The Church & Foster Care

While you will not find the words “foster care” in the Bible, it can be easily assumed that as believers we are called to care for children in need:

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:3-4

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:37

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! – Psalm 72:4

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. – Isaiah 1:17

The list of verses goes on and on.

But have you thought about what that might mean for you in your life?

Not everyone is called to adopt. That is reasonable. But have you ever considered that there are children out there in crisis? They may have been separated from their parents for reasons they do not understand and they’re afraid. They may have been abused. They may have been abused by other foster care parents. They may have no clue what the future holds and are afraid of getting hurt or going hungry.

You don’t have to want to adopt to be able to step into a child’s life during a time of need. Sometimes what children need is a safe, clean, reliable space where they are simply loved on. Doesn’t that sound like the church? And aren’t we the hands and feet of Christ?

Did you know that there are almost a half million children in foster care right now in the United States? Did you know that there are almost 350,000 churches in our country? If just one or two families in every church fostered a child, we would have no foster care. Think about it. What an amazing act, in the name of the Lord, that would be.

If you feel that being the Church and providing a safe space for a child in need is something that God has placed, or is just starting to place, on your heart, here are a few resources.

Childwelfare.gov

32 Ways to Help Children in Foster Care

Six Foster Care Skills You Need Before Becoming a Foster Parent

Foster Care-Getting Started