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LCMS Guide to Supporting Foster Families

The “LCMS Guide to Supporting Foster Families” is intended to provide Lutheran couples with a basic overview of the foster care system and the process of becoming foster parents, so they can prayerfully consider taking on the joys and challenges of caring for these children in need.

Christian families are especially poised to care for children in need, and the local congregation (and larger church) can provide a healthy framework of love and support for foster children and their foster family. Sadly, the number of children in the foster system is increasing, and the number of families willing to provide a temporary home for these children is decreasing. Lutheran parents are needed to fill this gap and provide love and care to children and their biological parents.

Are you a foster family or a congregation looking to support a foster family? The “Foster Family Support Planner” is a form that foster families can use to list their needs (whether that be meals, transportation, or items) for their foster child(ren). Once filled out, the form can be printed off and circulated amongst congregation members so that they can provide creative yet personalized support for families who are fostering in their midst.

More Family Resources

The Problem With Porn

The Problem With Porn

Pornography feeds fantasy. It encourages men (and many women too) to think of sex abstractly, thus denigrating God’s good and perfect gift of sexuality.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep6. Men Matter in Family Ministry | Rev. Brandon Metcalf

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep6. Men Matter in Family Ministry | Rev. Brandon Metcalf

Rev. Brandon Metcalf talks with Steph and Andy about his strategies for family ministry and why men play a vital role in the church and home.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep5. Family is Foundational | Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep5. Family is Foundational | Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann

Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann joins Andy and Steph to talk about why family is so important in Christian theology.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep4. Family Ministry & Intergenerational Community | Deborah Jurchen

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep4. Family Ministry & Intergenerational Community | Deborah Jurchen

In this episode, our guest Deb Jurchen talks about the importance of intergenerational connectedness as it relates to family ministry in churches and homes.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep3. Benchmarks of Faith | Mark Cook

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep3. Benchmarks of Faith | Mark Cook

Learn how recognizing milestones and benchmarks in the faith leads to healthy spiritual development for children and adults alike!
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep2. What is Family Discipleship? | Rev. Dan Galchutt

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep2. What is Family Discipleship? | Rev. Dan Galchutt

Rev. Dan Galchutt talks about the privilege of parents to pass down the faith to their children, and how the setting of the home is a prime training ground for young believers.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep1. LCMS Family Ministry | Rev. Andy Becker

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S9Ep1. LCMS Family Ministry | Rev. Andy Becker

In this episode, Steph welcomes the newest co-host to Friends for Life — Rev. Andy Becker — as he shares his role with LCMS Family Ministry and introduces Season 9.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8Ep4. Restoring Families | Amanda Douglas & Rev. Dr. Stephen Krenz

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8Ep4. Restoring Families | Amanda Douglas & Rev. Dr. Stephen Krenz

Amanda and Pastor Krenz join Steph to talk about caring for mothers of children in foster care.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep3. Fostering & the Role of a CASA | Chalyce Deterding

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep3. Fostering & the Role of a CASA | Chalyce Deterding

Chalyce Deterding joins Steph to talk about the joys and challenges of being a foster parent, along with the unique role that she plays as a CASA.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep2. The State of Foster Care | Dr. Thomas Engel

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep2. The State of Foster Care | Dr. Thomas Engel

Dr. Thomas Engel joins Steph to talk about the concerns of children in child dependency.
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep1. Why We Care About Foster Care | Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor & Steph

Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: S8 Ep1. Why We Care About Foster Care | Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor & Steph

Join Steph and Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor as they introduce this season’s topic surrounding foster care.
She Shall be Called Woman

She Shall be Called Woman

A woman might find herself in a variety of roles throughout her lifetime. This booklet examines several roles and offers affirmation, encouragement and support through the lens of Christ and his unending grace and mercy.