Called to Care

Opening Your Heart to Vulnerable Children—through Foster Care, Adoption, and Other Life-Giving Ways

by: Bill Blacquiere, Kris Faasse

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781493421831

  Pub. Date

  Sep 2019

  SRP

  $16.00

  Buy

About

"When God calls you to step into the lives of children, he'll also prepare you. This practical, informative guide helps do just that."--Dr. Sharen E. Ford, director, Foster Care and Adoption, Focus on the Family

Wondering if adoption or foster care is right for you? Maybe you're looking for other ways to help children at risk. Such an important decision involves many practical steps, all starting with the heart. That's why Called to Care was written.

Drawn from decades of experience, this book provides expert answers to the top questions you likely have, but also shares stories of triumph and struggle from families who are helping vulnerable children even beyond adoption and foster care.

· Learn the latest about domestic and international adoptions and foster care
· Consider how prepared you are to welcome a child into your home
· Discover other ways to support children and families, including refugees

God calls each of us to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Let this book help you find your unique calling.

"Every book on adoption or foster care that I've ever encountered was a theological treatise or a personal memoir or a how-to manual. Called to Care is the first book on this topic that has it all--heartfelt stories, spiritual reflection, a range of perspectives, and heaps of practical advice."--Jonathan Merritt, contributing writer, the Atlantic, and author, Learning to Speak God from Scratch

Bill Blacquiere served Bethany Christian Services for more than twenty-five years as chief operating officer, director of operations for Michigan, and CEO. Before retiring, he served on the boards of the National Council for Adoption and the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Kris Faasse, LMSW, ACSW, is senior vice president of clinical operations for Bethany Christian Services. A recognized adoption expert, Kris has provided training in national and international settings, has authored numerous articles, and serves on several boards, including Justice for Our Neighbors-Michigan, which assists refugees with resettlement issues.

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Endorsements

"Every book on adoption or foster care that I've ever encountered was a theological treatise or a personal memoir or a how-to manual. Called to Care is the first book on this topic that has it all--heartfelt stories, spiritual reflection, a range of perspectives, and heaps of practical advice. This book is a veritable one-stop shop for anyone who is interested in or thinking about orphan care, and it is written by two of the most respected and trustworthy adoption advocates of the last quarter century in America. If you take seriously the Bible's commands to care for orphans, read this book immediately."

Jonathan Merritt, contributing writer, the Atlantic, and author, Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words Are Vanishing--and How We Can Revive Them

"When God calls you to step into the lives of children, he'll also prepare you. This practical, informative guide helps do just that. The short stories, questions, and prayers at the end of each chapter will lead you to a deeper dialogue with God--then watch where God takes you!"

Dr. Sharen E. Ford, director, Foster Care and Adoption, Focus on the Family

"Bill Blacquiere reminds us that the family is the building block of society in God's design. Finding families for children through foster care, adoption in all its forms, and strengthening families is the clarion call he invites us to respond to in the third decade of the twenty-first century."

Albert L. Reyes, president and CEO, Buckner International

"I highly recommend this as a mandatory read for anyone considering adoption, foster care, or working with vulnerable children."

Michael Douris, president, Orphan Outreach

"Called to Care is a timely, insightful read for families considering foster care and adoption. It offers a clear challenge to the faith community and provides a biblical path for Matthew 25:34-40 to become vibrant in our lives."

James K. Haveman, retired director, Michigan Department of Community Health

"Bill Blacquiere and Kris Faasse bring a lifetime of wisdom to this compelling book. They have approached this vital subject with insight and sensitivity, giving a view of the many ways an individual, family, or church can respond to the needs of vulnerable children and families. I highly recommend this book for individual or group study."

Jayne Schooler, trainer and curriculum developer, Back2Back Ministries

"This is a clarion call for Christians to recommit to the biblical mandate to care for children and families, and it is a call made from two leaders who have a lifetime of experience doing just that. I encourage you to read this important book."

Michael Wear, author, Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America

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