When we read about the death of Christ, we can’t wait to get to Easter morning. We want to see Christ victorious! But even in our enthusiasm to see good triumph over evil, it’s easy to miss how Jesus’s death and resurrection are actually the greatest motivation we have for everything good that we do every day of the week. In reality, Easter is the defining moment for you and for me. Here’s how— . 1. Easter accomplishes salvation. Without the resurrection of Christ from the dead, we have no ability to obtain salvation or relationship with God. But since Christ died and rose ag ..read more

This Sunday, nearly 193 million Americans will dedicate their evening to Super Bowl LVII. That’s more than one out of every four people in the U.S. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying a good football game, we think of Nelson Mandela’s famous quote— “The true character of society is revealed in how it treats its children.” What could happen if 100 million people agreed to advocate for the most vulnerable children in our country. No doubt, the impact would be astounding. As we watch the big game, it’s important to keep a healthy perspective on things that truly matter. Here ar ..read more

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” —Romans 8:18 Paul wrote this verse referring to our momentary suffering during our time on Earth and our eternal bliss when we’re fully united to the Lord. But we can also see glimpses of this verse practically lived out in our day-to-day lives. Have you ever had to make a decision that caused more suffering in the short term but brought way more good in the long term? The following family chose the harder road, knowing that it would be well worth it in the end. Some families spend year ..read more

Guest post by Amanda Baird from More Than Enough A few years ago, I listened to an audiobook with one of my foster children. As the narrator described how a little boy’s aunt and uncle were treating him terribly, my foster daughter gasped, “He needs to be in foster care!” I was actually shocked. How could a young girl in the middle of brokenness, who had been in several foster homes in her life, identify foster care and her life as safe or warm? I cannot toot my own horn here. It’s not that we offered her some sort of magically perfect experience. Her feelings toward foster care weren’t about ..read more

Jim and Elizabeth always knew they would adopt. They just didn’t know when or how. Together as a newly married couple from Somerset County, New Jersey, they had both worked in organizations through legal and charity work that opened their eyes to children in need all over the world. In Elizabeth’s words, “We just felt like we wanted to respond to the needs that we saw.” And so they did.  But they had no idea the incredible story God was writing with their lives and ministry. Eventually, they adopted two children from Korea. But after that, God called them to start a deeply collaborative m ..read more

From Not Enough… The words “not enough” are heard every day inside of our nation’s foster care system… Not enough resources. Not enough support. Not enough families. Thankfully, churches, organizations, and advocates like you are working tirelessly to serve children and families. But moving from “not enough” to “more than enough” feels out of reach. Navigating the foster care system, coordinating your efforts, and expanding your work to meet these needs takes people, time, and funding—resources that already feel stretched thin. It doesn’t have to be this way.     …to More Than Enoug ..read more

One Sunday every year, around 100 million Americans dedicate their evening to the Super Bowl. That’s more than one out of every four people in the U.S. In our world full of free-thinking and individualism, our nation’s collective agreement to spend four hours doing the same thing (even if it’s something as simple as watching a football game) is worth noting. While we enjoy watching the Super Bowl as much as the next fans, we think of Nelson Mandela’s famous quote— “The true character of society is revealed in how it treats its children.” If 100 million people were to agree to advocate for th ..read more

The words “not enough” are heard every day inside our nation’s foster care system. Not enough resources. Not enough families. Not enough support. Unfortunately, this system overflowing with “not enough” does not lack children—each one with unique needs. A brief snapshot of foster care in the U.S. makes this plain: Over 400,000 children are currently in the system. Compared to other children their age, kids in foster care are 5 times as likely to have anxiety and 7 times as likely to suffer from depression. Of these children, over 100,000 are waiting to be adopted. While some will be ..read more

Guest post by Holly Gnuse of The Forgotten Initiative, an advocate ministry of Lifesong. It doesn’t matter what age or stage you’re currently in: Having friends to walk beside you is a good thing. A sweet thing. I’m finding that true even, and especially, in this foster care journey. I say “journey” because although my husband and I are licensed, we don’t currently have a placement. In fact, it’s been months since we received that piece of paper that gave the stamp of approval, and yet, there have been no placements. And most days, I kind of forget that our lives could be flipped upside down a ..read more

Guest post by Sarah Wilson of The Forgotten Initiative, an advocate ministry of Lifesong. May is Foster Care Awareness Month. We at The Forgotten Initiative believe that awareness leads to action. We believe that when the body of Christ hears about foster care and learns about needs and ways they can get involved, they are willing to step into this space. The more we know, the better equipped we are to serve and care for those around us. We dream about people everywhere supporting the foster care community and experiencing Jesus together. I think that, as humans, we have a natural tendency to ..read more