SENIOR ADOPTION CONSULTANT & FUNDING SPECIALIST

Meet Stacy!

Stacy is currently a full time educator and holds a Bachelors' degree in psychology, two Master's degrees (Special Education and Intercultural Studies) as well as an MDiv in Christian Ministry.

Stacy's passion for learning and education combined with her heart for adoption are an asset to families seeking to adopt. As our grant specialist, Stacy brings five years of experience in assisting families in raising funds and applying for grants. To date, she has assisted families who have been awarded grants totaling nearly $100,000.

A little more from Stacy herself:

“I fell in love with Jesus and chose to follow Him at an early age. I also had an unusual interest in the world and various cultures starting in middle school. As I grew, I felt a calling to international missions and moved overseas after graduating college. During this time, I began to see and understand the depth of God's love for us as represented by His choosing to adopt us! I knew that one day adoption would be a part of my life story. I just never imagined it would be as a single mom!

After several years of sharing my heart for adoption and being prompted by friends, I finally stepped out in faith that it was the right time. As a single, I had a hard time imagining being chosen as an adoptive mom and felt using an adoption agency was the best path forward. It was the best decision! In less than ten months from announcing to my family I was planning on adopting, I was holding my son, Keagan, who I had just been matched with 3 weeks earlier! It was a whirlwind experience and having an experienced consultant walk by my side (and of course amazing friends and family) to navigate this chaotic time was an immense blessing. Only 17 months later, God blessed us with the unexpected gift of Shiloh and we became a family of three.”

ADOPTION CONSULTANT

Meet Kristen!

Kristen Benke is an Adoption Consultant with Joyful Adoptions. She and her husband, Russell, reside in The Woodlands, Texas with their three children.

She has a passion for adoption and the beautiful redemptive plan of the Lord for children in this world. Before her passion for adoption began, she married her high school sweetheart with visions of a family and babies. After their battle with infertility began, God blessed them with biological twin boys in 2011. The boys started to grow up and her heart for another child started to blossom. When her battle with infertility continued, she prayed fervently and the Lord clearly spoke to her… her family was going to grow through adoption. Her husband was on board and they began to pray about this new journey that they knew nothing about. She didn’t know where to start or what to do. That’s when the Lord brought Gretchen, an adoption consultant into their lives. In early 2016, their beautiful daughter joined their family. Her older brothers adore her and she is definitely the sugar and spice of the family.

Kristen has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, and has worked in real estate marketing and advertising before staying at home with her children. During her time at home she has been a bible study leader with Bible Study Fellowship, volunteered at school, substitute taught, and has enjoyed raising her babies. She is excited to share her passion for adoption with other hopeful families.

Kristen knows what the journey looks like first hand and understands the emotions that come with it. Seeing God's plan come to fruition in people's lives is a joy that is indescribable, and a gift from above.

PROFILE DESIGNER

I live in Southern Indiana with my husband and two children. I was born and raised in Latin America for 14 years as the daughter of a missionary family. I graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2017 and have worked many years in ministry using my gifts and talents in design and administration. I have also managed my photography business for several years on the side where I have the honor of capturing couples, families, and children.

My husband and I have had a heart for adoption since we first met. After the birth of our daughter we experienced 5 years of secondary infertility which eventually led us to our own adoption journey. We recently have adopted our beautiful son and we can truly say he was worth the wait. Our journey was long and hard at times but one thing we learned is that God is a promise keeper, if you're waiting for your prayer to be answered or a breakthrough, don't give up. He won't give up on you.

Through my own experiences in the world of adoption, I began to grow a desire to be apart of helping adoptive families in their own adoption journeys. I am excited to use my creative abilities to help families tell their stories and play a part in helping them find their perfect match!

ADOPTION CONSULTANT

Hello, meet Kyleigh Moore! Kyleigh is an adoption consultant with Joyful Adoptions. Kyleigh walks alongside adoptive families providing support and education throughout the adoption process. Well before Kyleigh and her husband, Nate got married it was on their hearts about the desire to adopt. Their biggest dream was to become parents and after being diagnosed with “unknown infertility” they knew that adoption would be their next step. Wyatt joined our family in 2020 and has brought so much joy to our lives! 

Kyleigh holds a degree in elementary & special education from Indiana University and spent many years teaching and then worked in high school ministry for seven years at North Point Community Church. Kyleigh understands the rollercoaster of emotions that the adoption process can bring as well as the importance of leaning into and trusting our heavenly father who has a perfect plan for our lives.  

Kyleigh hopes that all adoptive families feel the love, support and prayers not only throughout their adoption journey but after the adoption is finalized as well. She enjoys & believes in cultivating a strong community amongst other adoptive parents where advice and encouragement can be given when needed. Kyleigh has a passion for adoption and enjoys spending time with her husband, son, friends/family and their goldendoodle, Cooper. 

ADOPTEE ADVOCATES

Meet Sherena and Meriah – sisters and best friends through the miracle of adoption! They grew up in the heart of Montana and were both adopted at birth. Sherena is 15 months older than Meriah, but their mom dressed them as twins, none-the-less! When Meriah was about four years old, their parents had a biological son, thus completing their parents’ family.

Sherena is married to Adrian and they have two biological children: Karlee (8) and Kellen (4).

Meriah is married to Ben, and after several years of infertility, they adopted Harper in 2016 and Miles in 2018. They also have a son, Sawyer, who was biologically born in 2020.

Sherena and Meriah have always been close, and live in the same community in metro Atlanta.

Because of the impact adoption has had on their lives, they have become advocates of adoption. They can relate to two of the three perspectives of the triad, as adoptees, as well as adoptive parents. Sherena also brings a unique perspective of growing up as a biracial child in an all-Caucasian family and can offer her thoughts and guidance on the family dynamic, and how parents can confidently lead a transracial family.

If there’s one thing Sherena and Meriah know, it’s that God knits families together in the most perfect way. The story may not be anything like you imagined, but you’ll know it was divine! They'd love to share more of their story with you along the way!

ADOPTION ADVOCATE

Meet Shantinay!

While Shantinay’s day job is working for “the most caring company in the world” while the most important tile she holds is being wife and Momma through adoption.

Shantinay has been married to her best friend Michael for 7 years and together they have two beautiful boys, Jaden and Xander through adoption

She says, “Our story is that adoption was always our first and only choice of growing our family. We are an extended family with 7 adoptions that span from local, state, and international adoptions. We have experienced it all. We truly value and appreciate adoption and the mess and beauty that come with it.

We are an interracial couple with our boys having beautifully different adoption stories. We understand the complexities of questions from the outside world regarding the makeup of our family and the importance of being strong advocates of adoption while also helping to educate others on adoption.

Around the age of 12 years old, there was a clear and strong sense of calling to be a Mom through adoption. So many of life’s plans have alerted and changed since, but adoption was what every birthday candle, shooting star, and prayer longed and hoped for.

I waited 21 years to be a Mom through adoption. It was the most emotional process. It was also worth it!”

BIRTH/FIRST FAMILY ADVOCATE

My husband and I live in the Atlanta suburbs and have our hands full raising our two youngest children, 13 and 8 years of age.

I am also a birth mom to an amazing son, now currently in reunion.

Choosing to give my son to another couple to raise was one of the most glorious and difficult decisions that I have ever made. d I met him at his high school graduation ceremony, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young man that he has become!

I believe that all parties can bring a positive value to the adopted child and involving the birth mother in the child’s life can help them embrace and understand that they were not abandoned or unwanted. I look forward to sharing my story and assisting you with your journey!

PROFILE DESIGNER

Kristina is a mom through both adoption and biology, photographer and profile designer in Texas. She is gifted at weaving adoptive families’ stories together in a family profile book.

A little from Kristina about their personal journey:

“My girls are 9.5 months apart and it's been the sweetest (and wildest) ride. We are oh-so grateful for this journey and for Gretchen who got us through it all. We are so lucky to have our sweet Everly and every single day, I'm reminded of how God made her just for us. And because adoption played such a huge part in our lives, it is always been my dream to help others on their adoption journey! I can’t wait to help you tell your story and watch you get the happy ending you’ve been waiting for”