Love Out Loud Foster Care Initiative
In America there are over 440,000 children currently in the foster care system. In Missouri alone there are about 12,390 kids in foster care and 2,825 kids awaiting an adoption placement. The question is not is there a need, the question is what are we going to do about it?
“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
We're not all called to do the same thing, but we are all called to do something. You're either called to bring a child into your home or you're responsible to support those that do.

Look for lots more resources coming soon!
Stories of Foster Care
This is Lexy Campbell and here is her story of Foster Care:
My name is Lexy Campbell. I love Jesus Christ. He's my Hero, My Savior, My Best Friend, My First Love, and so much more. He rescued me from many things. He saved my soul from an eternity in hell. As a little girl up until age 8, I was abused in many ways. I was placed in foster care from 8 to 12. Adopted at age 13. When I graduated high school, I went on to college. I moved after a few years to move closer to a family that I lived with in foster care, leaving all I had known in my teenage years. Something terrible and heartbreaking happened when I was there. People I once thought the world of did something to me that is unspeakable. It left my heart very broken. I screamed and cried from the pain inside. I was angry, rejected, scared, alone, isolated, and had no hope for a future. I would come home and hold pills, wanting to end my life. A lady I didn't know well invited me to a church. My thought was, it's either commit suicide or go to this church. Now God could have found me anywhere, but this is where I was when I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. A gospel that I will never forget. A man named Jesus Christ. My Hero. I heard that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If I ever lied, that's a sin. If I ever disobeyed my parents, that's a sin. If I ever stole something that's a sin. I remember feeling so bad. I was so sad. Those sins separated me from God. My sins against God took my eyes off of me feeling sorry for myself for the life I had up until that moment making me realize I was at enmity with God. I remember thinking is there any way out of going to hell? Will God forgive me? I don't want to be separated from God. Then I heard but God loves you so much He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ to die for you on the cross for all of your sins. Jesus died, was buried and rose again. I was thinking really?? There's hope! But what can I do to fix this sin problem? Then I heard all you have to do is repent (turn from your sins and ask God to forgive you. Accept Jesus Christ into your heart and life. Allow Him to be your Savior) and be born again. Believe on the name of The Lord and you shall be saved. As tears ran down my face, the preacher gave an altar call to all those who wanted to accept Jesus. I RAN to that altar. I didn't care who was watching around me. My eyes were focused on Jesus. God's love is so incredible that He would draw me to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. That night, May 14, 2004 I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I was set free! Praise The Lord! I began to tell ANYONE that Jesus set me free! I know I got a lot of looks like "she's crazy" but I did NOT care because God loves me! Years went by as I began to serve Him in the ministry. Studying His Word and being His servant in any way He led me to be. I went back to college to get a Bachelors degree at UMSL. I had this dream of opening up a place called Safe Haven for Abused Children. I was one semester away from graduating. Something terrible happened. On December 10, 2009, as I was on campus walking back to the dorm, a man appeared. Now before I turned that corner, the thought, something isn't right, I need to turn back to the main campus. I strongly believe the Holy Spirit was wanting me to go back. But I didn't. I kept going. Within seconds, this man appeared. I walked past him as I could feel the darkness close in all around me. I turned my head back towards him and he smiled at me. I began to run, and he caught me. He grabbed my hand tightly. I remember telling him he has a way out, he doesn't have to do this. He said he has to. He drug me to a fenced in backyard. As I was shoved to the ground I seen the stars above me. I repeatedly focused on my sweet Savior, Jesus Christ. I said, Jesus I love you. If this is my time to go home to be with you, I pray you will give me the strength to bear whatever is getting ready to happen. I said these things out loud. It angered this man very much that he grabbed my throat tightly and sternly said, shut up! Shut up! I have a knife and I will kill you! His threats did not make me stop telling Jesus I loved him though. I lived through that night by the grace of God and I am blessed to share this story with all of you. Perhaps people I do not even know will see this. I was so broken for years after this. It tormented me. My faith in God was put to the test in ways I just can't describe. But I'm here to tell you something, God never left me during all of this. He faithfully brought me out of this dark period in my life. One day, I just chose to believe God's Word. I started studying His Word. I started to learn to really stand on His Word. Yes I questioned God during that dark period. But that didn't change the fact that Jesus died for me on the cross, was buried and on the third day rose again. It wasn't Gods fault that happened to me. You may ask me, do you hate the man who raped you? My response is no I do not. Jesus died for him too. I pray God will draw him to Jesus so he will repent of his sins and be born again. I pray the same for all those who have harmed me. For I have sinned and still mess up daily. It's only because of Jesus I am forgiven. I did not deserve His forgiveness but He chose to forgive me out of His mercy and love. It makes it easier to forgive others when you see it this way. It's not Gods will that any should perish but that all should have everlasting life. I choose to submit to God. I resist the devil. He will flee from me. I believe on the name of Jesus Christ. I am saved by the grace of God. I overcome by the word of my testimony and the blood of Lamb (Jesus Christ). This is my testimony. Please know God is no respecter of persons. What He did for me, He can and will do for you. God loves you despite all you've done. Come to Jesus, please let Him set you free like He has for me and SO MANY more.
~ Lexy Campbell