WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:24.239 So, as I said before, this morning is Foster the City Sunday. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:56.640 And Foster the City is an organization that started locally here to connect churches with families who are fostering kids, who are supporting kids, who are vulnerable right now, and they need a family, a safe, loving home to be in right now, as they are in a season of their life where it's not safe to be with their family, but that their families are working on reunifying their family together. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:59.759 So that's a little bit about what foster the city is. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.560 What our part in this is, that everybody can be involved in this somehow together. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:11.359 And this is how we are able to reach our community. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:26.000 This is one way that we're able to, you're gonna hear more from our speaker this morning, so I don't want to give away what she's gonna say, but that we are able to really impact our community in a variety of ways. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:30.719 So you may be sitting there thinking, I cannot be a foster parent right now. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:44.400 And that's totally fair because there's so many other ways to be involved in this to really um support kids who are in foster care, to support families who are caring for kids in foster care. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.519 And so this morning we have with us um our friend from foster the city. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.120 Her name is Kylie Middlebusher. 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:53.280 She is here as our guest speaker this morning. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.280 She's been with Foster the City for eight years now. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.920 She has uh four kids of her own. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.239 One of them is a foster child right now. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:05.840 So she works with Foster the City and she's also a foster mom. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:13.599 So we're getting to see the whole spectrum of what this looks like from somebody who sees all sides of it. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:16.879 And it's such a gift to have her here this morning. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:21.280 And a little fun fact that I learned about her this morning is that she played college volleyball. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.599 So she connects with us so well. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:25.039 We're so excited to have her here. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:27.919 Will you please welcome Kylie Middlebusher? 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:35.840 Good morning. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:37.439 Thank you so much, Ashley. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:38.159 She's so amazing. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.360 I could just give her the microphone and let her take the rest of the Sunday. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:56.719 I am so grateful to be here with each of you this morning, and I'm so grateful for the generosity of awakening in many ways, but one way by giving an entire Sunday during foster care awareness month to learn more about how we can engage and connect with families who are experiencing foster care. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:03.280 I'm part of this ministry called Foster City, which means you're also part of this ministry because awakening is. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:13.680 This is a mighty movement of churches who are responding to the crisis that there are far more children who have entered into foster care than there are safe and loving homes that can welcome them in. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:24.240 This means children who have experienced abuse, neglect, who have seen unspeakable things in their own homes are now entering into a place where they are asking somebody else to be their parent for a while. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.919 They're not asking, it's being told this is what needs to happen for your safety. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:39.759 And sometimes they're landing in social worker offices, sometimes they're landing in group homes, they're being sent out of county and far away because there just are not enough homes here in our own neighborhood to welcome these children in. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.639 But this is where the church comes in. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:55.919 Because we have this organic, natural community where we gather on Sundays, we fellowship throughout the week, where we are a community of people who are here to usher in God's healing and his gospel and to love others so well. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:03.120 And so we know that the church is a place where vulnerable and abused children can experience the healing touch of God. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:08.960 Where we can bring in these children and let them know that they are the beloved sons and daughters of God. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:17.600 And so I get to share this with you, both as Ashley said, as a foster mom myself, and as somebody who's just passionate about the local church. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:21.439 I think the church is beautiful, and I'm so grateful for the church. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.000 And so I find myself today on this Sunday. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:34.160 It is foster care awareness month, and I get to speak on behalf of those who do not get to speak, as it says in Proverbs, the vulnerable children who aren't able to line up on the stage today and share their stories. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.240 I get to stand on their behalf. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.600 And so today I actually want us to dive into the book of Mark. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.000 Um, I'll have a text on the screen behind me. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:46.800 For those of you who don't have your Bibles or if you have your phones or a Bible with you, feel free to open it. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:50.000 But we're just gonna focus on a couple small verses today. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:54.160 Um we're gonna start with the story of Jesus healing the leper. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.439 You can find this story in Mark 1, in Luke 5, Matthew 5. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:01.199 I love that it's repeated throughout the Gospels, and I think it's a pretty profound story. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:03.279 But Mark hits the ground running. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:12.079 In chapter 1, we already have Jesus being baptized, going to the desert for 40 days of fasting, being tempted by Satan, um withstanding the temptation of Satan. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:19.519 Jesus picks up his first few disciples, he heals many, and then we find ourselves in verse 40, where he heals the one. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:23.199 Jesus encounters this man with leprosy. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.160 Let's read the scriptures together. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:31.839 Then a man with leprosy came to him and on his knees begged him, if you are willing, you can make me clean. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.720 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:40.240 I am willing, he said, Be made clean. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.560 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was made clean. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:56.240 So for some of us who've been reading our Bibles for a long time, leprosy may be a pretty common uh illness that we're aware of, but for those of us who are a little bit newer, maybe you don't quite understand the significance of this illness. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.920 This man was experiencing pain everywhere. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:12.160 Soil, um his skin was hurting, he oftentimes they couldn't really feel well in their nerves, so they would lose fingers and toes and limbs, and it was just this chronic disease that plagued their body. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:17.600 And oftentimes people believed the disease was because of a sin in that person's life, or even a sin of their parents. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.839 So it was this generational thing in their family. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:26.879 And also, if you have this disease, it's not just physically painful, it's also isolating. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:32.639 You're withdrawn from society, you're not allowed to engage in the normal see of seeing your family, being with friends. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.160 You're actually moved outside of the city walls and told to go live over there. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:43.279 So we know that this man came to Jesus and was asking for healing. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:49.279 But he was also asking to be restored back to his family, back to community in what he knows. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:07:00.480 And I think for the first time in our lives, we probably have a little understanding of what this man was going through with this isolation when we think back to the early days of shelter in place and not being able to see our family, but at least we had the hope of an end date. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:04.959 This man was sentenced for life to be living in isolation away from everybody else. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:12.000 And so when I read back to these two verses in Mark, I find myself repeating verse 40. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.519 It says he fell to his knees and begged Jesus to make him clean. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:20.560 This posture that he was in and begging just peeks into the desperation this man felt. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:24.240 And I even love that this morning when we were singing and worshiping, I wrote the lyrics down. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.000 It says, When I fight, I fight on my knees, the battle belongs to you. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:30.480 It was almost like that was the posture he was in. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.240 And what did Jesus do? 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.879 His response was profound. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:38.800 He was moved with compassion. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:43.040 Now, this word compassion can literally be translated to suffer with. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.720 And I've read that emotion researchers, which that's a really great role, I didn't know that was a thing. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:59.040 Um, they define compassion as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and you feel motivated to relieve that suffering. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:05.120 So it's not just the emotions and the feelings, but it's me saying, I'm here to help. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:10.560 Let me be a be somebody who carries this burden alongside you or removes it from you. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.639 And that's exactly what Jesus did. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.920 He was fully present with this man. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.040 He felt what this man felt. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:15.920 I for I believe that. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.720 I believe he felt with that compassion heart of Jesus and said, Let me take this from you. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:22.240 And he healed the man. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:33.120 In this story, Jesus is teaching us right here how to welcome compassion as an invitation into action. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:47.759 Anybody in this room who's been a Christian for more than five minutes knows and will testify that when we operate out of duty or law, or maybe the more word that we use nowadays is like religion, a religious spirit, religious heart, it does not sustain us. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:50.480 Our heart has to break for what breaks God's. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:58.480 So we need to be moved by compassion, not duty, not law, and step into where God's calling us. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.120 And that's the only way we'll be able to be sustained and stay in it. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.960 Something else I love about the story is how Jesus ushered in the miracle. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:05.919 Anybody catch that? 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:06.639 What did he do? 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:11.200 He didn't speak the healing like he does in previous chapters and parts of the gospel. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.200 He doesn't tell the person what to do, get up and pick up your mat and walk. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.240 No, he physically touches the man first. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.639 He does what society says you cannot do. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:25.919 Jesus actually, it was making himself unclean to do that by the law of that time. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:29.759 And yet he touched the man and said, be made clean, and the man was healed. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:44.399 I think that when we look at this story, we know that because we are made in the image of our Father and we see what Jesus did, that we too can be moved by compassion and intervene on behalf of others. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:46.799 And honestly, guys, this is not something new. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.399 I'm sharing this with you because you are believers, you love Jesus too. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.720 So this is part of your identity and who you are. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:56.960 And this is true of how the Christian church has been for many, many years. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:04.799 When we can look in the book of Acts and see how the church was selling things and so aware of others' needs that they gave what they had to love others and meet their needs. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:09.600 We can see in history books that all throughout history the Christian church was known as the same. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:17.840 In fact, there was a practice that happened in the early church time where when a child was born, they were placed at the feet of their father. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.879 And the father had two choices. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:25.519 One, he could stoop down, pick up the child, quite literally raise them up. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.759 That's where we get that phrase, raising up your child. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:32.720 And he could accept that child into his family and say, Yes, you are my child. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.320 I legitimize you. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:40.000 Or he could look at the child, step back, and carry on his way. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:44.480 Maybe the child was the wrong gender, maybe it was the wrong timing for their family to grow. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:54.080 Maybe there's a disability or some reason why the parent did not want a child right now, and that child would be scooped up and brought outside the city walls to be left with the elements and to die. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:01.039 This was perfectly legal and acceptable and practiced all throughout the time. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.480 And the people who said no to this were Christians. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:10.559 And so in the nights and during various times of the day, they would go out and listen for the cries of the babies. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.919 And they would grab the children, bring them home, and raise them up as their own. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.559 This is our legacy. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:25.919 And I think the most beautiful part, heartbreakingly beautiful part of this, is this isn't just an ancient practice. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.440 This is happening today. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:36.720 But instead, we do not have to go out into the city and listen to the cries of the children because social workers are telling us right where they are. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:45.519 They're giving us the names and telling us who these children are that need to be placed into a safe and loving home while their parents get the help they need. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:52.080 And we get to take it one step further because in the past, these children were abandoned by their family. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:55.440 Today, these children are not abandoned, they're not orphans. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:03.519 And so while we have the cries of the children that we get to hear crying for help and the social workers telling us where they are, we also get to hear the cries of their parents. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:12.240 Because these families are facing things of addiction, abuse themselves that they've experienced all throughout their lives, or maybe this is how they were raised, and this is the only way they know how to parent. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:19.120 It's generational cycles that we get to step into and disrupt and usher in some of God's healing. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:29.600 And so when we partner with families, we get to see firsthand that God is a God who redeems stories. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:37.840 And even back in um the text of Mark 1, where it talks about uh Jesus was moved by compassion, there's some translations that say Jesus was moved with indignation. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:45.279 His anger was not at the man or for asking for the miracle, but it was it was at the brokenness of this world. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.639 And I think that's who we get to be as Christians in this moment. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:56.559 We get to be moved with this compassion into action, feel this indignation, and that as people who see what Jesus did, we get to go do it for ourselves. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:02.080 Because these families are worth it and they are loved and they are precious as well. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:08.639 And I can stand up here and share story after story of how we've seen God redeem stories and people's lives. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:12.559 But instead, I would love to step away for a minute and share about my friend Lauren. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:26.480 I remember taking my pipe and just putting it on the floor and just stepping on it, and I was like, I'm done. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:37.279 And um, and a month later, Madison was born on her due date, which I don't know how that happened, because I had done everything you're not supposed to do while you're pregnant. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:43.360 And on the third day, they took they took my daughter and they said we'll be right back. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.159 And they never they never came back. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:51.840 I went down almost every street around the hotel and just cried and just didn't know where to go. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:14:09.519 And I didn't want to go back to the motel because I had the mo I had my room in the motel all set up with um a crib and clothes, and I just felt so alone and lost. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:22.879 I was advised to be cordial but confidential because the bio mom was hostile to the first foster parents. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.360 So obviously, not really what I wanted to hear. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:29.679 They said be confidential, so I thought, is it bad if she even knows my name? 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:38.720 So when I met Lauren, you know, I didn't know what to expect, but as soon as we started talking, she felt at ease with me. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:46.639 I was on my first unsupervised visit with my daughter. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.639 I was feeling so nervous. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:54.000 I have my daughter, and we are we we can go wherever we want, and we can be back at this certain time. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.120 We can we can spend this time alone that I haven't had. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:12.799 She goes to my car and we're driving, and Madison starts crying, and she starts crying and crying and crying, and I start crying and crying, and we're both holding each other, and we're just crying, and I knew she didn't want me. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:36.399 So I met them at uh Trader Joe's parking lot, and uh we're at we're in the parking lot, and I'm just crying and holding Madison, and and Brian puts his hands over me while I'm crying, and he just prays he prayed for me, and I don't know what he said, but when he was done, all the guilt was taken away. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.559 All the guilt was taken away. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:47.600 Because when she was crying, it wasn't just a kid crying, all I heard was everything I did while I was pregnant. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:52.000 Everything I did, I everything I did to put her in a position to be crying. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:56.720 When we first got into foster care, we thought we were gonna start doing it. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:02.320 Um it was just the focus was just all about the children and about you know saving children. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:09.279 We didn't we didn't have any other really focus until we went to the our agency's training, which was really good. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:25.120 Um and they they kind of like enfolded us into the whole process of of dealing with, you know, the there's a family that's broken, and you're there, not just for the children, but you know, there's an entire family that's out there that's gonna be hurting. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:31.519 Out of the blue, I got a text message from her, which which made me cry. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:37.440 Um she just text me, you know, Bethany, I need God and I want Madison to know Jesus. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.879 And I'm like, I called her right away. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:43.840 Um I was like, we gotta we gotta talk about you're making me cry. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.559 She's like, why? 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.679 And I'm like, because it's just like this is absolutely amazing. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.039 And then to hear how God has just been working on her heart. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.960 Um was it was exciting. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.399 And she wanted to learn more. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:58.559 She's hungry and thirsty, and so we've been doing Bible study together. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:05.119 She started going to church, she found one, they they got connected in there, and so it's been amazing to see God at work. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.319 They were my support. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:11.039 Bethany and Brian were my main support throughout this whole case after they got Madison. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.240 They carried me. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.960 They carried me, they believed in me. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.960 My relationship with them is still growing, and I love them so much, I consider them to be my family. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.039 I get my advice from Bethany. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:29.599 I watch her family because I want what she has, and I want what her family has, and I want what how her family is. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.119 I want that for my family. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:36.160 You think about walk by faith and not by sight and going into fostering. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:40.400 We had a lot of questions, we had a lot of doubts, concerns, fear. 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:45.839 Um, there's a whole lot of emotions, and you almost don't want to do it, but you want to do it. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:55.200 Um and the things we feared most, I feel like didn't come to pass. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.920 We were so afraid that it would blow up on our faces and that it would be the worst experience ever for our family. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:06.079 And it it hasn't been that way. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:11.359 I think we're always afraid to obey the Lord because we don't know what the cost will be. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:16.000 But in following Christ, the cost is always worth it. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.920 It really ends up being no cost. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:22.000 I'm like, we've gained more than how to, you know, put out kind of thing. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.559 And God is always so gracious in that way. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:31.839 Um, so you know, I don't know why we get so afraid, but yeah, we do, and we're gonna continue to grow um in those things. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:33.519 But God is is so kind. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.880 He's so kind in his dealings with us. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.920 Yes, it's a story, absolutely. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:59.279 When I think of the gift that Brian and Bethany gave to Lauren and her daughter, it's the gift of the sacrificial love to love her right where she was and unconditionally, and to champion her on peace. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.599 I know Lauren's story, I've met her and heard her story. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:09.200 There's more to it where she was up against every statistic, uphill battle, and many times they're like, she should not have had reunification happen. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:13.119 And yet God worked a beautiful miracle in her life. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.880 And when I look at their lives, I think of James 1.27. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:28.960 I think that religion that our father, God, our father accepts as pure and faultless is this to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:42.480 I think uh I know I just said these are not orphans and these children have homes, but really in this time when the scriptures were written, uh, orphans and widows were more terms of just people with no covering, uh, women and children. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:49.519 Often was a man who needed to come and establish some family patriarchy of like, this is our family, this is who I provide for. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:57.119 And so when we look at the modern day term of foster care, it's children whose parents are not able to cover them for now. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:04.000 And so I think this map this matches pretty closely when we think of these children who need to be cared for and in their distress. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:15.519 And then when I think of even carrying in the scripture, the second part is really what sticks out to me is that I think that when we think of not being polluted or untainted by the world and standing apart, right, as Christians, we're called to live in this world, not of it. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.039 There's so many things we talk about oftentimes that we're here to usher in the gospel. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:28.559 But sometimes we only focus on the big things and we forget that even things like comfort can be a problem if we're not using it for God's glory. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:33.759 Am I worried about my family getting everything all in order and I've got my little family secure right here? 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:58.240 Or am I willing to be inconvenienced in the name of the law of God's love and care for my neighbor in a way that honestly ushers in chaos into my home because I will tell you right now, as a foster mom, I am welcoming in chaos into my home when I say yes to these children who've come from abuse and neglect in hard places, and when I am also welcoming in their biological family and encouraging and cheering them on. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:05.279 Oftentimes we have a chance to see God redeem stories, but it's at a great cost to ourselves. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.880 And I want to share a quick story with you guys. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.799 My family and I were currently foster parents. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:17.599 My husband and I, we have three children, are nine, seven, and four and a half, and then we have our little guy right now who we're fostering, he's 18 months old. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:19.519 Um, but we weren't always foster parents. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.000 We actually started off in this role of a support friend. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:29.759 And it's this person who shows up and meets practical needs for a foster family, emotional, spiritual needs of a foster parent while they're fostering. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:35.039 And so there's been a few times where I've really witnessed this beauty of God ushering in his healing touch. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:38.480 And in foster care, healing touch we call attachment. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:41.839 And so we were matched with a single mom. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:48.960 She was fostering, thought she was gonna wait till she's married, had some kids of her own, and instead, God asked her, just trust me with your story and say yes. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.880 So she became a foster parent. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:59.519 And one of the ways we served her was we picked a little guy up from daycare and take him home, feed him, bathe him, put him in his jammies, and bring him over so she'd get a night of relief without having to do the bedtime routine. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:04.480 And one of the times we'll call him Baby M, he came into our home and I have a picture of him and my son. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:07.759 They're actually almost the exact same age, just a few days apart. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.599 And they became little buddies. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:16.400 And one of the days that they were over, my husband and I were running around, and we dropped the babies into their playpen and went to go get snacks, and my son lost his mind. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.640 If I step out of that room, lost his mind. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.000 Baby M was silent. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.640 Didn't think much of it at the time, maybe thought he wasn't hungry. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:28.880 And time and again, every time I set them down and left the room, my son would lose it, and baby M was silent. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:39.920 And I started to remember that babies who've experienced neglect oftentimes learn to stop crying for help because people aren't gonna come to meet their needs. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:46.400 And it's not my job as a support friend to ask questions or details about the child's life or why they're in foster care. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:50.799 But I also know that when kids do experience neglect, that is an outcome. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:55.599 I also know that sometimes kids' needs are being met, but when they come into foster care, it's so traumatic. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.799 It's strangers all around me. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.599 Who is safe? 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.400 Who can I trust? 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.920 Who can I cry out to? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.920 And so they remain silent. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.400 It should not have to be this way. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:06.480 It's that righteous indignation. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:15.519 And so while we were playing with little baby and putting him down and observed this, I just started praying and asking God, just keep healing this baby. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:20.720 And a couple months later, uh, he came back into our home again for the same thing, picked him up, cared for him. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:25.279 And the minute I set him down to go grab sippy cups and snacks, he starts wailing. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.720 I mean, he just lets it loose. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.960 And so I just scoop him up and I've got you. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:41.200 And I didn't even realize it for a minute until my then four-year-old, she said, Mommy, when baby M first came to our home, it's like he wasn't used to being held and he didn't cry for you. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:45.680 But now it's like he loves to be held and he cries out when you leave. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:54.400 What my four-year-old was saying was, this baby's being healed and he's trusting, and he's being restored and made new. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:24:00.559 And this is a reminder that while Jesus walked the earth, he was the source of healing. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.559 He was touching, he was speaking healing. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:07.200 We saw it happen, he was multiplying it through his disciples, and yet he's not here anymore. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.039 And so he, but we can also see throughout the Bible, he's consistently using people. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.720 That is also a characteristic of God. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:16.720 He's willing to use us to usher in his healing. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:24.000 When we look in the Old Testament, we see Moses telling God, I'm not worthy, I can't do this, and yet God used him to free the Israelites. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:28.880 We see Esther saying, I can't do this, and family says, You were made for such a time as this. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.839 And she spoke up so her people could defend themselves. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:37.279 We see Peter walked with Jesus and denied him three times. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:40.160 And yet God still used him to build his church. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:43.119 This isn't the beauty of the Christian faith. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:47.599 Time and again, seeing people say, I could never do that. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.599 And then God says, Welcome in. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:54.799 I'll tell you right now, I could never love a child as my own and give them away. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:25:06.720 And yet, that's where we are right now, looking at my husband and saying, He's this little boy's only been with our home for a few months, and already we're gonna have to picture a day where he's not here. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.640 My heart being broken is worth it for his heart to be healed. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:24.880 And baby M and uh Lauren's story, these are one, two stories of hundreds, if not thousands, of stories here just in the Bay Area. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:32.640 The statistics of kids who enter into foster care and do not experience that healing attachment, who do not have a family, a person that they're bonded to, are dire. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.480 I'd love to share some of these statistics with you. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:41.920 Kids who are in foster care and age out with that adult, 71% of girls become pregnant before they're even 21 years old. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:48.160 And I've heard that when those women were interviewed, it was because they needed family so desperately, they decided to make their own. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:52.160 Substance abuse, 50% of kids who age out will have substance abuse. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:59.279 Unemployment rates, trafficking, 60% of kids who were pulled out of a sex traffic ring spent time in foster care. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:10.960 I was talking to a foster mom and she said the teen at her home casually mentioned on a car ride from school or somewhere, oh, uh a John reached out to me. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:13.440 He said he'll be my daddy, he'll be my family. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:16.400 She says, a year ago, I probably would have said yes. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:19.839 But not so much after being in this house with you, in this home. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:26.160 We see homelessness, a third of all children who age out of foster care become homeless. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:30.960 These are crises here in the Bay Area that we care deeply about, and we see the church intervening. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:36.799 We see un we see ministries for unhoused, we see teen pregnancies and substance abuse and celebrate life. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:41.279 There's so many things that we see happening that the church is involved in, and we need the church to stay there. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:47.839 But also, what if we went upstream and cared for these kids who are statistics that will end up here? 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:56.640 Because I really believe that the best way to see a transformed city, a transformed San Jose tomorrow is by caring for these vulnerable children who are experiencing foster care today. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.079 I think we can do it. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:02.240 And I think you can too because we're here today talking about it together. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:08.160 And I believe that Awakening Church believes that we can be the solution. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.880 That this church right here, this is where you come in. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:18.880 We can see the shift and trajectory of where there'll be more than enough families to welcome in children who are experiencing foster care. 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:24.720 These are our neighbors, and these are the least of these who God has called us to care for. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:33.359 And when I think of us saying yes instead of saying no to our neighbors and turning them away, I think of a beautiful picture of the gospel. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:36.240 This is where you come in. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:45.279 This is where you step in to your legacy as Christians, being like Jesus, being led with compassion and moved into action. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:49.839 Because we believe that a foster family, there is a church for every child. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:28:01.519 And if you believe that, it's because you'll be moved by compassion into action and we'll be able to see that waiting list of foster families become prevalent so that children have a place to go. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:07.920 I recently read a statistic that said 3% of all practicing Christians are foster parents. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.519 I praise God for those 3%. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.960 But we're at a deficit. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.480 We need more foster families. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:23.119 And the completion of the statistic says that 31% of Christians have at some point thought seriously about becoming a foster parent, but have not taken that action. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:33.039 So if the statistic is true, that means 90% of Christians who felt moved by compassion actually were moved with empathy and did not take that action. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:36.559 And I think it's because of this missing piece. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:39.119 We are not called to do life alone. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.920 I could not be a foster parent by myself. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:53.519 I need to do this in the context of community, of people who are supporting me, raising me up, holding me, and preaching the vision of caring for vulnerable children back to me on the hard days. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:59.200 There's many reasons why people will not step into this. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.480 Bethany shared some of it. 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:03.680 Sometimes it's fear or concern of where we are in our lives. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:11.119 But I've heard time and again that foster parents who have seen this model said, oh man, foster parents who are burnt out. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:17.119 Foster parents from decades ago who stopped fostering say, I could have fostered a lot longer if I had this. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:27.759 And so I can tell you right now, personally, today I would not even be up here if it wasn't for my support friends arranging child care for my sick children to help out. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:37.039 Support friends who drop off a meal for me on night when social workers are coming over into my home after an already busy day of school and visits and everything else. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:46.559 Or even support friends coming to watch my kids for a couple hours so I can process some of the grief or the change in the case that applies to this little boys in my home. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:52.799 Or sometimes a support friend just to come in and watch my kids so I can finish a cup of coffee while it's still hot. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:55.759 Can I get an amen from the parents of young children? 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:04.000 The gift is that the invitation into foster care is an invitation to do this together. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.759 You will not be alone. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:13.680 You will not be isolated, you will not be asked to do hard things by yourself, you'll do it in the context of a support friend community. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:19.200 And so if you feel yourself today being compelled to become a foster parent, praise God. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.799 I'm so grateful for you. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.000 We need you. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:26.559 And if you feel yourself compelled today to become a support friend, praise God. 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.759 We need you. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:33.599 All these rules are so important to the life of a child staying in a home that can sustain their needs. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:45.920 Because when kids come in from experiencing things like maybe no boundaries, or a teenager comes in that's never had boundaries put around a cell phone, hasn't experienced attachment and love, it might be really difficult. 00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:48.559 Not might, it will be really difficult. 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:52.559 There will be hard days, and we need support friends to sustain our families. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:59.519 And so the beauty of the invitation that I'm offering you today is that I'm not asking you to say yes to all of foster care either. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:06.400 If you're one of those people who said, I think I'm called to be a foster parent, but I'm scared to say it out loud because she might show up at my house tomorrow with a child, I will not. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.480 I will not. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:12.319 I am not here to say yes to everything. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:15.519 I'm asking you to say yes to the next step. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:19.599 And so I would love to invite you to an interest meeting. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:25.839 So this is where we guide and direct our people to go to their next step of just saying, I want to learn more about what it means to be a foster parent. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.400 I want to learn more about what it means to be a support friend. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:30.400 And even here at Awakening, we have a role. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:35.119 Ashley was up here, she's our advocate, she's leading the ministry here at Awakening. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:37.039 But we want to grow that team too. 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:38.720 We're better together. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:43.680 And so I would love to ask you just where is the Holy Spirit prompting you today? 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:57.039 You can scan this QR code for those of you who love technology, for those of you who maybe prefer paper, we're gonna be out at the table, and we would love to just invite you to that next meeting, that next step, or if you have any questions, Ashley and I will be out there to answer them. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:03.039 And just something that I want to share is um I think proximity to the crisis matters too. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:07.680 Sometimes we feel like the statistics are overwhelming, the numbers are too great. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.720 What can I do? 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:10.720 How can I offer what I have? 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:21.279 But I want I was driving by Awakening just a couple days ago and just praying and praising God for this church, and really I was praising God for the location of your church. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:32.559 Because while sometimes the crisis of foster care feels very far to us, I want you to know that I know of families just streets away who are experiencing foster care. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:35.359 It's not another person's problem. 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:38.880 It's our city, it's our neighborhood, it's our people. 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:48.720 So I would love to meet you, get to know you, chat with you at the table, or meet you at our next interest meeting where you just are taking that next step to learn a little bit more. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:54.640 I cannot wait to hear how God continues to move through this beautiful church of awakening. 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:58.559 And before I close out, I just want to read a blessing to you. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:00.400 This is a um from St. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.680 Teresa of Avila. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:07.920 And it's this Christ has no body but yours. 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:13.440 No hands and no feet on earth but yours. 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:19.039 Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:22.799 Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:27.119 Yours are the hand with which he blesses all the world. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:33.680 Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, yours are the body. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:36.880 Christ has no body now but yours. 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:42.000 We hope you were blessed by this message. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:46.559 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:48.880 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:54.960 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.