Do I Foster or Shepherd Children? What if I Do Nothing at All? - Carla Thompson

My journey with God to foster children started in 2006, in a gas station bathroom. A flyer on the grungy wall begged for people to become foster parents. This flyer caught my attention and broke my heart. In that very moment, I felt God’s nudge to open my home to children in crisis as soon as my two youngest children graduated high school. The heartbreak and desire to help these children never left me, but God’s timing was certainly different from mine.   

Due to complicated family circumstances, my two high schoolers and I moved to Memphis in May 2015. We were so broken that I thought there was no way I could ever foster. But in 2018, I started the training to become a foster parent and had to stop. In 2019, I started over and again had to stop. I quickly became discouraged. I began to question if I had heard my heavenly Father correctly so I gave my desire back to God. However, I never stopped going before the Lord and seeking Him vigorously. 

In the spring of 2021, God began to speak to my heart in various ways that it was time.   I felt His gentle leading to join Him in His work. In July, for the third time, I began the foster training process. After many months, my training is complete, my home study approved, and all the paper work turned in just waiting on DCS. I pray that no child will have to leave their home and parents, but if they do, I have prepared a bedroom to receive them.  

I have been asked, “Why are you doing this?”  I believe the better question would be, “Why not?” As Gib says, “We are to take responsibility for the brokenness and lost around us.”  Many children in our city, our nation, and this world are in a crisis. Our Heavenly Father hears their prayers and cries for help.  Do you hear them too?  

I recently saw a documentary by the Kendrick brothers that made an impact on my foster journey. It was called “Show me the Father.” The documentary showed how God orchestrates people’s lives so they could see the Heavenly Father. Jim Daly of Focus on the Family was interviewed and he shared his childhood story. When his mom died, he had to go to a foster home. He shared how chaotic and horrible it was. It was so terrible that Jim went back to live with his bad dad when he was in high school. Eventually, Jim had a football coach who taught him about Jesus.  Jim believed and Jim’s life was changed forever.  Jesus, “Showed Jim the Father!“  Read 2 Corinthians 4:6  

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” I was impressed to “shepherd” children coming into my home, not foster them. By God’s grace, children in need will come live in my home which I have named “Home of Hope.” The Christ in me, will show them God’s amazing unconditional love in their brokenness. I will tell them about Jesus’s love for them and share how Jesus has a plan for their family.  I will watch as the Good Shepherd Jesus does what he does best, “Show them the Father!” 

My first foster informational meeting in 2017 was quite eye opening.  I glanced across the room at the attendees. Couples of all ages and cultures attended. I sat alone as a single, Christian lady, up in age.  To say the least, we were a “motley crew” of potential foster parents. I started silently praying, “Lord, I hope there are many Christians in this room. If not, would you call your people and break their heart for these little children as you broke mine?”  - Carla Thompson

November is Adoption Awareness Month. Check out some of the videos of TN children who are awaiting a forever family to adopt them. Adoption is a beautiful picture of what God has done for us.

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!” - Ephesians 1:5 TLB

Please consider joining Tennessee Kids Belong in an Exploring Foster Care informational meeting including a panel discussion and Q&A session hosted by Fatih Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 1st at 6:00 p.m. Register for the event at Exploring Foster Care. - Alan May, Director of Missions and Connections