Faith Community

Upcoming Events

Orphan Sunday - November 7th, 2010

On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan . We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.  From many sources, one voice. Hundreds of events across America and beyond, all sharing a single goal: that God’s great love for the orphan will find echo in our lives as well.  See www.orphansunday.org for information and specific events.

 Ministry Focus of the Month: Safe Families for Children

Safe Families for Children provides a loving sanctuary where parents can safely and voluntarily place their children in times of need.  Founded in 2002 by LYDIA Home Association, a Chicago-based Christian social service agency, Safe Families for Children has partnered with local churches to grow to a network of over 1,000 volunteer families serving as many as 1,000 children and families in 2009 alone. Safe Families partners with host agencies, local churches, ministries, and community and government agencies to intervene in the lives of children and families that would otherwise be forgotten.  They are currently in more than 13 states, and recently established a network in Washington.  For more information, contact: Asha Bhaga at 877-341-7332 or Asha-Bhaga@olivecrest.org>

Safe Families was recently featured on the CBS evening news with Katie Couric. 

Meet Our Faith Community Liaison, Shirley Stoddard

Shirley is the Faith Community Liaison for Fostering Together.  As a fomer foster parent (read some of her story here) she has firsthand experience that she brings to her job.  Her special passion is to connect churches with the resources and help they need to become involved in supporting foster children and foster families within their neighborhoods.  Shirley sees this as putting into practice James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans. . . in their distress. . ." (NIV).  She sees our children in foster care as "modern day orphans", in desperate need of looking after.

In order fulfill this mission, Shirley travels throughout the Northwestern part of our state - from Bellingham to Federal Way, from Oak Harbor to North Bend - meeting with churches of all sizes.  She also has a growing list of guest speakers with a variety of experience in foster care, including those who've been foster parents, former foster children, and pastors and lay people with foster care ministry experience, who are also available for presentations.

If you feel that your church could benefit from hearing more about foster care, the needs of the children in our state, and ways they can help, please contact Shirley at: 425.462.1612 x1319 or shirley-stoddard@olivecrest.org