Foster Care
Mission and Vision
Foster Care Ministry at Encounter Church exists to break the cycle of social, material, and spiritual poverty of children in crisis as a tangible expression of God's love. The vision of Foster Care Ministry is for every underserved child in crisis in the Seattle area to grow up in a safe, secure, and Christ-centered home.
Why Foster Care?
You have an incredible opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by helping children of families in crisis. The realities of children in foster care are heartbreaking:
• 80% of inmates incarcerated in prisons spent time in foster care
• 50% of people experiencing homelessness spent time in foster
• 60% of child sex-trafficking victims have a history in the child welfare system
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GospelWe value God's unconditional love. The good news of what God has done to restore and reconcile our relationship with Him through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our foundation.
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Soul CareWe value intimacy with God. We want to slow down, spend time with God, and let him continually renew our inner-self. We prioritize being over doing.
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SalvationWe value eternal life for people of all nations, tribes, and languages. We value ethnic diversity in our leadership and ministries. Our efforts are aimed at reaching new people, not recycling saved people.
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JusticeWe value the calling that comes with salvation to seek justice and love mercy as a tangible expression of the Gospel. We seek racial and social justice for all of God's creation, particularly for the most marginalized and powerless in our community and around the world.
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CommunityWe value living lives rooted in authentic relationships. We believe that being a disciple of Jesus is directly connected to cultivating deep relationships with one another where there is vulnerability, accountability, and shared spiritual disciplines.
Get Involved
Be a Foster Family – Provide temporary custody or guardianship for children whose birth parents are unable to care for them.
Be a Host Family – Voluntarily host children in your home on a temporary basis (typically 2-7 days).
Be a Family Coach – Help families in need reach their goals and provide encouragement to Foster Families and Strong Families.
Be a Family Friend – Encourage, support, and provide goods and services to Foster Families and Strong Families.
Partnerships
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Whatever your age, season in life, or availability of time, there are ways you can get involved to keep children safe and families intact.
