ASHLAND — With 450,000 children in U.S. foster care and the crisis building across the country, thousands of churches will echo a united message on Stand Sunday, Nov. 8.
Christians across the country will celebrate God’s special love for vulnerable children – and what ordinary people can do to put that love into action. Fostering Family Ministries will host its second annual Community Event Sunday, Nov. 8 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Ashland Grace 1144 West Main St., Ashland.
Stand Sunday we take a stand for the needs of foster children in our communities across the United States and raise funds to help us care for vulnerable children. Two inspiring stories of how the church gloriously interrupted the foster care journey will be featured. Our celebration will also welcome two new counites who have partnered with Fostering Family Ministries this year. The service will also be shared via livestream.
The Donley family’s unexpected journey into fostering precious children will bring hope to your heart. Krysta Bouquet’s experience as child growing up in a challenging home will inspire you as God interrupted her journey. She reveals the power of the church family in changing the course of her life. Guests in person and online will be able to text in questions as time allows.
Fostering Family Ministries is a non-profit faith-based organization in Ohio. FFM exists to mobilize, organize, equip and train church partners to launch and lead foster care ministries.
“Together, we raise up foster families and supportive friends to meet the needs of vulnerable children and their families,” the organization stated.
Founded in 2016, under the direction of Sherry M. Bouquet, FFM has grown to include churches in Ashland, Richland and Knox coounties. Be the Light for a vulnerable child. Join us in person or online. Register at www.fosteringfamilyministries.org.
The Impact of Growing Up without Family
In the United States, there are more than 450,000 children in the foster system today due to abuse and severe neglect. About one quarter have been permanently removed from their parents.
For these children, the wait for a family often exacerbates trauma the child suffered in their own home. Every year, more than 20,000 “age out” into adulthood without a permanent family.
Foster youth face immense difficulties. Children aging out of the system without the support of a family are far more vulnerable to traffickers, prostitution, homelessness and a host of other ills. A 2013 human trafficking raid by the FBI found that 60 percent of child victims came from foster care.
Seeking to change these numbers, faith communities across a wide range of Christian denominations unite on Stand Sunday to challenge churches to be an answer for these children. If every church in America adopted just one child from foster care, there would be more families waiting for children than children waiting for families.
