Stepping out
Difficult past leads alumnus to help Change young lives At 16, Corban alumnus Billy Cordero’99 left behind a life filled with parental drug addiction and abuse, and moved into relative foster care with his aunt and uncle in Northern California. While many in his situation have succumbed to the pressures of the past, the youth and family studies graduate is now helping foster children realize their potential, and helping them end abusive patterns that often span generations. This has led him to work as an advocate for foster children and families in Oregon, and as a board member for the nonprofit Foster Parents’ Night Out. “God completely changed the course of my life, and that has had a profound impact on me,” he said. Cordero is breaking down the often-believed fallacy that churches cannot work with state agencies, and he becomes excited as he talks about the partnership between Foster Parents’ Night Out and the Oregon Department of Human Services. What started as a challenge to recruit more foster families moved from DHS and a prominent business leader to local area pastors in 2004. It has grown into an incredible partnership where churches in Marion County and across the Portland Metro area are opening their doors monthly to provide respite to foster families and build relationships with foster kids.
Billy Cordero ’99
Although he could be filled with anger about his childhood years, Cordero’s story has come full circle. His mother gave her life to Jesus Christ, which allowed for forgiveness and healing between them. Cordero has also started to renew a relationship with his father, who has indicated he has trusted Jesus as well. Children and parents within foster care sometimes ask Cordero about his past, which often breaks down barriers for those who are used to putting up protective personal walls to mask their pain. “I appreciate the way the Lord has allowed me to use my testimony,” he said. “I’m here now because he led those steps in my life. “The fact is no one group or agency can do it alone,” he added. “The state, churches and community need to share this responsibility. This is a population of people in our own backyard that we have been neglecting. To see what can happen when churches open their doors has been nothing short of inspiring and has strengthened my own faith in God.”
Learn more about Foster Parents’ Night Out: www.fpno.org
At Salem Heights Church, nearly 70 kids from approximately 30 families came for a four-hour Foster Parents’ Night Out event in February. Throughout the evening, children played games, joked with volunteers, did crafts, listened to a band and played ukuleles, while their foster parents took time for themselves. “Although this isn’t an evangelistic ministry, these families can’t help but see Christ shine through us,” Cordero said. “When foster families ask why we do this or when children ask us about our faith, it opens doors for conversations about Jesus and His work in our lives.”
17