The Adopting and Fostering Home

As millions of children are housed in orphanages around the world, it’s imperative that we ask ourselves, is there a better way? Kristen Lowry, Send Relief’s Consultant for International Orphan Care says, “We cannot adopt our way out of this.” Kristen shares with Lynette Ezell the surprising lessons she and her team at Shelter Yetu in Kenya learned that have now helped them see more than 600 kids reunified with family. November 12th is Orphans and Widows Sunday. To learn more about how you and your church can meet needs and share Christ with children all over the world, go to SendRelief.org/orphan. Contact Kristen through the International Orphan Care Interest form.

For this Foster Care Awareness Month episode, Michelle Chitwood joins Lynette Ezell in hosting Fostering Champions Founder Bobby Canipe. After Canipe lost his mother to a heart attack and his father to alcoholism, he and his sister were placed in Virginia’s foster care system. Canipe used this childhood experience to inform his work at Fostering Champions, where staff provide housing, resources and a much-needed steppingstone to children who are aging out of the system and entering the real world. Learn more about Fostering Champions here. Find more resources for your foster care and adoption journey at SendRelief.org.

Kelley and Randall Nichols from We Are the ECHO join Lynette this week to unpack the familiar statement, “I could never do what you do.” The Nichols emphasize the vital role of community support and candidly share the enemy’s resistance to caring for vulnerable people. Find resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) is a life-affirming, Christian non-profit dedicated to treating surplus frozen IVF embryos with dignity and finding forever homes for their young lives. NEDC’s Marketing and Development Director Mark Mellinger joins the podcast this week, along with adoptive parents, Josh and Jenn Schouten, to discuss the journey of embryo adoption. For further information on the ethics of embryo adoption: https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/what-you-should-know-about-frozen-embryo-adoption/ https://www.russellmoore.com/2012/09/20/should-christians-adopt-embryos/ Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Although abuse and childhood adversity filled the early chapters of Kristen Thomas’ life, her trust in Christ and the investment of a caring community has enabled her to write a new story. Be encouraged as Kristen shares with Lynette how God is directing her path and redefining her journey. Find resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Josh Benton, Vice President at Send Relief, joins Lynette on the podcast this week to share their family’s adoption story and the invaluable role of the local church. Through Family Advocacy Ministry, Josh provides a clear, concise blueprint for ministering to vulnerable children and families. Here are easy steps to get started: · Praying diligently and consistently · Raising awareness about the needs of vulnerable children · Recruiting families to consider adopting or fostering · Providing support to serve foster and adoptive families, and biological families in crisis · Helping to meet physical and financial needs · Supporting and encouraging local child welfare workers · Ministering to families and meeting emotional and spiritual needs Get more info at https://www.sendrelief.org/projects/family-advocacy-ministry/

Lindsey Martin joins the podcast again to continue the conversation of prenatal trauma and creating a home that promotes healing. Join Lynette and Lindsey as they discuss small attainable goals to build relationship and felt safety.

Back from our summer sabbatical, host Lynette Ezell and social worker Lindsey Martin discuss prenatal trauma and its potential effects.

Occupational therapist Savannah Alderman joins the podcast this week to discuss proven tools and activities that we can incorporate into everyday living that help children build relationships and trust with their new family unit. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Adoption is a lifelong journey of faith, a call that Robbie and Savannah Alderman answered as newlyweds. Despite a world-wide pandemic, the Aldermans trusted the Lord’s timing to bring home their three daughters. Find resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

While serving in their children’s ministry, Terri Raynes and Tia Harwood realized they share a passion to help children in the Arizona foster care system. Soon, the two friends put their crafty skills to work and began Creation Awaits. Their mission is that the names of children in foster care would be prayed over and known. Find more resources to help raise awareness for Foster Care at Sendrelief.org

Military wife and mom of 6, Cayela Moody, joins the podcast this week to share her family’s “yes” to foster care and adoption. Learn how her organization, Hope Multiplies, is equipping the Church to embrace and support vulnerable children and families. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Brittany Salmon joins Lynette on the podcast this week to discuss her new book, It Takes More Than Love: A Christian Guide to Navigating the Complexities of Cross-Cultural Adoption. Brittany shares her personal story of transracial adoption and the work required to ensure that every child is seen, known and deeply loved. Learn more about Brittany’s book here. Find more resources for foster care and adoption at Sendrelief.org.

Adoptive mom, Terri Marcroft, shares her family’s open adoption journey and the healing it can provide. At a time when open adoption provoked fear and uncertainty, the Marcrofts chose to build a strong relationship with the birth mom of their child and use their experience to encourage others. Find more resources for your foster care and adoption journey at SendRelief.org.    

Laura Peal joins the podcast again this week to share her family’s journey of adoption and ministry. No matter how hopeless the situation appeared, the Peals realize that Christ is King and His love for us is immeasurable. Find resources for your adoption or foster care journey at sendrelief.org.

On this week’s episode, Lynette welcomes Laura Peal, an adoptive mom she met while visiting Send Relief’s Ministry Center in Puerto Rico. When the Peal family was asked to pray for a young life that was vulnerable to abortion, they had no idea how the Lord was moving in lives to build their family. Peal shares how every challenge and disappointment can equip us for future opportunities in the kingdom of God. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.    

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s Director of Public Policy, Chelsea Patterson, joins the podcast this week to share her passion of advocating for vulnerable children and the importance of trauma-informed counseling. Adopted from Romania as a baby, Patterson shares her personal journey of infertility and building her family through international adoption. Learn more about her book, A Longing for Motherhood. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Sherwood Baptist Church’s former pastor, Michael Catt, and his wife, Terri, join Lynette to discuss how the Holy Spirit softened their hearts to the ministry of adoption and foster care. From the midlife discovery of his own adoption to supporting their grown daughter in single parent fostering, the Catts emphasize the need for all to serve and support vulnerable children in every season of life. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.

Reuben Watson joins Lynette to share part two of his personal foster care story. After a childhood of neglect, 13 foster placements and failed suicide attempts, Reuben is introduced to Jesus and discipled at Sunrise Children’s Homes in Kentucky. As Reuben is growing in his walk with the Lord, He learns that his new life in Christ is the foundation for healthy, thriving relationships. Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.  

Between navigating 13 different foster placements, suffering physical and verbal abuse and coping with his mother’s illness, Reuben Watson endured a childhood filled with trauma. After battling feelings of worthlessness throughout his adolescence, Reuben found hope in the gospel. He now works in family services for adoptive and fostering families in Kentucky. Listen to his inspiring testimony on this week’s episode of the Adopting and Fostering Home! Find more resources for your adoption and foster care journey at SendRelief.org.