FOSTER CARE 20 november 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good news • South Florida edition The past few months have been an incredible journey stepping into the role of President of 4KIDS. I’ve been serving with 4KIDS since 2018, and in that time, I have co-labored with the church community to do the kind of work that isn’t only changing lives but it’s encapsulating the heart of Jesus in undoubtable ways. A sacred space When you hear “foster care,” what do you think of? It’s pretty common to see it as something that is full of liabilities. Or something that you can agree is important, but also view as a pretty uncomfortable space. What if more of us shifted that perspective and instead saw foster care in its truest form – it’s a sacred opportunity. Not only is it a sacred space, but it’s one that has been a part of our faith journey since the very beginning. Even in Deuteronomy 24:19, we see the orphan and vulnerable mentioned by name, commanding us to leave forgotten sheafs in the field for them. This same heart carries on in scripture and is embodied in Jesus in countless ways. This is the holiest of work, caring for the unseen. And I believe there is such great dignity and blessing in this pursuit of care, love, justice, and restoration for these children and families. When we really see the unseen, I believe those are the moments where we are so much more seen by God. Seeing the unseen I remember the first time I saw the unseen pain and often horrors that neglected kids are facing. Ten years ago I was a Child Protective Investigator, and as an investigator I was responsible for going into at-risk homes and assessing if children were safe and well cared for. But I didn’t expect what was waiting for me behind these closed doors. To know the level of brokenness that exists in areas that I know well and live in changed my life. I also discovered that this kind of trauma isn’t something that discriminates socio-economically. The mistreatment of kids and the trauma that they go through - it is not only what you think it is; some of it is very insidious. This exists in ways that I never thought was possible, but once I knew I could never look away – the proximity and our response really left me ruined. Through countless investigations, the one defining moment came when I held a little girl after pulling her out of a storage unit. I knew then, "God, you built me for this. You built me to bring hope.” What I never could have imagined is how that job set me on a journey that would lead me to serving as 4KIDS’ President and bringing hope to kids in ways I couldn’t have dreamed of at the time. Stepping into God’s design The best part about this sacred space is that there is room for everyone to step into it at so many different levels. Whether that be preventative care and providing for the physical needs of at-risk families, supporting existing foster families, opening your own home, partnering to bring trauma-informed healing or most of all praying, there is a place for you here in this holy work. So often we are giving our hearts to people we can’t see, but we know that God does see them. Our willingness to extend our own hearts and even have our hearts broken, this is the high calling God has for each of us and it’s not unseen by Him. If you’re reading the Good News, my best guess would be that you’ve heard of 4KIDS many times over the years, and I am glad you have! I am grateful for a community filled with a rich history of caring for kids and families. My prayer for you is that you would consider the sacred space God is calling you to in a new way. Learn More About Extending Hope, Homes, and Healing to Kids & Families A Sacred Opportunity - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2MjU=