From Foster Care To Faith

Anna Chandler, born Anna Louise Higginbotham, is a native Marylander and mother of six, including a set of triplet boys. She lived, worked, and raised her family before opening a family day care in 1985, which began her journey in education. Anna moved to Oregon in 1997, and even though her children are now grown with their own families, she continues in the education field as an administrative assistant in a public school system, but Anna's true love and hobby is singing. In 1991, Anna began journaling what she could remember of her childhood in foster care. She wrote and continued to write everything she could remember for years. One day, Anna awakened to a voice telling her to complete the manuscript, and she knew that it was the voice of the Holy Spirit. In her heart, she knew that it was time to share her story and that if God brought her to it, he would bring her through it. Anna searched the web and found Christian Faith Publishing and decided to contact them to see if her book would be good enough to make the mark. To her surprise, the manuscript was approved for publishing, and the rest is history. The work itself has taken Anna to another level in God, and she knows that this is just the beginning. From Foster Care to Faith will be a spiritually encouraging addition to your home library, and I hope you enjoy it. All glory to God!

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.

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.

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.

Are you a foster or adoptive parent needing hope for this complex and sometimes lonely journey? Do you love your kids but feel discouraged? Are you misunderstood by people around you? In Faith, Hope, & Connection: A 30-Day Devotional for Adoptive and Foster Parents, you'll find: Real, often raw, stories from adoptive and foster parents in the trenches; Scripture and faith-filled hope, pointing you to Jesus; Honest reflections speaking courage to your soul and reminding you that you are not alone. This devotional is a gift to you from 30 authors, all foster and adoptive parents, who offer a window into their own lives and families. You'll recognize yourself time and time again in their words. Faith, Hope, & Connection: A 30-Day Devotional for Adoptive and Foster Parents is a treasure-trove of wisdom and grace for foster and adoptive families.

Crystal Smith and her husband, Todd, have learned to embrace their beautiful chaos every day. In a house filled with foster children, it is never boring, always changing, and extraordinarily busyand they wouldnt have it any other way. In the poignant story about faith and dutifully following Gods plan, Crystal shares the experiences and emotions that accompanied her familys roller-coaster ride through the ups and downs of the foster care system and as they eventually became a forever family through adoption. While providing an in-depth look into their journey, Crystal details the foster care training system, the lengthy paperwork process, the complex emotions that followed their first in-home placement, the difficulties of saying goodbye to children, and the joys that surrounded the day they officially became a forever family. Through it all, Crystal illustrates that every child, every tear, every smile, and every fear has made them the family they are today. Beautiful Chaos is an inspiring story about foster care, adoption, faith, and love, and how one family came to be.