Adoption of a Different Kind

Dave and Jan DeKlavon

With increasing awareness about the worldwide orphan crisis, many individuals, churches and organizations are rising to care for those who are lonely, in need, or without a family to call their own. When I consider the word adoption, however, I think of care and concern beyond a mere legal declaration. The English major in me decided to analyze the root meaning of the word, and I found the dictionary definition interesting: "to take by choice into a relationship." Synonyms include embrace and espouse. And orphan is defined as one deprived of some protection or advantage.

Accordingly, Dave and Jan DeKlavon, who have no children to call their own, have adopted hundreds of individuals through the years. Dave (or Dr. DeKlavon to many students) is the Associate Dean for Boyce College, which is part of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY. But rather than viewing his role at Southern/Boyce as merely a 9-5 job that pays the bills, Dave and Jan have chosen to invest their very lives in the young people who walk onto the Boyce Campus every year. Not a month goes by when they aren't hosting one group of students or another in their home - feeding hungry college tummies with food, and developing souls with nourishment of a spiritual sort.

But it isn't simply that the DeKlavons hospitably open their home; it is much deeper and more profound than teaching and entertaining college students. Realizing many of these students are away from home for the first time and navigating their way in the "real" world, Dave and Jan make an intentional effort to take by choice into relationship so many of these young people, who benefit from the love, wisdom and commitment of two people who have not lost the art of connecting with others in a meaningful way.

During a recent ice storm in the Louisville area, seminary and Boyce housing had no power, leaving hundreds of students stranded. Rather then offering a perfunctory "We'll be praying for you," Dave and Jan converted their entire home into a makeshift dorm, housing dozens of young ladies until all power had been restored one week later. Jan spent seven days feeding girls, listening to their dreams, their hopes, their heartaches, and serving as an adoptive mom of sorts!

While Dave (known to my 5-year-old as Peeplavon, for his obsessive love of marshmallow Peeps!) is a highly educated, brilliant man with so much to offer, I have always been impressed by his humility and gentleness of spirit. Both he and Jan could be justified in sporting large egos, but instead, have chosen to quietly serve and love others under the radar, without drawing attention to themselves or openly bragging about their education, credentials, who they know, or what they do to impact young people. They simply show others Christ's love in their daily lives by enacting Romans 12:13, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

I am grateful for mentors and leaders like Ms. Jan and Peeplavon!