and the aftermath was nothing short of miraculous. The Beazely family was inundated with calls from hearts yearning to help vulnerable children, marking the birth of All God’s Children International.
In the last 34 years, more than 4,500 children have found a loving forever family through AGCI’s intercountry adoption services. And while intercountry adoption has played an important part in our work over the last three decades, the decline in intercountry adoption globally led us to ask God the question, “Is this still where You’re calling us to serve?”
At its peak, nearly 23,000 children were brought home to U.S. families through intercountry adoption. But since that peak 20 years ago, we have seen a once steady, and now drastic, decline in intercountry adoption. Resulting in only 1,275 adoptions into the U.S. in 2023 (travel.state.gov).
With that, after much prayer and consideration, it is with heavy hearts we announce the decision to close All God’s Children International’s intercountry adoption program.
The Trends We’ve Seen
Twenty years ago, intercountry adoptions were booming in the United States. Reaching an all-time high of 22,988 intercountry adoptions to the U.S. in 2004 alone (travel.state.gov). Intercountry adoption was well established—and AGCI was proud to play our part. We stood up for vulnerable children and helped place them in loving, prepared forever families through our adoption program.
But over the last two decades, much has changed.
We have seen many changes for the better, such as stronger safeguards around ethical practices as governed by the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Increased acceptance of specialized needs has also allowed children to be adopted domestically before needing intercountry adoption, and many family preservation programs have also positively enhanced opportunities for children to stay with their biological families whenever possible.
Many of these changes in the adoption landscape are positive ones that align with AGCI’s core value to place the needs and best interests of children at the forefront.
In the midst of all these changes, we remain relentless trauma disruptors and child advocates who unlock new futures for children worldwide. For thousands of children around the world, this has looked like intercountry adoption. But for hundreds of thousands of children, this has looked different.
The decision to close our intercountry adoption program is not one made out of regret from the past, but rather is a reflection of our desire to unlock hope for even more vulnerable children and families around the world.
As we work, we will persist in our advocacy for intercountry adoption for children who need it, remaining steadfast in our belief that God used adoption to provide family for children who need one.
By discontinuing our adoption services, we will be able to increase our capacity to serve children and families in other ways, while still advocating for the children in need of intercountry adoption despite not facilitating those adoptions ourselves.
Serving Children Who Need Family
As we consider AGCI’s work and impact over the last 34 years, we are in awe of the opportunities God has given us to unlock family for children all around the world.
Intercountry adoption has played an important role in unlocking family for children, but through it all, we have simultaneously worked to advocate for the needs of children and disrupt the trauma they are bound by in other ways.
“While we remain strong believers in the power and beauty of intercountry adoption for children who have no alternative path to a family, our ability to serve children has deeply diminished through adoption over the years,” said Hollen Frazier, AGCI President. “Instead, God has led us to see how we can impact hundreds of thousands of children who need family as we work to empty institutions for good.”
We praise God for all the families who invited us into their adoption journey over the last 34 years. Walking alongside you as you follow God’s call to stand up for a child in need of a forever family has been an honor and privilege we will always be grateful for.
Amid this change, we still believe in a God who restores and makes all things new, and we invite you to look ahead with us, trusting God has and will continue to open new doors for us to help the most vulnerable.
Where God’s Calling Us
We trust God is calling AGCI forward into a new and urgent chapter of our mission, one of restoration and reconciliation.
Around the world, the needs of vulnerable children are shifting. Today, we are seeing greater opportunity and calling to intervene earlier in a child’s story by working to prevent family separation and reunify children with their biological families whenever safely possible.
This evolution in our work does not mark a departure from our mission. Rather, it is a deepening of our commitment to the core belief that every child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving, and permanent family.
We believe we can be even stronger advocates for children by stepping out of the role of a placing agency and into a position of equipping AGCI's global teams and local leaders around the world to restore children to family within their country of origin.
We have been committed to holistic child advocacy work since our founding in 1991, impacting more than 123,000 children each year through our other international work, and we look forward to all God has planned as we continue to expand and deepen this work in the coming years.
International Adoption Services
At AGCI, our work stands firm on the belief that in every child’s eyes, we see the reflection of our Creator. No matter what trauma someone has faced, we are all God’s image-bearers. And so, while we will no longer be providing adoption services directly, we will continue to advocate for intercountry adoption for children who have no alternative path to a family.
And for children who can be safely reunified with family in their home country, or when separation can be prevented to begin with, we will work relentlessly to see that become the reality for each child.
As we look ahead believing this is God’s next steps for us, and believing it is our loving Heavenly Father who knows the plans He has for us, we hope you’ll continue to partner with us as we continue to stand up for children in need of family.
Because no child should be alone.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@allgodschildren.org.