Hero Partners Spotlight: The Berrys
Kallan and Kris pictured here with their sons
Kris and Kallan Berry are two of our monthly Hero Partners who have chosen to not only help provide for children financially in this way, but have also opened their hearts and home to care for children through foster parenting.
Upon launching our Auburn-Opelika office in 2018, the Berrys were one of the newest families to join us in caring for children in need. While talking with the couple in late 2018, Kris said, “We’ve known since early in our marriage that one day we’d like to help children in some way.”
He continued to share that over the course of a year, God had made it abundantly clear to him that they needed to pursue helping children through ABCH. Citing countless conversations and encounters with people impacted by or involved with foster care and through lots of conversation and prayer with Kallan, Kris says they decided it would be best to first look to ABCH. In the course of these conversations and with ABCH now being in Opelika, they felt led to begin foster parent training.
We recently caught up with Kris and Kallan and are excited to share with you an update of some of their foster parenting experience so far and also their thoughts on becoming monthly Hero Partners.
What led you guys to become a Hero Partner, to support those in our care on a monthly basis?
After hearing an ABCH representative speak at church one Sunday, we felt a push in our hearts to start contributing to the goals and mission of ABCH. After several months of routine contributions, we decided it would be best to join the Hero Partners.
How have you seen God work in and through your family since taking in your first foster care placement?
We received our first placement in the summer of 2019, and she is currently still with us. During this time, God has taught us patience. Fostering is full of uncertainties and unknowns. We are learning to just be patient and trust that He is sovereign. Everything will happen according to His good and perfect will. Also, our prayer life has been strengthened. We recognize that any frustrations and negative thoughts that may creep in are directly from the Enemy. Praying against these things is crucial.
Overall, what has your experience as foster parents been like?
We knew being foster parents was going to be hard, but it has been hard in different ways than we expected. From trying to navigate the system to demanding schedules and inconvenient appointments, it can be quite frustrating. However, the rewards have far outweighed the frustrations and the experience is not something that we regret.
We have always felt strongly that this was an opportunity in our lives that we could not ignore, and we thought it was very important for us to provide an example for our children by accepting a call placed on our hearts. Our hope is that they see us being the hands and feet of Jesus. A few nights ago, our foster daughter asked to say prayers before we put her to bed. Knowing that we may have planted a seed makes all the hard times worth it.
How have your relationships with ABCH staff members changed or grown since becoming foster parents?
From being a listening ear, to offering advice and encouragement, to showing up for doctor’s appointments, and shuffling kids around when our schedules wouldn’t allow it, we tell people all the time that there is no way we could foster without ABCH. Not only do they love and support the kids in their care, they love and support us and our family as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A foundational scripture for us when trying to decide whether to foster was Matthew 16:24, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
We frequently have to remind ourselves that what we want is not most important, but rather following Jesus and His plan. The road of foster care can be challenging at times but at the end of the day, if we have ensured the opportunity for a child to experience the love of Christ, we have done our job.
If you would like to learn more about what your next step may be in serving children and families in need, please visit here.
This story is one of four quarterly features shared through our Hero Partners e-news. To learn more about supporting our children and families through a recurring monthly gift and receive these stories directly to your inbox, visit our Hero Partners page today!