Suffice it to say, the Goddard house was a bit quieter this time last year. After much prayer and consideration, Aimee and her husband, David, decided to adopt a baby boy in the midst of raising teenagers.  As best-laid plans go, a plot twist happened roughly one year ago today that launched them into a wonderfully chaotic adventure that has given birth (no pun intended) to a unique ministry opportunity for the Goddard household.

 

Although their newest addition was scheduled to arrive in February, complications led to an early delivery.  The day after Christmas, Deacon James Goddard was born, proving to be a fighter in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Florida, where the family spent a month waiting to take him home.  

 

What could have been a tricky transition for the entire family was actually much easier than anticipated, validating their belief in Divine intervention with the adoption.  As Deacon is set to turn one this month, his family just celebrated National Adoption Month in November, which is also when Goddard rolled out her plans for a new foster care ministry with Simpson Creek Baptist Church.

 

Some people can feel God move them as they pray. Others can feel inspired as they serve.  For Aimee Goddard, the message came loud and clear over coffee.  While sipping a cup of joe at Stonewall Coffee, owner Kevin Zakariasen was discussing foster care with Goddard.  His family was going through the necessary training to foster children and he knew of Goddard’s adoption journey and the challenges and blessings that the family had experienced.  

 

The duo discussed the role of the churches in helping families navigate the process of fostering and ways they could provide support.

 

“That conversation just stuck with me,” said Goddard.  “I truly felt called to start a foster care ministry and we immediately started finding out everything we could about issues commonly experienced by families who foster and adopt.”

 

After brainstorming with their associate pastor and friend, Ben Moses, the Goddards a decided to present the foster care ministry to the congregation at Simpson Creek Baptist Church during National Adoption Month in November.  While preparing the materials for the presentation, she had further validation that she was called into this ministry.

 

“As I was typing up my outline to speak during Sunday's church service, we were presented with an opportunity to foster a child ourselves,” said Goddard.  “It wasn't something we were planning at this point in our lives, but the timing of the opportunity was undeniably a sign from God. The experience has been transformative and we continue to learn and grow closer as a family. Our foster child even helped pass the pamphlets out at the presentation, which was honestly surreal.”

 

In West Virginia, there has been a 34% increase in foster families in the past two years.  Over 80% of the children in foster care have parents who have addictions and many children have more than one placement while in foster care, contributing to additional childhood trauma.  In the foster care system, children over the age of eight are considered barriers to adoption, as are children with siblings. Currently, there are nearly 7000 children in the foster care system in the Mountain State and 31% of those are under the age of five.

 

Since summer, Goddard has worked with families at various stages of the adoption and fostering process.  She has heard many success stories and gathered information on challenges faced during each phase of the process.  Additionally, she has identified many resources including local agencies that can provide information and opportunities for these families and they have researched other foster care ministry programs from around the country.

 

“Ultimately, we would like to be able to grow the ministry to serve families around the region,” said Goddard.  “Right now, however, we are introducing it to our own congregation to help further identify those in need of services or who are interested in helping.  We truly believe that everyone can do something. Not everyone can foster a child, but everyone can pray or serve in some capacity that might ease the burden for these families.”

 

The pamphlets passed out during the ministry’s launch invited members of the congregation to get involved with the ministry.  Whether by providing meal plans, transportation, supplies for families, babysitting services, lawn care, or hosting support groups, each person was encouraged to help equip foster families with tools necessary to best love and nurture their foster or adoptive children.

 

Eventually, the ministry will include support groups and Bible studies that will help families with everything from spiritual growth to legal advice, education, and communication strategies. Goddard has consulted with Pam Hotsinpiller to coordinate efforts of support for grandparents raising their grandchildren and other non-traditional family situations. The Simpson Creek Baptist Church is even planning on doing dedication ceremonies when a child is placed, having the congregation commit to helping to serve and support the families.

 

With the program having just launched last month, the first stage involves identifying the families, foster children and the needs.  There will be a planning luncheon on January 13 for anyone who is interested in the foster care or adoption program or for those who simply want to offer support and use their gifts in this ministry.  The group plans to form partnerships with other agencies and churches as the program unfolds and hopes to find the most effective ways to serve so that they can be fully active by summer of 2019.

 

Those interested in being a part of this unique ministry can contact Aimee Goddard at aimee@goddardlawwv.com.