Safe Families for Children

Matthew 25:40, 45

And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me..." 

Then he will answer them, saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

Since it has been some time (moments) since our family's last adventure, we are feeling that it is time to step out in faith and serve together, trusting that God will equip us as we follow Him in obedience.  It is so easy to become addicted to our own comfort.  It happens so quickly...the moment I open my eyes every morning I crave more comfort, more hours on the pillow, my coffee cup in my hand, something to quiet the alarm clock, and other than me to take the dogs out.  Pursuing comfort comes naturally, automatically.  Service is an intentional choice.

In the past few years there has been an initiative across the country aimed at helping families in crisis as an alternative to the already overloaded foster care system.  The Safe Families for Children initiative mobilized the local church to come alongside hurting families to provide respite in the form of child care, as well as to minister to the needs of parents who find themselves in a hard place.  It is a type of  foster care, managed by licensed social workers and agencies and driven by willing families in the local church.  Safe Families for Children operates in the metro area where we live, as well as in several other metro areas around the country, and we are excited to begin serving with them to provide a safe place for children and families in need. 

Why our family?

We have a desire to serve together as a family as the hands and feet of Christ, and because of our past experiences working with children who have come from hard places, we feel that God has equipped us to welcome, love, and encourage children and families from hard places.

Why now?

There is no time like the present.  In a busy season of family life it is easy to get caught up in our own desires and to completely avoid seeing the real needs of others around us.  Being purposeful about serving others is something we should never put off until we are less busy or more equipped.  Service often requires sacrifice and we are never too young or old to learn to love sacrificially.

How will you manage your six children plus these extra children?

While there is a contingency of the population that believes love is finite (limited) and the immediate family system is to be guarded and protected at all costs, there is another belief that we are blessed to be a blessing and that true love is willing to sacrifice our good (whether emotional, physical, or tangible) for another's best interests.  Service means sacrifice, but it also provides an opportunity for our children to turn lessons from a hard past into blessings for others.  Our children know grief, pain, loss, sorrow, fear, and they have great compassion for other children who are living this reality.  Through the teaching of God's Word, they have been equipped to love and serve others.  The reality of service is that it is others-focused and when we are focused on serving others we find little time to complain about our own discomfort or unmet desires.  We are allowed to rejoice in someone else's joy and safety.  After having two children we approached the idea of adding to our family by considering, "What is one or two more when our days already revolve around loving children?"  We continue in this same manner of thinking.  When there are already six children to clothe, feed, and comfort, how much more work would it be to add one or two more to the mix?  We are not multiplying our effort, but spreading it out.  We have been blessed as a family to be a blessing.

What can you do?
Please pray for our family to be the hands and feet of Christ as we serve precious children in our home.  Please also pray for Safe Families for Children as they share the gospel in tangible ways across the country.  Consider signing up as a Safe Family host home, or as part of their support team.  It is always a joy to serve together with other believers!