Faith To Foster

Faith to Foster is a candid look into the life of ordinary foster parents TJ and Jenn Menn. It is a journey chronicling their decision making process, how the children arrived, the birth parents struggle to rehabilitate, help from friends and family, emotional goodbyes, and how faith in Jesus empowered them through it all. This is a story they wished they’d read before starting their foster parenting adventure. TJ and Jenn share their experiences and feelings in a way that encourages any reader to serve their neighbors, not just foster parents. Faith to Foster reminds Christians how God can use them to make a difference in their community.

Filled with personal stories and Scripture, Faith & Foster Care shows how to practically and specifically live out your faith in foster care ministry. An encouraging resource for novice or experienced advocates and parents, specific issues addressed include advice on marriage and foster care, how to love the foster child and birth family, how to pray for your foster child and birth family, and how to let go when they leave. See how your actions have a far-reaching impact when you live out your faith.

If you’re wondering if God can truly move in the life of someone with all the odds stacked against her, look no further than Tori Hope Petersen. Tori grew up in the foster care system, a bi-racial child in a confusing and volatile world. Growing up with a mentally ill mother and living in twelve different foster homes, nothing was in her favor. And yet, even with a minuscule chance of graduating college and a great risk of being homeless, jobless, and on drugs, Tori overcame every negative stereotype and assumption that attacked her identity. However, Tori will tell you she did not overcome. Christ did. In the face of the storm, Jesus made a way for Tori to find profound hope, deep faith, renewed purpose, and a loving family, too. After so many years of being on one side of foster care as a child, Tori is now on the other side as a foster mom, adoptive mom, and biological mom. On top of that, she became a Track and Field All-American in college and now works with nonprofits, ministries, and beyond advocating for foster care reform, adoption advocacy, and help for vulnerable populations. If you want to hear the true tale of an unlikely overcomer, this book is for you. If you want to learn more about the foster care system from a former foster youth’s perspective, this book is for you. If you want to better dwell in the reality of your own spiritual adoption by our Heavenly Father and better understand the orphan and the widow that He loves dearly, this book is for you. Ultimately, if you want to remember who God is, and what He can do through the most unlikely of people, Fostered is for you.

Fostering faith in children is a shared privilege and responsibility of parents, godparents, and the church community. We promise our children at baptism that we will support them in their faith formation--in the formation of their relationship with God. We need to take this promise seriously. This book is intended to be an accessible and helpful resource for parents and other adults who seek to foster children's faith. This book succinctly explores many ways we can support children's faith formation, including our day-to-day interactions with children, the images of God we share with them, how we pray together, the rituals we create, service opportunities we provide, music we share together, the stories we tell and listen to, our celebration of the sacraments, and more. While this book has a distinctly Roman Catholic orientation, much of the content will be relevant for a wider Christian audience. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, this book is rooted in the conviction that the God we seek relationship with and that we hope to foster our children's relationship with is one who is infinitely loving, welcoming, and always yearning for deeper connection with us.

The foster care journey is tumultuous, with so many unknowns and uncertainties that shape every day. When parenting children from hard places, the emotions run the gamut from unbridled joy to paralyzing fear. You may feel completely overwhelmed with all that God has entrusted you, or you may feel humbled and honored. Either way, prayer can change hearts, even when circumstances remain the same. In this 40 day guide, you will be encouraged by real life examples, along with Bible verses and sample prayers included with each day. You will intentionally pray for every aspect of the foster care journey. By doing so, you can exchange fear for faith and anxiety for peace.

The adoption agency made a mistake. A mother welcomed in a child who brought fear and destruction into the home. She wrestles with God, doctors, and social workers over what to do next. Quick-thinking, leaps of faith, and some dark humor challenges readers to ask themselves: Do I have what it takes to raise a child with a harrowing past… or an uncertain future? Un-Adoptable? reveals deeply personal questions that arise when pursuing this parenting path. Ratings & Awards: 5-Star Rating from Reader's Favorite. TOP 5 finalist for parenting books in 2020 National Indie Excellence Awards. TOP 10 for books on fostering & TOP 100 for memoirs. (WattPad.com preview release) Nominated for BookLife (in association with Publisher's Weekly) annual award for parenting and family books. Reviews: “A candid and courageous account. I was awed by the accounts described in such detail and psychological insight, she could teach a class in child psychopathology.” - Dr. P. L. Herold, Professor of Psychology, Cal-State. "This book is a must-read for everyone who is currently providing care or considering foster care or adoption. In addition, social workers, therapists, church officials, and medical practitioners will benefit from seeing their impact on our families." - Lesia Knudsen About the Author: Janelle Molony, M.S.L., advocates for adoptions of special needs children. She writes encouraging, faith-based stories for national parenting publications and online (www.AdoptionToLife.com / @AdoptionToLife).

Many people embark on the journey of adoption and foster care but are unprepared for the challenges that await them along the way. Replanted takes an honest look at the joys and hardships that come with choosing this journey and provides a model of faith-based support made up of three parts to help families thrive: Soil, Sunlight, and Water. Soil, or emotional support, addresses the need for grace-filled settings where families can connect with other families who understand their experience. Sunlight, or informational support, focuses on obtaining helpful training to raise children who may have unique needs or challenges. Water, or tangible support, deals with concrete resources such as medical care, child care, and financial support. Throughout the book, the Replanted model is brought to life by stories and examples based on the clinical work and personal experiences of the authors. Their candid insight will serve families who are actively involved in adoption or foster care, as well as people who are eager to help support those families. Replanted affirms that with the right support system in place, parents can answer this sacred call not only with open hearts but also with their eyes wide open.