Ready for the "When"

Cassie saw the negative effects of a fostering situation at a young age when a family she knew in high school went into care, and the system split up the siblings. The harsh reality of this brokenness in the world awakened her heart to a way she can serve Jesus and love her neighbor. 

Since then, foster care and adoption has been close to Cassie’s heart. When she was 21, Cassie attended an informational meeting on fostering, but it wasn’t the "right time" for her to take it on. 

"It's something I've prayed over the years - that the timing would be made abundantly clear."

During foster care awareness month, May of 2019, a Church at the Cross Covenant Member, Amy Brooks, posted about the ways the church could help meet the needs of the foster care system. God used these posts to speak directly to Cassie's heart and it was clear that this was her time to enter into the world of fostering.

"I reached out to Amy and she walked me through all my questions and connected me with a woman from CK Family Services. I started the process in early June and was licensed by August. Church at the Cross was with me every step of the way."

Her first placement came a month later in September. The little girl was with Cassie for eight months and then was reunited with her biological family. It was hard to see this child that she placed so much time, affection, and compassion in, walk out the door. She loves this girl as her own child. And because of that, Cassie knew reunification with bio family was the best possible outcome for her. As much as it hurt, every step of the way, God picked Cassie back up, and he held her hand. He placed just the right people in her life at the right time to come around her and show her support. 

Cassie remembers her time with her first foster child with fondness.

“Oh, how heavy my heart was when she went home. So many tears… But, my first foster love was a beautiful picture of how the ‘system’ can work. She needed a safe place for a while until she could go home. Her return to her biological family was amazing. Not only do they keep in touch [with me], but we sent home a children's bible, and now they read her bible stories every night!" 

Within a week after her first placement leaving, Cassie was contacted by her agency with three siblings needing a foster home. When Cassie first got the news of the young siblings, she wasn’t prepared to accommodate all three, nor was her car big enough. That weekend, the Lord pressed into her heart, encouraging her and letting her know that car logistics are easy to solve and it was time to get a bigger car. 

She went out and bought a larger vehicle, and within a few days received another call about the placement of three siblings. She rearranged her house, securing extra beds and other resources to be able to bring the siblings together in her home only to find out that the case fell through. 

But, little did she know that God was preparing her for another placement. The next day, she received a call asking if she was prepared for a set of three siblings – they needed to be placed immediately – and this time she ready and was able to say yes! The kids moved in at 11:30pm that evening. 

Her Life Group received word about the placement and sprang into action to help. They set up meal trains, dropped off toys, clothes, bedding, prayed, and encouraged. They folded laundry, braided hair, and organized dressers. The church also set up a list of needs and church members bought everything from barbie dolls to swimsuits. Every physical need for the children was met.

"Every step of this journey is only possible by leaning into my Creator. He pushes me on the long days, he picks me up, and he encourages me. He also has given me an amazing community with a church that takes the command to care for the orphans to heart."

Cassie not only made herself available, she also prepared for the mission God was laying before her. We love hearing the stories of how God is using the people of Church at the Cross to love their neighbors, care for the vulnerable, and help all those around them encounter Jesus.