Episode 221: Foster-Friendly KidMin with Dr. Alan Bixler

Over half of America's children are growing up without close contact with their biological fathers, and more than 670,000 kids pass through foster care each year. But what if the church saw this crisis as the greatest mission field right in our neighborhoods? In this powerful episode, Hannah Augustine and Dr. Alan Bixler from COMPACT delve into the heartbreaking statistics and reveal how fostering and adoption are not just social issues—they're divine opportunities for ministry and renewal.

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Transcript

Hannah Augustine (00:01)
“Last night, more than half of America’s children did not say goodnight to their biological father. Each year, more than 670,000 children pass through the modern orphan system we know as foster care, and on any given day, around 435,000 are in the system. Children are growing up without healthy homes and families.”

In today’s episode, we’re discussing these statistics from Ministry COMPACT with their Executive Director, Dr. Alan Bixler.

If you’re joining us, I’m Hannah Augustine. I firmly believe that as KidMin leaders, we need to stay aware of what’s happening in the lives of the families we serve. As the biblical family structure breaks down, kids are affected in ways that impact both their short-term and long-term development. But ministries like COMPACT—and even you and your churches—are working hard to reach these kids.

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Alan Bixler joined COMPACT in April 2022. He brings over three decades of leadership, ministry, and outreach experience across both church and corporate settings. He’s deeply committed to COMPACT’s mission—ministering to vulnerable children and families through compassionate action, with a focus on equipping leaders to resource the church and redeem lives through Jesus Christ.

Alan, you and I have known each other for years—honestly, “years” doesn’t quite cover it. It’s been decades, really, since middle school. It’s still strange calling you Alan instead of Pastor Alan.

We reconnected at the Assemblies of God General Council last August. Your oldest daughter, Sierra, and I were close friends in middle school. Your son Hunter would come over and we’d play Star Wars in the backyard. Heather sold us the house we lived in while in Springfield, and now she has a successful counseling practice. A lot has changed since those days.

I’d love to hear an update—how did you get connected with COMPACT? And can you share a bit about the mission and history?

Alan Bixler (02:30)
It really has been decades. That’s wild to think about.

Most of our background is in ministry—full-time vocational ministry. I’ve served as a senior pastor, youth pastor—we’ve covered the whole range over 32 years.

Here’s something you may not know. I’m currently in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on the COMPACT campus. It includes Hillcrest Children’s Home and Highlands Maternity Home—those are the legacy ministries.

COMPACT stands for Compassionate Action, and this campus represents 81 years of continuous, 24/7 ministry to children. That alone is incredible. But here’s what makes it even more meaningful for us: 32 years ago, just two weeks after my wife and I got married, we moved here. I was a youth pastor at a local church, and about half of our youth group came from Hillcrest Children’s Home.

So this really feels like a full-circle moment—coming back to a ministry that helped shape the beginning of our journey.

This campus is special. It’s about 52 acres and functions almost like a camp setting, with cottages where the children live and different facilities to meet a wide range of needs—cafeteria, gymnasium, and more. It takes a lot to keep everything running.

We host mission teams throughout the year. We just had a group from Mississippi, and we’ll likely have 17 to 20 teams come serve this year. It’s a powerful opportunity for people to step in and support what’s happening here.

Today, though, we’re really talking about caring for vulnerable children—and foster care is a big part of that conversation.

I like to explain it this way: imagine a river. You have upstream, midstream, and downstream.

Upstream is prevention—helping families before things fall apart. That’s a key part of what we do: trying to reach families before they enter the system.

Midstream is intervention—when families are already in crisis and need immediate help.

Downstream is foster care. It’s the result of broken families, and our goal there is redemption and reunification—helping put families back together.

Unfortunately, things are getting worse. The family structure is under increasing pressure. You mentioned earlier that more than 600,000 children will go through foster care this year, with over 400,000 in care on any given day.

Here’s something that surprised me, even after years in ministry: most children in foster care actually return home. Upwards of 80% go back to their families.

That shifted my perspective. I used to think of foster care primarily as a rescue mission. But for most kids, it’s actually a redemptive opportunity for their family.

As the church, we need to understand that. This isn’t just about rescuing children—it’s about walking with families toward healing.

If I can speak to pastors and ministry leaders for a moment: this is a missions opportunity. COMPACT is both faith-based and church-based. We operate as a professional child welfare agency—legally, we’re the Assemblies of God Family Service Agency, though we go by COMPACT.

What we do is connect cases—families and children—with local churches. Because there’s nothing like the church when the church is truly being the church.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies.

Here’s your edited continuation with improved clarity, flow, and readability while keeping the natural voice:

Alan Bixler (07:50)
What if we looked at foster families—those who have said, “Yes, we’re going to open our home to a child. We’re stepping into this situation”—as missionaries?

In many cases, these families already have children of their own, and they’re inviting in a whole complex reality. What if the church viewed them as a family on mission? What if we treated them the same way we treat missionaries?

Hannah Augustine (08:12)
Amen.

Alan Bixler (08:15)
If we did, we’d respond differently. We’d pray for them. We’d support them financially. We’d equip them.

Think about missionaries—we send them to language school so they can understand the culture they’re stepping into. In this space, the language is trauma.

Trauma speaks a very specific language. Some of these kids have experienced deep trauma, and it affects their development. You might have a 15- or 16-year-old who responds emotionally like a 5-year-old because that’s when their trauma began. Their development was disrupted, and now they’re trying to process life from that place.

Then we bring them into our children’s or youth ministries and expect them to behave like everyone else. But they’re speaking a different language.

If someone speaks a different language, it doesn’t help to say the same thing louder and slower. It still won’t translate. The same is true with trauma.

So we need to help our leaders understand trauma—how it affects behavior, how kids communicate, and how to respond when a child is triggered. De-escalation, patience, and awareness are essential.

Right now, many of our churches simply aren’t equipped the way they need to be.

That’s where COMPACT comes in. Our three primary purposes are to raise leaders, resource churches, and redeem families.

There were also things I didn’t realize before stepping into this work. For example, a large percentage of those in the prison system have a background in foster care. Many on death row grew up fatherless. These statistics help us understand the bigger picture.

In 1960, about 4% of births were to single parents. Today, we’re approaching 50%, and in some areas even 60%. We’re seeing a growing fatherless reality in our country.

Again, the church has an opportunity here. But we have to shift our mindset. This isn’t just a rescue mission—it’s about providing stability and, ultimately, helping families experience redemption.

As we navigate this “river”—upstream, midstream, downstream—we have to remember: we are equipped for this. We have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

That’s all the power we need. Some of these situations feel lifeless. They need resurrection. And God has called and equipped us to step in.

Hannah Augustine (11:21)
That was so rich. You gave such helpful language around this.

That picture of the river—it’s powerful. As the church, we’re walking with families at every stage. Some are upstream, where things don’t seem right yet. As a KidMin leader, you’re a mandatory reporter. If you hear of abuse, you need to know what your state requires and what your church’s plan is.

So we’re helping on that front end—how do we preserve the family?

Then we move into that midstream space, where maybe a child has been removed from one or both parents. How do we walk with families through that?

I’ve seen situations where kids haven’t been removed yet, but neighbors are bringing them to church because they’re trying to help. Or a grandparent, aunt, older sibling—someone stepping into a parenting role because the home environment isn’t stable.

Then, like you said, we have the downstream reality of foster care.

And it’s important to remember: the goal is reconciliation. The goal is redemption. That shapes how we view and talk about parents—with the child and with our teams.

We want God to move in that family. We believe He can. So we don’t approach it like that door is closed—we’re believing for restoration.

I have friends in South Florida—Cole and Karissa—who have been fostering for about 10 years. They’ve received those middle-of-the-night calls for at-risk infants, even babies born with drugs in their systems.

They’ve walked through both sides—helping children reunify with their families and, in some cases, adopting when reunification wasn’t possible.

That “missionary” language you shared is such a helpful framework for families like theirs.

Alan Bixler (13:37)
I really believe I would have pastored differently if I had seen it this way earlier. Once you see it as mission, you can’t unsee it.

And it’s not just foster families. Think about grandparents or older siblings bringing kids to church.

In my heart, I saw them as heroes. I’d thank them for their faithfulness. But if I’m honest, I didn’t actually do much to support them.

I’d see a grandma or grandpa on a fixed income bringing multiple grandkids to church and think, That’s amazing. But what if we had given them a gas card? Or helped them take those kids out for a meal?

That’s a foster situation—they’re just not under a government contract. They’re stepping in to care for their family.

Those are vulnerable situations, and they’re incredible opportunities for the church to shine. I missed that for years. But now I see it—and it’s huge.

And then there are foster families navigating all kinds of dynamics. Most children—well over 90%—want to go back home. There’s a deep longing for that.

Even when their foster situation is safer or more stable, they still long for home.

What an opportunity for the church to step in—not just for the child, but for the biological family.

We partner with organizations like Focus on the Family and CarePortal, and we encourage churches to do the same.

There was a situation in South Florida—an 85-year-old grandmother caring for her 12-year-old granddaughter. Their need was simple: they needed another bed because they were sharing a twin.

A church stepped in and provided it. But the need didn’t stop there.

How much more could the church do in situations like that?

These opportunities are everywhere—upstream, midstream, downstream.

When families open their homes, and the church sees that as missions—home missions—we can begin to shift things. We can reduce the damage and increase prevention.

Is the system broken? Yes.

I was talking with a state director recently who said they’re down 300 employees statewide. That’s overwhelming.

But we can’t stay stuck in what should have been. We have to respond to where we are now.

We know what Scripture calls us to—caring for orphans and widows in their distress. The church can do this. The church can actually excel at this.

I often tell pastors: foster care is a local problem, and the church is the local solution.

Not everyone is called to be a foster parent. Just like not everyone is called to be a missionary overseas.

But everyone can do something.

Here’s the continuation, edited for clarity, flow, and readability while preserving the natural tone:

Alan Bixler (18:02)
We can all do something. Leaders—KidMin, youth, young adult—there’s a role for all of us.

Some of the most impactful foster care situations we’ve seen have actually involved single adults. We have a woman in her seventies—her husband passed away after years in ministry, and she found herself wondering what was next. Foster care came onto her radar, and she thought, Maybe I can do this.

One common misconception is that if you foster, you’ll have to adopt. Statistically, that’s not the case about 80% of the time. And most children who are eligible for adoption are actually teenagers.

If someone enters foster care with the mindset, I’m doing this to adopt, they may end up discouraged. But if they enter it missionally—we’re going to invest in redeeming a family—everything changes.

And yes, sometimes adoption becomes part of the story. If your heart is open and God aligns it, that opportunity may come. But we always caution people not to force that outcome.

We don’t want to get in the way of God redeeming a family by thinking, Look what we can offer this child versus their biological family. We have to be careful, even in how we label people. This is a mother. Often, it’s a father. Sometimes it's the extended family doing their best.

And almost every time, poverty is part of the picture. There’s a lack of resources.

Again, that’s where the church can step in. What an opportunity to come alongside a vulnerable situation and meet real needs.

People often ask, What’s the value of the church today? I’ll tell you—if the church is meeting local needs, the value becomes obvious.

Local agencies—DHS, CPS, whatever they’re called in your state—they’re overwhelmed.

What if churches stepped in with more than good intentions? Yes, bring lunch, bring encouragement—but go further.

There are kids sitting in offices for hours, waiting to find out where they’re going next. What if we created resource packs? Snacks, small comfort items, something tangible to meet them at that moment?

Maybe your church doesn’t have foster families yet—but you can still step into the process.

Because I promise you, your city is overwhelmed.

Here’s something eye-opening: of the more than 400,000 children in foster care, 50% come from just 5% of counties in the U.S. It’s called the “50 in 5.”

That means in certain urban areas, the need is incredibly concentrated.

And in those same areas, many church families are already struggling to meet their own needs. Asking them to take in additional children can feel impossible.

But what if we supported them the way we support missionaries?

We would never send a missionary overseas and say, Figure it out on your own. We raise support. We provide resources. We come alongside them.

I believe there are families who would say yes to fostering if they knew they were supported like that—because this is a missions endeavor.

Hannah Augustine (23:17)
That’s such a powerful way to frame it.

When we think about the 4–14 window—that most people come to faith before age 14—this becomes even more significant. When foster children enter Christian homes, they have the opportunity to experience healing, see God’s love modeled, and hear the gospel in a consistent way.

Whether they’re there for two days, two weeks, or two years, that impact matters.

These are kids who may not otherwise encounter Jesus. Some may even feel hurt or angry toward Him because of their experiences. When we step in, we’re giving them a different story.

Even within children’s ministry, this matters.

At our church in Florida, we partnered with a local group home. Kids would come in groups to children’s church, and honestly, it was challenging. Behaviors were difficult. It was easy to feel frustrated, especially when you’re trying to maintain order and safety.

But when we step back and view it through a trauma-informed lens, everything shifts.

I often recommend the book Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry by Dr. Robert Crosby. It helps reframe how we understand these behaviors.

Kids who’ve experienced trauma may regress, act out in anger, shut down, or respond in ways that don’t make sense to us. And every child processes trauma differently.

When we train our leaders to understand that—and to respond with compassion instead of frustration—we create a healthier environment for everyone.

Sometimes that means offering extra care. Not because we’re playing favorites, but because some kids genuinely need more support.

Alan Bixler (25:29)
Exactly. The extra care is necessary—but sometimes we don’t know what that looks like.

It’s easy to see a child acting out and think, Come on, you know better. But the reality is, they may not.

Their development may be delayed. Their brain has been impacted.

When you factor in poverty, there are additional challenges we don’t always consider—like nutrition. If a child has been malnourished or hasn’t had consistent access to healthy food, that affects development. Then you layer trauma on top of that.

Of course they’re going to act and react differently.

They don’t instinctively know what “appropriate behavior” looks like. That hasn’t been modeled for them.

Is it complex? Yes. Does it affect the whole group? Absolutely. Is it ongoing? Often, yes.

But they are speaking a language—and it’s the language of trauma.

So I would strongly encourage leaders to pursue training and education in complex trauma. It makes a difference in how we communicate and minister.

Hannah Augustine (27:07)
Absolutely. If we don’t understand that language, we’re going to feel frustrated and overwhelmed.

Alan Bixler (27:11)
We had a girl come into care at 15. She had entered the system at age five and had experienced 60 placements in 10 years.

Think about what that teaches a child.

She was sweet—until she wasn’t. But honestly, that’s true of most teenagers.

What she had learned was this: nothing lasts, and no one stays. So when relationships started to feel close, she would act out.

And from the outside, you might think, Why would you sabotage something good? But from her perspective, she was protecting herself.

That’s what trauma does.

It requires patience. And patience is a fruit of the Spirit—it’s something God produces in us.

We often ask God for patience, but what that really means is we’re going to walk through situations that require it.

And through that, He develops love, joy, peace, patience—all of it.

Does understanding trauma make everything easy? No. You still have to navigate the challenges.

But when the church steps into this—locally, intentionally—it creates real impact.

If a church builds a foundation for meeting needs in its community, the city will take notice. They’ll look to that church for help, for truth, for guidance.

I believe revival can come out of this.

When the church raises leaders, resources others, and helps redeem families, we’ll see more people say yes—to fostering, to adoption, to restoration.

And ultimately, we’ll see lives changed through the power of the gospel.

Hannah Augustine (30:26)
That’s so good—and so practical.

Partnering with local agencies is a great place to start. They need help.

Something as simple as putting together snack packs—with a coloring book, a small toy, maybe a note—can make a huge difference. It might cost $10 per child. You can buy supplies in bulk and even have your kids help assemble them on a Sunday morning.

Then deliver them and ask, How can we pray for you? What else do you need?

That’s a beautiful starting point.

You can also host foster family care nights—provide respite, offer meals, support families who are in the middle of this.

If a family in your church starts fostering, treat it like a celebration. Throw a baby shower. Provide diapers, formula, clothes—whatever they need.

Support them the same way you would any growing family.

Here’s your final section, edited for clarity, flow, and readability while keeping the tone natural and conversational:

Hannah Augustine (31:33)
Let’s surround these families with support—whether that’s an Amazon wishlist or practical needs like a haircut for a high schooler, or toys and games for younger kids. How can we make this sustainable and achievable for them?

Have a list of counseling resources ready. I always kept a list of trusted Christian counseling centers. Organizations like Focus on the Family and the American Association of Christian Counselors offer great tools to help families find support.

And even if that support starts with you providing pastoral care, that matters. Just don’t pretend to know more than you do. Be honest, and help connect people to the right resources.

Alan, I’d love to hear—how can churches partner with COMPACT? You mentioned CarePortal and other organizations. Where should KidMin leaders start building connections?

Alan Bixler (32:23)
Great question.

I serve as Executive Director of COMPACT and also as the National Director for the AG Foster Care Network. We’re working to build intentional, structured initiatives across all 66 districts in the Assemblies of God.

Some districts have dedicated staff leading this effort. Others rely on foster care chaplains to help drive it forward.

Our role is to come alongside churches and empower them. I travel and speak to raise awareness, but what I always encourage pastors is this: you can’t do this alone.

What often happens is a pastor gets inspired—but they already have a full plate. So the key is building a team and identifying a champion—someone who owns this initiative.

It doesn’t have to be a paid position. It could be someone already passionate about foster care. But that person, along with a team, becomes the spark that keeps the momentum going.

Every church is different. One church may be able to meet certain needs, while another focuses elsewhere. But every church can do something.

For example, one church noticed a need among fathers who had been incarcerated and were working to rebuild relationships with their children. They hosted a Christmas event for about 11 dads and their kids.

Because of the circumstances, it required coordination with an agency, and COMPACT helped provide that structure. Some dads even had probation officers present.

The church gathered gifts for the children—but here’s the powerful part: they told the dads, “These gifts are from you.” The church made it possible for those fathers to show up for their kids.

That’s compassionate action. But it took a team. It took intention.

So pastors and leaders—build a team. Identify a champion. You can always accomplish more together.

COMPACT is largely donor-supported. While we do have some contracts, they don’t cover the full scope of what we do—especially when it comes to sharing the love of Jesus and providing deeper care.

For 81 years, this ministry has continued—and now we’re expanding. My mandate is to take COMPACT nationwide—not necessarily through residential campuses, but by equipping churches everywhere to step into this space.

That’s straight out of Ephesians 4—equipping the saints to do the work of ministry.

There are many ways to partner with us. Churches can bring mission teams to our campus—we’ll host you, feed you, and give you meaningful opportunities to serve and minister.

We’re also working to establish a presence in every state. We’re nationally accredited and operate as a professional agency—but what sets us apart is that we’re church-based.

We connect families through local churches. And it’s not limited to one denomination—we partner with churches that share a biblical foundation and heart for ministry.

We also offer coaching and consulting. We can come alongside your team, help you assess your local landscape, and identify opportunities.

Sometimes you’re so close to your own context that it’s hard to see the bigger picture. We help bring clarity to that.

At the end of the day, we believe faith requires action—and compassion requires action too. That’s what COMPACT is all about.

And I truly believe the church is the solution. This is a massive need, but we have more than enough people to meet it.

I’ll leave you with this: over 90% of churches don’t have a single foster family.

If we said 90% of churches don’t support a single missionary, we’d be alarmed. But this is a missions field right in front of us.

It doesn’t have to stay that way.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. And there is an incredible opportunity here.

The system is overwhelmed—and they’re asking the church to step in.

Let’s be that church.

Hannah Augustine (39:13)
Amen.

If you’re listening, you can connect with COMPACT at COMPACT.family—I’ll include that in the show notes.

And this isn’t just for one denomination. You might be listening and think, We’re not Assemblies of God. That’s okay. You can still partner with COMPACT.

You can also collaborate with other churches in your community. Maybe your church doesn’t have many resources—but you have people. Partner together and create a team that can make a greater impact.

Let’s move beyond denominational lines and work toward a shared mission—helping families and reaching kids.

With over 400,000 children in foster care, you should be seeing these kids in your ministry. And if you’re not, that’s something to pay attention to.

This is similar to special needs ministry—another area many churches haven’t fully stepped into yet.

So let’s start thinking differently.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to take a first step.

Maybe that’s hosting an interest meeting. Maybe it’s sharing this episode with someone and starting a conversation.

Don’t let the size of the need overwhelm you. You don’t have to do everything—but you can do something.

Set small, clear goals. Put a timeline to it. Maybe by the end of 2026, you’re supporting three to five foster families.

Without vision, people perish. So get that vision, align with your leadership, and take a step—even a small one.

Alan Bixler (41:10)
Make it part of your missions strategy. Treat it like what it is—missions.

This is a powerful opportunity for the church to truly be the church.

Hannah Augustine (41:26)
Yes—amen.

Alan, we’re so grateful for you, your team, and the 81-year legacy of COMPACT—and how you’re continuing to adapt to meet the needs of today.

Thank you for your investment.

Again, you can check out COMPACT.family, and Alan is available to speak to your church or team.

And as a reminder, you can visit parklearning.com and use the code KIDZMATTER for 20% off an annual subscription through May 31, 2026.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review—it helps others find these conversations. You can do that on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

We’ll see you next time.

Alan Bixler (42:13)
God bless.