Adopting a child from foster care is virtually free. While there may be small upfront costs (likely less than $200), there is a tax credit and foster care stipend that will more than cover the costs. Adopting a child internationally can cost upwards of $10,000. However there are numerous grant agencies and a large tax credit that can significantly reduce, or even fully cover, the cost.

There are 4500 children in the Sacramento region in foster care and about 900 children in our area currently waiting for an adoptive family. There are 143 million orphans around the world.

Once parental rights are terminated, the parents have no further recourse for gaining custody of the child(ren).

This is perhaps the biggest myth of all. Foster children, just like any children, have enormous potential to thrive given love, patience and a stable environment. Just ask U.S. Senator Ben Campbell, Minnesota Viking Dante Culpepper, Miss USA 2000 Lynette Cole, or current CEO of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly. They were all once foster children who had someone that adopted them or invested in their life.

Less than 5% of the churches in our community have a ministry focused on Foster Care and Adoption. There are 900 children available for adoption and approximately 900 Christian churches in our area. It is time for the people of God to respond.

While not everyone is called to adopt, the Bible mentions caring for orphans over 40 times. James 1:27 says, “Pure and genuine religion is this…caring for orphans and widows in their time of need and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”