What
Do You Mean
"Christian Foster Care”?
Lighthouse
Family Network is a Christian Foster Care agency. We are often
asked what we mean by “Christian Foster
Care”, and have found there are broad
differences in the definition of the
term.
We
cannot speak for anyone else as to what is meant by "Christian"
foster care.
But
at Lighthouse Family Network, we believe “Christian” includes the
following and
we desire foster parents who believe the following:
·
The word “Christian” means
“Christ-follower” (Acts 11:26, 26:28; I Peter 4:16).
We
are most interested in whether you have chosen to follow Christ as your
Savior and Lord. As Christ-followers, we strive to follow the
teachings of
Jesus
Christ as conveyed through
the Holy Bible. We are not
concerned as
much with where you choose to worship
corporately, i.e., Baptist, Catholic,
Lutheran, Pentecostal,
etc. Lighthouse is non-denominational,
and include
families and homes from most mainstream religious denominations
that
proclaim Christianity based on
the Holy Bible.
·
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God,
and He is one with God the Father.
(John 3:16; John 17:22) He is God. He is not a
god or a prophet or a good man,
as some believe.
·
We believe that Jesus is the one way to
the Father. God provided that one
way because of His great love for us.
(John 3:16; John 14:6)
·
We can love other people, even the unlovely,
because He loved us first. He
loved us while we were still rebelling against
Him. (I John
4:19; Romans 5:8)
Now
THAT is unconditional love.
·
We desire to care for each child as if God
had placed His only begotten Son
in our charge to provide care to Him. And, indeed, that is what has occurred.
Because
Jesus says, "... in as much as you have done it to one of the least
of these, my brethren, you have done it unto
me..." (Matthew 25:40)
·
We desire to care for each child as we
believe Christ would if He were here
providing the care. And, indeed, that is what is happening,
because "...I have
been crucified with Christ
and I no longer
live, but Christ lives in
me. The life
I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave
himself for me...." (Galatians 2:20)
·
We believe that, just as God calls
individuals and families to be foster parents,
He
also calls them to be a part of particular ministries. He calls some to be
Foster
parents with Lighthouse Family Network.
He calls some to be foster
parents with other foster care agencies. We want you to be where God has
called you to be.
"How did Jesus care for people?"
·
He
really liked (not just loved) people. He enjoyed being around them and they
felt safe and
comfortable and welcomed around Him.
·
He met their perceived need (what they thought
they needed, i.e., food, clothing,
shelter, safety,
etc.) first, as a means to help them come to see their
true need,
and believe He could
also meet it. (James 2:15-17)
·
He was interesting and practical. He used
everyday things and events from daily
life to teach people how to live.
·
We are salt and light in a tasteless, dark
world. We want every child placed in our
care to be in an environment
where they have the opportunity to come to know
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, in a personal way.
We are not
coercive with the
gospel. But we as a family, both staff and foster parents, strive
to live in such as
way that people see the light of Jesus Christ in us. And Jesus
says, "...If I be lifted up...I will draw all men unto
me...."John 12:32)
One plants, one waters, but God causes
the growth.
I
Corinthians 3:6, 7
