A Yes to Foster Care - Love, Loss & Letting Go

Five years ago, Carolyn, Michael and their two children, residents of Richland County, felt God’s tug on their heart to foster. Yet, due to life circumstances and a myriad of questions, they were not yet ready to take that first step.

Three years later, that quiet nudge became a clear calling. “We felt led by the Holy Spirit to foster,” Carolyn says. “We reached out to Encourage Foster Care, and this time, we were ready to say yes.”

That leap of faith marked the beginning of their journey with Encourage Foster Care, a private, non-profit, Christian foster care agency that has become both a lifeline and a family to Carolyn and Michael. “In March 2026, it will be three years since we started fostering,” Carolyn says. “We’ve had two kiddos during that time.”

Finding Support and Faith through Encourage Foster Care

For Carolyn and Michael, choosing Encourage wasn’t a coincidence—it was a calling. “From the start, I wanted a Christian agency,” Carolyn explains. “After a lot of researching, Encourage really stood out. I could see the passion in their employees, and after talking to them, I truly believed we would be supported.”

That belief has been proven right time and time again. Carolyn describes how her coordinator has been a constant source of help, especially during difficult moments. “I don’t know where I’d be without her. When kiddos have meltdowns late at night, she’s there. It’s amazing to have a team that not only supports you but also prays for you.”

From education sessions with their Encourage Trainer, who “always knows exactly what’s needed,” to the dedicated assessors and respite coordinators, Carolyn says the team at Encourage provides comprehensive care that makes the difference. “There are a lot of moving pieces in foster care,” she reflects, “but there’s also a lot of help and heart at Encourage.”

Learning, Growing, and Healing Together

Fostering, Carolyn admits, isn’t easy—it’s transformative. “It’s a rollercoaster,” she says with honesty. “You become very aware of your own trauma and triggers. These kids will find those buttons, and you have to learn to self-correct so you can help them heal.”

Faith has been central to that growth. “I need God’s help for my own thoughts, behaviors, and actions,” she says. “If I’m unregulated, I can’t help the child be regulated.”

One of Carolyn’s most memorable experiences came with their first placement, a five-year-old boy who had never prayed before. “When he came to us, he was angry and used to hearing and saying things no child should,” she remembers. “We would pray before meals, and at first, he wanted nothing to do with it.”

But something changed over the next three months. “When it was time for him to move to kinship care, he asked me, ‘What if they don’t pray before dinner?’ I told him, ‘Then you can teach them how.’ That moment will always stay with me. It showed me how much can change in such a short time when love and faith are at the center.”

The Power of Saying “Yes” — and Knowing When to Say “No”

Carolyn and her husband have learned that fostering requires both courage and discernment. “It’s okay to say no,” she advises. “In the beginning, we made a list of what wouldn’t work for our family. You can’t take on more than you’re called to.”

She believes everyone has a role to play in supporting foster care, even if they don’t open their homes. “Not everyone is meant to foster,” she says. “But everyone can help. When our foster child came to us, let’s call him Quinn, he had nothing. Within days, our church brought us boxes of clothes and toys. That kind of community support makes all the difference.”

Quinn’s arrival was unexpected—an emergency placement that needed to happen that day. Carolyn recalls the uncertainty she felt that day. “I was so nervous. You don’t know what you’re walking into, and I wasn’t sure if we were ready to say yes to this child. But then my daughter asked, ‘Why wouldn’t we foster him?’ And I believe God was speaking through her.” Carolyn and Michael said yes, and Quinn came to live with them 2 short hours later. The transformation since that day has been remarkable.

“When Quinn came, he was an empty shell. Now, he’s alive,” Carolyn says, emotion in her voice. “God is at the center of it all.”

Love, Loss, and Letting Go

Carolyn and Michael are currently moving toward adopting Quinn, though his biological parents are appealing the case. “Of course, we want him to be officially part of our family,” Carolyn shares, “but we also acknowledge his parents’ rights.”

Every night, the family prays for Quinn’s parents and siblings. “We want him to have a relationship with them if it’s safe and possible,” she says. “It’s hard not to feel resentful, but that’s God’s place to sort out. At the end of the day, if he goes home and God redeems their story, that’s a beautiful thing too.”

A Message to Those Considering Foster Care

To anyone thinking about fostering, Carolyn offers heartfelt advice: “Pray about it. Don’t sugarcoat it. You’ll mess up, and that’s okay. God gives you grace, and you try again.”

Carolyn shared how life-changing it is to have a friend who has also fostered and understands the emotional ups and downs of the foster care journey. She is looking forward to the January Foster Parent Pre-Service in Mansfield, OH, as she is hopeful this will increase the network of Encourage foster parents in Richland County.

She smiles as she reflects on their journey: “No matter what you do to help, it’s God’s work. Foster care isn’t easy, but we are so blessed that God chose us to foster.”

Foster Parent Pre-Service is a 24-hour trauma-focused training course to prepare foster parents with the tools and resources they need to open their hearts and homes. The next Encourage 24-hour Pre-Service will be held January 17, 18, 24 and 25 at Crossroads Church: 1188 Park Avenue West Mansfield, OH 44903.

To learn more about Encourage Foster Care and Foster Parent Pre-Services, please go to encouragefostercare.org/training