Foster and Adoption Ministry

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. –James 1:27

Gateway Church is responding to James 1:27 by committing to care for vulnerable children locally and abroad. We will educate, train, and equip our congregants to create safe places for kids to belong in families. As a church we will be an ongoing support system to the families bringing kids into their homes for foster care and/or adoption.

The Need

In Texas, there are currently:
28,753 children in the foster care system.
5,900 children in the foster care system in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.
935 foster homes.
1,200 children who “age out” of foster care each year.

The sense of loneliness and lack of family doesn’t automatically disappear when a child turns 18, and the lasting effects can be devastating.

80% of human trafficking survivors were in the foster care system
60% of inmates were in the foster care system
50% of people experiencing homelessness were in the foster care system

Ways to Get Involved

We see the need to make a difference in the lives of these children and their families! For some, this may awaken the calling to become a foster parent or adopt a child. But supporting adoption and foster care doesn’t always mean bringing an orphaned child into your home. There are several ways you can make an impact on a child in need!

Become an adoptive family.

Lifeline Children’s Services provides holistic, gospel-centered training for adoptive families, equipping them as they enter the mission field of ministry to children through private, domestic or international adoption. The first step toward becoming an adoptive family is to complete Lifeline Children’s Services pre-adoption application.

Become a foster or foster-to-adopt family.

Through local, faith-based foster care agencies, families who have a heart to open their home to children in local foster care can go through the process of becoming a licensed foster or foster-to-adopt home. While the ultimate goal of foster care is reunification, there are many children in need of permanent placement where a dually-licensed foster-to-adopt family may be chosen as their forever family. The Foster Care & Adoption Ministry team can. connect you with an agency that is the best fit for you and your family.

Attend an informational meeting.

Join a W.R.A.P. team at your campus.
W.R.A.P. teams “wrap around” and support foster families by providing practical resources, meals, and respite care; hosting foster and adoptive community events; and by providing ongoing prayer support.

Join a foster and adoptive family support group at your campus.
Foster and adoptive family support groups create a safe space for families to connect, build relationships, and encourage one another throughout the fostering and adoption journeys.

Serve with a ministry partner.
There are groups across all our Gateway campuses that serve children and families in need. Join an outreach group and serve in community!

Give toward adoptive and foster care support.
Visit gatewaypeople.com/giving and select “Other – Widows and Orphans Ministry” from the dropdown menu.

Additional Resources

We partner with several organizations across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Visit Lifeline Children’s Services for additional resources on supporting adoptive and foster care families.