East Cobb Churches Create Foster Care Ministries
The article below appeared in East Cobber magazine's May 2009 issue
More than 800,000 nationwide. Nearly 13,000 in Georgia. Only
25-30 percent of the necessary families to serve them. The number
of foster children needing care, and the lack of available foster
families, at first seems overwhelming. However, three East Cobb
churches--Corridor Church, Eastside Baptist Church and Mt. Bethel
United Methodist--are putting their faith in action by creating
Foster Care ministries at their churches.
Pastor Bill Hancock, talks about the impact of the foster care
ministry at Corridor Church: "I often hear from the families in my
church that being a foster family has provided a ministry
opportunity for the whole family. They feel that their family has
grown strong in Christ, and closer as a family, through
fostering."
Kathy Hoppe, a member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, and
a member of the church's foster care ministry shares,
"Participation in the Mt. Bethel Foster Care Ministry has been a
meaningful way to demonstrate our compassion into action. The
Foster Care Ministry is making a profound difference in the lives
of Cobb County foster children." The first children were placed in
Mt. Bethel families in June 2007. Since that time seventeen
families have demonstrated their compassion by hosting 35 foster
children in their homes. Those are 35 Cobb County children who have
now experienced living in a loving, compassionate, and nurturing
family environment.
Eastside Baptist Church (EBC) in East Cobb has six foster
families that stepped forward and began training so that they can
have foster children placed in their homes. Eastside's Pastor David
Chauncey said, "We believe Eastside exists to make passionate
followers of Jesus. A foster care ministry instantly excited and
engaged my heart as a way for us to express the love of Christ to
our community. We are passionate about kids. And we can't simply
care about the ones who have everything and come to church in
minivans."
"Even though 35 children have experienced the compassion of Mt.
Bethel members, over 250 additional children needed foster homes
during this same time...and we had no homes to accommodate them. In
Cobb County alone, there are over 500 foster children and only 100
foster homes. A home and a family could be one of those
loving, nurturing, and compassionate homes that make a profound
difference in the lives and destinies of these children in need -
right here in Cobb County," says Ms. Hoppe.
Upcoming Foster Care Events
May 17 - Foster Care Orientation 12:30 - 2:30 P.M. Mt.
Bethel Older Adult Center 4608 Lower Roswell Road • Marietta, GA
30068 Contact: Wayne Stolz, 770-565-7521 or westolz@bellsouth.net
June 6 - Fantastic Families Day Fantastic Families Day
is an opportunity for foster parents to meet other foster parents
and for children to enjoy a day of family activities. Interested
individuals and families are encouraged to attend and to learn more
about becoming a foster parent through Corridor Church. Corridor
Church 2500 Rocky Mountain Road, NE • Marietta, GA 30066
770-315-4207 • www.corridor-church.net. Contact:Larry Grawey:
770-315-4516 or larrygrawey@gmail.com