Resources/Parenting/School & Homeschooling
By Summer Lane
Photo: Deposit
Christians have a clear biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable, especially children without stable families. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to defend the fatherless and look after orphans in their distress, as in James 1:27. In America today, hundreds of thousands of children—around 330,000 in foster care as of recent data—live outside their biological homes due to abuse, neglect, or other crises.
Many experience multiple placements, prolonged instability, and trauma, while thousands age out of the system each year without a permanent family. These young people face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, mental health problems, and potential crime (just watch our episodes this week to find out more about this!). For believers who understand God is a Father to the fatherless and who’ve been adopted into His family through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, indifference to the plight of the foster child is unacceptable for Christians!
The foster care system’s shortcomings (declining numbers of available homes, for example) create both a crisis and a calling for the church. Christians should be concerned not only because children are suffering in a system that often fails to provide the safety and belonging they need, but also because the church is uniquely positioned to respond with love, support, and practical resources.
When congregations recruit and equip foster and adoptive families and work to strengthen struggling families so reunification can succeed if it’s safe, they truly embody the gracious heart of God. Ignoring the needs of these children means missing a profound opportunity to live out faith in action and to reflect the love that first welcomed us into God’s household.
This week, the Counter Culture Mom Show welcomed several voices who are experts on the issue of the foster care system. Here is one of the highlights from this past week’s series: a father who tragically lost his infant daughter – and used that tragedy as the starting point for a much greater mission: serving foster kids in need. Don’t miss this extraordinary interview with Dr. John DeGarmo, the director and founder of the Foster Care Institute and the author of 13 books!
If you are looking for more information about how to live a counter-culture lifestyle with your kids, don’t forget to check out the Counter Culture Mom’s free parent media guide, which will point you in the direction of HUNDREDS of video games, TV shows, movies, apps, books, and more that will replace harmful, godless content with positive messages and good lessons. Download the media guide HERE.
*
After Losing Daughter, Dad Dedicates His Life to Saving 60 Foster Kids – Dr. John DeGarmo
Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.
Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.
Download Our New Counter Culture Mom App to get our trending news and pop culture alert notifications. Connect with other parents in the Parent Chat section to gain helpful ideas on how to counteract the Pop Culture Cult!
Be sure to contact us if there is an issue you would like to have us write about! Our mission is to help parents deal with today’s lifestyle trends and how to biblically navigate them.