Need for Christians to foster and adopt

'¨One of the most alarming statistics I've heard recently is that there are 4,000 children in the UK who are waiting to be adopted.
LOVING Next weeks event at St Judes Church hopes to inspire Christian families to think about fostering or adoptionLOVING Next weeks event at St Judes Church hopes to inspire Christian families to think about fostering or adoption
LOVING Next weeks event at St Judes Church hopes to inspire Christian families to think about fostering or adoption

One of the most alarming statistics I’ve heard recently is that there are 4,000 children in the UK who are waiting to be adopted.

These are vulnerable children who have had a difficult start in life, who need a loving family for the rest of their lives.

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In this country, we also need almost 9,000 families to foster children and young people who are currently in care. They need families to look after them temporarily while their future is sorted out.

My wife and I have fostered children before, and it’s a real privilege to offer love and support to those who need it most.

Our children, too, had a very positive experience of sharing their home with those we fostered.

But we do need others to step forward. So I was really pleased to hear that the Church of England locally had been approached by Portsmouth City Council to see if we could encourage more Christians to think about adoption and fostering.

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Many Christians already do so, of course, but I look around my congregation and can think of a number of families who could offer a stable, loving home to those who need it. I also know that church congregations can and do support those who adopt and foster in very practical ways.

It’s a very obvious way of showing God’s love to others, and practising what we preach.

Foster and adoptive parents can make a real difference in our society.

Our church is hosting an evening next week where Christians can be inspired to think about doing this, and church leaders can be given practical tips about how to support families who adopt and foster.

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It happens from 7pm-9pm, on Tuesday, January 26, at St Jude’s Church, at the top of Southsea shopping precinct.

You’ll hear a speaker from the Christian charity Home for Good inspiring us, and you’ll get the chance to meet other Christians from around the city who already adopt and foster.

Of course, those of other faiths and no faith can provide families that are just as loving.

But I think it’s important for us to encourage more Christians to step up to this challenge as well. You can find more details at portsmouth.anglican.org/adoption

ST JUDE’S CHURCH, Kent Road, Southsea, PO5 3EL

Contact: [email protected], phone (023) 9275 0442 or go to stjudes-southsea.org.uk