Our Why

We love because He first loved us.

From Eden to Eternity, the Gospel is a story of a God who makes a place for us. Who welcomes us in. Who calls us His own. And who paid the ultimate price to do it.

Foster parenting puts the Gospel story on display, right from our dining table.

Foster care is an act of biblical hospitality: sharing our lives and our homes with the most vulnerable in our community. It is costly, but worth it — in response to a Savior who left heaven to dwell among us. He invites us into that same movement: moving toward the vulnerable, and preparing a place for every child.

If the gospel is our why, then everything about how we call, equip, and sustain foster families has to be shaped by the gospel too.

Our Gospel-Centered Approach:

Call

We help families discern the question at the heart of it all: Is God calling us to make room at our table through fostering? Foster care isn't a program to sign up for — it's saying yes to the God who calls us and sends us.

We know not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something. Through our “Find Your Place in Foster Care” experience, families can begin to find their “something.”

Equip

For families who say yes to fostering , we equip them with biblically-grounded training to meet all of Iowa's pre-licensure training requirements. Theology and technical training, together — because the mission of foster care takes both conviction and competence to last.

Meaningful formation happens in community, so families experience this training in a cohort of fellow believers - sharpening and encouraging one another.

Sustain

Foster care is heavy and holy work. Half of all foster parents stop fostering within their first 12 months, often citing a lack of support.

That's why we partner with Wildwood Collective and local churches to build care communities: 4–6 trained friends and family around every foster family, providing ongoing practical and spiritual support. With this support, 90% of foster families continue into year 2.

Upcoming cohorts equipping families for the mission of foster care:

Cohort 1: Hosted at Valley Church, West Des Moines

  • Saturday, September 26

  • Friday, October 2 (evening only)

  • Saturday, October 3

Cohort applications close August 26

Cohort 2: Hosted at Cornerstone Church, Ames

  • Friday, October 16 (evening only)

  • Saturday, October 17

  • Saturday, October 24

    Cohort applications close September 16

More info

Sometimes the “call” comes along like an undeniable message from heaven. When you just know that you know it’s what you’re meant to do. But sometimes—maybe, most of the time—it comes like a quiet nudge. Like like tears running down your face when you read an article, like your spouse bringing it to you over and over again, like meeting a child you just can’t get out of your mind.

Jamie Finn, author, founder and president of Foster the Family
(Called to Foster on Rachel King)