EDMOND, Okla. – Leaders with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) will focus on solutions to Oklahoma’s foster care crisis during a special, free event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Edmond’s First Baptist Church, 1300 E 33rd St. in Edmond.
The event, “The Gospel, the Church & Foster Care,” will feature resources and representatives from faith-based agencies focused on meeting the needs of the more than 8,500 Oklahoma children currently in DHS custody.
“We believe God is calling Christians to do even more to meet the vast foster care needs in Oklahoma, and we want to highlight the need through this event and call people to action,” said Hance Dilbeck, BGCO Executive Director-Treasurer. “While Baptists and others have already done good work to serve children in foster care and come alongside foster care families, the urgent need remains. This event will be a catalyst for change.”
Speakers include bestselling author Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; author and pastor Alex Himaya; and a foster care family, among others. Representatives from faith-based foster care and adoption agencies and Oklahoma DHS will be in attendance to provide information and resources.
“The Bible calls Christians to care for vulnerable women and children in their distress (James 1:27),” Moore said. “I’m really encouraged to see how the Spirit is moving among Oklahoma Baptist churches when it comes to our responsibility to orphans and their mothers. I pray that more and more churches and families will consider how to be ‘Ground Zero’ for the love of Christ for the fatherless.”
Groups partnering with the BGCO for the event include Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, the 111 Project and others. For more information or to pre-register for this free event, visit www.bgco.org/foster.