Laura Valentine’s name suits her well.
Lipscomb sophomore Laura Valentine Lock has a heart full of love for orphans all around the world.
The 20-year-old journalism student started Laura-Valentine Ministries when she was just 16 years old. The ministry is a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness and funding for abandoned children to be adopted into loving homes. The organization is a singing ministry with all of the proceeds going completely to Christian families wanting to adopt.
“Doing something that you are passionate about and that is glorifying God will make you 10 times happier because you are doing something that you love,” Lock said.
Lock herself was adopted from China and loves telling her parents’ story of adopting her.
Before her adoption, her mom had just given birth a year earlier to a healthy baby boy. But one night she felt God calling her to go to China and adopt a baby girl.
Lock believes adoption does not have to be only a second option, such as a couple who has not been able to have children. It can also be a first choice, like her story, since her mom could have chosen to give birth to another child later, but she followed God’s call in adopting Lock.
Lock likes to refer to her ministry objective as being adopted twice.
“I was first adopted into my forever earthly home, and then secondly I was adopted into my heavenly home through the blood of Christ. I want to help as many abandoned children all around the world get adopted twice just like I was.”
Lock recalled she had the vision for starting the ministry after going on her first mission trip to Uganda and working at an orphanage.
“It really hit me about my personal adoption story,” Lock said. “When I got home I talked to my parents, and I brought up the crazy idea of starting a ministry to help families who need funding for adoption. Without hesitation, they said yes.”
Although she knew starting this ministry would be a big step, Lock said she had no doubt that God would make it work.
“It’s funny how that if you know God is putting it on your heart, He will provide a way. Once you know that it’s God’s plan, there may be roadblocks, but there’s always going to be a way towards it,” Lock said.
The ministry is a family affair, with Lock’s parents basically being her managers, and her older brother playing the guitar for some of her songs.
“A lot of my songs are influenced by my family and the love that I have for them and the love that they have for me,” Lock said, referencing the songs she sings to raise funding for the adoption ministry.
Despite her cheerful personality and friendly nature, Lock admitted there have been challenges.
“When college came around, it became really challenging, especially my freshman year. My first semester I was so happy because that’s really when my ministry started booming. I was getting a lot of publicity.
“I was actually flying pretty much every week to go do TV/radio shows, interviews or fundraisers, and it was just getting very draining. It was something that I loved, but I began to grow very tired of it, and I started resenting it because I was so tired.”
Lock said she knew in her heart that this was God’s plan for her.
“I felt like Esther being like, ‘Oh, God, are you sure you’re picking the right person right now? Are you sure you want me to do this?’
“I had to realize that, just like Esther, God has a plan for everyone. You are a child of the one true King, and that makes you a princess and worthy of whatever He entitles you.”
You can find out more about Lock’s ministry by visiting her website.
Photo courtesy of Alexa Sorenson