Keziah’s Hope
On April 25, 2015, Tony and Jodi Zell experienced the heartbreaking loss of their infant daughter, Keziah Annette. Amid their deep grief, they found comfort and hope in knowing that Keziah was safely home with the Lord, completely healed and free from pain, and that they would one day be reunited with her in heaven.
Desiring to honor Keziah’s life in a meaningful and lasting way, the Zells felt God leading them to help vulnerable children in need of loving families. In lieu of flowers or gifts at Keziah’s funeral, they established an adoption fund through Lebanon Valley Bible Church and invited family and friends to contribute.
In the months that followed, they began exploring ways to grow the fund and help more children find permanent homes through adoption. From these efforts, Keziah’s Hope was born.
Today, the ministry seeks to help families navigate adoption and foster care, providing support throughout the process and the transition into family life. Through these efforts, Keziah’s Hope desires to see children welcomed into loving homes, families strengthened, and the hope of the Gospel shared. Above all, the ministry seeks to glorify God by answering His call to care for orphans, both locally and around the world (James 1:27).
Keziah’s Hope is a foster and adoption ministry of Lebanon Valley Bible Church dedicated to helping families open their hearts and homes to children in need of a loving, permanent family. The ministry was established in loving memory of Tony and Jodi Zell’s infant daughter, Keziah, who passed away unexpectedly in 2015. Through her legacy, Keziah’s Hope seeks to bring hope, encouragement, and lasting impact to the lives of children and families.
Rooted in the biblical calling to care for orphans (James 1:27), Keziah’s Hope strives to Advocate, Administrate, and Assist families throughout the adoption journey. The ministry provides information about adoption opportunities, helps families navigate the process, and connects them with a supportive community of fellow believers.
Recognizing that adoption is a journey filled with both joys and challenges, Keziah’s Hope seeks to walk alongside families by offering financial, educational, administrative, practical, emotional, and spiritual support. Through the love and generosity of the church family, we desire to help remove barriers to adoption and encourage more families to consider opening their homes to a child in need.
Above all, Keziah’s Hope exists to reflect the love of Jesus Christ—offering hope to families longing to adopt, helping children find safe and loving homes, and sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel with everyone touched by the adoption journey.
Every child deserves to be loved, cared for, and surrounded by a safe and supportive family. These statistics remind us of the ongoing need for compassionate families and churches willing to make a difference.
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151 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents, although most are not necessarily in need of adoption. (UNICEF, 2025)
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Nearly 329,000 children were in foster care in the United States at the end of fiscal year 2024. (U.S. Children's Bureau)
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More than 79,000 children in U.S. foster care were waiting for adoption in 2024, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's definition.
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More than 12,400 children were served in out-of-home care in Pennsylvania over a six-month period, with nearly 3,000 in need of permanent homes. (Pennsylvania DHS, 2025)
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Christians are nearly twice as likely to have adopted as Americans who identify as agnostic, atheist, or having no religious faith. (Christian Alliance for Orphans, 2025)
Every Child Matters. Every Family Can Make a Difference.
Behind every statistic is a child with a story, a future, and a need for love and stability.
As followers of Christ, we are called to care for the vulnerable and demonstrate God's love through compassionate action. Whether through adoption, foster care, supporting biological families, prayer, or coming alongside foster and adoptive families, we all have opportunities to make a difference.
Together, we can reflect Christ's love by helping children and families find hope, stability, and belonging.
Not every family at LVBC is called or able to adopt, but every family can make a difference. There are several meaningful ways to support Keziah’s Hope and the families it serves.
Prayer – Pray for families currently pursuing adoption, those considering opening their homes, and the many children in need of safe, loving families.
Financial Support – Donations can be made through the links above, during the church offering, or by mail to Lebanon Valley Bible Church at 1482 Horseshoe Pike, Lebanon, PA 17042. Offering envelopes may be designated for a specific family. All donations go directly to the adoption fund and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Encouragement – Adoption and foster care can be long and challenging journeys. Families can offer practical and emotional support through childcare, meals, mentoring, supplies, and encouragement. Those interested in assisting are encouraged to contact the church office for more information.
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