I recently read in my time with God:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Prov. 31:8-9).
So here I go; Foster Care in Spokane needs YOU! Maybe you’ve already heard. Maybe it’s news. Here’s the truth – Hundreds of kids in our city, through no fault of their own, currently live without stable, loving adult care. And God’s Church is uniquely positioned to provide that exact thing.
Yes. God’s CHURCH. Not that amazing couple sitting next to you on Sunday or the kind social worker you met at Retreat. I mean YOU (and the cool couple and the sweet social worker) and every other person in the Church. God calls His people to action. James 1:27 (Spokane127‘s namesake) boldly states “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
For now, let’s focus on the first half of this verse. (I promise to share some juicy nuggets on the second half in an upcoming post.) Religion our God accepts is to VISIT the orphan and widow. I wonder why this is “acceptable” to Him? Maybe it feels very familiar to Him? If I step back and compare, it looks VERY similar to what He did, visiting us in the incarnation. Us being orphans. Widows. Spiritually. Without much hope. He didn’t chose to stay distant. Sending care from afar. Throwing money at the situation. He entered into our chaos. Into the midst of it. In. To serve. Got WITH us.
THIS is what He asks of us. To serve. To visit. Not from a distance. WITH.
So, Church, it is time to visit the world of the orphan. It’s time to find your manger. Engage! “But, how?”, you ask?
How to VISIT Foster Care:
There are so, so many ways!
Maybe you say, “There is just no way to open up my home and foster a child right now.” That’s OK! The great news is God doesn’t call everyone to foster. (If He IS calling you to foster, we’re here for you! Give us a call!) He DOES, however, call us all to do SOMETHING. Spokane127 is here to help you FIND and DO your something.
There’s a T-shirt I often wear around town- “Adopt & Foster & Mentor & Support & Advocate & Volunteer & Pray.” I love it because it paints a the great picture. Just like the Body of Christ isn’t all eyes (see 1 Cor 12:17-20), the way we serve within foster care isn’t either. Here’s a tip-of-the-iceberg list:
-Advocate for the needs of kids in foster care in your local church. (Maybe start by wearing your own t-shirt at church. ;))
–Volunteer to drive for DCYF. They REALLY need the help!
-Personally cheer-lead a social worker who serves Spokane kids in care, through our Social-LIGHT program.
-The NUMBER 1 BIGGEST way to support foster care, the kids, the families, the whole system, is PRAYER. Pray for them every week. Commit to it. Make a calendar reminder with an alarm.
Here at Spokane127, we dedicate time weekly for foster care prayer. Host your own prayer meeting at church, small group, with your family, or solo. As you lift up the needs of these precious kids, their fragile families, and all those who support them, and who are affected by foster care you’ll begin to see God’s heart and your place in serving them.
Our site is a great source for ideas, prayer guides, and information. Start with prayer. End with prayer. And pray throughout the middle. THAT is the #1 way the Church can support Foster Care.
And look for me around town in my T-shirt. I’ll be looking for yours. 😉
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