The idea of a calling to a specific ministry has been hard for me for a couple reasons. On one hand, there are so many momentary, daily, weekly opportunities to serve those around me as I go about life. Being available to my neighbors, helping my aging parents, encouraging my children after a hard day at school, these are all worthy and necessary. God already has me in these roles. Does taking on additional ministry mean I might be neglecting the roles He has already clearly put me in? My other struggle with the idea of a calling to ministry is my fear that it will bring more attention to me than glory to God.

 

Last fall, Ethan and I became licensed for foster care. We are trained and equipped (as much as one can be) to temporarily care for a child who has been removed from their family of origin. One of the most common responses I hear when people learn of our endeavor is, “I don’t know how you do that,” or even, “Wow! You guys are amazing!” While I know the intentions behind the comments are sincere, they make me cringe with embarrassment. I want to say, “I am actually a complete mess. I am just putting one foot in front of the other, and my only real strength comes from Jesus.” The problem is that conversation usually happens when I run into an old friend at the grocery store, or an acquaintance at our kid’s basketball game is politely trying to tally up the number or children we have in tow. I guess I need to develop a concise way to explain this calling our family has taken up is not us trying to save the world, but a really incredible way God is bringing healing and restoration to our community.

 

I just wanted to be honest about my own personal reservations with recently taking up a new ministry in hopes that I might address fears or hesitations my brothers and sisters might share. Now I will try and give a little background on our road to become a foster family.

 

I have always loved children. My degree from UF is in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. All my favorite jobs involved working with children. We are in the midst of raising a family. I think when we are wondering about a call to ministry beyond our immediate family and vocation; we usually don’t have to look too far. (“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” 1 Corinthians 7:17) What are your gifts? What have people told you you’re good at? What are you already doing that could be expanded to include more of God’s kingdom locally? Live the life that is unfolding before you.

 

Ethan and I started to learn of more and more friends who were fostering. We learned more about the need for people to step into the role and saw what it looked like firsthand through friends. All of a sudden it seemed like an actual possibility for our lives. Then, for me, the experience that solidified the desire to foster was visiting an orphanage in Haiti, specifically the orphanage where my niece spent the first two years of her life before she was adopted by my sister and her family. I was struck, knowing these children were in limbo – somewhere between the family they were born into and permanency. I thought of my niece and longed for each of the children in her orphanage there to have the “bridge” they deserved during that time of limbo. That these image-bearers would be comforted when they cried, fed when they were hungry. I felt the weight and importance of that role, even if for just one child.

 

A few months after that trip to Haiti, Ethan and I started the training for foster care. We agreed to go into the training with an open mind, but still not fully sure if God was calling us. To be honest, I never felt any intense moments of clarity, just a steady nudge toward the direction we had started heading. I knew that foster care would be difficult in a variety of ways, but I’ve also learned that in challenging seasons God is near. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

 

Since becoming licensed, we have had three short term foster placements. It has been a privilege to get to know these children, even in the short amount of time they were with us. God has taught me so much about His character through the challenges that came with welcoming them into our home. There were moments when I was very aware of my shortcomings and God gently reminded me that He is the God of endurance (Romans 15:5). I don’t have to meet all the needs because He is enough. Do you have a desire to serve in a certain area, but you just don’t know if you have it in you? Certainly, your strength and character are limited, but God is unshakable. Our hope is in His perseverance, not ours.

 

 

Valerie Stonerook