FOSTER CARE 20 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition In my office I like to keep this small jar on display filled with mustard seeds. There are so many moments throughout the day where I catch myself looking over at that jar to see these tiny mustard seeds and I am instantly reminded, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” That verse, Matthew 17:20, is one we’ve all likely heard countless times, but when we keep it at the forefront of our minds and our hearts, we can begin to see opportunities all around us where we can call mountains to move. Faith for resources A few years ago, I remember seeing Rob Hoskins from OneHope preach a message at my church and learning even more about the incredible resources they are able to offer to connect kids to the gospel. Back then we met and wondered how we could possibly create something together that would impact kids in crisis here in our local community, state and nation. HopeConnect was born out of that meeting and our desire to equip more parents with connection-filled therapeutic activities that bring the Hope of God’s Word. In the last few months since its launch, hundreds of parents and ministry workers have been trained on how to use HopeConnect from across the country. Ministries are all working together to spread this hope – there’s Faithbridge in Georgia, Buckner in Texas, Olive Crest in California, and many others, all coming together to resource parents caring for kids with trauma like never before. What appeared as a mountain before us – the question of how we could spread a hope-centered resource – has been moved through the faith and obedience of so many in our midst. Faith for connection 4KIDS has made connections with hundreds of churches across more than a dozen Florida counties over the years, but after 25 years of ministry history, in February 4KIDS was welcomed to join Christ Fellowship for the very first time. Seeing our team spread out amongst the campuses and experience the incredible hospitality and spirited responses in the Christ Fellowship church body was a move of God. In one weekend across 10 campuses, we received nearly 200 “interests” in getting connected to 4KIDS to volunteer or to become foster parents. We haven’t seen a response quite like this in years and to see it at a church we visited for the very first time was a testament to the ways God is working in this community to call and encourage the Body of Christ to serve the most vulnerable. Faith for healing 4KIDS’ EPIC Therapeutic Approach has been impacting kids and families in Florida for several years. Now it is growing beyond. As we train families and partner with ministries in the USA, the Lord is also opening doors internationally. When we imagine the trauma and the pain kids are experiencing across the world, it can feel like an impossible task to equip those parents and caregivers with the kinds of tools they need to facilitate healing. So far missionaries from Romania, Peru and South Africa have been taking EPIC Training and principles to the kids and families they serve, spreading healing across the world. And after speaking at the Global Briefing at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, we have been approached by missionaries from Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia, Albania, France, Cuba and Haiti. Mountains moved I could go on and on about the mountains I see moved every day here at 4KIDS, and every mountain matters. We talk a lot about Ephesians 3:20-21 at 4KIDS, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory…” Exceedingly and abundantly more! This is the work of our God and this is the faith He calls us to every day. Getting to see it in action inspires us all to keep believing every mountain can be moved. And these stories are not just the faith of one in action but the faith of many. The unity that God is orchestrating in the body has the power to touch an untold number of lives across the Earth. So keep pressing into faith and don’t do it alone. Look for opportunities to unite in this work. Look for ways to come together with great belief that we will experience exceedingly and abundantly more. Learn More About HopeConnect at HopeConnect.us Learn More About EPIC at EPICHealing.org From Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed - Kevin Enders - 4KIDS President & CEO Brown Mustard Seeds Spilled from a Spice Jar
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