Stand Sunday: Standing for Kids in Foster Care
This morning, churches across the U.S., are dedicating today, the second Sunday in November, to remember, pray and commit to standing for youth in foster care in our communities. Today is Stand Sunday.
God has called His bride, the local Church, to be the primary avenue to care for the most vulnerable. When churches are given an open door to serve children and families in crisis, the stories that follow can be meaningful — even life-changing — for everyone involved. At CarePortal and The Global Orphan Project, we’re so grateful for our front row seat to see churches and individuals step into the lives of children and families served by our child welfare system.
More than 1,600 churches in 18 states across the U.S. have served more than 31,000 children since CarePortal launched in 2015.
But what does “serve” mean? What difference do these requests — for things like beds, bus passes, clothes, cleaning supplies and class fees — make for these children and their families? Every single time a church responds to a request on behalf of a child in their community, it accomplishes one of the following purposes:
1. Help strengthen a biological family
2. Help prevent a child from entering foster care
3. Help reunify a biological family
4. Help make a foster care or kinship placement
5. Help preserve a foster care or kinship placement
6. Help make an adoptive placement
7. Help preserve an adoptive placement
8. Help support a youth aging out
9. Help improve a child’s wellbeing
10. Help reintegrate a survivor of human trafficking
In the coming weeks, we’re going to break down each of these purpose statements, and share stories of the requests this caring community has responded to and the role they play. We hope you’ll follow along, both to learn and to share with others how little moments can make a transformative difference in the life of a child in their own neighborhood.
“It warms my heart to see a congregation so giving. Not every child has the perfect life, but every child deserves to be given opportunities to have a successful future. I want to personally say THANK YOU for helping this family!” — Child Welfare Professional
Let’s keep praying, dreaming and serving together. What if every church across our nation committed to “doing a little”?
How will you stand?
Were you moved by a Stand Sunday or Orphan Sunday service today? If your church is already enrolled in CarePortal, it’s a great day to find open requests in your neighborhood or talk to your CarePortal Regional Manager about more ways to serve. If you’re just hearing about CarePortal, we’re excited to help you learn more. Watch this short video about how CarePortal works or contact us.
We’d love to hear how you, your church or organization is participating in Stand Sunday today! Tag us Facebook or Instagram, or send us photos at [email protected].
