When a community comes together, needs can be met to help support local agencies, children in foster care, foster parents, and biological families ..read more

Key Question: As we pursue a life of service and care, how do we avoid burnout? What is the best way to maintain an inner life that sustains the work of justice? Can you believe it? This is the last episode of season one! We couldn’t have asked for a better guest to help us close out this season than Jedd Medefind. Jedd serves as the President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), and previously led the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under President George W. Bush. Jedd has also written several books, including Upended: How Followin ..read more

This week, I have a powerful story to share with you from a former foster child, adoptee, and advocate for human rights. I am honored to introduce you to my guest, Dr. Mary Ann McMillan. She is a passionate advocate for foster youth and adoptees, whose advocacy is deeply personal because it’s inspired by her own experience as an adoptee who spent many years in foster care. Mary Ann serves as a professor and administrator at Jessup University in California and has previously served as a missionary in Ukraine and the Czech Republic, leading trainings in nearly 30 countr ..read more

Key Question: How can we play a vital role in cultivating a place of belonging for those who are without a home? Hey, neighbors! We are honored to have you on this journey with us as we grow and practice biblical justice and compassion together. This week on Just Neighbors, I have the opportunity to welcome Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus, the founder of Settled, which is an organization helping churches develop permanent supportive tiny home villages (called Sacred Settlements) designed to address long-term homelessness. Gabrielle has taken the call to love your neighbor litera ..read more

When foster care feels overwhelming, how do we hold on to hope? How do we define success? How do we find light when so much feels dark? Nate and Kristen Crew are my guests on the podcast today. They have been married for almost 15 years and have 7 children – four adopted through foster care and three by birth. Rather than a specific “calling” to foster, they pursued foster care out of a desire to live out the basic commands in Scripture to care for those who are vulnerable. Nate is a pastor at CityLight Church in Virginia and together they love to encourage others thr ..read more

Key Question: We know that God’s heart is for children and for the vulnerable. How can we follow His heart? Hey, neighbors! We are honored to have you on this journey with us as we grow and practice biblical justice and compassion together. This week, we are joined by Jamie Finn, who is a dear friend of mine. Jamie is the best-selling author of Fostering the Family, founder and president of Foster the Family, host of the Real Mom Podcast, founder and owner of Goods & Better, a speaker, and TBRI practitioner. In our conversation, you’ll hear how we can unite our liv ..read more

For teens (and for any child in foster care), how can we create spaces where they are safe, feel belonging, and develop their sense of independence? How can we give them involvement in the development of what that space looks like? My guest today is a dear friend, Chandler James. Chandler used to be an Advocate Coach here at The Forgotten Initiative and today is the Director of Church Mobilization for The Riverside Project, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the foster care system in Houston. Chandler and his wife, Caitlin, are foster parents and are currently supp ..read more

Key Question: As followers of Jesus, we should be known by our actions (John 13:34-35). Do your actions differentiate you from the rest of the world? Hey, neighbors! We’re back this week with another great episode as we explore the topic of reconciliation and how we can create communities that are crafted in a way that bring racial healing and reconcile us to one another. Our very idea of what it means to be reconciled will likely be challenged through this conversation. Joining us for this episode is David Bailey, a public theologian, culture maker, and change catalys ..read more

You may have seen us talking about our brand new podcast Just Neighbors. Well today, we’re sharing one of those conversations right here on The Forgotten Podcast! This was such a powerful episode, with challenging and honest takeaways for those who follow Christ in our complex world. Just Neighbors is a podcast for every believer who desires to live as Jesus lived – to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God and neighbor. My co-host, Ryan MacDonald, and I are joined by Dr. Krish Kandiah for this conversation about how to combine word and deed to provide belon ..read more

“Applications are open to become a TFI Advocate!” A couple times each year, you have likely seen this announcement from us here at The Forgotten Initiative. But your initial thought may have been something like: “Oh awesome, I wonder who is going to apply!” “They can’t be talking about me.” “I could never succeed at a role like that.” “I’d like to do something like that, but I don’t have the necessary skills.” Many Advocates started in this role because someone in their life encouraged them to apply even when they weren’t sure if they were perfect for the role. The Forgotten Initiative exi ..read more