Finding Your “Yes” in Foster & Adopt (Delayna Wilkins)

This week at Great Oaks Fellowship, guest speaker Delayna Wilkins leads us through Foster & Adopt Sunday — a powerful reminder that caring for vulnerable children isn’t just charity… it’s the gospel in action. Through Delayna's testimony, Scripture, and the heart of Jesus, we’re challenged to see the foster crisis not as someone else’s responsibility, but as a mission field the church is uniquely called to enter. Every believer has a role to play — some foster, some mentor, some pray, some support — but everyone can say “yes” to Jesus in this area. God places the lonely in families, and He calls His people to step into hard places with courage, compassion, and sacrificial love. 1. “Understanding the Crisis” (Psalm 68:5–6; Matthew 25:40) - Six children are removed every day in Bexar County due to abuse or neglect. - Half go to kinship placements; half enter foster care with strangers. - The foster system is overwhelmed — and the church has an opportunity to step in. 2. “The Reality of Foster Care” (James 1:27) - Removal is always traumatic, even when necessary for safety. - Foster care is temporary — the goal is permanency, ideally with family. - Every child carries a story of loss, pain, and deep need for healing. 3. “The Cost — and the Worth” (Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 13:2) - Fostering brings challenges: busy schedules, trauma behaviors, sacrifices. - Every act of love is a kingdom deposit that God counts. - Mariah’s story shows how seeds planted in a short time can bear fruit years later. 4. “Everyone Has a Piece to Play” (Romans 12:4–6) - Prevent: mentor crisis families through APN to keep kids safely at home. - Protect: support aged-out youth through “Don’t Go Alone.” - Provide: foster, adopt, or offer kinship care. - Support roles matter: caseworkers, CASA advocates, certified babysitters, tutors, intercessors. 5. “A Biblical Call to Action” (James 1:27; Hebrews 13:2; Ephesians 1:4–5) - God commands His people to care for orphans, widows, and the vulnerable. - We obey not out of guilt, but out of love for Jesus. - Adoption is the gospel — God adopted us when we were spiritual orphans. 6. “Finding Your Next Yes” (Isaiah 6:8) - You may not be called to foster, but you are called to something. - This crisis is solvable if every church engages. - Before leaving service, everyone is invited to stop by the tables and take a step: pray, serve, mentor, or get trained. 7. “God’s Heart for the Fatherless” (Ephesians 1:4–6; Psalm 68:5–6) - God moves toward broken places and hurting people — and calls us to do the same. - He places the lonely in families and invites His church to join His mission. - When we say “yes,” we become the hands and feet of Jesus to children who desperately need hope.