Faith in Action: Caring for Children in Foster Care

June 3, 2026 / by Abigail Waples

In 2016-2018 while serving in our local church in Virginia, we had the privilege of meeting several families who were serving as foster parents. We quickly fell in love with all the little boys and girls they would bring to church each week.

Their stories were full of trauma, hardships, and heartache. We were able to care for and love these little ones through the children’s ministry, and we watched many of them reunify with their families. We also watched several of them find permanent homes within these foster families.

After seeing the reality of foster care up close and personal, my husband & I decided to take the jump into foster care ourselves, and we became licensed foster parents. Part of our training included reminders to be ready for anything at any time, once our license was open. We could expect a phone call at any time of the day or night from a social worker who could bring a child to our home in as little as an hour. What a roller coaster those weeks were! Anytime the phone rang, we wondered if we were about to welcome a little one into our home.

In our current season of life, our family is not able to serve as a foster family, but we are no less passionate about foster care. We have longed for unique ways to serve foster families, case workers, and children experiencing foster care. One way we’ve been able continue serving is by connecting with our local branch of “The Forgotten Initiative” (TFI). TFI is a nationwide ministry that is on the front lines of the foster care world. Our local TFI is serving in a unique way by creating bed kits for children experiencing foster care. Each Bedkit includes a comforter, sheets, pillow case, stuffed animal & fluffy blanket. BedKits are given to children who are entering foster homes to provide them with a cozy and safe place to sleep, plus bring comfort in a scary time. Most children entering care don’t get the privilege of bringing any of their personal items with them. These BedKits meet a critical need.

This year I was able to combine my heart for foster care with my responsibility to lead an activity during AWANA for the T&T girls. I was able to select two service projects for the group that directly serve TFI and their ministry in the community. We created ten BedKits for girls ages 8-12, as well as twelve case worker care kits. Our prayer was that each BedKit would provide comfort & care for a child at a vulnerable time in her life. We also prayed that each case worker care kit would be an encouragement to someone serving in a hard job on the front lines of foster care.

It’s true that I do not spend my days waiting for a case worker phone call about placements in my home anymore, but I am so thankful for the ways the Lord has allowed me to continue serving in the foster care community. I’m even more thankful for East White Oak & the endless opportunities I have to combine serving in children’s ministry with outreach opportunities. Being able to share about the needs of children in our community with girls in our AWANA program was such a special opportunity!

If you are interested in connecting with foster care ministries in our community or if you would like to help serve foster families in our church, we’d love to connect you with the East White Oak Foster Care & Adoption Team! Please reach out to me via email so I can share more information with you.

Abigail Waples: [email protected]

Abigail is married to Justin and spends her days loving on and homeschooling their five children: Karoline (12), Gideon (6), Felicity (5), Meredith (3), and Susannah (2). She is pregnant with a new baby due at the end of this year! Currently, Abigail serves on the Outreach Team leading the Adoption/Foster and Orphan Care Ministries and in the East White Oak Children’s Ministry. For fun, you’ll find her reading, playing the piano and cello, and spending time with friends and family.