The heart of the Foster/Adoption Ministry at Long Hollow is to care for and support families within our church affected by foster care or adoption, and to help each member of our church family find their “yes” in God’s command to care for the fatherless.
“Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27
We believe that caring for children in need of a family is a command for every believer. While not everyone can bring a child into their home through foster care or adoption, everyone can do something!
Did you know?
There are over 140 children in the Sumner County foster care system. With only 90-100 open, licensed foster homes in Sumner County, there is a baseline shortage of at least 40 to 50 homes.
Because of this gap, children entering the system are frequently placed outside of Sumner County, removing them from their local schools, friends, and existing support networks.
The statistics don’t lie. 31% to 46% of youth experience homelessness within a few years of aging out of foster care, and over 40% of youth who aged out of foster care have spent time incarcerated. Tragically, 60% of child sex trafficking victims have a history in the foster care system. And as they become adults, over 40% of youth who grew up in foster care see their own kids enter the system.
Ways you can serve
A WRAP Team is a community of people who intentionally circle around an adoptive or foster family for a season (at least 6 months). Together, the team provides:
Words of encouragement
Respite care
Acts of service (This depends entirely on the family’s specific needs, but often looks like dropping off meals or coffee, helping with yard work, running errands, or tackling household chores.)
Prayer
Step in with critical support right when families receive a new placement, and continue to step in with occasional assistance as needs arise down the road.
This team is a perfect fit if you want to:
- Deliver immediate support to families welcoming a new child.
- Provide occasional check-ins and help as ongoing needs arise.
- Explore fostering or adoption while learning from families already doing it.
Team members must be background checked, have a volunteer application, complete child safety training (as you may be delivering to a home with children), and we ask that you are able to respond to at least one need a month.
We have so many wonderful partners serving the Foster/Adoptive community in many different ways! Visit our partner pages to learn more about their mission and how you can serve.
Isaiah 117
Jonah’s Journey
TN Kids Belong
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, we’d love to help! Reach out to us at missions@longhollow.com.
We Can Make a Difference
When we invest in foster care and adoption, we aren’t just helping one problem—we are changing the trajectory of the entire community.
But we don’t just need foster and adoptive homes, we need people willing to support these families.
50% of foster families quit within the first year due to lack of support and equipping. We can change that. It takes a team of just 4 to 10 people to keep a foster family from quitting.
Are you currently an adoptive family?
We’d love to get to know you!