ReStoried

It is very clear that God calls all of us to care for the vulnerable, like those in the Foster Care System. 

So churches, where are you? 

In this episode, we passionately advocate for the pivotal role of the church in supporting foster children. We share our personal callings into foster care to aid the vulnerable, but it raises a critical concern about sustaining those who take on this challenging responsibility. In this episode, we acknowledge the discomfort and reluctance surrounding foster care, emphasizing the distractions of personal comfort that hinder people from stepping into this brokenness.

The government cannot fulfill the unique and crucial role the church is called to play in supporting these families. We hope this episode serves as a compelling call to action for the church community to step up, overcome discomfort, and actively engage in providing much-needed support for foster children. We all share a collective responsibility in caring for the vulnerable, urging the church to be a beacon of hope and assistance in the lives of these children in need.

Episode Highlights: 

• Christmas Traditions 
• Vulnerable families and children need the Church 
• Scripture that supports caring for the vulnerable 
• How to help get your church involved 
• Promise 686 

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

“It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” 

Or at least that’s what we’re being told on commercials, social media, and pretty much anywhere else we look. But what happens when it’s Christmas time, and you’re feeling anything but merry? 

In today’s episode, we are here to normalize and validate your feelings if this time of year doesn’t always feel as magical as you think it should. Christmas can often bring out the really hard stuff, especially for vulnerable families. 

As Foster and Adoptive parents, we put pressure on ourselves to give these children the Christmas that they may have never experienced, sometimes at the expense of our own mental health. We are here today to say that it is okay to say ‘no’ to things that are unrealistic for your family this holiday season. 

It’s time to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. And as always, we will offer you our experiences and practical tips on surviving the holidays, even when you are in the midst of a struggle. 

Just remember..

You are enough. 

You are doing enough. 

Your kids will remember your presence - not their presents. 

Episode Highlights: 

• When Christmas Doesn’t Feel So Merry 
• Learning to say no and adjusting expectations 
• When Christmas feels heavy 
• Remembering why we celebrate Christmas, to begin with
• Finding community through the Holiday season 

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website (Find Support Groups Here) 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

When you start your Foster Care journey, there will sometimes be people who just don’t get it. 

When your friends and family question your decision to begin Foster Care, what should you do? 

For many people, their first instinct is to isolate themselves and try to carry the burdens of their journey themselves. This often leads to burnout and people deciding to stop fostering prematurely. 

There is so much value when you can find a community where you can express your most vulnerable thoughts and feelings, and they respond with, “Me too.” This episode discusses how we desired a community that would just “get it.” Unfortunately, this community didn’t exist for us, so we took matters into our own hands. We started a community that we eventually started doing life with. If you are in the same boat, this episode will give you practical tips for finding that community or creating one for yourself. 

Remember, God doesn’t call us to do this alone. Find Your People and Lean Into Them. 

Episode Highlights: 

• The meaning of community and support. 
• How Hope Bridge and Foster Our Community began.
• How to create a community of support.
• Christmas Connect Group in Canton.
• More on monthly support groups.

Links in the episode: 

• Family Registration Form

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Hope Bridge Website 
• Hope Bridge Instagram
• Hope Bridge Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

One of the most common fears that people have when beginning their Foster Care journey is what their relationship with the child’s biological family will look like.

Will they view you as an enemy or someone who is on their side? 

Join us in this episode as we share our initial perspectives on biological family relationships, exploring how these perspectives underwent transformative shifts throughout our journeys. 

We will share how we navigate these intricate relationships with practical tips and advice that go beyond the surface. We are also diving into the evolving fostering landscape and sharing ways to be armed with realistic expectations. 

Through this episode, we hope you receive fresh insight, an exploration of hope, transformation, and the profound impact of connection with biological families.

Episode Highlights: 

• What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?
• The initial perspective of bio families when first starting foster care.
• Practical tips and advice on building relationships with biological families.
• Loving biological families.
• Should you give out your phone number to Biological families? 
• The importance of setting healthy boundaries.
• Different ideas for communication with biological families.
• The value of biological families. 

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Our Family Wizard
• Google Voice 
• Get Your Free Footprint PDF Here

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

So much of our organization has been built on relationships. Often if you build the relationship first, the need will arise. 

Over the last several months, we have been intentionally building relationships with people around us such as caseworkers, the single moms in our program, foster children, foster families, and youth who have aged out of the system.

Today, we are excited to share ways that you can get involved and help serve right alongside us.

This Giving Tuesday, we have very specific initiatives based on the needs that have arisen around us.

Would you join us this Giving Tuesday? 

Episode Highlights: 

• An explanation of Giving Tuesday.
• The importance of.
• How you can help support our mission this Giving Tuesday.

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• You Can Donate Here Through Give Butter
• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

Did you know that what you do today will leave a legacy for generations to come?

Today, we are honored to share the mics with The Christ Foundation Executive Director Lewis Yoder and Director of Operations Andi Kadas.

The Christ Foundation was founded by Jerry Moore back in 1971. Jerry Moore was an extremely successful businessman with a heart for helping those in need. He spent much of his life quietly giving to those who needed it most, and when he passed away in 2020, he left most of his estate to The Christ Foundation.

Today, The Christ Foundation exists to fund non-profits who are making a Kingdom impact. After Jerry’s death, the Trustees of the Christ Foundation knew they needed to hone in and focus on impacting the lives of children and families. 

And through that, Hope Bridge was born. 

We hope that as you have listened to the first six episodes, you have seen the incredible ways that God works through small steps of obedience.

For Lisa, an unexpected tragedy led her family to foster care.

For Nicole, infertility and experience with the foster care system gave her the empathy to sit with other moms in the thick of foster care.

Melanie's “yes” to foster care and a career in social work positioned her exactly where she needed to be for her role today.

Brian's connection to the community and heart for the church drew him to desire more involvement from the community around us.

For Andi and Lewis, their obedience to carry out Jerry’s legacy was the final puzzle piece to unite everyone for what is now known as Hope Bridge.

If you think what you’re doing today doesn’t matter, think again. God is still writing your story.

Thank you for joining us for another week of ReStoried.

Episode Highlights: 

• A brief background on The Christ Foundation.
• Sharing the leafy of Jerry Moore.
• An introduction to Andi and Lewis.
• The idea and heart behind The Christ Foundation.
• The five-year vision for Hope Bridge. 

Find more on Guest:

• The Christ Foundation Website 
• The Christ Foundation IG
• Chestnut Mountain Ranch

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

Is everyone called to be a foster family?

Join us today as we chat with our Director of Church Engagement, Brian Troyer. Brian candidly shares what led his family to foster care, as well as his experience along the way.

As you’ve likely realized through our previous episodes, many of these stories have been divinely intertwined, and Brian’s journey is no exception. He shares how he and his wife Brittany were connected with Nicole, and how that connection led them to their foster care community and ultimately where they are today.

Brian also shares about his role as Director of Church engagement and his desire to awaken the church to the needs of the child welfare system. Brian’s perspective is enlightening, encouraging, and one you might not hear often. 

The reality is, that our county and many counties nationwide are in dire need of foster families, but being a foster family is not the only way to get involved in the foster care crisis.

Listen in today to better understand the needs around us and how you can get involved!

Welcome back to ReStoried.

Episode Highlights: 

• Brian shares his story and background.
• Why we are connecting with churches and building relationships.
• How Brian and his wife got into foster care.
• A conversation on ambiguous loss.
• Gaining Insight through Foster Care. 
• Awakening the church to the needs of foster families.

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

Do you have someone who will come to you in your deepest valleys and meet you right where you are?

Today, we are honored to share a conversation with our Single Mom’s Program Director, Melanie Montgomery.  Melanie has held the titles of foster and adoptive mom and is also a social worker in child and family welfare.

On today’s episode, Melanie shares her story and heart for what led her to foster care.  She also shares how those things led her to her position at Hope Bridge.

Melanie’s experiences have given her the heart for the single moms she works with daily.  We’ve all had moments where we’ve needed support, but those around us aren’t sure how to jump into the uncomfortable.  Melanie refuses to shy away from the hard things. Instead, she meets the moms in her program right where they are, and she does so gracefully.

This episode will leave you inspired and ready to dive in and take action. 

Thanks for joining us for another episode of ReStoried.

Episode Highlights: 

• Mel shares her story and background.
• The heart and why behind the single mom’s program.
• What is Respite Care? 
• The impact of trauma. 
• How to get involved in the single mom’s program.

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

“I could never do foster care because I could never let them go and say goodbye.”

The above statement is a common and genuine sentiment many share when discussing foster care.

Foster care is a journey that can come with unexpected twists and turns, sacrifice, and yes, sometimes even goodbyes and heartache.

Join us today as our Foster Care Program Director, Nicole Bowman, shares her journey to foster care and what led her to where she is today. Nicole speaks candidly about her family’s hardships through their foster care walk, and there’s no doubt this road has come with a cost.

But when we lay our fears down and walk in obedience anyway, ignoring God's call on our lives becomes nearly impossible–even when we know that call will be difficult. He gives us the tools to persevere through the deepest of waters. 

Nicole’s story will inspire you and give you hope as you hear her hindsight perspective of how God has been weaving this story together all along.

Thanks for joining us for another episode of ReStoried.


Episode Highlights: 

• Nicole shares her pull and desire to help vulnerable children.
• A conversation on trials and tribulations.
• Encouragement for someone walking through infertility.
• Finding community through Foster Care.
• Perspective changes through Foster Care.
• Nicole’s Journey to Hope Bridge.
• Challenges in the Child Welfare System.
• Ways to get connected with Hope Bridge.

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Visit the Foster Our Community Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto 

“I’ve always dreamed of doing foster care.”

When people share their journeys of becoming foster families, this might be a common phrase you hear. The reality is that this isn’t the case for everyone who becomes a foster parent.

For our Executive Director, Lisa Robertson, foster care was never on her radar. Lisa married her husband, they had their first baby, and everything seemed to be going as planned when tragedy struck. 

Join us today as Lisa shares her story of how she and her husband navigated the unexpected, how God began pointing them to the world of foster care, and what he has done in their lives over the last decade.

Often, our deepest pain can become our greatest testimony.

We hope this story helps you reflect and find encouragement as you think about what led you on your own journey to foster care. Whether it’s infertility, an unexpected need of a relative, a tragedy, or something on your heart all along, God can use anything. 

He can make beauty from ashes.

Welcome back to ReStoried.

Episode Highlights: 

• Lisa’s Role at Hope Bridge.
• Lisa shares about her journey.
• Having God’s heart for the vulnerable.
• The importance of building relationships with biological parents.
• Common issues in the foster care system.
• The increasing turnover rate with foster care workers.
• Why we should link arms with social workers.
• Ways to get connected with Hope Bridge.

Find more on Lisa:

• Find Lisa on Instagram Here!

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website 
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Foster Our Community Instagram 

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Learn more about Hope for the Journey TBRI Training

Learn more about Building Trauma-Informed Spaces with Kim Botto