March 2020

Father's Heart "Beat" Good News in the midst of Coronavirus

Thankful For Churches Help Pastor Darren & Heather Gambrell were just licensed as foster parents in February and just got their fist placement. 3 little girls ages 1, 6 and 7. When they got their license to forster they were only planning on having 1 child and possibly a baby because that was all the bed space they had. When they received the phone call for 3 little girls that needed a foster home, their church family rallied around them to make it possible for them to take the girls. They soon had beds assembled and ready to go along with clothes and other items needed. Now these 3 precious little girls have a safe, loving family they can be a part of while their parents work on necessary changes to bring their family back together. I can't stress how important it is to have the churches support when you are fostering. When you bring a biological child into your home you have at least 9 months to prepare and get ready, when you get a foster child, rarely do you have much time at all to prepare. When you have a biological baby you get maternity leave; while, most foster parents don't have the option of paid leave from work when they get a child. They find themselves scrambling for child care in the mist of scheduling doctors appointments, counseling appointments, visitation with parents, and visitation with case workers. Not to mention having to buy clothes and other items the child may need. As you can see their life is turned upside down but they gladly do this because it is the heart of God to care for the orphan. You may not be called to be a foster parent but maybe God would want you to go shopping for a foster family, baby sit, put together beds or daily pray for foster families. Everyone can do something! Father's Heart is not just about being a foster parent Father's Heart resources and equips churches to: Help biological families who are at risk. This could be anything from helping with material needs to providing support. Recruit foster families / adoptive families and provide them with support. It's not enough to to just recruit foster families, we have to help them. There are many people in our churches that can't foster but they can offer to babysit, tutor, help drive, mentor, etc. Help those youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Be a friend and mentor to a youth aging out, help them apply for college, teach them to drive, etc.

Bio Family Comes To Know Jesus Jay and Ashley Seidler adopted Jude in 2016 and now have his sister Anna as well. You have to hear this amazing story Ashley shared with me about God taking brokenness and turning it into something beautiful. “Over the last couple of years we have built a strong relationship with Jude’s biological family. It's been a relationship that I have treasured so much and I have been so thankful to God for letting something beautiful come out of it. The week of Christmas, Joni called me crying. She then explained to me that her oldest grandson Jalin (19 years old), had been found in a bath tub foaming at the mouth. It was devastating. Jay and I told her that we would be there for them and the family in whatever ways that they needed. The next day I sent a message to Jude and Anna's biological aunt, Jamie (the mother of Jalin), I told her that we were praying for her and that if there was anything that she needed we were there. She instantly wrote me back basically saying "WE NEED GOD." The response caught me so off guard I wasn't even sure how to respond! We messaged some more and I ended up inviting her to come to church with me on that following Sunday. Sunday morning comes around and I really have no idea if they will actually show up. To my delight I looked and THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS THERE! I just started crying. 5 years earlier at that same church, at those same alters I wept and poured out my heart to God during a long season of infertility. I begged him to make me a mom and here I was… at that same church, watching God just be God. How is it that he used an incredibly broken season in my life and now I'm here with my son and daughter and their family?? But that's not it... a week later, Jamie and her husband Casey both accepted Christ into their hearts and the same week as Minister's Retreat they were water baptized along with Grandma Joni!!!!! GOD IS GOOD!!! I can't help to think that He always knew what the big picture would be. He always knew we needed to be a family... all because 5 years ago we took a HUGE risk and said YES to being foster parents! PRAISE GOD!!!" Fast answer to prayer We were praying together at Minister's Retreat for every child in Ohio to have a family and for God to raise up godly foster parents to care for the orphans in our state. At the exact time we were praying for this, Danielle Biel got a phone call from Children Services asking if they would take in a new born baby boy. Wow, what timing!

Monthly Highlights To Be Aware Of

APRIL - Child Abuse Prevention Month. Some Ideas: Last year 678,000 children in the use were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect. Share facts about the number of child abuse cases reported in your county. You can get the information from pcsao.org. Pray for those who have been victims of abuse. Have someone share a testimony how God has healed them. MAY - Foster Care Month. Some Ideas: Recognize foster parents and send them a small gift such as a gift card for amazon or for Grub Hub. Encourage your congregation to pray for foster parents. Share a testimony from a foster parent or someone who grew up in foster care.

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Father's Heart Website

Check out the Father's Heart website for testimonies, resources and much more. fathersheartohio.com Father's Heart OMN Facebook Page If you are a foster parent check out our Father's Heart Foster Parent Support Group page on Facebook