

In Mississippi, around 5,000 children live in foster care. For years, the state’s Child Protective Services agency was swamped. Then the church stepped in.
Tony Karnes is a pastor at Michael Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi. In 2015, Karnes visited the Harrison County Children’s Shelter. It’s meant to be a one- or two-day emergency shelter for kids who must leave bad situations quickly. But it was filled with children. Some had been there for months. There was nowhere else for them to go.
The scene broke Karnes’ heart. He knew the answer wasn’t in just dropping off supplies. It was going to mean getting involved on a personal level.
Thinking of James 1:27 (Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction), Karnes set an ambitious goal. He determined to recruit 100 new foster families, including fostering in his own home as well. His church got on board. But potential foster families’ paperwork sometimes took more than a year for approval. Families had to gather references, complete home studies, get doctor approvals, vaccinate pets, and secure life insurance. The drawn-out process turned away some prospective parents.
Karnes and his church boldly pitched to the state a plan for a streamlined process that he dubbed Rescue 100. Foster parents train through online courses and an intense, one-day event. It takes just three months to get licensed.
It worked. The state made it official and soon added more than 300 new foster homes, including Kevin and Kelli Lundy.
The Lundys have fostered eight children since becoming licensed. They know their church—with more than 50 foster families—stands with them. Mrs. Lundy can ask when they need size 3 summer clothes or a sitter for the night. And foster kids involved at Michael Memorial Baptist Church reap another benefit. Kids who have experienced trauma can relate to other kids there with similar trials.
A shaky family foundation makes growing up and building a stable life a lot harder. If parents can’t or won’t take care of their children, foster families can offer a safe and loving environment.
But family reunification, if possible, is always the goal. The church works to keep biological parents involved. That could include connecting parents with job training or rehab facilities. Parents are also invited to church services and activities. One foster mom in the church taught a biological mom to drive. She had Bible studies with the mom and helped her get a job.
Karnes emphasizes the value of everyone involved: “That child comes from a family unit.”
After seeing Rescue 100’s success, other states are looking at Mississippi’s model too.
This story was made possible with reporting from WORLD News Group’s Effective Compassion team.
This is Mylee
wow that's a lot of foster homes. I'm so glad they are doing this. those kids deserve better home lifes.
2nd Comment
Yeah! I think fostering is so neat. I have thought that I want to be a foster parent when I get older, or adopt, but the adopting process is even more complicated, and with fostering you could help out a lot more kids that way. Oh I have also wanted to have an orphanage when I grow up, but there are no orphanages in the US. :( But maybe I should be happy about that... :)
Oh cool!
Our church helps out with fostering stuff. We didn't foster, but we adopted, and you're right, Riley, the adopting process is SUPER complicated! It took us about six years to adopt my little brother. We started before he was born. I think it's easier now, though.
My School Summary - Current Event (I wrote this)
About 5,000 children live in foster care in Mississippi. Tony Karnes, the pastor for Michael Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport, started Rescue 100. Rescue 100 is a foster parent group, where many foster families take in children. He made it so you could get approved within three months, and soon got over 300 people to foster kids. They helped spread Christianity to these children, and also helped the biological parents.
- Sorry for it being so short, but there didn't seem to be much today. Post another one on another article Friday!
-Christopher