Every Friday at Spokane127 we pray over foster care, those affected by it here in Spokane, and for the local church to find new ways to consistently serve them. Each month, we focus on a different area. For the month of July, we focus on the youth that are aging out of the foster care system. Since there are 5 Fridays in July this year, we’ve split the prayer guide into 5 segments:
Week 1:
Watch this video and read this guided prayer written by friends of ours in Charlotte NC. As you do, ask the Lord to open up your heart towards these vulnerable youth with many needs and to guide you as you pray for them today.
Week 2:
On average, 12 kids will age out of Foster Care in Spokane County this month. Of those aging out of foster care nationally:
- About 1/3 don’t finish high school / GED, and only 40% will maintain a job (full or part time)
- 1 in 5 will be homeless immediately, with another 1 or 2 joining them in the next 2 years.
- 20% are arrested or booked into jail within the first year, and 40% are incarcerated by age 20.
- Half of them abuse substances.
- 3 out of 4 of the girls will be pregnant by age 21. They are also 80% more likely to be sex trafficked.
Here in Spokane, DCYF offers a voluntary “Independent Living” program for ages 15 – 22 that teaches essential life skills, career exploration and financial basics. But if their basic needs are not met, higher level needs cannot be met. Couple this with negative experiences (abuse, abandonment, trauma) leading to their entry into foster care (and during foster care), learning these skills is difficult at best.
“But we serve a God that is bigger than all those statistics. We serve a God that can turn all of those statistics around, but it requires the church to step in the gap on their behalf.” – Scott Brown, CAFO Aging-Out Initiative Coordinator
Let’s pray:
- every youth who ages out of the foster care system in Spokane would have the resources necessary to survive and to thrive as an adult living on their own.
- they would have a support system of adults in Spokane who will guide them through the process of aging out (trusted social workers, mentors, THE CHURCH!)
- that GOD would reveal ways for the people and churches in Spokane to tangibly support children who must age out of the foster care system.
Week 3:
As we continue to pray for the young people aging out of the foster care system, let’s consider this verse from Psalm 68.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” – Psalm 68:5,6 (NIV)
Pray for:
- good community for these teenagers to find, particularly in the church.
- God’s protection of them as they navigate new challenges and opportunities in life.
- God’s provision for them physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.
Week 4:
This week, we will focus our prayers on the much needed mentors: the adults who come along side these young people and help guide them into adulthood. Let’s start by considering another scripture:
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16, the Message
Pray for:
- God to raise up workers out of his church here in Spokane, who will mentor, love, serve, and help these teenagers.
- these mentors to have wisdom, discernment, strength, and grace to know how best to help the youth they serve.
- the aging-out youth to see God’s love for them through their mentors.
Week 5:
We’ll close out our month by again focusing our prayers on the young people aging out of foster care and begin by considering this scripture from Jude:
“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” – Jude 1:20-25 (NLT)
Pray for:
- those who have already stumbled into homelessness, engaged in criminal activities, become trafficked, or become further victimized in some way. Pray for supportive organizations to grow in order to meet the needs of kids who have aged out and found difficult life paths.
- the ability to break the cycle and find success in life. Pray for safe and secure housing, good-paying jobs, open doors, and favor in college.
- more mentors (business leaders, community leaders, church leaders) to speak life and wisdom to this vulnerable population of young adults.
- more resources to support young people in establishing their new lives so that they are not only able to survive but to thrive.
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