Ep. 22 - Holding the Line: Faith, Courage, and Adoption in Changing Culture (feat. Zeke Bambolo)

Ep. 26 - Activating the Church: When Government Fails, The People of God Step In (feat. Sherry Mott)

"It takes a village" is something we so often hear, but how often do we see it truly lived out? Sherry Mott joins us on the podcast today to share how she and her community did just that! After seeing a real need in her local county for supportive wraparound care - people needing safe homes, supportive and loving friends and families, generous hearts - Sherry sought out a resource that would bring that true care to her city. Or, more so, God sought out Sherry. With "happenstance" after "happenstance" connecting her to Safe Families, there was no more denying that God was bringing this resource to Sherry in order for her to share it with others. She believes this is the resource that Washington has been waiting for, and we have to agree! Tune in to hear more about just how God wove this story together, what Safe Families is all about, and how you can bring Safe Families to your community and start caring for families in need practically & generously. …………………………….. Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/ [https://fosteringchangewa.org/] You can learn more about our history, our mission, or make a donation to sponsor an episode. Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives.  To follow us and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels:  Instagram: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.instagram.com/fosteringchangewa/] TikTok: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.tiktok.com/@fosteringchangewa] Facebook: Fostering Change WA [https://www.facebook.com/fosteringchangewa] Want to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel. #church #fostercare #washingtonstate #podcast

Ep. 25 - Strangers Became Family: How Safe Families USA Gave A New Start To a Single Mom

Alexis joins us on the podcast today! Five years ago, Alexis found herself in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy. She wanted to keep the baby and felt like her deepest dream was coming true - getting to be a mom to a baby girl. But as the pregnancy went on, the biological father left the picture and her family disowned her for having an unplanned pregnancy. She found herself struggling with no support around her. Not wanting to give up the life of her child and wanting to find a way to stay together, she found Safe Families, a nationwide organization that is dedicated to providing wraparound care for families that are struggling. Through this organization, she met Jessica, who helped take care of baby Natalia and helped give Alexis the opportunity to get back on her feet. As time went on, Alexis realized that it would be very difficult to take care of Natalia and made the hardest decision of her life: asking Jessica to consider adopting her baby. In this episode, we'll dive deeper into the full story, Alexis' own adoption background, where she and Natalia are now, and how God, the ultimate Grand Weaver, truly used it all for good. We hope you'll tune in :) Thank you, Alexis, for choosing life, for choosing sacrificial love, and for your courage. You are an inspiration to so many. God bless you! #unplannedpregnancy #fostercare #adoption  …………………………….. Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/ [https://fosteringchangewa.org/] You can learn more about our history, our mission, or make a donation to sponsor an episode. Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives.  To follow us, see clips from the show, and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels:  Instagram: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.instagram.com/fosteringchangewa/] TikTok: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.tiktok.com/@fosteringchangewa] Facebook: Fostering Change WA [https://www.facebook.com/fosteringchangewa] Want to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel.

Ep. 24-Safe Families Empowered This Church to Practice Biblical Hospitality (feat. Justin Peterson)

Justin Peterson joins us on the podcast today! Justin helped plant Table Community Church, a church based in Oregon that, from the very beginning, wanted to practice radical, biblical hospitality in their city. When they reached out to community members to hear what it was the community was actually needing, safe homes for struggling families consistently came up. Justin then heard about Safe Families, a national organization that helps gives churches that practicals and resources for hosting families and really being the wrap around care that so many families were desperately needing. Safe Families works to be a preventative resource so that foster care actually does not end up being needed. Justin shares with us how this became a part of their church DNA, what the last 10 years have looked like, and what how he hopes it can impact more families across the country. Thank you Justin and Table Community Church for truly being the "hands and feet of Jesus" and caring for your community with generous and sacrificial love and hospitality! #fostercare #adoption #church #hospitality …………………………….. Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/ [https://fosteringchangewa.org/] You can learn more about our history, our mission, or make a donation to sponsor an episode. Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives. To follow us and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels:  Instagram: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.instagram.com/fosteringchangewa/] TikTok: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.tiktok.com/@fosteringchangewa] Facebook: Fostering Change WA [https://www.facebook.com/fosteringchangewa] Want to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel.

Ep. 23 - This Isn’t Working: 15 Years Inside Washington’s Child Welfare System

Kaila joins us on the podcast today! Kaila shares with us the story of her family adopting and fostering 5 children in the span of 15 years all from the same mother, a cousin in her family struggling with addiction. Kaila has seen throughout the 15 years the countless resources that her cousin has been given - free rehab, medical attention, chances for support - and none of this has prevented her from her drug usage or giving birth to drug-affected babies. To add fuel to the flame, even with the 15 years of hard drug use, the state still wants to press reunification, fighting to reunite these children with their birth mother, even though she (nor their fathers) have the means to care for them. Not only that, Kaila shares with us the realities of what 15 years of hard drug use does to a person and she does not believe that her cousin will be ready any time soon to be able to care for a child, let alone five. These children are in wonderful homes. Why keep pushing reunification? If the mother has clearly shown no interest in sobriety or creating a life that can sustain herself and multiple children, why press this mandate? Reunification is not always the answer. Family isn't created just by blood. We need to make sure that our lawmakers are hearing our frontline workers and those affected by our current laws to see the real changes that need to be made. Thank you, Kaila, for sharing your insight and your story, and for the incredible work your family has done in taking care of these little ones. …………………………….. Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/ [https://fosteringchangewa.org/] You can learn more about our history, our mission, or make a donation to sponsor an episode. Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives.  To follow us and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels:  Instagram: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.instagram.com/fosteringchangewa/] TikTok: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.tiktok.com/@fosteringchangewa] Facebook: Fostering Change WA [https://www.facebook.com/fosteringchangewa] Want to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel. #fostercare #adoption #washingtonstate #childwelfare

Ep. 22 - Holding the Line: Faith, Courage, and Adoption in Changing Culture (feat. Zeke Bambolo)

Ezechiel 'Zeke' Bambolo joins us on the podcast today! Zeke is the current Executive Director of Antioch Adoptions (https://antiochadoptions.org/ [https://antiochadoptions.org/]), an adoption agency based out of Washington state that stands apart for a few important reasons: They never charge families for adoption services, they never take government funding, and they operate strictly according to biblical principles. Since its inception, Antioch Adoptions has had the opportunity to help over 500 families. Zeke was also impacted by adoption early on in his life. Originally from Liberia, Zeke was essentially informally adopted by an American missionary couple (Lloyd and Marjorie Garrison) who brought him to the U.S. Not only that, his birth family also regularly took in other children to care for. We are so thankful to Zeke and this legacy of care, adoption, and family. We are so excited for you to hear this episode and hope it inspires you! Thank you, Zeke, for the good work you are doing for these families. …………………………….. Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/ [https://fosteringchangewa.org/] You can learn more about our history, our mission, or make a donation to sponsor an episode. Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives. To follow us and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels:  Instagram: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.instagram.com/fosteringchangewa/] TikTok: @fosteringchangewa  [https://www.tiktok.com/@fosteringchangewa] Facebook: Fostering Change WA [https://www.facebook.com/fosteringchangewa] Want to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel. #antiochadoptions #adoptions #christian #fostercare