From Fear to Faith
“[For so long I felt] unwanted . . . now I know that I’m wanted.”
These few simple words came from a girl who, for so long, did not know how truly loved she was by her Heavenly Father.
Seven months ago, Addie* came into our care feeling unloved and unwanted. She had been passed around from home to home, from person to person, and had experienced much heartache in her life.
Kevin* and Jackie* immediately wanted to provide Addie with a safe, loving place when she entered their foster home. “Older kids like Addie* need someone that’s going to love them . . . through everything that they are going through,” Jackie shared. “It’s a terrible situation, and we hate it for her, but we’re here to love her through it and guide her.”
They shared the story of Jesus with her and invited her to church, but Addie immediately said no. She had heard growing up that people in the church hurt her mother physically and emotionally. Church scared Addie. You can imagine how that frightened her . . . she had already been through so much pain in her young life. She didn’t want to experience even more.
Over a few months, though, God softened her heart. Addie started attending church with her foster family and truly learned who God is. The more she learned the truth about God, the more she yearned for him. In the past, she had attended church but never understood the Bible.
Addie formed friendships with church family members. She deeply connected to God during worship. She understood why Kevin and Jackie wanted her to attend church . . . because she felt truly seen by God. She felt deeply loved. She felt truly wanted . . . for the first time in a long time.
Eventually, she felt a stirring in her heart for the Lord. During one service, she decided to give her life to the Lord. In November, she was baptized to share the decision she made with her church family.
There are thousands of Alabama foster kids who feel unwanted and need to know that they are loved by God. To learn how you can help kids like Addie, visit here.