Will Your Church STAND on November 8?

Who wants to host a Fostering Angels Tree to support foster care?  The trees are one way your church can STAND!

On November 8^th, 2020 we are calling churches across America to stand together and say “YES!” in response to all the children waiting in foster care- children who are waiting and desperate for people to open up their homes and hearts to them. Stand Sunday is  focused on directing attention to the children and youth who are in the foster care system within the United States. This was originally started in 2004 by Bishop Blake in Texas who got up on a Sunday morning ready to preach one sermon, but was then convicted by the Holy Spirit to challenge his congregation to “stand’ for kids in foster care instead. From the pulpit he asked one question that challenged the hearts of so many: “Who will stand with me to defend, care, and support abused, abandon, and neglected children in our community?” 

The county that church is in now has more than enough foster homes with doors wide open, ready.

Our prayer is that every county nationwide will be overflowing with open homes of families who will say “Yes!” to being the hands and feet of Jesus in this way.

Matthew 25:35-40 says, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me. 

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

The CALL is here to support churches who will stand up and challenge their congregations. A few opportunities for your church to take a STAND:

1. Host a Fostering Angels Tree in your church (email Julia at jdesc@thecallinarkansas.orgfor more details)
2. Share our November Interest Meeting with your church in a bulletin or on the screen (email jdesc@thecallinarkansas.org for bulletin & screen image)
3. Invite your friends to attend the Interest Meeting on social media
4. Invite a foster or adoptive family to share their story
5. Show a video, such as this one(more options on our website)
6. Ask your pastor to preach on God’s heart toward the fatherless and to encourage the Christian community to respond

On November 16 an Interest Meeting will be held where those in the Saline, Perry, and Grant Counties willing to stand can take their next step. Visit https://thecallinarkansas.org/saline-perry-events/ for more information or contact us at salineperry@thecallinarkansas.org

In these unprecedented times we have been living in lately, maybe you aren’t attending church in person at the moment. Perhaps you livestream on Sundays. Don’t let that be an excuse for you. Whether you are in the church building or within the walls of your own home, we ask you to stand.