BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS 134TH ANNUAL
VOLUME 134, NO. 2 I WACO I NOVEMBER 19, 2019
Texas Baptists address foster care crisis through Faith Fosters Texas launch By Kalie Lowrie, News Director WACO—Executive Director David Hardage introduced a new, faith-based initiative aimed at improving the state’s foster care crisis during the Monday evening worship service of the 134th Annual Meeting. The initiative, named “Faith Fosters Texas,” represents a collaborative effort between multiple state and national Baptist entities who have committed to a multi-year effort to educate, equip and engage Texas Baptist churches and families to make a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable children. Hardage initially called ministry partners to a foster and adoption summit after learning that more than 50,000 children were
including a guide to create a Ministry Action Plan and access to information on regional support ministries.
placed in foster care in 2018 in Texas alone. Of those children, only 5,823 adoptions were completed. Monday’s launch was the result of many months of preparation and provided opportunities for everyone to bring hope to children in need and those who foster them.
Coalition members include Buckner International, Children At Heart Ministries, STARRY, STCH Ministries, Texas Baptists, Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work and George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Coalition members are also working with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The initiative will be led by David Ummel.
The three main objectives of Faith Fosters Texas are to educate and equip the church to fulfill the biblical mandate of caring for vulnerable children and families, to engage churches to embrace and support children in foster care and to leverage resources to make a positive macro-impact on foster care. Churches can visit faithfosterstexas.org to register and receive access to resources,
Hardage also shared a proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott affirming the new initiative. “I commend Faith Fosters Texas for its mission to transform the lives of vulnerable children and to work with local churches to positively impact their communities through engagement centered on foster children and their families,” Abbott said.
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