It is no secret that my family and I have been involved in foster care and have a passion to see children cared for in some of the toughest times of their lives. We have been serving in foster care for three years now and just last week took our tenth placement. The heart behind this for us is not just a care and concern for kids, but stems from the way I see God in Scripture. He cares for the hurting and oppressed and tells his people to do the same. We cannot ignore these commands in scripture, which means we are obligated to do something about it.

Sunday evening we will host a Foster Care Emphasis night where some of our own foster families will share their stories and answer any questions that you may have. I know that not all of us can be Foster Parents, but many of us can. I also know that there is something that all of us can do. Here is a list of needs that we need people to fill. Pray about which one you should be a part of.

Need #1 – Foster Families
I want to start here because this is where the need starts and I don’t want to let us off the hook to meet this need. Here is how I know we should be actively playing a part in meeting this need – there are still kids coming into State custody. It’s that simple. There is a need and God has told his people to meet it.

Need #2 – Respite / Alternate Care Families
Foster families need people they can count on to give them a break or help them when they’re going to be gone. We need certified families to help meet this need in our congregation. It would be so much better for kids to go to the home of a familiar face in the church than to another total stranger’s home.

Need #3 – Foster Care Response Team
I want to mobilize a team from our body to help meet the needs of a family once they take placement. Meals, prayer, babysitting, etc… to help our families who have stepped up to serve in this way.

Need #4 -Family Reconciliation Team
Within our town are people who have lost their children to DHS custody. If reconciliation and restoration of the family is the goal, we as a church need to provide ways to help them get their lives together and become agents of reconciliation for their families. I want a team of people to help us start this ministry in our church and organize a strategy to minister to parents who have lost children.

So you can play a part. Pray and ask God where you need to serve and how you can be used by God to meet this great need.

For His glory and your joy,
Pastor Charlie