“Spread the Love and the Responsibility” : Thoughts from a FFM Church Champion

It was a joy to sit down and chat with a veteran Church Champion at a local coffee shop and hear her thoughts on foster care ministry.

How long have you actually been a Church Champion?

Close to five or six years. “I know we had the first family for three years and that started out right when we first got into it. And then there was the year or something like that in between, and then we had the next family for about a year.”

Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for other Church Champions? 

“Well, you know, I think for me, it teaches me to be accountable, more accountable to the Lord. I feel like we can get so caught up in our own families, situations and things. And then, oh, this month I have to serve a meal. It brings me kind of back into alignment where I need to be.”

“…we're called to serve you know, and we're called to… be a light to others, and I think these people really put a lot …on the line for these kids….. and love them, and they bring them into their homes. You know what? I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of being able to help in that, and I think that's the encouragement we get. 

Sometimes labor brings joy, and I think that is...what drives me to continue on and it keeps me pushing and thinking in the right direction because I can get off on my own little world and not care about what's going on with the rest of the crowd....it's easy to blend right in and not have to worry about anybody else. So that to me is a real encouragement.”

 “....It's not always a joy…. It's labor, but Jesus didn't say it would always be a bed of roses …and that's the other part too. It’s hearing these stories of the families and what they're going through. …. It's a big sacrifice on their parts to be able to labor through that with these children…and want to serve them. The least I can do is bring them meals once a month and whatever else we can do."

Could you tell me about a time that you were discouraged as a Church Champion and what you did? 

“I think it was just making sure that we had enough people to serve every week [for] meals and if someone forgot,... I had to think on my feet. Okay, what am I gonna do so we had to think ahead?  Okay, so if this happens, then we can get gift cards.” Or, call the local pizza place and have pizza for the family. We also do freezer meals and prepare ahead, so that’s a great option, too. Thinking on your feet is the main thing in these situations.

Any scripture you would want to share specifically with fellow Church Champions that you feel is fitting? 

Matthew 25: 35-40 ESV “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Any advice for a new Church Champion? 

“Hold on to your seat! (laughter)....Try to make sure you get organized….make sure you know what the family's needs are. I think that would be the main thing is really talk to the family, get a real heart for the family and what their needs are. You know, talking to them, you know, at that meet and greet’s really important. That's a really important time to get to know the family. And you can kind of get a feel of what kind of people they are, if they're going to want you there very much, or if they just want you to kind of drop off a meal….you have to go by that, you know, you want to respect that because you don't want to make them uncomfortable by overdoing. So it's just really important to make sure you really know what their needs are, and then get that all.”

“And to draw from other Church Champions, don't be afraid to call other people and ask, 'What do you guys do to make it work?' Because I think experience is the best advice…So don't be afraid to ask other Church Champions what …they do in these situations to make it flow better…. and to make sure you know you have enough people that are willing to help because you want to make sure you don't do it all yourself you know you want to be able to spread the love and responsibility.”

What's your favorite part or maybe the most rewarding part of being a Church Champion do you feel like?

“I don't want to sound corny, but it's serving Jesus, you know, and knowing that I'm doing what He wants me to do and that it's pleasing Him. And then I get the joy of seeing what… the response of that is when you do that through you know the actions you do in Christ, and then you get to see the fruit of that. I guess that's what makes me emotional.” 

“And sometimes, you don't always receive from people the response you're expecting. So you say, ‘You know, what I'm not here to please them. I'm here to please the Lord.’ And that brings me back to say it's not about how I'm received through my gift of giving. It's how Jesus, you know, what He's done through me, and He's pleased. That's all that matters. It doesn't matter the response I get back sometimes because not all families can… give that, you know, or…don't always show that.”