The Church: Ohio’s Living Hope in the Foster Care Crisis
Creating What Is Missing
A Monthly Publication of the Church Ambassador Network
Recently, Kara Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, asked CCV’s Church Ambassador Network to invite key church leaders to join her team for a conversation about foster care in Ohio.
She didn’t come with a mandate; she came with a plea.
She asked the Church to do what only the Church has done since the inception of Christianity: to rescue abandoned and neglected children in our communities and build the support systems necessary to sustain the families who take them in.
The early church was known for their courageous compassion and we have the same opportunity.
As of this spring, there are over 14,000 children in Ohio’s foster care system. Behind each of those 14,000 numbers is a child created in the Imago Dei, an image-bearer of the Almighty, who is currently navigating a world that feels fractured and uncertain.
The Hope of the World
“The Church is the hope of the world!”
We often say it, but do we truly believe it? As the late Charles Colson so powerfully stated,
"Redeeming culture is the never ending mission of the church" … The church is the only institution supernaturally endowed by God - the one institution of which Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
When a cabinet member of our state government recognizes that the state's resources alone cannot heal the trauma of a child or provide the unconditional love of a family, it is a testament to the transformational impact of the Gospel.
This is a moment where the "separation" so often weaponized to keep the Church at arm’s length is replaced by a "collaboration" that recognizes the Church as a vital partner in the common good.
A Legacy of Collaboration
Today, many interpret "separation of church and state" as a gag order on faith in the public square. However, this modern interpretation is a far cry from the founders' intent. They never envisioned a state scrubbed of religious influence; rather, they envisioned a state that protected religious liberty precisely so that the Church could flourish and, in turn, provide the moral foundation necessary for a free society.
John Adams, our second President, was unwavering in this belief. He understood that the state can manage behavior, but only the Church can transform the heart. Here are three reflections from Adams on why religion and government must collaborate:
On the Constitution’s Foundation: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other" (John Adams Historical Society).
On the Security of Freedom: "Statesmen... may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand" (National Archives).
On National Unity: "The general Principles, on which the Fathers Achieved Independence... were the general Principles of Christianity" (John Adams Historical Society).
While often cited as the father of "separation," Pastor Roger Williams—the founder of Rhode Island—was a devout minister who believed the Church and State, though independent in their roles, were deeply consistent and beneficial to one another. He didn't want a "wall" to keep the Church out of society, but to keep the state from corrupting the "garden" of the Church.
To Williams, a just state was one that protected the vulnerable, and a vibrant Church was one that served the community.
Courage in the Wilderness
It takes courage to step into the "wilderness" of the child welfare system. It is messy. It is heartbreaking. It is, quite literally, the work of pure religion.
Scripture tells us in James 1:27 that "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
God is described in Psalm 68:5-6 as a "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows... God settles the solitary in a home."
This is not a suggestion for the Church; it is our identity. When Director Wente asks for our help, she is giving us the opportunity to live out our highest calling. We are the blessing that Ohio needs.
Practical Steps for the Ohio Pastor
Appoint a Foster Care Liaison: Identify a member of your congregation who is passionate about foster care or adoption to serve as the point person between your church and your local county Children’s Services office.
Establish "Wrap-Around" Care Communities: Not everyone can foster, but everyone can support. Form teams of 4–5 families to "wrap around" a foster family in your church or community by providing meals, childcare, and prayerful encouragement.
Host a "Foster Care Sunday": Dedicate a time this month to highlight the 14,000 children in need. Invite a local caseworker or a foster parent to share their story and provide clear next steps for those feeling called to open their homes.
Join the Movement
Equip Your Church with the Church Ambassador Network (CAN): Partner with CCV to bridge the gap between your pulpit and the Statehouse, ensuring our leaders hear the voice of the Church.
Join the "Hope and a Future" Marriage Initiative: Strengthen the families in your pews so they are healthy enough to welcome the children in our foster system.
Register for the Essential Summit on Friday, October 23: Tickets reduced to just $100 for church groups of 10 or more, and both lunch and dinner are included for those in the Church Leadership Track!
The Church Ambassador Network is a ministry of Center for Christian Virtue. They exist to serve and resource the Church in Ohio to understand the times and know how to respond. Read more about their mission at CCV.org/CAN
