Who We Are
We create community around families that build a strong foundation for foster, adoptive, and biological families to thrive; overcoming difficulties through Christ.
Marty
His story is so different from his wife’s. He grew up in a traditional nuclear family. His mom was a teacher, his dad was an aircraft engineer, and he had an older sister and a dog. He grew up in the suburbs and went to a Christian school.
That school happened to be about two blocks from the low income housing that Jen grew up in. When he went to college to become a teacher, he met Jen. He immediately thought that she was super good-looking, but she was a single mom and he was a freshman in college. After all, he had barely dated, why would he ever date a single mom with extra responsibilities? God had other plans, because they married and now have seven children.
After college, bouncing from job to job, it was a journey figuring out the path God had for him. He was a drywaller, teacher, landscaper, armored car messenger, manager, etc. God has grown him into a father, business leader, and now a pastor- he feels mightily blessed! His heart has broken through so many things. Fostering and adopting have brought emotional and physical pain, but God has opened his eyes to His heart for at risk kids and this world. Now he is so excited to be able to help men lead their families, and others in their journey in the foster/adoptive world.
Jennifer
Her life circumstances do not define her but are definitely part of her story. She was born to a teenage mother and lived in poverty without a dad most of her life. Later, she became a young mom herself, but God has been faithful throughout. She had a hardworking mother who took good care of her, a family that prayed, and teachers who mentored her. Even through an unexpected pregnancy right out of high school, she still saw God’s goodness making a path for her when she did not always make the best choices.
Despite hardship, she completed college as a single mom, earned three Bachelor’s Degrees, and met her husband Marty. She was an elementary teacher, a children’s pastor, a daycare owner, a mother of four, and then she gave her YES to God who made her a foster mom.
Throughout all of life’s experiences – good, hard, and in between – she learned to advocate for families, people, and children. She loves serving, and her house is often full- more so than the nine people they have in their family!