FOSTER CARE AWARENESS: Everyone Can Do Something

By Gabriel Stovall

Jason Johnson’s journey to fostering was something he couldn’t have anticipated when he first began ministry as a church planter.

“If you had asked me 20 years ago to write the script of how my story would be, those two things, I don’t think, would’ve been in the story,” Johnson said.

But now, not only is Johnson the director of the National Church Ministry Initiative for the Christian Alliance for Orphans, he’s also a prolific blogger and author of two books designed to help fostering families. He argues that everyone can find a place in foster care ministry.

Johnson lives in Texas with his wife, Emily, and their four kids. The son of a pastor, he grew up in a life of ministry that eventually led him to pastoring a church plant.

“While we were at our church plant, we strolled into a breakout session on foster care, and after we sat in there for an hour, we walked out and knew that everything was about to change for our family and our church,” Johnson said.

The Johnsons’ passion for fostering spilled over into their young congregation and beyond. Jason credits his wife’s gentle tenacity in helping him overcome his hesitancy.

“She came down one day and said, ‘Hey, I need you to know there’s never going to be a right time. There’s always going to be a reason for us to not do it. But there are kids out there who need us now, and it’s just time for us to do it.’”

On the “Adopting and Fostering Home” podcast, Jason shares the full story of how God is using him to equip churches and families for foster care ministry. Listen to his two-part episode, “Everyone Can Do Something” (Hyperlink to podcast) for more.

Gabriel Stovall is a writer for the North American Mission Board.


Published May 7, 2020