Forever Family

The Every Child conference will encompass foster care, hosting, and adoption. How is God calling you to be a part of His plan? Are you ready to hear Him? The following is an account of just one family stepping out in faith to love the most vulnerable. 


In November of 2005 and December of 2006 my children were born to their first mom. Too much of life happened to them between then and the time they were placed in to our hands in May of 2009. It wouldn't be until October of 2010, that the courts finally caught up with our hearts and they were forever home. I had to look up the year the adoption was finalized because I can't believe it has just been 5 years.  There are ways it seems so much longer and life before those two is hard to remember. In another way it is a bit refreshing to think it's only been 5 years and that we've come a long way in a short time. It's no wonder some of the struggles we have gone through in the past year and I am once again reminded of the pain and grief that the redemptive story of adoption is birthed from. 

There is not a single thing I would change. I read back over a journal I kept at the time and the emotions gurgle to the surface and my eyes sting with tears. I am reminded how hard we fought for their momma to be their momma. I am reminded how sad it made me that she felt she couldn't and how angry it made me that she didn't have the skills to be. I am reminded how deeply it hurt that the system had failed yet another. I am reminded how much I loved and respected her and how it conflicted directly with my all-to-human judgement's at times. I remember my inability to understand that her life experiences could have only led her here. I will always be thankful she chose life for them and selflessly broke the cycle. I am reminded how small they were, just 2 and 3 years old. I remember how brave, how open and willing to accept our love these little children were. I am reminded how scared and angry and filled with an intense sadness they were that it seemed to seep from their souls. I am reminded how immediately I loved them. I am in awe of how much our 3 other children welcomed them in and protected and embraced and hurt for them. I am reminded how very much in love I was watching my husband father the fatherless. 

Becoming a mother to two grieving children is the hardest thing I've ever done. Stepping in to the place of a mother they loved....they still love. Truthfully, sharing their love with her has been hard. I often tell them they have enough love in their hearts for both of us and they do, but it's only honest to say that their are moments that has stung a little. The juggling of emotions that comes with this journey never ceases to surprise me. One moment I can be crushed by the weight of the burdens they've carried and yet others, felt normal frustrations at the fallout that creates in their lives. This journey has brought me the greatest moments of joy and taken me to the bottom of a cavernous pit. Our adoption story has made me feel utterly alone at times and others surrounded by God's love for us, often shown by the amazing friends and family in our lives. It has left me questioning the brokenness of this world and in amazement at it's beauty and grace. It has given my children a family but at the loss of their first mom. It has given me more than I could ever measure. 

I had no idea what to expect then. I still don't. I have a sign that hangs in the kitchen that states "never a dull moment" and it's obnoxiously true. Each stage of development greets grief differently. But at the same time, each new day is one more day they know the security of a family, the gentleness a father should bring. They are loving, kind, compassionate children that know Jesus. They are worthy. They are valued. The hard has been hard but the alternative isn't an option. She was their first mom but I am their last. She is the mother that gave them life but I, I am their mom for life. I am incomprehensibly thankful that we gave our yes to God...that when it made no earthly sense at all...when the finances weren't there....when we already had a full house...when we were in the middle of facing a layoff... that we just trusted God to have us. I am so thankful that this time I didn't blow it and let my fears win or my intellect or my feelings of self doubt. I am so thankful for stepping out in faith, for giving Him our whole yes and for jumping feet first in to the craziest ride of our lives. Happy Forever Family Day, Family.  

What an honor it is to be your mom. 

Jen Harris is a wife and a momma that strives to show big Jesus size love in her life. She is reminded in her daily failings of her need for a Savior. Jen is the Director of Volunteers for Safe Families for Children Central Indiana and is the Event Coordinator for Every Child. You can find her contributing at www.fourwardwrcc.org and musing about her life at www.jahhlepme.blogspot.com.

Introducing Every Child

Over the past 10 years, Krista Davis, Director of Safe Families for Children and licensed foster parent, has watched the Church do amazing things. She has seen God's people, inspired by the plight of the weak and vulnerable rise to send medical teams to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. She has seen Christians tackle worldwide hunger, and child trafficking. "Our hearts are moved by the Holy Spirit, and we lean into where God calls us to serve," Krista observed. She recently sat down with Mary Beth Bonaventura, the director of DCS for our state, and listened as she tearfully discussed the plight of Indiana's children. Hundreds of children right here in our state, in our own backyards that need the church. "They need us. They are hungry, abused, alone, homeless and some are without parents," says Krista. She believes, "the Church in Indiana can do amazing things. I have seen it...I believe we can pull together to lead the nation in loving our neighbors. "Every Child" was born out of that burden for Indiana's children and the belief that we, the Church, can make a difference for every child in our state who is in need.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

(Psalm 82:3-4)

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. 

(Isaiah 1:17)

Krista assembled some associates and reached out to organizations with hearts for children. Hands of Hope Adoption & Orphan Care Ministry, Bethany Christian Services and The Villages of Indiana have teamed up with Safe Families to inspire the faith community of Indiana to get engaged and serve Every Child. We agree the church is the answer for Indiana's vulnerable, neglected, abused, hungry, and homeless children. We know that we, as the body of Christ, can provide hope and change for the hurting. 

The needs are great. "Children are being abused and neglected at an unprecedented rate in Indiana. In fact, from July 2014 to July 2015 the number of children entering into the DCS system has increased by 26 percent, "shared Mrs. Bonaventura. There are currently over 18,000 children in Foster Care in the state of Indiana, 245 of them waiting to be adopted. Staggering statistics. In a months time, DCS receives 13,000 calls. Only a portion of those meet the qualifications to remove a child from their home. A large majority needs support in times of crisis. 

What if each of those children were met with the love of Jesus? What if before DCS was involved there was a way to walk alongside families to prevent abuse and neglect. Imagine if Every Child walking in to foster homes across the state of Indiana were offered the mercy, grace and goodness we all were freely given. What if Every Child had a family and a place to call home? We pray for a future where Every Child is loved well. 

Our one day symposium focuses on empowering the body of Christ to get involved. There will be inspirational speakers, break out sessions and practical ideas on how to love marginalized children. Interested in fostering? Adoption? Hosting a child in your home? We'll have answers to your questions on how to get involved. Wanting to start a ministry at your place of worship? Want to support those who are adopting and fostering? We will give you the steps to take. Maybe you've already opened your doors to children and are struggling how to parent a hurting child. Participate in an open dialogue and fellowship with others experiencing similar battles. Are you not sure where to start or how you might fit in to God's plan? Come and give the Holy Spirit room to move. 

Every Child. Expecting God to move. Giving him our yes. 

We can't wait to see you there. 

 March 12, 2016

Light of the World Christian Church

You may have been asked where is God when bad things happen to children. God must be asking where are we. The answer for Indiana's hungry, poor, homeless, abused, orphaned and neglected children is the church. Every Child is a one day symposium 

on how to effectively be part of the answer. Please join us.             www.everychildin.org