“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and statesman

The current unrest in America is just another drop in the bucket in the ways our society has hurt since the COVID-19 outbreak. As one browses the news, it has become increasingly challenging to find headlines that inspire hope and trust in the human spirit.

I was walking in the park earlier this week, praying for our country, when I spotted a small group of children of diverse ethnicity, happily enjoying each other’s presence while holding hands. The image, set against the backdrop of my prayers, reminded me of Jesus’ famous words when the disciples tried to rebuke little children who were trying to get close to him: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:13-16)

Purity, joy and unbiased love are the natural traits of little children – qualities that our world so desperately needs these days. But unfortunately, many children face circumstances that force them to lose their innocence and joyful spirit early in life.

Purity, joy and unbiased love are the natural traits of little children – qualities that our world so desperately needs these days. @AJC #FosterCare
Click To Tweet

Abuse, neglect and unstable household situations placed approximately 14,000 children in foster care in Georgia last year. According to Bob Bruder-Mattson, president and CEO of FaithBridge Foster Care, there is a significant probability that the numbers will upsurge due to the pandemic since the economic environment is prime for increased abuse and neglect. Time will tell, but for the time being, I am rejoicing with the great news he shared with me during our interview earlier this week.

Abuse, neglect and unstable household situations placed approximately 14,000 children in foster care in Georgia last year. @AJC #FosterCare
Click To Tweet

According to Bruder-Mattson, his agency has trained “a record number of people interested in becoming foster parents in response to the surge of children who will need care due to the impact of COVID-19 and its economic fallout.” The numbers translate into an impressive 48% increase from 2019. FaithBridge has trained 124 people between March and May compared to 84 people during the same period in 2019.

“People are focusing on what is important during this time, and giving back to others such as fostering a child who has been neglected or abused is one way that they can serve others,” Bruder-Mattson said.

FaithBridge is a Christian organization, and, as such, it partners with 55 churches around the Atlanta area to bring awareness and fulfill the immediate needs in the foster care system. Its partner churches vary in membership size. From small churches in the Atlanta suburbs to megachurch North Point, FaithBridge’s Community of Care model wraps around each church partner with training, support and coaching, and provides spiritual guidance to church members interested in becoming foster families and those seeking to fulfill the needs of foster families.

“We didn’t expect the incredible response of people signing up to train and become foster parents during the COVID-19 crisis, but God did,” said Bruder-Mattson. Last year, FaithBridge’s board of directors and leadership felt led to invest to expand their digital service capabilities. Little did they know that they certainly needed the larger network frame to accommodate the surge in training and enrollments during the past three months.

The increasing interest in foster care is much welcome by the organization. Floyd County and Hall County alone have over 600 children in foster care but only have about 120 foster homes. The potential foster families go through a four-session online training program that prepares them to serve in this beautiful initiative.

Children indeed need a healthy environment, lest they become, as Frederick Douglass so insightfully said, “broken men.”

At a time when our world is filled with brokenness, hatred and despair, my heart rejoices to see that this pandemic has stirred up goodness and selflessness in the hearts of so many families. My prayer is that this is only one among many other ways that God is indeed working amid the crisis, helping us focus on loving our neighbor and helping our fellow men.

Find out how to get involved at www.faithbridgefostercare.org.

This article was originally published on Patricia Holbrook’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, June 6, 2020. To visit the AJC’s website, click HERE.

The post COVID-19 and the Impact in the Foster Care System {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

The movie “90 Minutes in Heaven” was released in theaters nationwide last week. It was largely filmed in metro Atlanta, and produced by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Rick Jackson, founder of Giving Films. I attended the world premiere red carpet event at the Fox Theater on Sept. 1, and was impressed to find out that Jackson’s company has committed to give 100 percent of the movie’s profits to Georgia charities dedicated to help children in the foster care system, victims of sex trafficking and other social issues. The theater’s balcony was filled with foster families who seemed excited to support the venture of one of their biggest cheerleaders.

Hope. That’s a theme the world can’t get enough of. The hope of heaven. Hope on earth. And that is the theme that kept pounding in my heart as I talked to Jackson last week. It’s no wonder he finds inspiration in stories of faith, such as the one told in “90 Minutes in Heaven.” Jackson is hope, restoration and determination personified. A foster child himself, Jackson became a successful businessman by allowing his failures to shape his future, closed doors to become opportunities to grow in determination and strength, while facing his fears with the daring attitude of a heart that trusts in God. He has no reservations in sharing that his faith has been the cornerstone of his life’s story. He sees his extensive philanthropic endeavors as exercising the gifts that God has given him. He intends to give, and give some more, because he understands that while his story is unique, there are several small children out there who have the potential to shape America’s future. If only we believe and invest in them, extending our arms and sharing our time, resources, and God’s message of love and redemption.

Don Piper’s story has brought solace to many people all over the world who have lost loved ones. I read the book to
my husband following his brother’s tragic death three years ago. It’s a book worth reading, and now, a movie worth watching. Not only because of its story of faith and selfless love, but because the fruit of this endeavor will bring hope to children on this side of eternity.

In a world often permeated with darkness, greed and selfishness, it is a joy to hear the stories and shake the hands of real-life overcomers, who rise from the shadows of death of their circumstances stronger than ever, choosing to bless others with their resources, gifts and talents. Now, I’m sure God smiles at that.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author and national conference speaker. Her first book, “Twelve Inches: Bridging
the Gap Between What You Know About God and How You Feel,” is now available on Kindle, and paperback at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon and other retailers. Visit her blog to read her devotionals at www.soaringwithhim.com or email her at pholbrook@soaringwithhim.com .

The post 90 Minutes in Heaven (Column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.