How a Calling Became a Passion
Did you know that since 2020, there has been a staggering 33.6% decrease in foster homes across Ontario?
In this Missional Moment, we talk to Brad and Lisa Klinck, who, just a few years ago, became Foster Parents. Now their passion has expanded to include increasing awareness and advocacy for the foster community.
We asked them a few questions about their own journey…and talked about ways that we can get involved to support this community.
What made you want to become Foster Parents?
Honestly, it wasn’t a ‘want’ or ‘passion’ that drove us to become Foster Parents. We weren’t actively looking for anything. We were quite happy with our family and our home. But, we were surprised by the Holy Spirit. He orchestrated events that made it clear to us that this was something He wanted for us. The passion followed the calling.
How did you begin your journey? Can you tell us a bit about your story?
Lisa leads groups for kids who have witnessed violence in their home. In March 2020, she had just screened candidates, created the group, and was preparing to launch the session. Then COVID shut everything down. It broke Lisa’s heart that these kids would no longer get the help they needed, and that others kids experiencing violence in their homes, were now going be confined to those unsafe homes. Lisa was driven to pray that the Christian community would stand in the gap for these kids.
A few weeks later, some Christian friends of ours shared that they were pursuing becoming Foster Parents. This was both an answer to prayer, and an affirmation that we were heading in the right direction. It became increasingly clear that our involvement would move beyond praying that others would stand in the gap. The Spirit now had our attention.
Tell us about your journey from thinking/praying about it to actually caring for foster children in your home?
We began to explore organizations that provide Foster Care. We felt specifically led to work with those that weren’t already rooted in the Christian faith, as this would allow our light to shine most brightly. We selected the Halton Children’s Aid society.
In order to make this possible, we would need to convert our basement to an extra bedroom. So, we started this. In parallel, we went through an extensive process of training, background/references checks, interviews, and home studies. Finally, we were approved in the Fall 2021.
So far, we have had three children placed in our home. They have stayed anywhere from a few weeks to almost 2 years, and ranged from a newborn to a 12-year old. Our own kids, now Young Adults, have been an integral part of the care-giving team.
Brad and Lisa Klinck
What would you tell someone who might be considering becoming a Foster Parent?
I think we’d say three things….
1. If you feel God prompting you towards a specific assignment, whether that be Foster Care or something else, we’d say ‘do it’. God’s plans are always the best plans. He will provide all that you need to do exactly what He calls you to. You will be blessed as He works in and through you.
2. The gospel is a story of Jesus’ incredible hospitality graciously extended to those in need. He welcomes us into His family, into relationship, and into undeserved blessing. As Foster Parents we get to practically reflect His good news to not only the children in our care, but to a skeptical and curious world that is watching. What a joy, privilege and opportunity.
3. Being a Foster Parent is hard. You will need your community, and your church. There are sleepless nights, hard decisions, and unexpected challenges. But it is worth it.
For those who don’t have the capacity to become a Foster Parent, how can they support organizations or others who are?
Not all of us can become Foster Parents, but all of us can do something to support Foster Parents and kids in care. Halton CAS is often looking for drivers, tutors, event planners, and other volunteers…or those who can be trained to provide respite (short-term) care.
We personally have benefited from our church community who have given us baby clothes/supplies, run errands on our behalf, babysat so we could go out for the evening, volunteered in the nursery and preschool classes, lent us their vacation home for a weekend, and even paid for a cottage rental when the child in our care was too young for camping. Everyone can do something.
If you want to increase your awareness of foster care needs the needs in Halton; hear the stories of those on the frontlines; or learn about ways you can help, please come to our Foster Care Awareness Lunch on Sunday, November 10 at 11:30 in the Commons at Compass Point. We’d love to share more of the story with you.