No spiritual movement in history has ever been started apart from prayer and absolute dependence on the Lord. Similarly, we believe more than enough for children and families in foster care is not possible apart from praying for a supernatural movement of God to do what only He can. In a ministry filled with so many things to do, tasks to get done and needs to attend to, it can become all too easy to lose sight of the larger story we are all participating in - a spiritual one - one of brokenness, the need for renewal and a longing to see God heal everything that has been hurt. This endeavor, the greater spiritual one, demands a prayerful posture from all who participate. So, what does that mean for our church and our ministry? How can we practically keep prayer at the center of all we do? What specific ways can we pray for struggling families and vulnerable children? How can we prayerfully support foster families in our church and community? What steps can we take to invite people in our church to pray for a movement of God within our walls and throughout our communities? Questions like these, among others, are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 7 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Bishop Aaron Blake. In 1985, while pastoring Greater Faith Church in Brownwood, TX Bishop Blake and his wife, Mary Blake started a babysitting ministry called “Small World” to help keep struggling families together. Then the Lord moved the Blakes to foster six teenage boys, and their congregation followed. The families of tiny Greater Faith Church have fostered more than 450 children over the years. In 2004, Bishop Blake initiated the first “Stand Sunday” in the United States, calling the families at Greater Faith to stand-up to care for children and families impacted by the foster system. Today, thousands of churches across the nation join forces on “Stand Sunday” to take a stand for children and families in crisis. Bishop Blake is the Founder and Executive Director of Harvest Family Life Ministries, a board member of The Global Orphan Project, and a spiritual godfather to many in the foster care community.

With a genuine shepherd’s heart Bishop Blake shares about the power of prayer, drawing from his own family’s personal experiences, his decades of pastoral ministry and his work with various organizations around the country. He offers endearing stories and practical insights that will inspire you to take your next best steps forward toward prayerfully supporting the foster care community right where you live.

Get the shownotes: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/podcasts/the-fostering-church-podcast/

The Bible says that zeal without knowledge can be “dangerous.” (Proverbs 19:2) Those are some strong words suggesting that it’s entirely possible for our passion for the work we’re doing to outpace our capacity to fully understand, support or sustain that work. Ultimately, our aim is to build, grow, and lead lasting, sustainable ministries that serve and support children and families for a long, long time. Of course the question ensues...How do we do that? One of the ways we can do that is by having the right leaders in the right places who are overseeing vital areas of the ministry we are working to build and grow. These structures can ultimately help funnel the passion for our ministry in focused, guided ways that help result in quality, effectiveness and sustainability. So, why is having clearly defined leadership structures in place important to maintain a healthy and thriving foster care ministry? What kinds of on-boarding and accountability processes do we need to implement for volunteers who are working within the ministry? How do we lead as volunteers or staff members within our church when we’re not fully in charge of all the decisions that are made in the church? Questions like these are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 6 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Lesli Reece who is on staff at NorthPoint Church in Atlanta, GA as the Director of the Fostering Together Ministry. Lesli not only has an extensive background in leadership within the local church setting, but her years in marketplace management prior to her role at Northpoint proved to inform and shape how she would build teams, manage volunteers and work to shape and grow the ministry within the larger context of the church as a whole.

Lesli provides nuggets of leadership gold throughout this interview, and perhaps what makes them most impactful are the very practical insights and applications she shares for how leadership works on the ground, in the real world, with real people. You will walk away from this episode feeling encouraged to grow in your leadership and inspired to build structures of ministry that will be effective and sustainable for years to come.

Get the shownotes: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/podcasts/the-fostering-church-podcast/

No one can walk this journey of foster care alone. They shouldn’t have to either. However, the natural trajectory for foster parents is to at some point find themselves feeling alone and isolated in their unique experiences. They wonder if anyone else around them can fully relate to what they’re walking through and support them in meaningful, understanding ways. Your church has a powerful opportunity to mitigate those feelings of isolation by creating opportunities for foster families to be reminded that they’re not alone by connecting them into meaningful relationships with other foster families. So, why is relational support so crucial for families who are opening their homes to children? How do we as church leaders ensure that foster families never feel alone on their journey? What structures can we put in place to connect them with others who have shared experiences? Are there opportunities to collaborate with other churches, organizations and agencies in our community to expand the opportunity for foster parents to find the relational support they ended? Questions like these, among others, are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 5 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Carly Souza, a foster and adoptive mom and the Director of Fostering Hope at Hope Church in Las Vegas. Carly and her team consistently serve hundreds of foster parents around the city by offering opportunities for them to be together, encourage one another and find the support they need to thrive on their journeys.

Carly beautifully articulates the importance of the relational support pillar in any church-based foster care ministry and provides very practical insights on how to implement similar structures in your own ministry context. After listening to Carly you will walk away feeling encouraged and challenged to take your next best steps towards relationally supporting families in your church and around your community.

Get the shownotes: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/podcasts/the-fostering-church-podcast/

We’re not all called to do the same thing, but we are all capable of doing something. Everyone can do something! This truth is probably most practically demonstrated and lived out when we provide opportunities for people in our church to tangibly wrap around and support foster families. It creates an avenue through which they can identify their “something” and act on it for the good of children and families around them. So, why is tangible support so crucial for families who are opening their homes to children? What kinds of support do they actually need? How do we as church leaders ensure that those who are serving know that even simple things they do can make a significant impact in the life of a foster family? What structures must we consider putting in place to support the “everyone can do something” message in our church? Questions like these, among others, are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 4 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Sarah Norris, the leader of True Vine Ministries, the adoption and foster support ministry of her church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sarah not only has experienced the power of others tangibly supporting her family through their adoption, but has helped build a robust and practical support ministry for families in their church and all around the Fort Wayne community.

Sarah powerfully articulates the importance of the tangible support pillar in any church-based foster care ministry. After listening to her share beautiful stories and practical pieces of insight, you will walk away feeling encouraged and challenged to take your next best steps towards tangibly supporting families in simple but meaningful ways.

Get the Show Notes: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/podcasts/the-fostering-church-podcast/

The words we say are important. So is how we say them, when we say them and to whom we say them. They truly have the power to move people closer in or to push them further out. So, how do we as church leaders clearly articulate the call of God to care for children and families in foster care in such a way that people are drawn in? Not only from the pulpit, but through other communication mediums in our church as well. What structures must we consider putting in place to support our communication, so our people not only hear the call but are given clear pathways to respond to it? Questions like these, among others, are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 3 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Kondo Simfukwe, the Pastor at Mission Point Community Church in Winona Lake, IN. Kondo consistently communicates God’s heart for the vulnerable and the unique opportunities there are to live that out by supporting the foster care community Alongside a team of foster care ministry leaders in their church, Mission Point has found some creative and practical ways to consistently keep the message in front of their church.

Kondo gives insight on how good communication is essential to building and growing an effective and sustainable foster care ministry in your church. He also lays out some practical applications you can start implementing today.

Get the shownotes: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/podcasts/the-fostering-church-podcast/

Encouraging more people in your church to get involved in foster care can feel daunting. The opportunities are endless, the need is massive and sometimes it feels like the response from those around you is less than enthusiastic. So, how do you as a church leader help motivate people with a sense of calling and purpose? What processes can you put in place that help shepherd them along their journey as they take steps forward in what God is calling them to do? Are there differences between “recruiting” people to meet a need and “discipling” them to obey whatever God has asked them to do? Questions like these, among others, are important ones for us as church leaders to consider as we take steps towards becoming more actively engaged in foster care.

In episode 2 of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Gabe Forsyh, the Mission Pastor at Mosaic Church, a dynamic church in Orlando, FL. Gabe gets to lead a team of staff and volunteers committed to equipping and mobilizing their church to live on mission and making the gospel known through acts of justice and mercy with a significant emphasis on addressing the needs of the foster care community in their city.

Gabe joins us to help provide a framework of recruitment and discipleship they have found to be foundational in their work at Mosaic and we believe you will find to be helpful in your church as well.

Get more resources, tools, and inspiration at https://morethanenough.cafo.org

Starting and growing a foster care ministry in your church can feel overwhelming. After all, the needs of children and families in your community seem endless and the path to getting traction inside your church is unclear. How do you know if you are doing it right, and what in the world do you do if you think you are doing it wrong? That is why a group of church and organizational leaders from across the country worked together to clearly define six key pillars of foster care ministry for any church who would like to be actively engaged.

In this first episode of The Fostering Church Podcast, the Jasons talk with Adrien Lewis, the Chief Innovation officer at CarePortal. Adrien facilitated the discussion of that initial team of leaders from across the country to help more clearly define church engagement in foster care. Adrien joins us to help provide a foundational overview of all six pillars that will serve as a jumping off point for the rest of this limited podcast series.

If you are looking for some clarity, this is where it starts.

Get more resources, tools, and inspiration at morethanenough.cafo.org

The needs in foster care can feel overwhelming at times; and so can the responses necessary to meet those needs. With so many options - from recruiting new families to supporting those caring for children, trauma training, volunteer recruitment, parenting, discipleship, personal health and more, it’s hard to know what areas of ministry to focus on and what to do in order to be as effective in those areas as possible. This is where many church ministries struggle.

If you want more clarity and confidence in your foster care ministry then this seven-part series on The Fostering Church is for you.

This limited series is specifically designed to help you grow your church's foster care ministry - no matter where you are on the journey. In each episode you'll hear Jason Johnson and Jason Weber talk with a real-life church ministry leader about some foundational elements of what it means to be a "fostering church". You'll gain insight on where to focus your efforts and the encouragement you need to help you take your next best steps forward.

Get more resources, tools, and inspiration at morethanenough.cafo.org