May 28, 2024 • 58 mins
What does it mean to truly care for the vulnerable children in our communities? Join us as we celebrate National Foster Care Awareness Month with our special guests, Brianna, a dedicated foster parent support specialist, and Natalie, the passionate foster care supervisor at 4Kids Miami. Through their heartfelt stories and expert insights, you'll discover how this incredible organization is expanding its mission into Miami, providing hope, homes, and healing for children in crisis. Learn about the significance of daily prayer inspired by Ephesians 3:20 and how it guides their impactful work.
Our conversation delves into the biblical call to foster care, emphasizing the transformative role of the church in supporting orphans and widows. With scriptures like James 1:27 and Psalm 68:6 as our foundation, we address common concerns of prospective foster parents and highlight the robust support system available – from prayer and court assistance to access to Christian therapists. Brianna and Natalie share how fostering can profoundly impact not just the children, but also the foster parents, bringing a message of faith, community, and God's unwavering love.
We also explore the delicate balance of maintaining faith while respecting the cultural and religious backgrounds of foster children. Practical steps like introducing culturally specific foods and literature are discussed to ensure the well-being of the children. The urgent need for foster homes in Miami is underscored, with a heartfelt call to action for more foster families. This episode is a powerful testament to the significant role of Christian-based agencies like 4Kids, urging listeners to contribute in any way they can to this vital ministry. Tune in for inspiring stories and exclusive interviews that will leave you moved and motivated.
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Episode Transcript
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Announcer (00:02):
You're tuned in to Friends and Family, a God's Way
radio exclusive where weintroduce you to some amazing
people.
In John, chapter 15, verse 15,jesus says I have called you
friends for all things that Iheard from my Father I have made
known to you.
That's our aim that God wouldbe made known to you.
Stay with us until the end ofour conversation for more
(00:22):
information on this program andother unique offerings from
God's Way Radio.
Brianna (00:27):
My role.
I know you'll hear a little bitmore about what 4Kids does, but
I am a foster parent supportspecialist and I'll definitely
get to share more about that ina bit, but I'm grateful to be
here, Awesome.
Joey (00:40):
Thank you, thank you so much, and and Natalie Torres.
Natalie (00:45):
I am the foster care supervisor for our 4Kids Miami
team.
I'm also just really excited tobe here and just to share more
about what we're going to talkabout today about foster care,
About foster care.
So it's.
Joey (00:57):
National Foster Care Awareness Month.
Brianna (01:00):
Yes.
Joey (01:01):
We're trying to put the whole name together.
You know, and I was talkingwith some folks it's been a busy
month for us here at the radioand a lot of good stuff.
We're actually preparing for anevent next month and all that.
But, man, you know, there's ifyou've ever looked online, you
know like a particular day.
Oh, what day is it?
There's like one of the highschool students joked around the
(01:22):
other day, it was theanniversary of Israel becoming a
nation, and so I did like alittle quiz oh, you know what's
going on.
And he said, well, it'sNational Buttermilk Biscuit Day,
which it was right.
So if you look it up, there's aholiday for everything and a
month for everything, but Ithink a month for foster care
awareness is much needed.
(01:43):
So we definitely want tohighlight May for that.
Natalie (01:52):
Tell us a little bit about 4Kids Miami, because this
is a new branch of 4Kids SouthFlorida.
Yes, so well.
4kids has been around for over25 years.
We've been serving kids incrisis and in many different
ways serving kids in crisis andin many different ways, but the
main, our main mission andvision is to provide just hope,
homes and healing and give hopeto the kids in crisis, and also
(02:18):
to provide a home for everychild, a Christian home for
every child, specifically,because our main focus is that
it's the church right, it's thechurch to step up and be able to
care for the orphan, to be ableto care for kids that are
vulnerable, in distress, aresuffering abuse in our community
, and so God has expanded forkids and has blessed us
(02:43):
tremendously.
We're so excited as to what Godis doing.
We are in Broward that is, ourheadquarters.
We're in Palm Beach, treasureCoast, southwest Florida, and we
recently expanded to Miami, andso we're the only group that's
amazing All over.
It is and we're seeing whereelse God wants to expand us.
But we are excited for what Godis doing in Miami.
(03:06):
He's doing so many great things.
We're seeing the hand of Godupon Miami and just calling
people, calling families,calling single individuals.
They're answering the call tothis vision and mission and
we're just excited.
Yeah.
Joey (03:24):
I don't know.
You know I might ask youquestions, that you don't have
the information right on thespot, you know and I understand
that.
But do you know how manyfamilies or people that you guys
have licensed so far or workwith so far since the opening of
the office?
Brianna (03:39):
Yes, so since the opening of the Miami location,
we have been able to license atotal of six homes now for the
Miami for Kids region, which isincredible.
You know, the licensing processtakes a long time, so the fact
that we've been open for justover a year and we already have
(04:03):
six homes is incredible.
But you know, obviously we'rebelieving God for more, for an
abundance we believe.
Something really cool that wehave implemented with four kids
is, every day at 3.20, 3.20 pm,our teams across all of our
regions, pray a prayer, prayEphesians 3.20.
(04:24):
Now to him, who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we
can ask or imagine, according tohis power that has worked
within us.
To him be the glory in thechurch and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations.
And so we believe that God cando immeasurably more.
So that is what we're believingfor in Miami that he will bring
immeasurably more than we caneven fathom or dream.
(04:47):
But he's already doing it.
Natalie (04:48):
Yes, so even though we currently have that many homes
licensed, there's actually morealready in the pipeline.
There's more in the process.
There's currently.
We have families currently inclass um and more that have
already demonstrated interestyeah and so we start like the
intake process pretty much,where we're kind of vetting.
There are certain requirementsthat families would have to meet
(05:11):
in order for us to determine ifthey can move on to the next
step and so, but yeah, we'redefinitely seeing the increase,
so we're definitely going to beseeing more homes and license.
So we're excited yeah.
Joey (05:25):
Well, you know one thing that sticks out to me.
I actually mentioned that wewere at a you know a pastor's
conference and there was a quotefrom there that that's just
been in my heart, and one of thepastors said you haven't done
anything until you've prayed.
And so to hear that you'repraying daily at your ministry
man that's yeah, it's aguarantee, I mean, God's going
(05:45):
to answer the way that he wantsto answer.
So let me kind of catch peopleup here.
If you just tuned in, you'relistening live on May the 24th,
it's Friday, and I have twospecial guests here Brianna and
Natalie from Four Kids of SouthFlorida, the Miami office, and
we're just talking about fostercare.
We're going to talk about theins and outs in a second.
(06:05):
Some frequently asked questionshow to get involved, what to do
.
Um, are you a candidate?
And, uh, I can tell you rightnow the answer is probably yes.
Um, uh, there are very fewexceptions, uh, but we'll get
into that.
Um, and it being that we're live, if you are listening live, you
can call, you can text.
If you have a question, youwant to share a word of
(06:27):
encouragement with Brianna orNatalie, or you have a question
about foster care, you can call.
You can call us at our studio,you can text us.
Remember, no code needed, noapp, nothing special, just like
you would any other cell phone786-313-3115.
Again, that's 786-313-315.
Again, that's 786-313-315.
(06:48):
And you are, if you arelistening on the podcast.
Well, you can always text orcall us and we'll connect you
any way that we can, so let'sjump right into it.
We're talking about foster care.
We have the foster care supportspecialist and the foster care
coordinator supervisor so sowhat you know.
(07:08):
Really back to basics here whatis foster care and who can
participate?
Natalie (07:14):
yeah, um well, foster care is where um kids currently,
right now in your backyard, are, you know, being abused or
exposed to domestic violence ordrugs, and a call comes in
(07:35):
through the abuse hotline and itis determined by the department
that this child is unsafe andis not able to be in their home
and they would have to beremoved and therefore go into
the foster care system.
Once they come to the fostercare system, the first thing
(07:57):
they try to do is see if thischild can go with either a
relative or non-relative someonethat the child has a
relationship with.
If that cannot be found in thatmoment, then the child is going
to go into licensed care andthat would be foster care or
foster home.
(08:18):
And then, in order to be afoster home, then there's like
the steps of becoming licensedand the requirements of that, so
that you can be able toaccommodate a child in your home
and care for that child untilthat child can safely return to
their biological family yeah,you know one of the.
Joey (08:37):
There's kind of the typical, frequent, I don't know
um reasons or hesitations thatpeople have.
One of them is I don't havespace can you speak to?
That for, for a moment, space.
How much space do you need?
You need two extra bedrooms,three extra bedrooms.
What do you need?
Natalie (08:54):
I mean, the ideal would be an extra bedroom, but if you
don't have that, then the childcan share a room with minor
children.
Um, and so if they're under 18.
Joey (09:06):
Under 18 correct.
Natalie (09:08):
Um, then they can share a room.
Um, if not, then it could be anextra.
However many bedrooms you have,available and whatever you could
accommodate, it would be great,um, and each person, each child
, would have to have their ownroom, so even their own
biological children.
Because I know some familiesmight ask me um, okay, well, can
I, you know, set up, like youknow, the couch area, um, or
(09:30):
things like that, not only forthe foster children, but even
people want to do that for theirchildren too, like, okay, so
that they can like the kids areon board, like yeah, right right
, exactly, exactly.
So unfortunately that cannot beaccommodated.
Um, but as long as you have anextra bedroom or minor children
and you're open to be able tolike have the child share a room
(09:51):
with your, with your biologicalchildren, then that's all we
need.
Joey (09:55):
Great.
Brianna (09:55):
Yeah, One thing I would add about the biological
children sharing a room.
It would just one thing we makesure is that they would be the
same gender.
So if you had a biological sonand that was the only extra room
you had, you would only be ableto take placement for a foster
son.
So, a male foster child becausethey would have to share a room
(10:18):
of the same gender.
Great yeah, great clarification.
Joey (10:21):
And you know all this stuff.
If God puts it in someone'sheart to reach out to start the
process, you know all of it'sgoing to come up.
And I actually know a family Ithink this was all an up and up,
so I'm not going to say names,obviously but basically they
were looking at converting theirgarage.
You know they didn't have anextra room, so they were willing
(10:43):
to convert the garage so thateither the bio kids didn't go in
there or that could be theextra room.
But they, they were gettingcreative.
You know they were trying tomake it work.
So, yeah, so there's a millionideas out there.
But but again, just trying tocome up with these questions
that I've heard, yeah, uh, thatthat at least people can get a
little bit of information on it.
What about, um finances?
Natalie (11:02):
people say I can't afford it, I can't afford to
foster a child yeah, I mean wedo look at finances, that that
goes into the assessment process, um, when we license homes, um,
the main thing is you have abalanced budget, so meaning like
there is your, your incomeexceeds your expenses, right, um
, but there's not like aspecific amount where you need
(11:23):
to have this much left over, um,every month.
So as long as you have abalanced budget, um then then
there should be no issue withbeing able to move forward with
the licensing process awesome.
Joey (11:34):
yeah, I don't know if this is so much a thing anymore, but
I know that that back a fewyears ago, when, when I was in
it, um, there was this, uh, um,I don't know, this kind of
intimidating factor like, oh, Igot to take all the kids to
Disneyland and I got to be ableto afford all these things, and
I got to.
You know, I imagine and again,this is where you ladies are
(11:56):
here to shed light on it youknow, I imagine that it's just
providing the same life thatyou're providing for your kids
you know, you know um, the love,the home, the food, the shelter
.
You know if, if your kids get bywith the park?
I mean you guys all go to thepark together.
So I mean, am I about right?
Natalie (12:12):
yes, absolutely so.
Yeah, you can take your yourchildren um, just the same way
as you would take yourbiological children to trips, or
even out of state, or even todisney.
Um, obviously, for out of state, there will be travel orders
required by the courts.
But, yeah, we want you to beable to do your normal life,
your normal life, as younormally do.
Brianna (12:34):
The term we use in foster care is just providing
normalcy.
So, like Natalie said, if yougo to church regularly, yes,
take your kid to church.
If your kids are in swimmingclass, that might be something
that you want to put your fosterchild in too.
So, exactly like Natalie said,just anything that your family
(12:56):
would do invite that fosterchild into your daily routines
as a family.
Joey (13:00):
Yeah, again, family, if you're listening live and you
have a question or a word ofencouragement or any comment at
all, please you can call or textus at the studio 786-313-3115.
And sometimes I hear from ourlisteners oh, I didn't want to
interrupt.
The conversation is going sowell, you're not interrupting.
We love when you call, we lovewhen you text.
This is these ladies' jobs.
(13:21):
In a sense, they want to talkto you.
This is just a vehicle.
The radio is just a vehicle forthem to get in touch with you.
So if they can hear your voiceor read a text that you would
send in, it would make theirtrip worth it.
786-313-3115.
(13:42):
You know, I don't know how tophrase this as a question, which
is the funny thing about liveradio, because I'm supposed to
know how to do that.
However, what I'm trying to getat is if anyone's listening and
there's this kind of disconnectwhere there's people that do
foster care, superheroes, andthen there's me, right, and I
feel like there could be adisconnect where it's you know,
you talked about this termnormalcy and I think, and I just
want to say one thing and tokind of get the gears turning um
(14:06):
, it's, it's really that simple.
There's a child who's in a notnormal situation and you can
help to make their life a littlemore normal, so so can you
speak to that disconnect.
Natalie (14:18):
If there's somebody listening, they think oh, this
is a beautiful program, I'llpray, but I can never do that
yeah, I mean, there's alwaysgonna be that fear, right, Fear
of the unknown, fear of bringingin a child to your home and
automatically yes, automaticallyyou're gonna doubt within your
capacity, your abilities, butwhat I can say is is that this
(14:44):
is of the Lord.
Joey (14:47):
Right.
Natalie (14:47):
Amen.
And he, he places the lonely inhomes, right in families.
He has called, like I mentionedearlier, he has called us as
the church to rise up, to beable to step in the gap, right,
yes, to intercede for thesechildren, to show them the love
(15:11):
of Christ.
Um, they need to know the word,they need prayer over them,
they need intercession.
There's generational cursesthat can be broken just by you
saying yes, right, Um, and notallowing the fear um, or you are
feeling like I can't do this,it will be overwhelming and all
(15:33):
of that, but just saying no tothat fear and just saying yes
and see how God will workthrough you to bring healing to
a child in need of healing.
But also there's atransformation that happens
within you as a foster parent aswell.
So there's a work in both ways.
God starts shedding light onthings of our lives also, and so
(15:54):
I think it goes both ways forsure.
Brianna (15:57):
Absolutely.
Yeah, that was beautiful,natalie, and I would also even
add this the verse that ispivotal in our in for kids as a
whole that we've kind of beenbuilt upon is you know, we are
commissioned as followers ofChrist, as children of Christ.
It says in James 1.27, religionthat God, our Father, accepts
(16:20):
as pure and faultless is this tolook after orphans and widows
in their distress and to keeponeself from being polluted by
the world.
And so we believe that's ourmission.
That's what we're called to dois to look after the orphan,
look after the widow, look afterthe families that are in crisis
, provide hope, provide homesand provide healing for them.
Joey (16:41):
That's awesome, um, just so much so if, if you were
listening closely, um, you know,before James, natalie actually
quoted a Bible verse, psalmchapter 68, verse 6.
King James says God sets thesolitary in families.
Niv, he sets the lonely infamilies.
(17:04):
Csb, christian Standard, I likethis.
God provides homes for thosewho are deserted, and just again
it's so.
The heart of the lord, uh, youknow, if you look throughout
scripture, I mean james is justlike a summary, right, he's
always taking care of orphans,widows, the downcast, the
outcast.
You know something I heard along time ago.
I hope I never forget.
(17:24):
Um, I think it was hagar, um,abraham's, um, you know he had
Sarah, and then Hagar was.
The first time that Godappeared to a woman, I think was
Hagar, and it was this womanthat was cast out, forsaken.
You know her and her son.
So just interesting.
So foster care is beingavailable.
(17:48):
God's heart, speak to kind ofboth, if you can.
You know those that arelistening to have kids that
they're saying, okay, how's thisgonna work?
I already have kids and now alltheir kids or those that don't
have kids and think, well, I'venever had kids, I'm not a parent
, I, you know, I'm, you know, uh.
So there's kind of two familiesthere that might be listening
(18:09):
those that have kids that arewondering how that's gonna work.
Those that don't have kids thatthink, well, I don't have kids,
I don't know how to do kidsright, right, uh.
Natalie (18:16):
Well, I will speak to the ones that don't have kids.
No experience is necessary,right?
I mean, if you have experience,um, but no, not necessarily have
to have parenting experiencebut even if you have experience
in in a christian children'sministry or you're a teacher or
you take care of nieces andnephews.
But there's not really whereyou need a level of experience,
(18:41):
because there will be training,you will have support along the
way and we understand whenthere's couples or single
parents or single individualsthat don't have children.
There is that level of fear,but we will come alongside them
and help them through that andprovide whatever training needed
(19:01):
as well If we see that there'sa need for training to those
that are married.
Joey (19:05):
It's like you have a support specialist.
Yeah, yeah, brianna will beright here.
She is your support specialist,or something yeah yeah, you do.
Brianna (19:11):
Brianna will be.
Natalie (19:11):
I'm right here support specialist um and we, just we do
take you by the hand, we willpray for you, we go to court
with you.
Whatever it is that you need,we're here to minister and and
everything that you need.
Um, and to those that aremarried with children yes,
that's that could be very scary.
Joey (19:27):
I gotta interject.
I gotta interject becausebecause I was telling you guys
before and the radio family'sheard it a million times I'm
going to repeat the same story.
I was a foster parent for a fewyears.
And that little detail, go tocourt with you.
That's above and beyond.
Because I was never offeredthat.
That was never a thing.
Sometimes I didn't even know wehad a court date.
(19:51):
I would have to ask or have afriend find out for me, right?
Um, so I mean, that's, that'sreally, that's a blessing.
I mean that little detail, um,that's, that's sweet, yeah, but
you're gonna speak, yeah, and uh, you just reminded me.
Natalie (20:02):
the additional support that we provide, too, is that we
have a clinical department, andso for every child that's
placed in one of our homes,you're assigned a a therapist,
so you have that additionalsupport.
So anyone who may be concernedof like I don't know how to
parent a child with trauma,you're going to have many people
around you to help you withthat.
Joey (20:22):
And this is kind of like an in-house, like this is all
within four kids, this is withinfour kids.
Natalie (20:27):
So they're a Christian therapist.
They're a christian therapist,like they're a christian um
therapist, and so they're goingto be going out to either your
home or you can go to the office.
So we have um two um therapyrooms.
They're available in the miamioffice in the miami office, yeah
, and in all the regions that wehave.
They have their own.
Joey (20:45):
I know the, I know the fort lauderdale.
One's the fancy one.
Caller (20:47):
Yes I still have to take a tour.
I still have to take a tour ofthe different.
Natalie (20:52):
You would love it.
You would love it, but you cancome and visit us in miami.
Joey (20:55):
Yes, yes, no, all of them, all of them well yours is brand
new, so yeah it's still stillgot that new car smell exactly
it does but you're gonna speakthose families with kids, I
think yes.
Natalie (21:05):
So, um, I would say yes , as scary as it may sound,
because sometimes you might askyourself well, I'm already
feeling, already busy as it iswith two children.
And then to add more to the mixAgain, if God is calling you to
this, he's going to give youthe strength, he's going to give
you the wisdom, he's going togive you whatever it is that you
(21:27):
need when you say yes to him.
He's going to provideeverything.
And again we provide wra.
He's going to provideeverything, and again we provide
wraparound support to anyfamilies.
And when you think you cannothandle an extra child, you will
realize that you can and youjust make it work the same way
that you went from either one totwo, where you figure, like,
how am I going to make this workwith the second child?
(21:49):
You end up figuring it out, youend up just kind of going with
the schedule and you work as ateam and it just ends up
happening you just make thewhole spaghetti box instead of
half.
Joey (21:57):
Yeah, exactly it's not that much different.
You still gotta make spaghetti.
Brianna (22:01):
Just dump the whole box in yes, correct right and
something that we do love andappreciate about the foster
family so far that we have inMiami is there are plenty that
have their own children, havetheir own biological children,
um, and something that weencourage and they they already
do, and it all depends on theage of the biological children,
(22:21):
but the when they're in theprocess of hey, should we do
this foster care thing?
They have open and honestconversations with their
biological children.
You know, like I said, dependingon their age, they say, hey,
would this be something?
This is what foster care isDoes.
Do you understand?
Is this something that you'reinterested in?
Is this something that youwould you know you'd be okay
(22:43):
with?
And so I think that's somethingwe definitely encourage with
our families is talk to yourbiological children, see how
they would feel about it.
Families is talk to yourbiological children, see how
they would feel about it.
And oftentimes you know they'relike yeah, a new friend coming
to stay with us absolutely wewould love that, or you know, if
they're older, they do get tosee the impact of you know what
(23:03):
their family has has said yes to, has on on a child in need.
And what's again, again, reallyawesome about 4Kids is we're a
faith-based agency and so youknow these families.
We license Christian families,specifically Christian families.
So you, as a family, not onlyare you showing them physical
(23:24):
love, but you're showing themthe love of Jesus by welcoming
them into your home, welcomethem into your prayer circles
before dinner.
You know, as a family, showingthem.
Joey (23:34):
The love of Jesus, you're just.
You see me over here noddingyou know, thinking of so many
different things.
Again, I'm just kind of stuck onthis topic of if anyone's
listening, they have hesitations.
What could they be and how canwe address those?
And so another hesitation mightbe and I've had this
conversation with people, youknow, that kind of clear
conscience kind of thing, andand again, you know I don't want
(23:55):
to put either of you in a in aweird spot, you know.
You know, yeah, just hit thepass button whatever, uh,
seriously, but but but I but if,if possible, I do do want to
try at least.
And you know I've I've been uhin conversation with, with folks
.
You know I can think of one ofmy friends least and you know
I've I've been uh inconversation with with folks.
You know I can think of one ofmy friends specifically said you
know, these couple things aredeal breakers.
I'm just I can't do it.
You know I'm not called that,god's not providing and I can't
(24:18):
do.
You know I can't sign this, Ican't agree to that.
And you know we only fosteredlittle kids, I mean like a year
and under, uh in the time wewere there, because of the ages
of our kids, you know who wefelt comfortable having in the
house and all that, um.
But I'll say a comment, and andagain, same thing to, to get
you kind of thinking and able totalk on the topic.
(24:38):
You know, if I had a child inmy home who had a different view
, had a different lifestyle, haddifferent difficulties, um, I'm
gonna love that child the sameway I would love my kids.
And the way I would love mykids is take them to church,
share the bible with them,encourage them and and the
things that are pleasing to godand the things that are good for
humanity.
So it's not that you, I can'tnow read the bible in front of
(25:01):
this kid, right?
So so can.
Can you talk on that?
Because I feel like that mightbe a hesitation that then some
folks might have yeah, I want tosee if I understand your
question correctly.
Natalie (25:10):
Can you like like?
Joey (25:11):
so, basically, if the hesitation is um, um, what am I
going to do if the child has alifestyle I don't approve of,
different difficulties I don'tapprove of.
They don't believe in god, theydon't read the bible.
But they're in my house, butthey're not my child but their
foster child.
But the paperwork, but dcf.
How do you deal with all that?
Natalie (25:33):
yeah, and that I that is definitely understandable and
and can be definitely verycommon in the christian
community, um, because we knowwhat the word of god says.
But how do you manage that,right?
Um, and what I say to ourchristian families, because we
do talk about that during theassessment process, because we
do bring it up, it's actuallyone of the questions on there
(25:56):
and what we say is, like, it'snot that you are going to
compromise ever your faith, butthat you're not going to impose
it on them.
What you're going to do isyou're going to show them the
love of Christ.
We're not going to, like, forcethem to read the Bible or or
force the word of God in them,but you, privately, will be
praying over them.
(26:16):
You can, um, just speak theword of God to them in a way
where maybe you're not quotingscripture directly, but you can
speak into their life and um,and our main thing is that
you're not going to treat themwrong, right, you're going to
still treat them with the loveof Christ.
Um, regardless, um cause, if.
(26:36):
And what we also say is likewhat if it was your biological
child?
Brianna (26:39):
right.
Natalie (26:40):
Um, cause sometimes that can happen, you know, in
your own family, where you mighthave someone who is of a
different lifestyle or havedifferent beliefs, or just
different culture, ethnicity,all of that um and so and um and
so we want to be very sensitive, yes, you know, to that, yeah,
(27:03):
um, and just just again, I feellike just being a model to them,
just showing them who christ is, and not rejection, not
rejection, amen, yeah, yeah yeah, you know, something came to
mind and you kind of you hit onit right there in your last
statement that I would kind ofthrow in.
Joey (27:17):
There is um, just having integrity, you know right excuse
me, let me see if I can now tryto formulate my thought here.
Um, if, if I feel like the mostpowerful thing that a christian
could do is live out theirfaith right, so, and like the
most powerful thing that aChristian could do is live out
their faith right, and then themost on the line where that is
(27:38):
at on the line, that's notEnglish is at home.
Right, because at home is whenyou're going to slack off
reading your Bible.
You're going to lose it.
You're going to yell atsomebody, right?
So if you can love Jesus andworship Jesusesus at home,
that's going to make adifference in a person's life.
That's living with you, right?
So, so that's you, don't.
I don't think you're gonna haveto push the bible on someone
(27:59):
and stuff like that.
Um, so that's what comes tomind, but, brianna, yeah,
absolutely.
Brianna (28:03):
I think.
On the opposite end, I thinkwhat um might come as an
interesting point, you know, topeople who are interested in
foster care, is we also, duringthe assessment process, ask, you
know, are you willing toaccommodate a child if they come
in?
And maybe the parents have said,hey, we're of a different faith
(28:24):
than you or we're of adifferent culture than you.
We would still like for you tobe able to, you know, promote
that in their life.
And so we talked to our fosterparents or, you know, prospect
of foster parents, and say whatare some ways that you would
preserve a foster child'sculture if their parents or they
came into your home and theysaid, I still really want to
(28:47):
practice this faith, I stillreally want to, you know, tap
into this side of my culture orethnicity.
And so, you know, we obviouslytalk to them about, like, you
know, if they're from adifferent culture that has
different foods, like maybeeither if you, if you're not a
good cook, take them out to arestaurant, you got to know
where all the best Jamaicanplaces are.
(29:13):
Exactly.
Take them out to restaurants orget you know literature from
that specific culture or thatspecific religion and help.
We wouldn't say that that'scompromising your own faith, but
that's helping someone andthat's respecting their
biological parents' wishes andtheir wishes as well.
Joey (29:25):
That reminds me of, again, I love how the Lord's just
helping us.
We pray it and he answers.
That ties into something elsethat I was going to ask you to
speak on, related to this topic,which is and you really
described what I'm about to sayalready, but again, I want to
say it, to give you a chance to,you know, either elaborate on
(29:46):
it or correct it.
You know you might say, youknow we don't really use that
kind of language.
That's not something we wouldsay, um, the view that kind of
always helped me as a fosterparent was the fact and again
this is my own words here thefact that I'm taking care of
someone else's kid.
They're not my kid, right,right, so I'm taking care of
them, I'm helping this familyand I think that really helped
(30:08):
me when it wasn't just aboutthat one child.
But I'm, I'm helping thisfamily and I think that really
helped me when it wasn't justabout that one child.
But I'm, I'm helping thisfamily, right, I'm coming
alongside this family and thisfamily needs help with their kid
right now.
I mean, I remember our secondfoster son.
We tried to connect with theirsiblings.
We tried to connect, to connectwith their parents.
They didn't want to connectwith us, that yeah, it wasn't,
that we didn't try, right.
So so is that the kind oflanguage you guys would use?
(30:29):
Is that something, aperspective that you think is
helpful talking on that?
Brianna (30:34):
Yeah, I feel as though you know and hopefully this
isn't scary or intimidating butwhen you sign up for foster care
, you sign up to be a part ofthat child's world, their,
circle their lives, child'sworld, their circle, their lives
(30:57):
.
And so um we, we, definitely,we, definitely we we use that
term, you know we just sayrespect the biological families
as as you're working with themtoo, yeah um, yeah, that's,
that's definitely something.
That's a great question.
I'm glad you asked it, yeahawesome.
Joey (31:07):
So I'm gonna have you put your headphones on because we
have our first call.
Thank you so much for calling.
Where are you calling fromtoday?
Caller (31:13):
Well, hi, I'm normally calling in the morning but I'm
on vacation.
Joey (31:18):
Miss Carol, where are you?
Caller (31:20):
vacationing at.
Well, I'm getting ready to goto the O to visit the grandson.
Joey (31:25):
Awesome, awesome.
That's Ohio State.
Caller (31:30):
No, Orlando.
Brianna (31:31):
Oh, Orlando, that's what I was going to say.
Joey (31:32):
Oh no, I wasn't sure I failed, All right.
Well, what do you want to share, Ms Carol?
Caller (31:38):
So, listen, I'm listening to the program and I
hear it is about foster,parenting and different things,
and wonderful, because I don'tever get to hear you all,
especially on a Friday.
However, everything you all aresaying is ringing in my spirit.
As far as treating people,period, it doesn't matter if
(31:59):
you're fostering, treatingpeople, people, children, your
neighbors, your grandchildren,treating them, respecting the
culture oh my God, everythingyou all say.
It just was dropping nuggetslike drops of gold nuggets in my
heart, what you all are saying,because we are supposed to do
this on a daily wait?
(32:20):
First, let me stop.
Pause.
The body of Christ born again.
Believers, I have to alwaysremember I'm not talking to the
world, I'm talking to thechildren of the Most High God,
and this is how we're supposedto do people on an everyday
basis.
We are supposed to allow theHoly Spirit to teach us and tune
us in on things that we'reexperiencing with children, with
(32:43):
grown-ups, with culture, witheverything, especially when it
comes to Florida, miami, unitedStates.
We are diverse, with differentcultures, different languages.
We are blessed we're notovercrowded.
We're not oh my God, elbow toelbow.
No, we are blessed to have abunch of folk that we're
experiencing on earth, becausewhen we get to heaven, oh my God
(33:08):
.
Joey (33:08):
Every kingdom and nation and tongue.
Come on, my brother, praise theLord.
Ms Carol, you've encouraged us.
Caller (33:18):
Oh no, I am Listen.
I'm sitting there listening.
My husband is asleep on myright-hand side.
I'm listening.
Joey (33:24):
Well, tell him we said hello.
Tell him we said hello and welove you guys Listen, he's
fishing, he's bobbing andbobbing and bobbing.
Caller (33:35):
When he wakes up.
Don't wake the man up when hewakes up, listen, he got to be
encouraged, like me.
So I mean, I'm excited to hearthis because you know, I'm not a
foster parent, you know, um, Ihave a situation right now where
I won't be, but I can pray, Ican't bleed the blood, I can't
give, uh, financially, I cangive, you know, different ways,
you know, and then I can alsotreat people and children like
(33:57):
Christ treats me.
God bless.
Joey (34:00):
Amen, amen.
Ladies, did you want to sayanything to Ms Carol?
Natalie (34:03):
No, thank you, Ms Carol , for that Super encouraging and
I'm so glad that everythingthat we're speaking is just
speaking to your spirit and toyour heart and we appreciate you
just sharing your heart with usand and that, even though you
cannot be a foster parent, butjust your willingness to just be
there in the way that you canbe through prayer and through
(34:25):
giving.
So we really really appreciatethat very much yes, thank you so
much.
Caller (34:30):
Yes, no, no, not a problem, thank you all, because
I do hear it from time to time.
Like I say, I can't chime in ondifferent things and this is
very important.
You know this part of theprogram on Friday.
You know, every Friday or twoI'll get on there and begin to
talk about this because, my God,the children, that's the next
upcoming generation we'repassing the baton, whether we
(34:53):
want to or not.
There are things that I thankGod that we have no control over
, like getting older, passingthe baton.
You know different things wehave no control over as far as
stopping them or enhancing themor doing anything.
But we can.
We can do as God does, becausehe knows how long the world is
going to be.
He knows who's going to be afoster child, who's going to be
(35:15):
a child and not even just fosterfrom someone giving them up.
Sometimes you can't.
Sometimes things happen in life.
Sometimes the father dies,sometimes the mother dies giving
birth.
That is a ministry and I justwant to pray right quick.
Father, I thank you for theladies, god.
I pray God that they're theprogram.
I pray that people give.
I pray that not only monetaryGod, but I pray give time, god,
(35:40):
and I pray God that their laborof love be not in vain and I
pray encouragement to them thatwhoever they pass the baton to
go further and eyes be evenwider in this thing and a heart
like yours In Jesus' name amen.
Joey (35:55):
Amen.
God bless you, my sister.
Caller (35:57):
Have a great one.
Joey (35:58):
Drive safe, thank you.
Caller (36:00):
Thank you.
Joey (36:02):
Oh man, I can go home.
Brianna (36:03):
I know right.
Joey (36:04):
That was awesome.
Brianna (36:05):
That's awesome.
Joey (36:09):
You know, she's kind of part of the program here.
I mean she segued into our nexttopic, which is, if you're not
a foster parent, or you're notready yet or you're still
praying, what are the other waysthat you can serve kids in
foster care or families?
Brianna (36:26):
Yes, absolutely so, if you're in a position where you
know, hey, right now I am not ina place where I can be a foster
parent, right now I am not in aplace where I can be a foster
parent.
There are many ways that youcan help support us and support
4Kids and support the fosterchildren in need in Miami.
The first is to serve, and thatwould look like volunteering.
What we have here in Miami andacross all of our regions at
(36:47):
4Kids is we call them our FAMteams.
So FAM stands for FamilyAdvocacy Ministry.
So those are the people thatsay, hey, I can't foster, but I
want to volunteer, I want to getin the nitty gritty, I want to
serve.
And that can look like a fewdifferent things.
That can look like providingchild care for foster children.
So you obviously would have tobe background checked and be
(37:09):
able to pass that backgroundcheck.
Joey (37:10):
And that's different from a full licensed foster, correct?
Brianna (37:14):
yes, okay, cool yes not extensive of as of a background
check, as when you're being,you know licensed.
Joey (37:20):
I wasn't even questioning the background check part, but
just the training, because thereyou know, there's several
classes to become a fosterparent okay, correct.
Brianna (37:25):
Yep, so your background checked um to be able to
provide child care and, you know, to be able to transport them.
But you can also supportfamilies by saying, hey, I can
provide meals for you, you know,every week.
Or I can come and clean yourhome every week, or you know,
you name it.
If you have a special skillthat you are, you know you've,
(37:49):
you've committed to and that'ssomething you know you can serve
others in, that would be agreat way.
Joey (37:54):
So be a part of a fam team and serve and volunteer um do
you have an example of the skillthing like, like baking, or
yeah?
Well, exactly, if you're I onlythink of food all day no, me
too, me too.
Brianna (38:08):
If you're an avid baker , if you're an avid cook and you
know you have this gift, thelord has gifted you with that
which he hasn't me.
But thank, thank you, god, forthose people.
Um, yeah, then you can use thatgift and you can say hey, I'd
love to provide weekly meals,I'd love to provide, you know, a
dessert for your family afterdinner tonight.
Can I come by and say hi to thekids and and and give it to you
(38:29):
guys.
So, yeah, that would absolutelybe one way and then, then.
Natalie can also share too.
Natalie (38:36):
Yeah, and some other ways.
As even Carol just said, I canpray, I can give, and so those
are the two other ways that youcan join with us, right, and
partner with us.
And so giving again can justmonetary giving.
We're always needing ournon-profit organization, so, um,
(38:56):
we definitely uh would need allof that to to help us continue
doing what we do.
Um.
And then prayer obviously, wecannot do this without god, we
cannot do this without prayer.
So, um, just praying for thekids in the community, praying,
um for us that are out there inthe field, whether it's our
(39:18):
agency or even just the casemanagers they have a hard job as
well that are managing the caseof these children with our
parents.
So, yeah, just different waysand, of course, foster.
Brianna (39:29):
Yeah, we also have a number that you can text if you
would be interested in any ofthese, whether you're interested
in fostering, serving, givingor just simply praying.
You can text the number 4 andthe word Miami 4Miami to the
number 43136.
(39:49):
And then you can choose hey,I'd like to foster, I'd like to
serve, I'd like to give or topray.
So again, that number is 43136and in the message line you
would put the number four andthe word Miami.
Joey (40:06):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
And again, if you need any moreinformation, if it's easier for
you guys to connect with us atthe radio, we will get you in
contact.
We'll get you all that stuff.
The website's also 4, thenumber 4kidsus, and then you can
go to locations there and findthe Miami location.
(40:27):
The number 4kidsus is the mainwebsite.
I want to ask another question.
And when I got licensed, therewere no Christian licensing
agencies.
What's the difference?
And you know, I know that atthe end of the day, we all work
(40:48):
together.
I mean, you're going to have tofill out DCF paperwork.
You know it is what it is.
You're gonna have to fill outdcf paperwork.
You know it is what it is.
Um, and I know that I've onlyheard the highest, uh praise and
and compliments from everybodyat four kids, about everybody at
all the other organizations.
That being said, what's thedifference?
What does four kids dodifferent?
You mentioned some of italready, uh, but you know, I
(41:10):
feel like like I don't likestarting sentences that way.
I feel like it seems that itreally looks like, as I look on
kind of the times, you know, andyou kind of quoted this to you
know, for such a time as this,in the sense that it's almost
like God's making it easier thanever, right, I mean there's a
Christian licensing agency withChristian support, with a Bible
(41:30):
based training.
I mean it seems like such anopportune time.
So, anyways, I mentioned acouple different thoughts, but
what makes four kids so uniqueand how do they help christian
believers get into this ministry?
What?
What's just that god connection, um, that that makes it such a
good time to, to, to look intofoster care yeah, um, um, I mean
(41:53):
.
Natalie (41:53):
Well, first I want to say this uh, is the the, the
stats, right, right, we're goingto go into that for a moment
and then I'm going to jump rightin as to why it's pivotal that
we're even here in Miami.
Yes1 children were removed lastyear and on average, just in
(42:22):
2024 alone.
So, starting as of January tillpresent day, there is an
average of 52 removals eachmonth.
And just the amount of kids.
There's not enough homes toeven place those children.
A lot of those kids are goinginto group care, shelter care,
and so with that we come in nowto miami and so we're we're
(42:48):
needing a foster, like we'reneeding to write to raise up
foster homes.
But more specifically, justeven being the only Christian
agency makes us unique, asidefrom just being Christians,
right, like I mean, just thatalone makes us different from
everyone else.
(43:08):
But what I can say, just beingpart of that ministry for the
amount of years that I have, isthat we put God first above all
things.
We do not waver in our beliefs.
Prayer is of priority for us.
We believe in this being acalling and we're being obedient
(43:33):
to the Lord, this being, youknow, a calling and we're being
obedient to the Lord.
And and going out there in thecommunity and reaching out to
churches and the people of Godum to share this message of the
need and the calling that Godhas, um, for foster care, um,
and just the support that weprovide, which we mentioned
(43:54):
earlier, just the level ofsupport of how we do go above
and beyond.
We are ministers to ourfamilies, we minister to them,
we know that spiritual warfareis going to happen and we're
there to stand in the gap duringthat time.
It's just amazing.
And just the Christian therapy,the therapy that we provide as
(44:20):
well, um, and it's just thatthat's the best thing I could
say is just what's what makes usum unique and different um, I
mean, I just have to repeat thatnumber.
Joey (44:31):
That's an an incredible number 651 children removed.
Um, I forgot what I was gonnasay.
Um, but we're live on the radio.
Uh, brianna, what were yougonna say?
Brianna (44:52):
yeah, well, was also going to add just a little bit
of insider into 4Kids culture.
I think I always like to sharethis with my friends who are
outside of 4Kids, because Ithink that there might be some
agencies who say, oh, we'refaith-based, we're Christians,
but when it comes when work,when it comes to work like we,
(45:14):
we get it done and you know.
But I think it's one hilariousstory I like to share with
people is I got hired on justover a year ago and something
that threw me off in the bestway was I did my first interview
and the first question theyasked me was you know, share
about your testimony?
And so we spent an hour and ahalf and sharing and not only
(45:38):
did they ask me my testimonies,but they started with their own
and they said hey, this is whatI came from.
We didn't talk about work.
They didn't ask me you knowyour professional strengths and
weaknesses, like they took timeto learn my story, how God has
impacted my life, and I justfelt, from the very first moment
I interacted with anyone fromfour kids that, okay, they truly
(45:58):
do put God first in everythingthey do.
You know, before the interviewsor before the testimony
question came, they prayed, weprayed, you know, extensively,
and so I just I like to sharethat because it really just puts
it in perspective for me, likeit absolutely is a ministry
first, that's what we say.
We're a ministry first, beforewe're an agency amen.
Joey (46:20):
Yeah, man, awesome, so glad you guys exist yeah, go to
fourkidsus, the numberfourkidsus.
Again I, I wish, I wish I canlistening family, I wish I can
put you in my shoes for a secondand I'm nobody but but just
having us an experience of beinga foster parent before four
kids licensing existed, being afoster parent six years ago,
(46:43):
compared to where it's at nowman god is providing, god is
going ahead of us.
god, god is making a way.
Uh, man, I just wish I wish Icould put you in my brain for a
second.
But the Holy Spirit can put histhoughts upon your heart and he
can lead you.
It's better than my brain.
You don't want to be in mybrain.
Forget that idea.
I wonder if this would behelpful.
(47:06):
We only have about 10 minutesleft, so we'd have to do it
quickly and we'll end with justa ton of information what do you
do?
Where do they call?
What's the first step?
But I wonder if this would behelpful If you could give in
short and maybe you say you knowwhat, I can't really do that
I'm gonna have to pass.
Compare right A child that'sremoved and goes through DCF.
(47:26):
They have to sleep in an office, they get moved around, there's
no home for them versus gettingto a four kids foster family.
What are those two processeslook like next to each other?
Natalie (47:38):
yeah, um.
So we also do placement um ofthe children.
We we share that that load um,and so what that looks like is
is that we get um a call callfrom the lead agency of Miami,
which is Citrus, and so that'swho we are contracted with, and
(48:00):
so they have their placementdepartment.
They're like the lead placement, they're the ones that get the
initial placements, and ittrickles down then to us and the
other agencies and we get theinformation as to the children
that have been removed and areneeding licensed care, um, and
at that point, if we have a homelicensed and open and available
(48:24):
um, then we can be able toplace a place the children in
one of our four kids homes.
But we're definitely needingmore four kids homes because
we've we.
It's been very dishearteningwhen we well, first we are all
of our beds are full now, whichis great um and by your beds you
mean the foster family meaningthe foster family homes, yes, um
(48:45):
and so, which is amazing, sowe've been able to place in
their homes, um, so we'redefinitely needing more homes,
homes to be able to placechildren, and it is
disheartening when we getchildren into care and we have
to reject them and we have tosay we don't have a home
available and then from there wedon't know what ends up
(49:06):
happening, who they go to, ifthey ended up finding a home, if
they went to shelter.
The ones that break my heart allthe time are the, the babies,
the newborn babies.
Specifically, there has been anincrease, um, newborns, babies
straight from the hospital, um,and we need, we need homes to be
able to accommodate thoselittle newborns, and that has
(49:30):
been.
Oh, I tell brianna, I'm likebrianna, there's, there's this
little baby, I know, and wecan't place them and I feel so
bad just saying no, but there'snowhere to put, like I have no
home available.
Just all the children aredisheartening, but just like
seeing those like just a newbornjust coming straight from the
hospital and not being able tohave a home for them is just sad
(49:51):
.
Joey (49:52):
Do you know why the increase in newborn placements?
Natalie (49:55):
um, I don't know exactly, but what I can say for
historically, when babies comein, it's mostly due to exposure
to drugs, substance um.
So definitely substance related.
Um, I'm not sure what the trendis or why we've seen an
increase.
As to what's going on in thecommunity, but, definitely an
increase of drug use.
Brianna (50:17):
I would add that we also have some stats on the
three top reasons for removalhere.
Joey (50:25):
This is Dade County specifically.
Brianna (50:27):
Yes, specifically Dade County.
The first one, as Natalie said,it's substance abuse.
So that's number one, the topreason for removal.
The second would be in aninadequate housing.
Joey (50:37):
We know that housing is a challenge here here in miami and
that goes back to what carolsaid sometimes parents are
trying, you know, it's just,it's a tough time.
Brianna (50:44):
Yeah, yes and that third top reason would be
domestic violence.
So unfortunately they're put inan unsafe situation where
there's abuse in the home andthey need to be removed.
Joey (50:55):
Yeah, and again, just, you know the listening family, you
know we, I know a lot of themand just this is the cool part
about radio, right, you get tocome as our guests and I get to
be that kind of that bridge, youknow, you guys that are
listening.
You've heard my story.
Our two foster sons were twoout of those three reasons.
So it's real.
(51:16):
I mean this is real.
So, uh, ladies, we have aboutlike seven, eight minutes tops,
um anything.
We didn't cover actionableinformation.
There's somebody listening.
They're ready to take the nextstep.
What, what are we doing?
Natalie (51:29):
yeah, um well, whoever is interested can definitely
text that number that Briannaprovided.
Joey (51:35):
We can reread it and repeat it.
Brianna (51:37):
Yeah, so the number again is 43136.
And you would text the word orthe number for no space and the
word Miami, and then you can.
You'll type in a number onwhether you want to foster,
serve, give or pray, and that'sa great way to get connected.
Joey (51:55):
Everybody should be texting that number and clicking
pray at least.
Brianna (51:58):
Yes, at least one thing out of there, or multiple
things?
Yes, and, as Joey shared, youcan also find it on our website,
4kidsus, and you can find allof our information there.
You can click the dropdown onlocations and you can see more
specific stats about Miami whenyou hover over the Miami Miami
(52:18):
drop-down as well on our websitegreat yeah, and then once they
text that number, then we willhave someone from the office
contact them and just start likethe intake process.
Natalie (52:31):
If they're interested in fostering, and if they're
interested in fostering um, andif they're interested in in uh,
volunteering, then we'll justguide them to the volunteer
department, um, or if you'rejust looking for more
information, maybe you're stillnot sure, um, you know there's
still more questions that youhave and you prefer, you know,
speaking to to one of us orsomeone from the office, just
(52:52):
just of how you can get intofostering or whatever doubts or
worries or things like that.
There were more than availableto answer all the questions.
Give you more information.
We also have orientation on aweekly basis and orientation
covers everything about ouragency, about the licensing
(53:12):
requirements.
It's pretty much like an infosession, um you said that's
weekly we usually have thatweekly yes um, and so I have I
don't have the dates offhandright now but uh, but we have it
weekly um and once you getyourself plugged in there, then
you just say, okay, I got allthe information and you make a
decision from there and then goon to the next step, if you want
(53:33):
to, then get trained, and thenthere's the training.
Joey (53:36):
That um takes place after that orientation and then the
licensing process you know, Iwas gonna say it's one step at a
time right, so you don't haveto have everything figured out
right away you know again whenwe first started fostering, we
were in a 2-1 yeah, one kidalready, yeah, so I wasn't sure
if it was gonna work right Ihonestly I, I honestly I thought
, you know, I don't know, maybethey're going to come look at
the house and say, dude, whatare you crazy?
But, we weren't, you know, and Imean maybe we are, but not for
(53:58):
that reason.
Yeah, you know we made it workand you know it wasn't like you
said.
There's standards, right.
We didn't have beds all overthe house or anything.
The kids were comfortable andeverything.
We had our little fire escapeplan in the kitchen.
Brianna (54:14):
There you go, you need it.
Joey (54:16):
But good, good, so one step at a time.
You know, I definitely, brianna, if you had any other points on
that, but I definitely want togive our listeners an
opportunity to pray for each ofyou individually.
So I want to know how we canpray for you, brianna, how we
can pray for you Natalie,whether it's in your
professional endeavors or inyour family.
So, first, if you had anypending things from the
(54:37):
actionable steps and then, ifnot, how we can pray for each of
you no beautiful.
Announcer (54:44):
I think one thing is our.
Brianna (54:45):
we do have our office phone number as well, if you'd
like that, I can read that out.
So it's going to be305-686-1738.
Again, that's 305-686-1738.
Again that's 305-686-1738.
So you can call our office andour office coordinator would
love to speak with you, get youconnected with whatever you're
interested in.
But I love I thank you forasking about prayer requests.
Joey (55:06):
Well, I'm going to interrupt my question because we
got a text.
So just to read it.
Thank you for answering.
It sounds like he's talking toyou, ladies.
I have the contact saved so Iknow who it is.
Thank you for answering God'scall in each of your lives.
So great to listen in.
Today, just want to encourageGod's Way Radio and Foster Care
to continue doing the great workthat is happening.
May God lead, provide and beglorified Beautiful.
(55:27):
What an encouraging text.
So how can we pray for you,ladies?
Brianna (55:30):
Thank you.
Yes, absolutely, I would say.
You know, professionally, as Ishared in the beginning, my role
is specifically foster parentsupport specialist, so I work
directly with the foster parentsand provide support to them,
and so, for me, I'm happy whenmy foster parents, ones who have
(55:54):
already committed, the ones whohave already said yes, that
they would, you know, beprovided with endurance you know
, divine endurance to be able towithstand so many of the
challenges that come along withthe journey of fostering.
That's what it is, it's ajourney, and so, yes, so, like I
said, prayers for the fosterfamilies and just endurance that
(56:15):
they can continue on this work.
Natalie (56:19):
Amen, and I would say just in general, for our
ministry for God to justcontinue to move in the way that
he's been moving, to providethe amount of homes that we're
needing just to be able to meetthat vision, to place a child in
a home, right In a Christianhome, and so, yeah, just
(56:43):
allowing God to just have hisway and give us those families,
call those families out andprovide whatever resources that
we need to to be able to, to beable to manage the growth so
we're believing for the growthand so for him to just um, bless
us with what, whatever it isthat we need, the people and the
(57:03):
resources that we're going toneed, absolutely yeah ladies, I
can't thank you enough fordriving on out here today and
being a part of our program.
Joey (57:11):
You know, guys, ladies listening, I would just
encourage you.
You know, this work that we'vebeen talking about today is a
work that only the people of Godcan do it the way that it needs
to be done.
Yes, that will affect change inkids and in families and will
bless the heart of God.
So, man bless you, guys, graceand peace.
Have an awesome weekend.
We.
So, man bless you guys, graceand peace, have an awesome
(57:33):
weekend.
Announcer (57:33):
We hope you enjoyed Friends and Family, unique
conversations recorded andproduced in our studios, where
you get a chance to hear whatGod is doing in people's lives.
Jesus tells us in John 15,verse 15, I have called you
friends For all things that Iheard from my Father I have made
known to you.
So that's why we love to sharethese exclusive interviews with
you.
Our hope is that through theirstories God will be made known
(57:57):
to you, but you can only findthem here on God's Way Radio.
Just check godswayradiocom forour full program schedule.
You're tuned in to Friends and Family, a God's Way
radio exclusive where weintroduce you to some amazing
people.
In John, chapter 15, verse 15,jesus says I have called you
friends for all things that Iheard from my Father I have made
known to you.
That's our aim that God wouldbe made known to you.
Stay with us until the end ofour conversation for more
(00:22):
information on this program andother unique offerings from
God's Way Radio.
Brianna (00:27):
My role.
I know you'll hear a little bitmore about what 4Kids does, but
I am a foster parent supportspecialist and I'll definitely
get to share more about that ina bit, but I'm grateful to be
here, Awesome.
Joey (00:40):
Thank you, thank you so much, and and Natalie Torres.
Natalie (00:45):
I am the foster care supervisor for our 4Kids Miami
team.
I'm also just really excited tobe here and just to share more
about what we're going to talkabout today about foster care,
About foster care.
So it's.
Joey (00:57):
National Foster Care Awareness Month.
Brianna (01:00):
Yes.
Joey (01:01):
We're trying to put the whole name together.
You know, and I was talkingwith some folks it's been a busy
month for us here at the radioand a lot of good stuff.
We're actually preparing for anevent next month and all that.
But, man, you know, there's ifyou've ever looked online, you
know like a particular day.
Oh, what day is it?
There's like one of the highschool students joked around the
(01:22):
other day, it was theanniversary of Israel becoming a
nation, and so I did like alittle quiz oh, you know what's
going on.
And he said, well, it'sNational Buttermilk Biscuit Day,
which it was right.
So if you look it up, there's aholiday for everything and a
month for everything, but Ithink a month for foster care
awareness is much needed.
(01:43):
So we definitely want tohighlight May for that.
Natalie (01:52):
Tell us a little bit about 4Kids Miami, because this
is a new branch of 4Kids SouthFlorida.
Yes, so well.
4kids has been around for over25 years.
We've been serving kids incrisis and in many different
ways serving kids in crisis andin many different ways, but the
main, our main mission andvision is to provide just hope,
homes and healing and give hopeto the kids in crisis, and also
(02:18):
to provide a home for everychild, a Christian home for
every child, specifically,because our main focus is that
it's the church right, it's thechurch to step up and be able to
care for the orphan, to be ableto care for kids that are
vulnerable, in distress, aresuffering abuse in our community
, and so God has expanded forkids and has blessed us
(02:43):
tremendously.
We're so excited as to what Godis doing.
We are in Broward that is, ourheadquarters.
We're in Palm Beach, treasureCoast, southwest Florida, and we
recently expanded to Miami, andso we're the only group that's
amazing All over.
It is and we're seeing whereelse God wants to expand us.
But we are excited for what Godis doing in Miami.
(03:06):
He's doing so many great things.
We're seeing the hand of Godupon Miami and just calling
people, calling families,calling single individuals.
They're answering the call tothis vision and mission and
we're just excited.
Yeah.
Joey (03:24):
I don't know.
You know I might ask youquestions, that you don't have
the information right on thespot, you know and I understand
that.
But do you know how manyfamilies or people that you guys
have licensed so far or workwith so far since the opening of
the office?
Brianna (03:39):
Yes, so since the opening of the Miami location,
we have been able to license atotal of six homes now for the
Miami for Kids region, which isincredible.
You know, the licensing processtakes a long time, so the fact
that we've been open for justover a year and we already have
(04:03):
six homes is incredible.
But you know, obviously we'rebelieving God for more, for an
abundance we believe.
Something really cool that wehave implemented with four kids
is, every day at 3.20, 3.20 pm,our teams across all of our
regions, pray a prayer, prayEphesians 3.20.
(04:24):
Now to him, who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we
can ask or imagine, according tohis power that has worked
within us.
To him be the glory in thechurch and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations.
And so we believe that God cando immeasurably more.
So that is what we're believingfor in Miami that he will bring
immeasurably more than we caneven fathom or dream.
(04:47):
But he's already doing it.
Natalie (04:48):
Yes, so even though we currently have that many homes
licensed, there's actually morealready in the pipeline.
There's more in the process.
There's currently.
We have families currently inclass um and more that have
already demonstrated interestyeah and so we start like the
intake process pretty much,where we're kind of vetting.
There are certain requirementsthat families would have to meet
(05:11):
in order for us to determine ifthey can move on to the next
step and so, but yeah, we'redefinitely seeing the increase,
so we're definitely going to beseeing more homes and license.
So we're excited yeah.
Joey (05:25):
Well, you know one thing that sticks out to me.
I actually mentioned that wewere at a you know a pastor's
conference and there was a quotefrom there that that's just
been in my heart, and one of thepastors said you haven't done
anything until you've prayed.
And so to hear that you'repraying daily at your ministry
man that's yeah, it's aguarantee, I mean, God's going
(05:45):
to answer the way that he wantsto answer.
So let me kind of catch peopleup here.
If you just tuned in, you'relistening live on May the 24th,
it's Friday, and I have twospecial guests here Brianna and
Natalie from Four Kids of SouthFlorida, the Miami office, and
we're just talking about fostercare.
We're going to talk about theins and outs in a second.
(06:05):
Some frequently asked questionshow to get involved, what to do
.
Um, are you a candidate?
And, uh, I can tell you rightnow the answer is probably yes.
Um, uh, there are very fewexceptions, uh, but we'll get
into that.
Um, and it being that we're live, if you are listening live, you
can call, you can text.
If you have a question, youwant to share a word of
(06:27):
encouragement with Brianna orNatalie, or you have a question
about foster care, you can call.
You can call us at our studio,you can text us.
Remember, no code needed, noapp, nothing special, just like
you would any other cell phone786-313-3115.
Again, that's 786-313-315.
Again, that's 786-313-315.
(06:48):
And you are, if you arelistening on the podcast.
Well, you can always text orcall us and we'll connect you
any way that we can, so let'sjump right into it.
We're talking about foster care.
We have the foster care supportspecialist and the foster care
coordinator supervisor so sowhat you know.
(07:08):
Really back to basics here whatis foster care and who can
participate?
Natalie (07:14):
yeah, um well, foster care is where um kids currently,
right now in your backyard, are, you know, being abused or
exposed to domestic violence ordrugs, and a call comes in
(07:35):
through the abuse hotline and itis determined by the department
that this child is unsafe andis not able to be in their home
and they would have to beremoved and therefore go into
the foster care system.
Once they come to the fostercare system, the first thing
(07:57):
they try to do is see if thischild can go with either a
relative or non-relative someonethat the child has a
relationship with.
If that cannot be found in thatmoment, then the child is going
to go into licensed care andthat would be foster care or
foster home.
(08:18):
And then, in order to be afoster home, then there's like
the steps of becoming licensedand the requirements of that, so
that you can be able toaccommodate a child in your home
and care for that child untilthat child can safely return to
their biological family yeah,you know one of the.
Joey (08:37):
There's kind of the typical, frequent, I don't know
um reasons or hesitations thatpeople have.
One of them is I don't havespace can you speak to?
That for, for a moment, space.
How much space do you need?
You need two extra bedrooms,three extra bedrooms.
What do you need?
Natalie (08:54):
I mean, the ideal would be an extra bedroom, but if you
don't have that, then the childcan share a room with minor
children.
Um, and so if they're under 18.
Joey (09:06):
Under 18 correct.
Natalie (09:08):
Um, then they can share a room.
Um, if not, then it could be anextra.
However many bedrooms you have,available and whatever you could
accommodate, it would be great,um, and each person, each child
, would have to have their ownroom, so even their own
biological children.
Because I know some familiesmight ask me um, okay, well, can
I, you know, set up, like youknow, the couch area, um, or
(09:30):
things like that, not only forthe foster children, but even
people want to do that for theirchildren too, like, okay, so
that they can like the kids areon board, like yeah, right right
, exactly, exactly.
So unfortunately that cannot beaccommodated.
Um, but as long as you have anextra bedroom or minor children
and you're open to be able tolike have the child share a room
(09:51):
with your, with your biologicalchildren, then that's all we
need.
Joey (09:55):
Great.
Brianna (09:55):
Yeah, One thing I would add about the biological
children sharing a room.
It would just one thing we makesure is that they would be the
same gender.
So if you had a biological sonand that was the only extra room
you had, you would only be ableto take placement for a foster
son.
So, a male foster child becausethey would have to share a room
(10:18):
of the same gender.
Great yeah, great clarification.
Joey (10:21):
And you know all this stuff.
If God puts it in someone'sheart to reach out to start the
process, you know all of it'sgoing to come up.
And I actually know a family Ithink this was all an up and up,
so I'm not going to say names,obviously but basically they
were looking at converting theirgarage.
You know they didn't have anextra room, so they were willing
(10:43):
to convert the garage so thateither the bio kids didn't go in
there or that could be theextra room.
But they, they were gettingcreative.
You know they were trying tomake it work.
So, yeah, so there's a millionideas out there.
But but again, just trying tocome up with these questions
that I've heard, yeah, uh, thatthat at least people can get a
little bit of information on it.
What about, um finances?
Natalie (11:02):
people say I can't afford it, I can't afford to
foster a child yeah, I mean wedo look at finances, that that
goes into the assessment process, um, when we license homes, um,
the main thing is you have abalanced budget, so meaning like
there is your, your incomeexceeds your expenses, right, um
, but there's not like aspecific amount where you need
(11:23):
to have this much left over, um,every month.
So as long as you have abalanced budget, um then then
there should be no issue withbeing able to move forward with
the licensing process awesome.
Joey (11:34):
yeah, I don't know if this is so much a thing anymore, but
I know that that back a fewyears ago, when, when I was in
it, um, there was this, uh, um,I don't know, this kind of
intimidating factor like, oh, Igot to take all the kids to
Disneyland and I got to be ableto afford all these things, and
I got to.
You know, I imagine and again,this is where you ladies are
(11:56):
here to shed light on it youknow, I imagine that it's just
providing the same life thatyou're providing for your kids
you know, you know um, the love,the home, the food, the shelter
.
You know if, if your kids get bywith the park?
I mean you guys all go to thepark together.
So I mean, am I about right?
Natalie (12:12):
yes, absolutely so.
Yeah, you can take your yourchildren um, just the same way
as you would take yourbiological children to trips, or
even out of state, or even todisney.
Um, obviously, for out of state, there will be travel orders
required by the courts.
But, yeah, we want you to beable to do your normal life,
your normal life, as younormally do.
Brianna (12:34):
The term we use in foster care is just providing
normalcy.
So, like Natalie said, if yougo to church regularly, yes,
take your kid to church.
If your kids are in swimmingclass, that might be something
that you want to put your fosterchild in too.
So, exactly like Natalie said,just anything that your family
(12:56):
would do invite that fosterchild into your daily routines
as a family.
Joey (13:00):
Yeah, again, family, if you're listening live and you
have a question or a word ofencouragement or any comment at
all, please you can call or textus at the studio 786-313-3115.
And sometimes I hear from ourlisteners oh, I didn't want to
interrupt.
The conversation is going sowell, you're not interrupting.
We love when you call, we lovewhen you text.
This is these ladies' jobs.
(13:21):
In a sense, they want to talkto you.
This is just a vehicle.
The radio is just a vehicle forthem to get in touch with you.
So if they can hear your voiceor read a text that you would
send in, it would make theirtrip worth it.
786-313-3115.
(13:42):
You know, I don't know how tophrase this as a question, which
is the funny thing about liveradio, because I'm supposed to
know how to do that.
However, what I'm trying to getat is if anyone's listening and
there's this kind of disconnectwhere there's people that do
foster care, superheroes, andthen there's me, right, and I
feel like there could be adisconnect where it's you know,
you talked about this termnormalcy and I think, and I just
want to say one thing and tokind of get the gears turning um
(14:06):
, it's, it's really that simple.
There's a child who's in a notnormal situation and you can
help to make their life a littlemore normal, so so can you
speak to that disconnect.
Natalie (14:18):
If there's somebody listening, they think oh, this
is a beautiful program, I'llpray, but I can never do that
yeah, I mean, there's alwaysgonna be that fear, right, Fear
of the unknown, fear of bringingin a child to your home and
automatically yes, automaticallyyou're gonna doubt within your
capacity, your abilities, butwhat I can say is is that this
(14:44):
is of the Lord.
Joey (14:47):
Right.
Natalie (14:47):
Amen.
And he, he places the lonely inhomes, right in families.
He has called, like I mentionedearlier, he has called us as
the church to rise up, to beable to step in the gap, right,
yes, to intercede for thesechildren, to show them the love
(15:11):
of Christ.
Um, they need to know the word,they need prayer over them,
they need intercession.
There's generational cursesthat can be broken just by you
saying yes, right, Um, and notallowing the fear um, or you are
feeling like I can't do this,it will be overwhelming and all
(15:33):
of that, but just saying no tothat fear and just saying yes
and see how God will workthrough you to bring healing to
a child in need of healing.
But also there's atransformation that happens
within you as a foster parent aswell.
So there's a work in both ways.
God starts shedding light onthings of our lives also, and so
(15:54):
I think it goes both ways forsure.
Brianna (15:57):
Absolutely.
Yeah, that was beautiful,natalie, and I would also even
add this the verse that ispivotal in our in for kids as a
whole that we've kind of beenbuilt upon is you know, we are
commissioned as followers ofChrist, as children of Christ.
It says in James 1.27, religionthat God, our Father, accepts
(16:20):
as pure and faultless is this tolook after orphans and widows
in their distress and to keeponeself from being polluted by
the world.
And so we believe that's ourmission.
That's what we're called to dois to look after the orphan,
look after the widow, look afterthe families that are in crisis
, provide hope, provide homesand provide healing for them.
Joey (16:41):
That's awesome, um, just so much so if, if you were
listening closely, um, you know,before James, natalie actually
quoted a Bible verse, psalmchapter 68, verse 6.
King James says God sets thesolitary in families.
Niv, he sets the lonely infamilies.
(17:04):
Csb, christian Standard, I likethis.
God provides homes for thosewho are deserted, and just again
it's so.
The heart of the lord, uh, youknow, if you look throughout
scripture, I mean james is justlike a summary, right, he's
always taking care of orphans,widows, the downcast, the
outcast.
You know something I heard along time ago.
I hope I never forget.
(17:24):
Um, I think it was hagar, um,abraham's, um, you know he had
Sarah, and then Hagar was.
The first time that Godappeared to a woman, I think was
Hagar, and it was this womanthat was cast out, forsaken.
You know her and her son.
So just interesting.
So foster care is beingavailable.
(17:48):
God's heart, speak to kind ofboth, if you can.
You know those that arelistening to have kids that
they're saying, okay, how's thisgonna work?
I already have kids and now alltheir kids or those that don't
have kids and think, well, I'venever had kids, I'm not a parent
, I, you know, I'm, you know, uh.
So there's kind of two familiesthere that might be listening
(18:09):
those that have kids that arewondering how that's gonna work.
Those that don't have kids thatthink, well, I don't have kids,
I don't know how to do kidsright, right, uh.
Natalie (18:16):
Well, I will speak to the ones that don't have kids.
No experience is necessary,right?
I mean, if you have experience,um, but no, not necessarily have
to have parenting experiencebut even if you have experience
in in a christian children'sministry or you're a teacher or
you take care of nieces andnephews.
But there's not really whereyou need a level of experience,
(18:41):
because there will be training,you will have support along the
way and we understand whenthere's couples or single
parents or single individualsthat don't have children.
There is that level of fear,but we will come alongside them
and help them through that andprovide whatever training needed
(19:01):
as well If we see that there'sa need for training to those
that are married.
Joey (19:05):
It's like you have a support specialist.
Yeah, yeah, brianna will beright here.
She is your support specialist,or something yeah yeah, you do.
Brianna (19:11):
Brianna will be.
Natalie (19:11):
I'm right here support specialist um and we, just we do
take you by the hand, we willpray for you, we go to court
with you.
Whatever it is that you need,we're here to minister and and
everything that you need.
Um, and to those that aremarried with children yes,
that's that could be very scary.
Joey (19:27):
I gotta interject.
I gotta interject becausebecause I was telling you guys
before and the radio family'sheard it a million times I'm
going to repeat the same story.
I was a foster parent for a fewyears.
And that little detail, go tocourt with you.
That's above and beyond.
Because I was never offeredthat.
That was never a thing.
Sometimes I didn't even know wehad a court date.
(19:51):
I would have to ask or have afriend find out for me, right?
Um, so I mean, that's, that'sreally, that's a blessing.
I mean that little detail, um,that's, that's sweet, yeah, but
you're gonna speak, yeah, and uh, you just reminded me.
Natalie (20:02):
the additional support that we provide, too, is that we
have a clinical department, andso for every child that's
placed in one of our homes,you're assigned a a therapist,
so you have that additionalsupport.
So anyone who may be concernedof like I don't know how to
parent a child with trauma,you're going to have many people
around you to help you withthat.
Joey (20:22):
And this is kind of like an in-house, like this is all
within four kids, this is withinfour kids.
Natalie (20:27):
So they're a Christian therapist.
They're a christian therapist,like they're a christian um
therapist, and so they're goingto be going out to either your
home or you can go to the office.
So we have um two um therapyrooms.
They're available in the miamioffice in the miami office, yeah
, and in all the regions that wehave.
They have their own.
Joey (20:45):
I know the, I know the fort lauderdale.
One's the fancy one.
Caller (20:47):
Yes I still have to take a tour.
I still have to take a tour ofthe different.
Natalie (20:52):
You would love it.
You would love it, but you cancome and visit us in miami.
Joey (20:55):
Yes, yes, no, all of them, all of them well yours is brand
new, so yeah it's still stillgot that new car smell exactly
it does but you're gonna speakthose families with kids, I
think yes.
Natalie (21:05):
So, um, I would say yes , as scary as it may sound,
because sometimes you might askyourself well, I'm already
feeling, already busy as it iswith two children.
And then to add more to the mixAgain, if God is calling you to
this, he's going to give youthe strength, he's going to give
you the wisdom, he's going togive you whatever it is that you
(21:27):
need when you say yes to him.
He's going to provideeverything.
And again we provide wra.
He's going to provideeverything, and again we provide
wraparound support to anyfamilies.
And when you think you cannothandle an extra child, you will
realize that you can and youjust make it work the same way
that you went from either one totwo, where you figure, like,
how am I going to make this workwith the second child?
(21:49):
You end up figuring it out, youend up just kind of going with
the schedule and you work as ateam and it just ends up
happening you just make thewhole spaghetti box instead of
half.
Joey (21:57):
Yeah, exactly it's not that much different.
You still gotta make spaghetti.
Brianna (22:01):
Just dump the whole box in yes, correct right and
something that we do love andappreciate about the foster
family so far that we have inMiami is there are plenty that
have their own children, havetheir own biological children,
um, and something that weencourage and they they already
do, and it all depends on theage of the biological children,
(22:21):
but the when they're in theprocess of hey, should we do
this foster care thing?
They have open and honestconversations with their
biological children.
You know, like I said, dependingon their age, they say, hey,
would this be something?
This is what foster care isDoes.
Do you understand?
Is this something that you'reinterested in?
Is this something that youwould you know you'd be okay
(22:43):
with?
And so I think that's somethingwe definitely encourage with
our families is talk to yourbiological children, see how
they would feel about it.
Families is talk to yourbiological children, see how
they would feel about it.
And oftentimes you know they'relike yeah, a new friend coming
to stay with us absolutely wewould love that, or you know, if
they're older, they do get tosee the impact of you know what
(23:03):
their family has has said yes to, has on on a child in need.
And what's again, again, reallyawesome about 4Kids is we're a
faith-based agency and so youknow these families.
We license Christian families,specifically Christian families.
So you, as a family, not onlyare you showing them physical
(23:24):
love, but you're showing themthe love of Jesus by welcoming
them into your home, welcomethem into your prayer circles
before dinner.
You know, as a family, showingthem.
Joey (23:34):
The love of Jesus, you're just.
You see me over here noddingyou know, thinking of so many
different things.
Again, I'm just kind of stuck onthis topic of if anyone's
listening, they have hesitations.
What could they be and how canwe address those?
And so another hesitation mightbe and I've had this
conversation with people, youknow, that kind of clear
conscience kind of thing, andand again, you know I don't want
(23:55):
to put either of you in a in aweird spot, you know.
You know, yeah, just hit thepass button whatever, uh,
seriously, but but but I but if,if possible, I do do want to
try at least.
And you know I've I've been uhin conversation with, with folks
.
You know I can think of one ofmy friends least and you know
I've I've been uh inconversation with with folks.
You know I can think of one ofmy friends specifically said you
know, these couple things aredeal breakers.
I'm just I can't do it.
You know I'm not called that,god's not providing and I can't
(24:18):
do.
You know I can't sign this, Ican't agree to that.
And you know we only fosteredlittle kids, I mean like a year
and under, uh in the time wewere there, because of the ages
of our kids, you know who wefelt comfortable having in the
house and all that, um.
But I'll say a comment, and andagain, same thing to, to get
you kind of thinking and able totalk on the topic.
(24:38):
You know, if I had a child inmy home who had a different view
, had a different lifestyle, haddifferent difficulties, um, I'm
gonna love that child the sameway I would love my kids.
And the way I would love mykids is take them to church,
share the bible with them,encourage them and and the
things that are pleasing to godand the things that are good for
humanity.
So it's not that you, I can'tnow read the bible in front of
(25:01):
this kid, right?
So so can.
Can you talk on that?
Because I feel like that mightbe a hesitation that then some
folks might have yeah, I want tosee if I understand your
question correctly.
Natalie (25:10):
Can you like like?
Joey (25:11):
so, basically, if the hesitation is um, um, what am I
going to do if the child has alifestyle I don't approve of,
different difficulties I don'tapprove of.
They don't believe in god, theydon't read the bible.
But they're in my house, butthey're not my child but their
foster child.
But the paperwork, but dcf.
How do you deal with all that?
Natalie (25:33):
yeah, and that I that is definitely understandable and
and can be definitely verycommon in the christian
community, um, because we knowwhat the word of god says.
But how do you manage that,right?
Um, and what I say to ourchristian families, because we
do talk about that during theassessment process, because we
do bring it up, it's actuallyone of the questions on there
(25:56):
and what we say is, like, it'snot that you are going to
compromise ever your faith, butthat you're not going to impose
it on them.
What you're going to do isyou're going to show them the
love of Christ.
We're not going to, like, forcethem to read the Bible or or
force the word of God in them,but you, privately, will be
praying over them.
(26:16):
You can, um, just speak theword of God to them in a way
where maybe you're not quotingscripture directly, but you can
speak into their life and um,and our main thing is that
you're not going to treat themwrong, right, you're going to
still treat them with the loveof Christ.
Um, regardless, um cause, if.
(26:36):
And what we also say is likewhat if it was your biological
child?
Brianna (26:39):
right.
Natalie (26:40):
Um, cause sometimes that can happen, you know, in
your own family, where you mighthave someone who is of a
different lifestyle or havedifferent beliefs, or just
different culture, ethnicity,all of that um and so and um and
so we want to be very sensitive, yes, you know, to that, yeah,
(27:03):
um, and just just again, I feellike just being a model to them,
just showing them who christ is, and not rejection, not
rejection, amen, yeah, yeah yeah, you know, something came to
mind and you kind of you hit onit right there in your last
statement that I would kind ofthrow in.
Joey (27:17):
There is um, just having integrity, you know right excuse
me, let me see if I can now tryto formulate my thought here.
Um, if, if I feel like the mostpowerful thing that a christian
could do is live out theirfaith right, so, and like the
most powerful thing that aChristian could do is live out
their faith right, and then themost on the line where that is
(27:38):
at on the line, that's notEnglish is at home.
Right, because at home is whenyou're going to slack off
reading your Bible.
You're going to lose it.
You're going to yell atsomebody, right?
So if you can love Jesus andworship Jesusesus at home,
that's going to make adifference in a person's life.
That's living with you, right?
So, so that's you, don't.
I don't think you're gonna haveto push the bible on someone
(27:59):
and stuff like that.
Um, so that's what comes tomind, but, brianna, yeah,
absolutely.
Brianna (28:03):
I think.
On the opposite end, I thinkwhat um might come as an
interesting point, you know, topeople who are interested in
foster care, is we also, duringthe assessment process, ask, you
know, are you willing toaccommodate a child if they come
in?
And maybe the parents have said,hey, we're of a different faith
(28:24):
than you or we're of adifferent culture than you.
We would still like for you tobe able to, you know, promote
that in their life.
And so we talked to our fosterparents or, you know, prospect
of foster parents, and say whatare some ways that you would
preserve a foster child'sculture if their parents or they
came into your home and theysaid, I still really want to
(28:47):
practice this faith, I stillreally want to, you know, tap
into this side of my culture orethnicity.
And so, you know, we obviouslytalk to them about, like, you
know, if they're from adifferent culture that has
different foods, like maybeeither if you, if you're not a
good cook, take them out to arestaurant, you got to know
where all the best Jamaicanplaces are.
(29:13):
Exactly.
Take them out to restaurants orget you know literature from
that specific culture or thatspecific religion and help.
We wouldn't say that that'scompromising your own faith, but
that's helping someone andthat's respecting their
biological parents' wishes andtheir wishes as well.
Joey (29:25):
That reminds me of, again, I love how the Lord's just
helping us.
We pray it and he answers.
That ties into something elsethat I was going to ask you to
speak on, related to this topic,which is and you really
described what I'm about to sayalready, but again, I want to
say it, to give you a chance to,you know, either elaborate on
(29:46):
it or correct it.
You know you might say, youknow we don't really use that
kind of language.
That's not something we wouldsay, um, the view that kind of
always helped me as a fosterparent was the fact and again
this is my own words here thefact that I'm taking care of
someone else's kid.
They're not my kid, right,right, so I'm taking care of
them, I'm helping this familyand I think that really helped
(30:08):
me when it wasn't just aboutthat one child.
But I'm, I'm helping thisfamily and I think that really
helped me when it wasn't justabout that one child.
But I'm, I'm helping thisfamily, right, I'm coming
alongside this family and thisfamily needs help with their kid
right now.
I mean, I remember our secondfoster son.
We tried to connect with theirsiblings.
We tried to connect, to connectwith their parents.
They didn't want to connectwith us, that yeah, it wasn't,
that we didn't try, right.
So so is that the kind oflanguage you guys would use?
(30:29):
Is that something, aperspective that you think is
helpful talking on that?
Brianna (30:34):
Yeah, I feel as though you know and hopefully this
isn't scary or intimidating butwhen you sign up for foster care
, you sign up to be a part ofthat child's world, their,
circle their lives, child'sworld, their circle, their lives
(30:57):
.
And so um we, we, definitely,we, definitely we we use that
term, you know we just sayrespect the biological families
as as you're working with themtoo, yeah um, yeah, that's,
that's definitely something.
That's a great question.
I'm glad you asked it, yeahawesome.
Joey (31:07):
So I'm gonna have you put your headphones on because we
have our first call.
Thank you so much for calling.
Where are you calling fromtoday?
Caller (31:13):
Well, hi, I'm normally calling in the morning but I'm
on vacation.
Joey (31:18):
Miss Carol, where are you?
Caller (31:20):
vacationing at.
Well, I'm getting ready to goto the O to visit the grandson.
Joey (31:25):
Awesome, awesome.
That's Ohio State.
Caller (31:30):
No, Orlando.
Brianna (31:31):
Oh, Orlando, that's what I was going to say.
Joey (31:32):
Oh no, I wasn't sure I failed, All right.
Well, what do you want to share, Ms Carol?
Caller (31:38):
So, listen, I'm listening to the program and I
hear it is about foster,parenting and different things,
and wonderful, because I don'tever get to hear you all,
especially on a Friday.
However, everything you all aresaying is ringing in my spirit.
As far as treating people,period, it doesn't matter if
(31:59):
you're fostering, treatingpeople, people, children, your
neighbors, your grandchildren,treating them, respecting the
culture oh my God, everythingyou all say.
It just was dropping nuggetslike drops of gold nuggets in my
heart, what you all are saying,because we are supposed to do
this on a daily wait?
(32:20):
First, let me stop.
Pause.
The body of Christ born again.
Believers, I have to alwaysremember I'm not talking to the
world, I'm talking to thechildren of the Most High God,
and this is how we're supposedto do people on an everyday
basis.
We are supposed to allow theHoly Spirit to teach us and tune
us in on things that we'reexperiencing with children, with
(32:43):
grown-ups, with culture, witheverything, especially when it
comes to Florida, miami, unitedStates.
We are diverse, with differentcultures, different languages.
We are blessed we're notovercrowded.
We're not oh my God, elbow toelbow.
No, we are blessed to have abunch of folk that we're
experiencing on earth, becausewhen we get to heaven, oh my God
(33:08):
.
Joey (33:08):
Every kingdom and nation and tongue.
Come on, my brother, praise theLord.
Ms Carol, you've encouraged us.
Caller (33:18):
Oh no, I am Listen.
I'm sitting there listening.
My husband is asleep on myright-hand side.
I'm listening.
Joey (33:24):
Well, tell him we said hello.
Tell him we said hello and welove you guys Listen, he's
fishing, he's bobbing andbobbing and bobbing.
Caller (33:35):
When he wakes up.
Don't wake the man up when hewakes up, listen, he got to be
encouraged, like me.
So I mean, I'm excited to hearthis because you know, I'm not a
foster parent, you know, um, Ihave a situation right now where
I won't be, but I can pray, Ican't bleed the blood, I can't
give, uh, financially, I cangive, you know, different ways,
you know, and then I can alsotreat people and children like
(33:57):
Christ treats me.
God bless.
Joey (34:00):
Amen, amen.
Ladies, did you want to sayanything to Ms Carol?
Natalie (34:03):
No, thank you, Ms Carol , for that Super encouraging and
I'm so glad that everythingthat we're speaking is just
speaking to your spirit and toyour heart and we appreciate you
just sharing your heart with usand and that, even though you
cannot be a foster parent, butjust your willingness to just be
there in the way that you canbe through prayer and through
(34:25):
giving.
So we really really appreciatethat very much yes, thank you so
much.
Caller (34:30):
Yes, no, no, not a problem, thank you all, because
I do hear it from time to time.
Like I say, I can't chime in ondifferent things and this is
very important.
You know this part of theprogram on Friday.
You know, every Friday or twoI'll get on there and begin to
talk about this because, my God,the children, that's the next
upcoming generation we'repassing the baton, whether we
(34:53):
want to or not.
There are things that I thankGod that we have no control over
, like getting older, passingthe baton.
You know different things wehave no control over as far as
stopping them or enhancing themor doing anything.
But we can.
We can do as God does, becausehe knows how long the world is
going to be.
He knows who's going to be afoster child, who's going to be
(35:15):
a child and not even just fosterfrom someone giving them up.
Sometimes you can't.
Sometimes things happen in life.
Sometimes the father dies,sometimes the mother dies giving
birth.
That is a ministry and I justwant to pray right quick.
Father, I thank you for theladies, god.
I pray God that they're theprogram.
I pray that people give.
I pray that not only monetaryGod, but I pray give time, god,
(35:40):
and I pray God that their laborof love be not in vain and I
pray encouragement to them thatwhoever they pass the baton to
go further and eyes be evenwider in this thing and a heart
like yours In Jesus' name amen.
Joey (35:55):
Amen.
God bless you, my sister.
Caller (35:57):
Have a great one.
Joey (35:58):
Drive safe, thank you.
Caller (36:00):
Thank you.
Joey (36:02):
Oh man, I can go home.
Brianna (36:03):
I know right.
Joey (36:04):
That was awesome.
Brianna (36:05):
That's awesome.
Joey (36:09):
You know, she's kind of part of the program here.
I mean she segued into our nexttopic, which is, if you're not
a foster parent, or you're notready yet or you're still
praying, what are the other waysthat you can serve kids in
foster care or families?
Brianna (36:26):
Yes, absolutely so, if you're in a position where you
know, hey, right now I am not ina place where I can be a foster
parent, right now I am not in aplace where I can be a foster
parent.
There are many ways that youcan help support us and support
4Kids and support the fosterchildren in need in Miami.
The first is to serve, and thatwould look like volunteering.
What we have here in Miami andacross all of our regions at
(36:47):
4Kids is we call them our FAMteams.
So FAM stands for FamilyAdvocacy Ministry.
So those are the people thatsay, hey, I can't foster, but I
want to volunteer, I want to getin the nitty gritty, I want to
serve.
And that can look like a fewdifferent things.
That can look like providingchild care for foster children.
So you obviously would have tobe background checked and be
(37:09):
able to pass that backgroundcheck.
Joey (37:10):
And that's different from a full licensed foster, correct?
Brianna (37:14):
yes, okay, cool yes not extensive of as of a background
check, as when you're being,you know licensed.
Joey (37:20):
I wasn't even questioning the background check part, but
just the training, because thereyou know, there's several
classes to become a fosterparent okay, correct.
Brianna (37:25):
Yep, so your background checked um to be able to
provide child care and, you know, to be able to transport them.
But you can also supportfamilies by saying, hey, I can
provide meals for you, you know,every week.
Or I can come and clean yourhome every week, or you know,
you name it.
If you have a special skillthat you are, you know you've,
(37:49):
you've committed to and that'ssomething you know you can serve
others in, that would be agreat way.
Joey (37:54):
So be a part of a fam team and serve and volunteer um do
you have an example of the skillthing like, like baking, or
yeah?
Well, exactly, if you're I onlythink of food all day no, me
too, me too.
Brianna (38:08):
If you're an avid baker , if you're an avid cook and you
know you have this gift, thelord has gifted you with that
which he hasn't me.
But thank, thank you, god, forthose people.
Um, yeah, then you can use thatgift and you can say hey, I'd
love to provide weekly meals,I'd love to provide, you know, a
dessert for your family afterdinner tonight.
Can I come by and say hi to thekids and and and give it to you
(38:29):
guys.
So, yeah, that would absolutelybe one way and then, then.
Natalie can also share too.
Natalie (38:36):
Yeah, and some other ways.
As even Carol just said, I canpray, I can give, and so those
are the two other ways that youcan join with us, right, and
partner with us.
And so giving again can justmonetary giving.
We're always needing ournon-profit organization, so, um,
(38:56):
we definitely uh would need allof that to to help us continue
doing what we do.
Um.
And then prayer obviously, wecannot do this without god, we
cannot do this without prayer.
So, um, just praying for thekids in the community, praying,
um for us that are out there inthe field, whether it's our
(39:18):
agency or even just the casemanagers they have a hard job as
well that are managing the caseof these children with our
parents.
So, yeah, just different waysand, of course, foster.
Brianna (39:29):
Yeah, we also have a number that you can text if you
would be interested in any ofthese, whether you're interested
in fostering, serving, givingor just simply praying.
You can text the number 4 andthe word Miami 4Miami to the
number 43136.
(39:49):
And then you can choose hey,I'd like to foster, I'd like to
serve, I'd like to give or topray.
So again, that number is 43136and in the message line you
would put the number four andthe word Miami.
Joey (40:06):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
And again, if you need any moreinformation, if it's easier for
you guys to connect with us atthe radio, we will get you in
contact.
We'll get you all that stuff.
The website's also 4, thenumber 4kidsus, and then you can
go to locations there and findthe Miami location.
(40:27):
The number 4kidsus is the mainwebsite.
I want to ask another question.
And when I got licensed, therewere no Christian licensing
agencies.
What's the difference?
And you know, I know that atthe end of the day, we all work
(40:48):
together.
I mean, you're going to have tofill out DCF paperwork.
You know it is what it is.
You're gonna have to fill outdcf paperwork.
You know it is what it is.
Um, and I know that I've onlyheard the highest, uh praise and
and compliments from everybodyat four kids, about everybody at
all the other organizations.
That being said, what's thedifference?
What does four kids dodifferent?
You mentioned some of italready, uh, but you know, I
(41:10):
feel like like I don't likestarting sentences that way.
I feel like it seems that itreally looks like, as I look on
kind of the times, you know, andyou kind of quoted this to you
know, for such a time as this,in the sense that it's almost
like God's making it easier thanever, right, I mean there's a
Christian licensing agency withChristian support, with a Bible
(41:30):
based training.
I mean it seems like such anopportune time.
So, anyways, I mentioned acouple different thoughts, but
what makes four kids so uniqueand how do they help christian
believers get into this ministry?
What?
What's just that god connection, um, that that makes it such a
good time to, to, to look intofoster care yeah, um, um, I mean
(41:53):
.
Natalie (41:53):
Well, first I want to say this uh, is the the, the
stats, right, right, we're goingto go into that for a moment
and then I'm going to jump rightin as to why it's pivotal that
we're even here in Miami.
Yes1 children were removed lastyear and on average, just in
(42:22):
2024 alone.
So, starting as of January tillpresent day, there is an
average of 52 removals eachmonth.
And just the amount of kids.
There's not enough homes toeven place those children.
A lot of those kids are goinginto group care, shelter care,
and so with that we come in nowto miami and so we're we're
(42:48):
needing a foster, like we'reneeding to write to raise up
foster homes.
But more specifically, justeven being the only Christian
agency makes us unique, asidefrom just being Christians,
right, like I mean, just thatalone makes us different from
everyone else.
(43:08):
But what I can say, just beingpart of that ministry for the
amount of years that I have, isthat we put God first above all
things.
We do not waver in our beliefs.
Prayer is of priority for us.
We believe in this being acalling and we're being obedient
(43:33):
to the Lord, this being, youknow, a calling and we're being
obedient to the Lord.
And and going out there in thecommunity and reaching out to
churches and the people of Godum to share this message of the
need and the calling that Godhas, um, for foster care, um,
and just the support that weprovide, which we mentioned
(43:54):
earlier, just the level ofsupport of how we do go above
and beyond.
We are ministers to ourfamilies, we minister to them,
we know that spiritual warfareis going to happen and we're
there to stand in the gap duringthat time.
It's just amazing.
And just the Christian therapy,the therapy that we provide as
(44:20):
well, um, and it's just thatthat's the best thing I could
say is just what's what makes usum unique and different um, I
mean, I just have to repeat thatnumber.
Joey (44:31):
That's an an incredible number 651 children removed.
Um, I forgot what I was gonnasay.
Um, but we're live on the radio.
Uh, brianna, what were yougonna say?
Brianna (44:52):
yeah, well, was also going to add just a little bit
of insider into 4Kids culture.
I think I always like to sharethis with my friends who are
outside of 4Kids, because Ithink that there might be some
agencies who say, oh, we'refaith-based, we're Christians,
but when it comes when work,when it comes to work like we,
(45:14):
we get it done and you know.
But I think it's one hilariousstory I like to share with
people is I got hired on justover a year ago and something
that threw me off in the bestway was I did my first interview
and the first question theyasked me was you know, share
about your testimony?
And so we spent an hour and ahalf and sharing and not only
(45:38):
did they ask me my testimonies,but they started with their own
and they said hey, this is whatI came from.
We didn't talk about work.
They didn't ask me you knowyour professional strengths and
weaknesses, like they took timeto learn my story, how God has
impacted my life, and I justfelt, from the very first moment
I interacted with anyone fromfour kids that, okay, they truly
(45:58):
do put God first in everythingthey do.
You know, before the interviewsor before the testimony
question came, they prayed, weprayed, you know, extensively,
and so I just I like to sharethat because it really just puts
it in perspective for me, likeit absolutely is a ministry
first, that's what we say.
We're a ministry first, beforewe're an agency amen.
Joey (46:20):
Yeah, man, awesome, so glad you guys exist yeah, go to
fourkidsus, the numberfourkidsus.
Again I, I wish, I wish I canlistening family, I wish I can
put you in my shoes for a secondand I'm nobody but but just
having us an experience of beinga foster parent before four
kids licensing existed, being afoster parent six years ago,
(46:43):
compared to where it's at nowman god is providing, god is
going ahead of us.
god, god is making a way.
Uh, man, I just wish I wish Icould put you in my brain for a
second.
But the Holy Spirit can put histhoughts upon your heart and he
can lead you.
It's better than my brain.
You don't want to be in mybrain.
Forget that idea.
I wonder if this would behelpful.
(47:06):
We only have about 10 minutesleft, so we'd have to do it
quickly and we'll end with justa ton of information what do you
do?
Where do they call?
What's the first step?
But I wonder if this would behelpful If you could give in
short and maybe you say you knowwhat, I can't really do that
I'm gonna have to pass.
Compare right A child that'sremoved and goes through DCF.
(47:26):
They have to sleep in an office, they get moved around, there's
no home for them versus gettingto a four kids foster family.
What are those two processeslook like next to each other?
Natalie (47:38):
yeah, um.
So we also do placement um ofthe children.
We we share that that load um,and so what that looks like is
is that we get um a call callfrom the lead agency of Miami,
which is Citrus, and so that'swho we are contracted with, and
(48:00):
so they have their placementdepartment.
They're like the lead placement, they're the ones that get the
initial placements, and ittrickles down then to us and the
other agencies and we get theinformation as to the children
that have been removed and areneeding licensed care, um, and
at that point, if we have a homelicensed and open and available
(48:24):
um, then we can be able toplace a place the children in
one of our four kids homes.
But we're definitely needingmore four kids homes because
we've we.
It's been very dishearteningwhen we well, first we are all
of our beds are full now, whichis great um and by your beds you
mean the foster family meaningthe foster family homes, yes, um
(48:45):
and so, which is amazing, sowe've been able to place in
their homes, um, so we'redefinitely needing more homes,
homes to be able to placechildren, and it is
disheartening when we getchildren into care and we have
to reject them and we have tosay we don't have a home
available and then from there wedon't know what ends up
(49:06):
happening, who they go to, ifthey ended up finding a home, if
they went to shelter.
The ones that break my heart allthe time are the, the babies,
the newborn babies.
Specifically, there has been anincrease, um, newborns, babies
straight from the hospital, um,and we need, we need homes to be
able to accommodate thoselittle newborns, and that has
(49:30):
been.
Oh, I tell brianna, I'm likebrianna, there's, there's this
little baby, I know, and wecan't place them and I feel so
bad just saying no, but there'snowhere to put, like I have no
home available.
Just all the children aredisheartening, but just like
seeing those like just a newbornjust coming straight from the
hospital and not being able tohave a home for them is just sad
(49:51):
.
Joey (49:52):
Do you know why the increase in newborn placements?
Natalie (49:55):
um, I don't know exactly, but what I can say for
historically, when babies comein, it's mostly due to exposure
to drugs, substance um.
So definitely substance related.
Um, I'm not sure what the trendis or why we've seen an
increase.
As to what's going on in thecommunity, but, definitely an
increase of drug use.
Brianna (50:17):
I would add that we also have some stats on the
three top reasons for removalhere.
Joey (50:25):
This is Dade County specifically.
Brianna (50:27):
Yes, specifically Dade County.
The first one, as Natalie said,it's substance abuse.
So that's number one, the topreason for removal.
The second would be in aninadequate housing.
Joey (50:37):
We know that housing is a challenge here here in miami and
that goes back to what carolsaid sometimes parents are
trying, you know, it's just,it's a tough time.
Brianna (50:44):
Yeah, yes and that third top reason would be
domestic violence.
So unfortunately they're put inan unsafe situation where
there's abuse in the home andthey need to be removed.
Joey (50:55):
Yeah, and again, just, you know the listening family, you
know we, I know a lot of themand just this is the cool part
about radio, right, you get tocome as our guests and I get to
be that kind of that bridge, youknow, you guys that are
listening.
You've heard my story.
Our two foster sons were twoout of those three reasons.
So it's real.
(51:16):
I mean this is real.
So, uh, ladies, we have aboutlike seven, eight minutes tops,
um anything.
We didn't cover actionableinformation.
There's somebody listening.
They're ready to take the nextstep.
What, what are we doing?
Natalie (51:29):
yeah, um well, whoever is interested can definitely
text that number that Briannaprovided.
Joey (51:35):
We can reread it and repeat it.
Brianna (51:37):
Yeah, so the number again is 43136.
And you would text the word orthe number for no space and the
word Miami, and then you can.
You'll type in a number onwhether you want to foster,
serve, give or pray, and that'sa great way to get connected.
Joey (51:55):
Everybody should be texting that number and clicking
pray at least.
Brianna (51:58):
Yes, at least one thing out of there, or multiple
things?
Yes, and, as Joey shared, youcan also find it on our website,
4kidsus, and you can find allof our information there.
You can click the dropdown onlocations and you can see more
specific stats about Miami whenyou hover over the Miami Miami
(52:18):
drop-down as well on our websitegreat yeah, and then once they
text that number, then we willhave someone from the office
contact them and just start likethe intake process.
Natalie (52:31):
If they're interested in fostering, and if they're
interested in fostering um, andif they're interested in in uh,
volunteering, then we'll justguide them to the volunteer
department, um, or if you'rejust looking for more
information, maybe you're stillnot sure, um, you know there's
still more questions that youhave and you prefer, you know,
speaking to to one of us orsomeone from the office, just
(52:52):
just of how you can get intofostering or whatever doubts or
worries or things like that.
There were more than availableto answer all the questions.
Give you more information.
We also have orientation on aweekly basis and orientation
covers everything about ouragency, about the licensing
(53:12):
requirements.
It's pretty much like an infosession, um you said that's
weekly we usually have thatweekly yes um, and so I have I
don't have the dates offhandright now but uh, but we have it
weekly um and once you getyourself plugged in there, then
you just say, okay, I got allthe information and you make a
decision from there and then goon to the next step, if you want
(53:33):
to, then get trained, and thenthere's the training.
Joey (53:36):
That um takes place after that orientation and then the
licensing process you know, Iwas gonna say it's one step at a
time right, so you don't haveto have everything figured out
right away you know again whenwe first started fostering, we
were in a 2-1 yeah, one kidalready, yeah, so I wasn't sure
if it was gonna work right Ihonestly I, I honestly I thought
, you know, I don't know, maybethey're going to come look at
the house and say, dude, whatare you crazy?
But, we weren't, you know, and Imean maybe we are, but not for
(53:58):
that reason.
Yeah, you know we made it workand you know it wasn't like you
said.
There's standards, right.
We didn't have beds all overthe house or anything.
The kids were comfortable andeverything.
We had our little fire escapeplan in the kitchen.
Brianna (54:14):
There you go, you need it.
Joey (54:16):
But good, good, so one step at a time.
You know, I definitely, brianna, if you had any other points on
that, but I definitely want togive our listeners an
opportunity to pray for each ofyou individually.
So I want to know how we canpray for you, brianna, how we
can pray for you Natalie,whether it's in your
professional endeavors or inyour family.
So, first, if you had anypending things from the
(54:37):
actionable steps and then, ifnot, how we can pray for each of
you no beautiful.
Announcer (54:44):
I think one thing is our.
Brianna (54:45):
we do have our office phone number as well, if you'd
like that, I can read that out.
So it's going to be305-686-1738.
Again, that's 305-686-1738.
Again that's 305-686-1738.
So you can call our office andour office coordinator would
love to speak with you, get youconnected with whatever you're
interested in.
But I love I thank you forasking about prayer requests.
Joey (55:06):
Well, I'm going to interrupt my question because we
got a text.
So just to read it.
Thank you for answering.
It sounds like he's talking toyou, ladies.
I have the contact saved so Iknow who it is.
Thank you for answering God'scall in each of your lives.
So great to listen in.
Today, just want to encourageGod's Way Radio and Foster Care
to continue doing the great workthat is happening.
May God lead, provide and beglorified Beautiful.
(55:27):
What an encouraging text.
So how can we pray for you,ladies?
Brianna (55:30):
Thank you.
Yes, absolutely, I would say.
You know, professionally, as Ishared in the beginning, my role
is specifically foster parentsupport specialist, so I work
directly with the foster parentsand provide support to them,
and so, for me, I'm happy whenmy foster parents, ones who have
(55:54):
already committed, the ones whohave already said yes, that
they would, you know, beprovided with endurance you know
, divine endurance to be able towithstand so many of the
challenges that come along withthe journey of fostering.
That's what it is, it's ajourney, and so, yes, so, like I
said, prayers for the fosterfamilies and just endurance that
(56:15):
they can continue on this work.
Natalie (56:19):
Amen, and I would say just in general, for our
ministry for God to justcontinue to move in the way that
he's been moving, to providethe amount of homes that we're
needing just to be able to meetthat vision, to place a child in
a home, right In a Christianhome, and so, yeah, just
(56:43):
allowing God to just have hisway and give us those families,
call those families out andprovide whatever resources that
we need to to be able to, to beable to manage the growth so
we're believing for the growthand so for him to just um, bless
us with what, whatever it isthat we need, the people and the
(57:03):
resources that we're going toneed, absolutely yeah ladies, I
can't thank you enough fordriving on out here today and
being a part of our program.
Joey (57:11):
You know, guys, ladies listening, I would just
encourage you.
You know, this work that we'vebeen talking about today is a
work that only the people of Godcan do it the way that it needs
to be done.
Yes, that will affect change inkids and in families and will
bless the heart of God.
So, man bless you, guys, graceand peace.
Have an awesome weekend.
We.
So, man bless you guys, graceand peace, have an awesome
(57:33):
weekend.
Announcer (57:33):
We hope you enjoyed Friends and Family, unique
conversations recorded andproduced in our studios, where
you get a chance to hear whatGod is doing in people's lives.
Jesus tells us in John 15,verse 15, I have called you
friends For all things that Iheard from my Father I have made
known to you.
So that's why we love to sharethese exclusive interviews with
you.
Our hope is that through theirstories God will be made known
(57:57):
to you, but you can only findthem here on God's Way Radio.
Just check godswayradiocom forour full program schedule.
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