In this episode of the Fight for Your City Podcast, Pastor Jonah Carpenter sits down with Nyles Head, ordained minister and case manager for the Department of Child Services (DCS) in Vanderburgh County. Together they explore the urgent intersection of foster care, ministry, and the role of the local church.

Nyles shares firsthand insight into how DCS works to keep kids safe, reunify families, and support those in crisis—while also revealing the hidden needs foster families face that government programs can’t always meet. From immediate essentials like beds, clothing, and school uniforms to long-term care like co-parenting classes, churches and nonprofits are stepping in to fill the gap.

Jonah and Nyles also trace the biblical roots of adoption and orphan care, discuss how the early church set the standard for caring for the vulnerable, and reflect on James 1:27 and Acts 2 as a call for today’s believers. The conversation goes further into ministry training, seminary education, and the balance between theology and preaching to real people’s needs—including the importance of unlearning cultural “Christian sayings” that don’t come from Scripture.

Whether you’re a pastor, foster parent, church leader, or believer who wants to make a difference, this episode will challenge you to see the gaps in your community and ask: Where can my church step in?