Check out these resources gathered by our Resource Team!

PRIMARY RESOURCE:

The Restore Network

This is the link to The Restore Network’s official website. Check it out to see how you can get involved with helping our local children in foster care and supporting foster families!

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care by Tori Hope Petersen

“Tori grew up in the foster care system, a bi-racial child in a confusing and volatile world. Growing up with a mentally ill mother and living in twelve different foster homes, nothing was in her favor. In the face of the storm, Jesus made a way for Tori to find profound hope, deep faith, renewed purpose, and a loving family, too. After so many years of being on one side of foster care as a child, Tori is now on the other side as a foster mom, adoptive mom, and biological mom. On top of that, she became a Track and Field All-American in college and now works with nonprofits, ministries, and beyond advocating for foster care reform, adoption advocacy, and help for vulnerable populations.”

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:

Desiring God - Foster Care as the Way of Christ

“There will always be orphans. There will always be foster kids. You can’t save all of them, but you might be able to provide a stable environment for one or two to heal and flourish. And in that context, you can bring the gospel to a broken family, a broken foster care system, a broken child. And in the process, God will remind you daily that you need a Savior as desperately as the child…”

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS:

Got Questions Ministries - Why is Faith Without Works Dead?

“Are faith and works inseparable? Can faith without works be genuine? What does James 2:26 mean, and does it contradict Romans 4:5? In this video, Pastor Nelson answers the question, "Why is faith without works dead?”

RECOMMENDED SERMONS:

David Platt - Religion That God Actually Accepts (James 1:26-27)

“In this message, David Platt challenges us to put our faith into action, particularly as it involves caring for the vulnerable. This is not an option but an obligation. However, we don’t care for orphans and widows because we’re rescuers; we care for orphans and widows because we’re the rescued.”

Sinclair Ferguson - The Least of These

“Dr. Ferguson considers our Creator’s high view of life, calling upon Him to restore us to a right view of life in the church and culture, and describing how Christians should help and protect those weaker than us, whether they are unborn children, orphans, widows, the aged, the infirm, the suffering, or the lonely.”

Citizens Church - Pure Religion

“Pure religion isn't more than caring for the vulnerable, but it’s also not less. James reminds us that people who love God, love the people who God loves. Scripture: James 1:26–27.” This sermon asks us to truly evaluate, not just our words or our actions, but our motivations behind our care for others or the lack of it.

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

Warehouse Podcast

Welcome to The Warehouse! Has a Sunday sermon ever left you running to Google with new theological questions? Have you ever wished that you could peer behind the curtain to see how the message comes together? That’s where we come in! Here at Cornerstone Church, we spend hours every week talking about the Bible. This is the place to learn about Scripture, dive into its context, and study the Bible’s cultural background. Come to the Warehouse–where we’ll extend the stuff you learn from the stage.

SHE Podcast w/ Jordan Dooley - The Truth About the Foster Care System

“Have you ever considered how you might be able to support vulnerable children and their families? While many people believe the only way to do this is by fostering or adopting, the reality is that there are still plenty of additional ways we can support foster children and vulnerable women. And who better to provide suggestions and share a peek into the reality of the foster care system than Tori Hope Petersen, a former foster youth turned foster and adoptive mom?”

Gospel Coalition Panel - Race and the Family: Marriage, Fatherlessness, Adoption, Foster Care

“This panel discussion with Andrew Walker, Ray Ortlund, Kelly Rosati, BJ Thompson, and Jackie Hill Perry was recorded at the MLK50 Conference in Memphis, TN on April 3-4, 2018 and was graciously sponsored by The ERLC.”

Risen Motherhood - Foster Care & the Gospel

“God’s heart is for the broken, wounded, and forgotten. So what does that mean for how we care for the vulnerable children in our midst? One way is by opening your home to care for a child for a season. In this episode, Laura and Emily discuss the gospel’s impact on foster care with foster parents, Andrew and Chrissy Wolgemuth. While living out the gospel can be costly—requiring our time, resources, and hearts—God’s grace is sufficient in every circumstance for every family—whether we’re fostering or supporting those who are.”

Ask Pastor John - Counsel for Couples Pondering Adoption

“When my wife wanted to adopt a little girl, it seemed just overwhelming to me. I asked, “Why are we doing this?” but God wonderfully turned my heart around. I am personally aware of how huge this can feel for a mom or a dad. They need to get on the same page. In this session, I want to nudge folks toward taking the risk.”