Get Your Church Involved!
The Church is the answer to serving and caring for vulnerable children and families.
“The church absolutely must be leading the way in orphan care. It's not negotiable; it flows from the reality of the gospel." - David Platt
Interested in mobilizing your community to answer the call to care? Host an Engaging Hope event!
Next Steps
OCA walks with churches desiring to serve those who struggle to care for vulnerable families, those who are in/or out of foster care, and those who have chosen to be foster, adoptive, relative, or fictive kin caregivers. Let us help you find the right level of engagement for your church!
It’s our desire to see your church fulfill God's calling to care for vulnerable kids and families.
Your church family possesses gifts and skills provided by God for your context. We want to equip you to leverage what you are already doing to serve foster, adoptive and kinship families in your own community. God is calling His people to pure religion ( James 1:27). How are you responding?
Opportunities for Followers of Jesus to Get Involved:
Gateway:
OCA Gateway is an online portal that connects people to the needs of vulnerable children and families in their community. It is a simple and easy way for everyone to do something to care for needs in their community. Volunteers receive weekly emails informing them of needs in their geographical region.
Life Coaching:
Life Coaches are followers of Jesus who walk alongside young people, typically ages 12-26, with foster care experience. These young people are active in the foster care system or aged out (18+). Life Coaches have the opportunity to meet young people where they are, know their story, and build relationships to show them the love of Christ and the dignity and purpose they possess as image-bearers of God. Click here to learn more.
Family Preservation:
Family Care is designed to assist families who have been identified by social services as needing temporary extra support to assure a stable environment to promote the health and wellbeing of their children. Volunteers in this ministry work alongside Family Care staff to provide guidance, resources and encouragement to these families in a difficult season of life.
Foster Parenting:
OCA provides in-person faith based training to become a licensed Foster Parent for Cabinet for Families and Children in Kentucky or a private agency. Our training is lead by experienced foster parents who are engaging and committed to preparing you well for this ministry. Go to our Events Page and sign up for a two hour online Foster Parent Informational meeting to get started.
How Your Church Can Partner with Orphan Care Alliance
- Promote OCA volunteer Opportunities
- Enlist life coaches to mentor foster and adoptive teens and young adults.
- Promote Gateway and enlist volunteers to meet practical needs posted weekly in your geographical area.
- Become Family Equipped to better serve vulnerable children families attending your church
- Receive free Trauma Training from certified leaders to become more informed and prepared to meet the needs of todays kids.
- Appoint Family Advocate(s) in your church to connect families and volunteers to OCA resources.
- Enlist teams to be trained to wrap around foster, adoptive and kinship families in your church.
- Host a Connect Group for fellowship and encouragement of Foster and Adoptive families.
- Financially Support OCA
- Monthly gifts help us provide Family Preservation support across the Bluegrass and meet monthly expenses.
- Occassional gifts fund special projects like Foster Care Training.
- Become a Sponsor for a special event like our Fostering Hope 5k or our regional Raising Hope dinner events.
Meet Your Regional Ministry Leaders
