Foster Care, Religion, and Juvenile with Lance Hillsinger

What happens when faith, social work, and the justice system collide? In this thought-provoking episode of the Christian Readers Community Podcast, I sit down with Lance Hillsinger, a retired child welfare social worker and author of In Place of the Parent: Inside Child Protective Services and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: A Court Investigator Examines the Gospels. Lance brings decades of experience from inside the foster care and juvenile court systems—and shares how his deep faith shaped the way he approached some of the hardest realities faced by children and families. Our conversation dives into the intersection of faith and public service, the struggles within the healthcare and foster care systems, and how compassion and justice can work hand in hand. With honesty and incredible insight, Lance connects faith, wisdom, and lived experience in a way that challenges and inspires. His message offers a powerful reminder that every child’s story matters—and that God can use us, wherever we are, to make a difference. This episode is a must-listen for parents of teenagers, educators, and anyone connected to the foster care system—or anyone seeking to understand how faith can illuminate even the most complex corners of society. --- Amazon links to his books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: A Court Investigator Examines the Gospels: https://www.amazon.com/Matthew... /> In Place of the Parent: Inside Child Protective Services: https://www.amazon.com/Place-P... Build A Better Bridge: Social Policy for the 21st Century: https://www.amazon.com/Build-B... Beyond Amelia: Lesser-Known Women of Yesteryear published under the name L B Hillsinger: https://www.amazon.com/Build-B... Visit his website: lancehillsinger.net --- About the Author: Lance Hillsinger is a retired child welfare social worker and the author of In Place of the Parent: Inside Child Protective Services, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: A Court Investigator Examines the Gospels, Build a Better Bridge: Social Policy for the 21st Century, and Beyond Amelia: Lesser-known Women of Yesteryear. Over his career, Lance has combined faith, policy, and compassion to advocate for children and families in crisis. His unique perspective bridges social work and spirituality, offering deep insights into how faith can guide real-world service. Lance has appeared on several podcasts, including Child Welfare Leaders, Faith Science, The Bible Say What?, We the Patriots, and Liberty Radio Network. He and his wife, Lisa, live in San Luis Obispo, California, and have been married for over forty years. They have two adult children. *** A Personal Note to Our Listeners Thank you for being here—your time, attention, and heart make this community what it is. We are committed to keeping this platform accessible while maintaining a high standard of production and value. That comes with both time and financial investment. If this podcast has ever added value to you, we invite you to support what we are building. Your contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue to create meaningful and impactful content. If you would like to give, please use the link below to access all payment options:https://docs.google.com/forms/... Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for being part of this community.