There are 140,000,000 orphans in the world and 400,000 of those children are in the US foster care system. Our very own backyard.
Currently, the government, licensed agencies, and even missions (group homes, orphanages) oversee the care for these children.
But there are over 350,000 churches in the US.
That is why, in September of last year, I joined the team at Backyard Orphans. Backyard Orphans is a ministry organization that supports local churches in developing foster care, adoption, and support ministries. We partner with local churches and connect them to agencies that oversee the care for these children. We work alongside the church to develop a support ministry, formatted specifically to their church and community, within their own walls. We equip the church to support the families who step into the role of actively caring for children, typically through the foster care system.
There are so many ways to be involved in the foster care/ adoption space and while the groundwork is the same, the resulting ministry looks different for every church.
Our heart is to activate the church into caring for children in their own backyard.
How the Process Works
Once a church agrees to partner with us, we engage our team.
There are several trainings we offer however or most inclusive is the One Day Workshop. The list of all our workshops can be found here. https://backyardorphans.org/workshops
One Day offers church staff and volunteer leaders a wholistic training on church-based orphan care and a thorough plan to develop a foster care, adoption, and support ministry.This all-day workshop is designed to walk church leaders through our 4-step process. It is interactive and customizable to fit the needs of all churches. We will cover significant topics such as:
- Building a sustainable volunteer based model
- Understanding modern day orphan care
- Developing ministry structure
- Working with child welfare
- Working with child placing agencies
- Contextualizing orphan care within all departments
- Moving the ball forward through next steps coaching
After the workshop, with a design fleshed out, the ministry starts to really take shape. A ministry like this within the church doesn’t take place over night. There are so many moving parts and things to consider when mapping it out. The church and Backyard Orphans works to get the pieces in place and designates a time to launch and finally begin recruiting foster/adoptive and support families/individuals. From start to finishing the process typically takes over a year, from first contact to launching the ministry.
My Ministry Role
Orphan care has always been close to my heart. I’ve shared in a previous post about the impact one single event had on my life. (You can read it here https://www.itsworthitall.com/1994-2/ ) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that orphan care ministry is what God created me to do. This positions combines two of my greatest passions, the local church and orphan care. I am grateful to have this opportunity to fulfill this calling with Backyard Orphans.
In 2006 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Missions from Central Bible College. I recently spent 6 years as a case worker for an adoption agency writing home studies for private adoptions, both domestic and international. (A home study is a written document, typically 13-16 pages, that must be completed about the family before placement of a child through foster care or adoption.) This professional experience is coupled with the personal experience of being foster parents and now adoptive parents. Additionally, my husband and I have spent the past 17 years in church ministry. All of these things together have prepared me for this position as a church trainer with Backyard Orphans.
Backyard Orphans as a ministry organization has continued to train me in my role. I flew to Texas in February to attend a three day training for my new position. I attend weekly team meetings via Zoom where training continues to take place. I have a few other certifications that I am working on too. When they are finalized I’ll officially share them. (I’m super excited to share that news too!!)
My position is unique in that, as a missionary associate, I will be fully supported by individuals and churches to minister in this role, and I am responsible for raising my own budget. I rely completely on the provision of God and the generosity of others. Once my monthly support commitments are raised, I will be considered fully funded. Once I’m fully funded, I will be able to turn my focus 100% towards assisting churches. My focus is Indiana, but there may be times I will be asked to travel to a different state to help with a workshop. Our team goes everywhere.
I have raised 14% of my monthly budget. Every penny of that 14% has been received with prayers of gratitude. I am beyond thankful for every gift that is given and every personal sacrifice that is made to support me in this ministry. My goal is to raise 100% of my monthly support by the end of the year, if not sooner.
If you would like to support me in this ministry, here is the link: https://bit.ly/Whidden. You can give one time gifts or a monthly support amount. My prayer for you is that God blesses you in abundance for your generosity and kindness.
In the Bible, God makes clear what our role should be. Take care of the orphans (James 1:27). This is a mandate. Though many of the kids in our foster care system are not orphans by the Webster dictionary, by they biblical definition they are. These kids deserve to be loved, no matter how long they are in care and the responsibility falls on us as believers. It was never the government’s responsibility, but it has always been the church’s.
Church, let’s do this. These kids need to be loved well by people who love Jesus. While not everyone is called to foster or adopt, everyone can play a part.