•  

Mercy & Justice 2024: FATHERLESSness AND FOSTER CARE

Each January, we call one another to a month of awareness, discussion, prayer, fasting and action toward significant areas of mercy and justice in our neighborhoods, region, nation and world.

LEARN.

There are approximately 13,000 - 15,000 children in foster care in Pennsylvania each year. On average the 1,100 “age out” of the foster care system at 18 without a permanent, stable family situation. The need for foster care in Central Pennsylvania is great and we believe the Lord has equipped and called us, the people of Liberti church, to help meet this need.

RESOURCES

Books 

  • Adopted for Life by Russell Moore

  • Foster the Family by Jamie Finn

  • Until Every Child is Home by Todd Chipman

  • The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis

  • Confessions of an Adoptive Parent by Mike Berry

  • If Only I Had a Dad by Rick Amitin

  • Breathing Through Foster Care by Robin LaVonne Hunt

  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene

  • To the End of June by Chris Beam

  • Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

  • Too Small to Ignore by Wes Stafford

  • Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen (not suitable for young kids - she details abuse and sexual assault)

Podcasts

  • Think Orphan

  • The Adoption Connection

  • The Honestly Adoption Podcast

  • The TBRI Podcast

  • Empowered Parent Podcast

  • The Forgotten Podcast

    • Episode 157: Learning to Celebrate Reunification and Episode 156 Breaking the Cycle of Trauma

Other Resources

Local Resources


PRAY.

  • Pray that God would act on behalf of the fatherless and vulnerable in this world. 

  • Pray that the exploitation and commodification and neglect of children in our world would come to an end. 

  • Pray that God would use this year to work in our church a heart that mirrors His as we care for vulnerable children on our community

  • Pray for the ministries and agencies in our area who have been working to care for vulnerable children and families: The Bair Foundation, Safe Families, Bethany Christian Services, Keystone Family Alliance, and many more.

  • Prayer Guide from Christian Alliance for Orphans

ACT.

Ways to Get Involved

  • Join Gateway - Gateway is an online portal that connects people to the needs of vulnerable children and families in the community - it’s a simple way for everyone to do something. Once you register, you will be sent needs and you can claim any that you want to meet. Gateway is run by the Keystone Family Alliance.

  • Join a Care Community - Every Host or Foster Family needs a team of people to come around and support them. From small jobs to larger ones, from food drop offs to lawn care, from check-ins to childcare, support teams offer their time and skills to encourage and support families in tangible ways. We partner with Keystone Family Alliance for our care communities. If you would like to join a care community, go to the site, scroll down to the community volunteer orientation, and select an event to attend.

  • Become a Host Family - Sometimes families are in crisis or have life events that require someone else to temporarily care for their children. We partner with Safe Families through Bethany Christian Services for short term-voluntary placements.

  • Foster Parent - Children removed by the county need a safe and stable place to live while courts decide what’s best. We partner with Bair Foundation for foster care placements.