COVER STORY 29 OCTOBER 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition In 1999, the Stacy Foundation launched Project TeamWork 4KIDS under the leadership of Rick Englert, becoming the first Christian foster care agency with the vision to bring the South Florida church community together. And the two organizations joined forces in 2003, creating 4KIDS of South Florida with Doug Sauder as present until he stepped into his role as lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.Then in 2017, Kevin Enders was asked to serve as president and CEO after a three-year search, bringing 30 years of business experience to lead the ministry. Kevin Enders, and his wife Michelle, were first recruited by 4KIDS to be foster parents back in 2006 and became licensed in 2007 and fostered several children. They went on to adopt a son in 2008 and a daughter in 2009. The mission of 4KIDS is to provide hope for kids in crisis. In the last 25 years, that vision has deepened through a paradigm of hope, homes and healing that represents the unique holistic care 4KIDS is able to provide to kids and families. What is the model? 4KIDS recruits, trains and licenses Christian foster families to welcome children into their HOMES in 11 Florida counties, then develops teams within their church communities who support those families in practical ways. 4KIDS provides HOPE in the way of prevention for families with kids at risk of being removed from their homes through the CarePortal technology platform. It allows child welfare workers to notify church volunteers standing at the ready about practical needs they can meet to help keep kids from entering the foster care system. 4KIDS also promotes HEALING for children, youth and families through one-on-one therapy with clinicians trained in 4KIDS’ unique trauma-informed therapeutic approach, called EPIC.Additionally, 4KIDS trains foster, adoptive and biological parents as well as people in the community in the trauma informed EPIC model so they can better help their children heal. What is the impact? In 25 years, over 30,000 lives have been directly impacted by 4KIDS. About 1,300 foster families have been licensed by 4KIDS since 1997. More than 5,6000 children and teens have been welcomed into a 4KIDS Foster Family and over 800 of them have been adopted. Prevention services have been received by 2,000 people through CarePortal since its start in 2020. And over 2,185 lives have begun healing through 4KIDS EPIC therapeutic approach. What was the biggest challenge or darkest moment you’ve had to overcome? A few months after Kevin Enders took the helm of 4KIDS in 2017, 4KIDS faced a challenge to a hallmark program of the ministry. SafePlace Broward, started in 2000 as a homelike environment staffed by caring Christians where children could be brought when first entering foster care to be lovingly cared for while awaiting placement in a foster family. “It was this beautiful vision,” said Enders. But after a 17-year run, it had devolved into a situation where children coming into care for the first time were being mixed with the most difficult, sometimes violent youth coming from the department of juvenile justice, which was often causing more trauma. For the first time, ChildNet decided to put that project out to bid, seeking request for proposals and chose a different provider to take that over. But God… we knew we put our best solution forward in our proposal. At the time we were going through a Bible study in the book of Acts, and I remember when Paul was shipwrecked, he was taking things off the ship so he could get to the desired port God had for him. That’s what we believe that God was also doing at 4KIDS. SafePlace was becoming such a challenge that it was consuming 80% of our time and was no longer what it was designed to be. I believe God was leading us out of that season and into a new place where we could provide even greater healing and support for families. The Lord gave us the courage and clarity of a renewed vision to help us evolve and grow 4KIDS into new areas that are now providing significant support and care for so many children and families that need us. What is the biggest accomplishment or Joy of over the years? “The thing that brings me the greatest joy is staying true to the ministry side of what we do, keeping God first and maintaining a culture that is still a Christian ministry,” said Enders. “Our number one thing on our strategic plan for the next three years is to maintain authentic Christianity as a foundation and deepen our spiritual intimacy with the Lord for our staff and the families that we serve so that every decision is being committed and led by the Lord.” Tom Lukasik, vice president of engagement for 4KIDS, added, “4KIDS has become the model of Christian foster care across the country. It’s been a wakeup call to the body of Christ in South Florida to what an orphan crisis looks like in this world today.” Where are you headed in the future? There are two really big things. We’re expanding to Southwest Florida this year and we’re about to sign our contract in Miami-Dade, so we’re growing from six counties to 12. We’ll be covering over 50 percent of the population of the state, essentially offering services from Lake Okeechobee south, which is really exciting. We’re also collaborating nationally with organizations like never before, so you’re going to see exponential impact because of the work we’re doing together. 4KIDS is also working on a phenomenal digital tool. It’s branded HopeConnect, and it’s a collaboration between 4KIDS and OneHope to bring the hope of God’s word to every kid in foster care in the US. We are partnering with several large Christian foster care ministries in Georgia, Texas and California on the launch and roll-out of this amazing new tool. The app takes families through little micro-moments they can share with their child and ends with scripture and prayer, creating gospel focus and identity. We’re also on a global mission, taking the therapeutic EPIC approach to missionaries, schools, churches and nonprofits across the world. Testimonial: Twenty-five years after Irene Garbowski Smith’s experience as a Guardian ad Litem, set 4KIDS in motion, she said, “It’s an incredible blessing to truly see God’s hand at work. I re-member the times I was on my face just praying and crying out to God to show me how we could help these kids. I sawGod’s hand all over this ministry, working on behalf of his children. It’s amazing to see the faithfulness and commitment of the faith-based community in Fort Laud-erdale continuing to press on to do this pure and faultless religion.” (James 1:27) How will you celebrate? 4KIDS invites you to a 25thAnniversary Benefit Concert on Friday, November 11 at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, featuring musical performances by Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North andAustin French. Tickets are just $25 with all gifts benefitting kids and families in need for generations to come. For tickets and sponsorship, visit 4KIDS.us/Celebrate How can people help? Pray – because we want to continue to follow God’s lead. Get involved – Become a volunteer. Join a CarePortal response team. Become a foster parent. We need foster families, especially in BrowardCounty where there is a significant need. Give - Your financial support makes a difference. About 65% of 4KIDS’ budget comes from businesses, individual donors, churches and foundations. Visit 4KIDS.us to learn more. Saints Homeschool P.E. and Saints International Sports Ministry Coach RickAndreassen remembers the moment when God gave him the vision for Saints. “It was August 27, 1997. I was on a plane reading the bookATale of Three Kings and there was this line that said, “God’s looking for a trustworthy vessel.” When I read that, I closed the book, looked out the window of the airplane and that’s when God said, “Homeschool P.E.” So, trying to live as a trustworthy vessel, I obeyed God. I left my full-time job at New Covenant Christian School and started five weeks later with two volunteers. We had 18 kids that first year and Saints has now brought joy to children in five states and six countries through sports. ThemissionofSaints is toshare the loveof JesusChristwithchildrenaround theworld through the platformof sports, creating an atmosphere “Where Jesus is Lord and Every Child is aWinner,” What is the model? Saints is a professional physical education program whose sole purpose is to provide children the benefits of an athletic curriculum under the guidelines of professional instructors. The curriculum has been written by Coach Rick Andreassen and is approved by the A.C.S.I. (Association of Christian Schools International). Saints is held at county parks where parents drop their children off for a three-hour program of sports activities lovingly administered by a team of coaches. Kids rotate through four different physical fitness activities. It’s Christ-centered. It’s fun and it’s accredited. When COVID hit, Saints also created “P.E. at Home” Kits. Families received all of the equipment needed in a blue plastic box and were able to follow a ZOOM class with everything available in their box: jump rope, frisbee, sack races, ping pong balls, etc. We created a full 30-week curriculum and shot two-minute videos for each class. What is the impact? Coach Rick estimates thousands of children have made decisions to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior through SAINTS Ministry…with all praise to God!! We are humbly honored when we run into parents or grandparents that say their kids were in Saints! Prior to COVID, 10,000 kids participated in Saints each year, and over 25 years the reach is estimated at more than 60,000 children who have experienced the love of Christ through sports. What was your biggest challenge or darkest moment to overcome? Personally, its the balance between working in ministry as a coach and then working on the ministry administratively, the business side of it. On the field is where I get (Continued on page 30)
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