Made for Home: Full Circle Moments

Many of you joined us in late September for the Made for Home Banquet in Ashland, OH and enjoyed hearing from speaker Austin Ludwig. After the event, I had an amazing interaction with a local Church Champion hearing about God's hand in timing and connections.

The evening of the banquet, Austin shared the story about when he and his sister fled from their abusive home, found refuge in a local church, and visited Waffle House late at night. He grew up in northern Georgia and spent time in a Winshape home.

Local Ashland church champion Angie Obrecht went to Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She shared: “There were three group foster homes supported by the WinShape Foundation on our campus.” “Part of our campus was actually referred to as the WinShape Center because we had so many connections with the WinShape Foundation.” On campus, Angie worked at the preschool as one of her student jobs and taught some of the kids who were in the Winshape homes at that preschool.

“And that was my first introduction to fostering,” she stated. Since then, she had not really realized this was her first introduction to fostering until Austin mentioned that he grew up in Rome, GA while speaking at the banquet. She shared: “I  was like ‘What? I know this!’...I don’t know the church that he said that he went to, but when he was saying that …they took the money and went to Waffle House, I know the Wafflehouse he was at. I’ve been to the Wafflehouse at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning working on…homework from school…. I knew that whole area.”

Angie thought it was “full circle”. “And to think about the fact that… he was talking about being in some of those group homes and now working for the Winshape Foundation, … like that’s full circle. That was my first introduction, and …. now I'm a part of the Fostering Family Ministries… Just to have that connection back to the Winshape Foundation, …it was really cool.” 

How amazing to be serving foster youth as a college student, then to be leading a foster care ministry in her local church, and then to hear from one of the youth who lived in the place she originally served multiple states away. “It was cool!” she said. 

Angie and Austin got to talk after the presentation and both asked each other, “How did you end up here?” 

Angie moved back to Ohio after college and was burdened for foster care. She knew she needed to do something, but it wasn’t being a foster parent. 

When she learned about FFM, she knew: “This is what God wants me to do. This was the plan.” Angie has served for multiple years supporting foster families, increasing awareness about foster care ministry, and sharing how to get involved.  “Coincidence- I don't believe it, not for stuff like this,” she shared. Thinking back to her time in college, she shared, “That was what God laid on my heart then: these kids need you to love them.”

Are you ready to take a stand for vulnerable children and families? Check out the many ways you can serve, get your church involved, and support the ministry on the FFM website fosteringfamilyministries.org or contact our office (419) 496.2507.