May is Foster Care Awareness Month—a time set aside to reflect on the needs of vulnerable children and the families who care for them. But for followers of Christ, this isn’t just a month of recognition. It’s a reminder of a continual calling: to care for the orphan, the broken, and the voiceless. The purpose of this post is to reveal The Heart of Foster Care.
At the heart of foster care lies a deeper spiritual truth—God’s love for His children. When we open our homes and hearts to children in need, we reflect the very character of God, who adopts each of us into His family through Jesus Christ.
The Heart of Foster Care and the Gospel
The Bible doesn’t shy away from God’s concern for the fatherless. Throughout Scripture, we see His command to defend, love, and provide for them. In James 1:27, we’re told that true religion involves caring for the orphan and widow—not in theory, but in action.
Foster care is one of the most tangible ways we, as Christians, can live out the gospel. It’s stepping into the messiness of broken stories and saying, “You matter. You are seen. You are loved.” And not just by us—but by a God who redeems all things.
When a child enters foster care, they often carry the weight of trauma, neglect, or loss. But God is the ultimate healer. He uses willing hearts and obedient lives—foster parents, mentors, volunteers—to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these children.
A Picture of God’s Adoption
Ephesians 1:5 reminds us that God “predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” The gospel is an adoption story. We were once without hope and separated from God, but through Christ, we are brought into His family.
Foster care is a shadow of this spiritual truth. While not every foster child is adopted, each one is given the opportunity to experience stability, compassion, and often—for the first time—unconditional love. This is a holy calling.
The Risk and the Reward
Make no mistake: foster care is not easy. It comes with uncertainty, heartbreak, and sacrifice. But isn’t that what love requires?
Jesus modeled sacrificial love. He entered our broken world to bring redemption. When we enter the brokenness of a child’s life, we follow His example. And in doing so, we often find that while we set out to change a child’s life, it’s our own hearts that are changed.
What Can You Do? – Working Out the Heart of Foster Care
Every Christian has a calling to care for the fatherless, even if not everyone fosters.
Here are a few ways you can live out the heart of foster care:
- Pray for children in care, for foster families, and for caseworkers.
- Support foster families in your church with meals, babysitting, or encouragement.
- Give to ministries like Raleigh’s Place that are meeting practical and spiritual needs.
- Learn more about fostering and consider if God may be calling you to open your home.
Final Thoughts
Foster care is more than a system—it’s a mission field. And it starts with love. A love that listens, stays, and reflects the heart of our Father.
This Foster Care Awareness Month, let’s not just acknowledge the need—let’s respond with Christlike compassion. Let’s be the church that sees, serves, and stands for children who need us most.