STAND Field Guide SUNDAY Facilitated by the
community
CONTENTS Table of Contents Introduction & Letter
04
About This Guide
07
History Of Stand Sunday
08
More Than Enough In Your Community
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Effectively Engaging Churches In Your Community
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Stand Sunday
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Planning To Engage Post Stand Sunday
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Contact
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ARE YOU READY? Are you Ready? It’s coming! Stand Sunday is just around the corner,
children and families in their community who are
and we’re thrilled about this new season and all it
touched by the foster care system. As we launch
has to offer. In particular, we are very excited about
the 2022 Stand Sunday campaign, we encourage
how Stand Sunday has officially aligned with the
churches to use this opportunity to catalyze
More Than Enough initiative at CAFO - a movement
Christians towards ongoing care and collaboration.
to ensure every local community, utilizing the power
As each of you are inviting churches to participate,
of collaborative networks, has more than enough
let’s consider how each church may equip and
for children and families before, during, and beyond
empower local Christians to serve long after Stand
foster care! Together, we will all work to grow the
Sunday is over. To put it simply - we’re not merely
catalytic power of Stand Sunday across the US.
interested in churches participating in Stand Sunday;
This work will not only leverage the power of Stand
we are primarily interested in churches utilizing Stand
Sunday but will integrate fully with year-round
Sunday as a launch pad for further, on-going, long-
church-led community action so that everyone will
term engagement in the lives of vulnerable children
be given the opportunity to stand, but no one will
and families. This may include strengthening existing
stand alone.
ministries to children and families - or may involve
Stand Sunday has been a powerful tool to invite churches to join the movement, and is used by many to raise awareness of the needs of vulnerable 4
connecting them with other ministries in their area to offer opportunities to serve. You have a great opportunity to help churches go beyond a one-day
S TA N D S U N D AY 2 0 2 2
11.13.22 November 13, 2022 event/service to inspiring and supporting them in
partnerships that will continue to stand together for
active service throughout the year!
the sake of vulnerable children and families long after
We are so grateful to partner alongside you as you
Stand Sunday is over!
work to convene, connect, and mobilize churches,
Please reach out if there’s any way we can specifically
organizations, businesses, and individuals in your
serve you during this season. Our prayer is that
community. This brief Stand Sunday field guide is
everyone is given an opportunity to stand and that no
filled with resources, ideas, and tools that are uniquely
one will stand alone - that includes you. We’re here,
designed to support you as you engage churches and
standing with you. It’s our joy to do so.
convene local partners in your community. We know every community is unique, and there’s no
Jason Johnson
Jason Johnson
one resource or tool that can solve every problem or
Director of Church Engagement and Mobilization
answer every question as it relates to supporting the
jason.johnson@cafo.org
complex and nuanced needs of vulnerable children and families. So, consider this field guide to be a starting point for you as you explore your own unique
Ashley Phelan Ashley Phelan
and creative ways to leverage the power of Stand
Director of Stand and Orphan Sunday
Sunday in your community and form collaborative
ashley.phelan@cafo.org
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HOW TO About this Guide We’ve compiled resources for steps towards More than Enough in your community, inspiration for year-round collaboration, ideas, and a sample rollout plan to help equip you for the year ahead (and beyond!). Use any of the ideas throughout this field guide or come up with your own. We are here to help you as you plan. Please reach out to your regional ambassador for assistance at any step of the way.
REGIONAL AMBASSADORS
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HISTORY Stand Sunday When Bishop Aaron Blake, a pastor and foster/
Like a tiny, smoldering ember dropped in a pile of
adoptive father, left his breakfast table for church on
thirsty pine needles, her voice began to multiply. To
the second Sunday in November of 2004, he had a
his amazement, Bishop Blake watched as one family
sermon prepared - and it wasn’t about foster care. “I
after another stood up and joined their voices to hers.
had prepared a sermon to preach that morning that
As a result of that day, this church and the surrounding
I had worked on all week. I stood up to bring the
community has cared for and adopted hundreds of
message, when the breakfast table image of our boys
children in foster care over the last 18 years. In fact,
came back to my mind. The faces of our sons seemed
their county actually has more than enough foster
to multiply in my emotions as I recalled the image from the breakfast table earlier. I knew then that God was prompting our church to answer the call to care for children and broken families,” Bishop Blake recalls.
“Who will stand with me to defend, care, and support abused, abandoned, and neglected children in our community?”
Without explanation, Bishop Blake said to his
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families to meet the need there. Each year since 2004, Bishop Blake’s church has marked that very special second Sunday in November.
2015
congregation, “Brothers and sisters, there are about
Seeing the need to focus on children in the US foster
30,000 children in the foster care system in Texas and
care system, the Orphan Sunday leadership team began
nearly a half a million in the U.S.” He then asked this
conceptualizing “Stand Sunday.” In 2017, Stand Sunday
one simple question (while not expecting a verbal
officially merged with Orphan Sunday. Orphan Sunday
answer), “Who will stand with me to defend, care, and
holds the purpose of inviting the global church to care
support abused, abandoned, and neglected children
for vulnerable children and families worldwide. Stand
in our community?” After a brief moment of silence,
Sunday holds the purpose of calling the US church
one lady in the back of the church stood up and simply
to stand and collaborate for vulnerable children and
replied, “Pastor…I will.” And, Stand Sunday was born.
families touched by the foster care system.
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2022 Stand Sunday officially aligned with the More than
Timeline
2004 2004
Bishop Blake delivers a powerful sermon on standing for youth in foster care in his community.
Enough (MTE) initiative at CAFO - a movement to ensure every local community, utilizing the power of collaborative networks, has more than enough families for children and support for families! Stand Sunday
2007
Stand Sunday catches on in churches around Texas.
will serve as one of the many tools that can be utilized to pursue and strengthen year-round collaboration in your sphere of influence. Beyond the catalyst of Stand Sunday, MTE stands prepared and eager to resource your local network with resources and support.
2015
Inspired by Bishop Blake, the Orphan Sunday leadership team begins conceptualizing a national response focusing on children in the US foster care system termed “Stand Sunday.”
2016
CAFO begins to shepherd Stand Sunday.
More Than Enough is a community united by our faith and committed to helping churches care for children and families in foster care. Composed of churches, organizations, and advocates working together to fill the biggest gaps in foster care, we are determined
2017
The two efforts merged – Orphan Sunday for the purpose of inviting the global Church to care for orphans worldwide and Stand Sunday for the purpose of calling the US Church to stand for children and families in US foster care.
to achieve our shared vision of more than enough for children and families before, during, and beyond foster care in every US county. More Than Enough is facilitated by the Christian Alliance for Orphans, which supports the community to multiply on-the-ground care
2022
Stand Sunday officially aligned with the More than Enough (MTE) initiative at CAFO
for children and families.
2022 9
MORE THAN ENOUGH In Your Community Your role as a convener is largely dependent upon
Of course there’s more than four ways to approach
your capacity to form relationships with churches.
churches and certainly more than four principles to
You believe the Church is crucial in helping to bring
consider; but based on our work with organizations
more than enough to children and families in your
and advocates all around the country, we believe
community, but you’re struggling to get the ear of
if you at least start with these four you’ll see a
a busy pastor, navigate through the complicated
shift – doors will open, conversations will happen,
structures of various church ministry departments, or
partnerships will form, and impact will be multiplied
are just having a hard time helping churches see how
over time. So let’s start with these four…
they can truly make an impact when the problem seems so overwhelming. We get it.
To explore these concepts more fully, check out the short booklet, “Effectively Engaging Churches” HERE!
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BE A GOOD GUIDE A good guide helps the main character solve a problem. They position themselves primarily as the giver of help, not the recipient of it. When it comes to your organization’s church engagement strategy, it’s important to assume the role of “guide” for the church – helping them to learn, grow, and take their next best steps forward. In other words, make it clear – this is more about them as a church than it is about you as an organization.
S H R I N K YO U R P R O B L E M Sometimes the problem we’re trying to solve feels really big, and as a result the churches we’re trying to motivate to solve those problems feel very overwhelmed, and small. Part of effectively engaging churches includes making the big problem feel small for them — in such a way that they can see it, understand it, grasp on to it, and engage it more effectively.
INCREASE CLARITY It’s been said that sometimes what feels like resistance is often just a lack of clarity. Likely, your church partners sometimes need clarity more than they need convincing. As their guide, you should provide direction and very practical next steps in such a way that they know where they’re going with you, why they’re going there with you, and how you’re going to get there together.
T I E R YO U R O N R A M P S Some churches will need to learn to walk before they can run; others are already sprinting. Your engagement strategy should provide a variety of “on-ramps” for churches to engage, from simple low-hanging-fruit opportunities, to more time intensive levels of commitment. These on-ramps are ultimately less about strategy and more about stewardship – being a good guide for your churches by meeting them where they are and helping them take their next steps forward.
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STAND SUNDAY November 2022 VIDEO RESOURCES
C L I C K T O WAT C H O R D O W N L O A D
RESOURCES FOR SHARING CLICK TO ACCESS
As you consider photos to use in your promotional materials: Photography should always love children and families well by reflecting their inherent dignity and pointing to the beauty of hope and redemption. Photos shouldn’t be emotionally manipulative or reduce children and families to the hard things they have experienced. Please be sure you have consent and legal rights to use the images you select - and always credit photographers appropriately.
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C L I C K T O WAT C H O R D O W N L O A D
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SAMPLE ROLLOUT PLAN
August
Put “feelers” out to see if there is a local network. If there is, initiate a relationship (if you don’t have one already). Start imagining what year-round collaboration could look like. Become familiar with the Stand Sunday and MTE resources and support local churches as they plan their observance, follow-up, etc.
October
Continue to promote and spread the word about your/their observance within the community.
September
Form a team that meets regularly and adapt resources to promote your/their observance and execute follow up. Prepare a plan for what will happen in the months following your/their observance.
November 13
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Today, churches and individuals
December
Host an informational meeting, or make appropriate connections, for those who want to get involved and learn more!
worldwide are sharing about God’s heart for the vulnerable.
January
Kick off the new year with strategic follow up and collaboration for the next year.
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PLANNING TO ENGAGE Post Stand Sunday Remember, we’re not merely interested in churches participating in Stand Sunday; we are primarily interested in churches utilizing Stand Sunday as a launch pad for further, ongoing, long-term engagement in the lives of vulnerable children and families. You have a great opportunity to help churches go beyond a one-day event/service to inspiring and supporting them in active service throughout the year! These resources are designed to help you do just that.
LEVERAGING THE POWER OF S TA N D S U N D AY This simple guide is designed to help you help churches take their next steps after Stand Sunday. You’ll discover principles and best practices for how to help churches plan effective follow-up events designed to connect and encourage people as they take their next steps forward. This is also a great tool to process through with a church leader. Simply walk them through the content and help them build a customized follow-up event for their people.
ACCESS THE GUIDE
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THE FOSTERING CHURCH PODCAST This limited series is specifically designed to help you help churches grow their foster care ministry – no matter where they are on the journey. In each episode you’ll gain insight on where to help churches focus their efforts and the encouragement they need to help them take their next best steps forward. This is also a great series to share with church leaders to listen to on their own. Perhaps then follow up with them to learn what their takeaways were and how you can help them implement next steps moving forward.
LISTEN NOW
E V E RYO N E C A N D O S O M E T H I N G This book is designed to rally churches around the care of the vulnerable in strategic, effective, and sustainable ways. You’ll discover the principles you need to help churches take their next best steps in areas like clarifying their message, making the problem relatable, connecting people into a community of support, developing a strategic plan, planning and promoting events, and more! This is also a great gift to a pastor or church leader - one you can have them look through to get ideas and perspectives for follow-up conversations and meetings.
LEARN MORE
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PLANNING TO ENGAGE Post Stand Sunday We are incredibly excited about expanding the richness of Stand Sunday training and diving deeper with more of an “interactive” feel. These gatherings will allow us, and more importantly those in the same region as you, to walk more closely together (and learn/share with one another)! We’ll engage in fantastic conversations around Stand Sunday, year-round collaboration, our evolving roles in this new season (and how we do them), and more. The goal is for you to experience that beautiful intersection between great content and encouraging community!
J U LY 1 4
AUGUST 4
11:00 AM CST
11:00 AM CST
Being a Good Guide: Leveraging the Power of Stand Sunday to Help Churches Grow
Network Building: Stand Sunday, Collaboration and Working Together to See More Than Enough in Our Communities
AUGUST 18 11:00 AM CST
Clarity is Kind: Practical Ways to Share, Invite and Call Churches to Action That Just Make Sense
EMAIL TO JOIN THE TRAININGS
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F O R A D D I T I O N A L A S S I S TA N C E Please reach out to your regional ambassador for assistance at any step of the way.
REGIONAL AMBASSADORS
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11.13.22 November 13, 2022 Facilitated by the
community