Caring for the Orphan in Our City
May is National Foster Care Month in the United States, and we want to lift up those children and families affected by foster care in our cities. Today, over 3,700 children are in the foster care system in Arkansas. These are kids without a place to call ‘home,’ and the need to respond to this crisis in our state is real. However, there are families, churches, and organizations throughout Arkansas that are responding to the crisis in tangible, life-changing ways. We want to take the opportunity to highlight three organizations that are serving on the front lines to help the Church fulfill its responsibility to love and care for the orphan in our city (James 1:27).
The CALL: A Collective Movement of God’s People
The CALL began in 2007 out of a movement among God’s people. Many of the organization’s co-founders had firsthand experience of the foster care crisis in Arkansas and saw an opportunity for the Church to step up and serve. Christen Butler, Executive Director of The CALL, tells me that this movement was bigger than one church. “The really neat thing was it didn’t just start with one church. It was, ‘Let’s gather churches together, and how can we, together, step into this space?’ I believe that’s the unique foundation of The CALL. It’s not about one person. It’s not a movement of one church. It’s a collective movement of God’s people.”
The CALL’s mission is focused on two things: raising awareness about foster care and raising foster families. The organization works to educate the community, churches, and families about the realities of foster care. They also guide those who feel called to foster care by providing comprehensive, trauma-informed, and Christ-centered training and helping with the extensive pre-certification paperwork required to meet fostering standards.
The CALL also provides what Christen calls “wrap-around support” for foster families and churches. “We engage churches to help educate churches. We want to equip churches and create a culture so they can give the stability, love, and care necessary for these families. We provide anything from freezer meals to tangible supplies. These kids come into care usually with nothing. Maybe just the clothes on their back. Here’s a new pair of shoes. Here’s a bed this family will need. That wrap-around support also covers therapy services for the foster and adoptive parent.”
Megan Hurtt, The CALL’s Coordinator for Faulkner County, elaborates on the importance of wrap-around support and the collective effort with other non-profit organizations:
One thing that makes us unique is we aren’t here for any glory for ourselves; only to do what God calls us to do. I’m a foster parent, so I can tell you about the emotional and physical toll fostering takes. To have an organization that you can lean on and support you spiritually plays a huge part and why people say, “Yes” to The CALL. I mean, who’s going to be a better foster parent than a believer in a church who’s being supported by church members? I don’t think people would sign up for this if they didn’t think they would get the wrap-around support. It’s a mission field, a big mission field.
We have developed so many good relationships with nonprofits surrounding us. We’ve been able to do so much more than awareness and recruitment. When Immerse Arkansas came to Conway, we recommended them to others. The CALL Mall is open to The Rise House, Bethlehem House, and Life Choices. When you give a little, you get it back tenfold. We aren’t putting up walls.
Christen Butler is quick to acknowledge the pivotal role churches play in The CALL’s work. “Churches are the backbone of everything we do. When we’re recruiting foster families, and we’re engaging that level of support, our audience is the Christian community. Many churches already have a heart for mission work and for serving vulnerable families. There’s a step in every bit of this process where the church fits right in. We believe this is mission care, and it’s amazing to see churches of all types and sizes engage.”
Project Zero: Advocating, Building, and Connecting with Churches
Kandace Gerber, the Director of Marketing at Project Zero, tells me their goal is simple: “We want to see Arkansas become the first state with zero kids in the foster care system waiting to be adopted.” Over the organization’s thirteen-year history, the number of kids waiting peaked at over 700, but today is down to 228.
How does Project Zero get kids from waiting to finding their forever family? Kandace tells me it happens through the ABCs of their mission. First, they advocate awareness about adoption. “We let people know these kids are available and waiting to be adopted.” Project Zero has three Heart Galleries with portraits and stories of the kids waiting to be adopted. These galleries (one in Northwest Arkansas and two in Central Arkansas) travel throughout the state. “We love to get into church lobbies and let people see the kids’ faces when they leave the church service. We also have them at events.”
Second, Project Zero builds hope. “We pour into these kids on special days like their birthday. With our Candyland Christmas event, we try to get everything on their wishlist. Each of them is precious and unique, so we try to build hope specifically for each child. Hope is needed because the longer a kid is in the foster care system, their hope of being adopted can diminish.”
Third, Project Zero connects. They host connection events monthly. “The focus is getting kids to interact with families. Some families will come with specific kids in mind. Since Project Zero has a statewide focus, we have kids and families coming to these events from around the state.”
If there’s one thing Kandace is adamant about, it’s the critical role churches play in Project Zero’s mission. “Churches are already primed for this because believers are in tune with the Spirit and, hopefully, the Spirit’s stirring their hearts, telling them, ‘You can do this.’ Not everyone will choose to adopt, but everyone can do something. There are countless ways, big and small, that God’s people can be part of someone’s ‘yes.’ You can adopt a child in prayer or share their short film with your small group. Maybe a small ‘yes’ is simply getting information on what it would take to open your home. These kids need someone to be for them, someone in their corner to encourage them and be their cheerleader. You could say ‘yes’ to that.”
Immerse Arkansas: Transforming Youth into Overachievers
Immerse Arkansas focuses on one of the most vulnerable groups within foster care—those aging out of the system. Their overarching goal is to see youth from crisis transformed into overcomers. Typically, those youth are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-four, who are, as Eric Gilmore, Executive Director of Immerse Arkansas, tells me, those who have “aged out of foster care, are in foster care, have been adopted, have run away, are homeless, or are trafficking victims.” Given those circumstances, it’s hard to imagine the uphill climb these youth take entering adulthood. But it’s a climb that Eric and his team are willing to take with them. “We want to see them become whole, resilient adults. We want to see them go on to flourish. We are trying to walk alongside young people at one of the most critical times in their lives, helping them build a solid foundation from which they can grow and be a full and participating member of society.”
What does that look like? Eric tells me their youth center provides a low-barrier point of entry for these youth. “Youth can come here, and we’re going to help them with their needs and their dreams. They can take a shower, get food, or get help getting a job. They can see a therapist. All those things. At the same time, they can get help getting into college. They can get help starting a career and figuring out their skills and what’s the best fit for them. They can pursue hobbies. They can experience incredible things that will, hopefully, challenge and expand their worldview.”
The organization has a transitional living program, which includes houses and apartments for young people to practice adulthood and build a strong foundation for life. They are also building the first dedicated shelter for youth in the state. “We hope that’s going to be a game-changer for teens and young adults. Rather than go to a shelter that’s designed, typically, for adults with just cots in a room, it’ll feel more like a dorm. They’ll have their own bedroom and bathroom. They’ll be part of a community.”
Eric knows that, without churches, Immerse Arkansas would simply not exist. They played a critical role in the beginning, they play a vital role today, and they will play a critical role well into the future. “So much generosity comes from people in the Church—so many volunteers, mentors, resources, and donations. Here we get to see the Church carrying out its role on a daily basis in caring for young and vulnerable people, which is exciting. It’s phenomenal the level of care and concern from the Church for the young people we’re serving. It’s astounding.”
Your Role in God’s Story
Organizations like The CALL, Project Zero, Immerse Arkansas, and others are partnering with churches to answer the call of James 1:27. The reality is that if every church in Arkansas were engaged in this issue, we could provide a caring home for every child. It’s as simple as that. Whether big or small, you and your church have a role to play in the story God is telling through youth in the foster care system. Together, we can respond to this crisis with love in action and give these children a home and community where they can flourish.
Together, we can do this, and together, we can build a flourishing community.
As I met with leaders for The CALL, Project Zero, and Immerse Arkansas, I faced a dilemma. Each interview gave me so much content and multiple stories that were too compelling not to share. Therefore, you can read more about each of these great organizations below.
Christen Butler – Executive Director, The CALL
The CALL began in 2007 out of a movement among God’s people. Many of the organization’s co-founders had firsthand experience of the foster care crisis in Arkansas and saw an opportunity for the Church to step up and serve. Christen Butler, Executive Director of The CALL, tells me that this movement was bigger than one church. “The really neat thing was it didn’t just start with one church. It was, ‘Let’s gather churches together, and how can we, together, step into this space?’ I believe that’s the unique foundation of The CALL. It’s not about one person. It’s not a movement of one church. It’s a collective movement of God’s people.”
From there, The CALL sought a new kind of partnership between the state and churches. “It wasn’t from a view of looking down at state government. It was, ‘Hey, the Bible compels us to step in and love people and serve as James 1:27 compels us to do.’” The CALL started in Pulaski County and quickly spread throughout the state. Today, The CALL is represented in all 75 counties in Arkansas.
“It really is a God movement. People from other states across the nation will ask us, ‘How do you do it?’ The truth is, it’s not about us. It’s God’s movement through his Church and people. What I love about The CALL is it’s one of the most tangible ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus in local missional work. So many times, we hear about mission work in the Church, and it’s in far-off countries. And those are needed, but a lot of times we don’t view our own neighborhood or schools as a mission field. We don’t often see that as mission work, but it really is. Foster care is one of the most tangible, present mission fields that we can encounter in our day-to-day lives.”
Raise Awareness, Raise Up Families
The mission of The CALL is two-fold: raise awareness and raise up families. “The work of The CALL is to break down barriers and educate others about what foster care is. With the help of the state, we have stats that tell us how many kids are in care in each county every week. We can share with churches how many kids are in foster care and only this many foster homes to care for them in their communities. Awareness is one of the big pieces that The CALL owns. Raising awareness about what foster care is and how it impacts our communities, churches, schools, and families.”
“Once we’ve done that, our next goal is to raise up foster families for people who believe that is a missional calling on their life that God is calling them to open their homes to foster care. We provide all of the pre-certification training, all trauma-based, community, and Christ-centered training needed that they have to have in order to open their home. We help them with all the pre-certification paperwork. As you can imagine, there are a lot of requirements to meet the standards to be a foster family. We are here to shepherd them through the entire process.”
Providing Wrap-Around Support
Becoming a foster family is “a daunting task,” as Christen describes it. That’s why equipping churches to provide what she calls “wrap-around support” is so important to support families on their foster care journey. “We engage churches to help educate churches. We want to equip churches and create a culture so they can give that wrap-around support, stability, love, and trauma-informed care so they can step in for these families. We provide anything from freezer meals to tangible supplies. These kids come into care usually with nothing. Maybe just the clothes on their back. Here’s a new pair of shoes. Here’s a bed this family will need. That wrap-around support also covers therapy services for the foster and adoptive parent.”
100% Church-Focused
Christen is quick to acknowledge the pivotal role churches play in The CALL’s work. “We are one hundred percent church-focused. Churches are the backbone of everything we do. When we’re recruiting foster families, and we’re engaging that level of support, our audience is the Christian community. Many churches already have a heart for mission work and for serving vulnerable families. Some of our churches will step up and offer babysitting nights, so foster parents can go on a date. There’s a step in every bit of this process where the church fits right in. We believe this is mission care, and it’s amazing to see churches of all types and sizes engage. We have one church with a lot of retirees, and they make freezer meals, and that’s their contribution and how they serve on this mission field. We have other churches that support us financially so we can buy those tangible good needs. It’s really amazing when you step back and look at our churches in the state of Arkansas.”
Christen tells the story of one family in Southern Arkansas who brought their placements with them to church. Things were going well in the case as the kids’ biological mom was working hard to make her home a safe space for her children. Well, the foster family invited the biological mom to join them at church. After the kids went back to their mom, that mom and those kids continued attending that church. Christen reflects on how important it was for that biological mom to find support in that church. “This biological mom needs that support from God’s people who genuinely love and care for her as she’s made this life-altering change. When you see that kind of transition in a family, only God can do that. Only the Church could support this woman in her quest to keep her kids and make a better life for herself. And now you see the eternal impact on her and her kids going forward.”
Common Misconceptions
What are common misconceptions about foster care? Christen believes there are two main ones. “When you hear foster care, you think they’re really bad kids. No, these are kids just like my kids, just like your kids, who have gone through some really traumatic things not of their own choosing. They’ve been put through life circumstances that most adults could never even comprehend. They’re kids who’ve lived through trauma, and they just need a safe, stable place. So, one of the biggest misconceptions, sadly, is about the kids. These are good kids, and these are kids that God loves. God has a purpose and a future and a plan for them. They just need someone to show them a safe, healing home.”
Another misconception is that the foster care crisis is too big of a problem to solve. “Today, there are about 3,700 children in foster care and 5,000 churches in Arkansas. Foster care is broken and hard. I’m not going to lie. There are hard things that come along with it. But if every church could take on one child, it would be solved. If one family would raise their hand and say, ‘Yes,’ knowing their church is going to rally around them and support them, and have the support of The CALL and other organizations around the state, our foster care crisis would be solved in our state solely through churches.”
Connecting on a Human Level
Not everyone will sign up to be a foster family or adopt a child. But everyone can answer God’s call to serve in some tangible way. Christen tells me that “once you see the brokenness, you can’t unsee it. If people would get involved on some level, once you see it, it’s so evident of God’s movement in this work. And it’s little things, like providing a kid with a backpack to go to school. Recently, we had a young man who came into one of our support centers. He was able to take a clean shower and get a new pair of shoes. This wonderful volunteer sat there and brushed his hair and simply connected with him on a human level.”
The CALL opens its centers for foster kids to visit with their biological parents. One time, Christen came to one of their centers and saw a sweet little five-year-old boy with glasses and blonde hair, gelled and spiked, at a table in front of a chocolate cake with lots and lots of sprinkles. Christen sat across from him and asked, “Did you do that?” He replied, “Yeah! We did the sprinkles. It’s my dad’s birthday!” What Christen saw is something volunteers at The CALL witness on a daily basis. “It’s amazing for volunteers who get to be a bystander and see this family as they get to reconnect in ways like this. It’s little glimpses of that when you get to see God’s love and intention for family. It’s such a moving thing.”
What’s the Secret Sauce?
Over the past seventeen years, over 31,000 children have been cared for by over 3,000 families of The CALL. Given these numbers, people assume The CALL has found the secret sauce, which makes Christen laugh. She knows there’s no secret sauce. They haven’t figured it out. “There are kids every day who sit in a DHS office and are waiting for a family to say ‘yes’ so they have a home to go to. That’s the reality. We don’t have enough foster homes. The answer isn’t The CALL. It’s God’s people. God has already provided the answer. We just have to be faithful to stand up. We believe the numbers are proving that God and His people can do this. God can sustain this work. We are so proud to see God’s people and churches step up. It’s a humbling thing to get to serve and be a part of.”
Looking back to the beginning of The CALL’s story, Christen sees a defining moment that has shaped this ministry ever since. “In the very beginning, it was a group of people in one church who said, ‘No, this is bigger than us. We need to include others. Together, God can do something impactful.’ I really believe that was the defining moment for The CALL. For The CALL to grow and grow beyond one church, they needed to include others. God knows what He’s doing with His Church, right? So, why are we so surprised by what we can do when we work together? If we just follow Him, He has it all covered.”
How to Get Involved
This God-sized mission has, according to Christen’s estimate, “five million ways you can get involved.” She goes on. “You can volunteer to do tangible good drives or just come to the support center. You can bring your small group to our support center for a tour, and we can show you what local mission work looks like in your community. We host those for youth groups and small groups. We can come and do presentations at your church to share about the local need in foster care and how local churches can get involved. Raising up foster families is the biggest thing and supporting them well. There are so many opportunities to step in and get involved, and it all begins with those local communities.”
The CALL believes in local contacts and relationships. If you’re interested in learning more or saying “Yes” to The CALL, you can go to www.thecallinarkansas.org to find the local contact in your country.
Kandace Gerber – Director of Marketing, Project Zero
Years ago, Kandace Gerber was in a church small group with Project Zero’s founder, Christie Erwin. Kandace loved Christie’s passion for foster care. “As a young mom, Christie felt like being pro-life wasn’t enough. God was calling her to do more. So they started fostering, and God put it on her heart that there should be zero kids waiting for adoption in Arkansas. She thought, ‘If there are this many churches in Arkansas and this many kids waiting to be adopted, why are there still kids waiting to be adopted?’” Her drive to bring the number of kids waiting to be adopted down to zero was the genesis of what would become Project Zero.
Christie became a mentor to Kandace when she had her first child, and they stayed connected over the years. After Kandace retired from advertising to be a stay-at-home mom, she started volunteering for Project Zero. She thought, “I have this talent that I still want to use, and I love what Project Zero is doing.” Kandace threw herself into her volunteer work and, eventually, asked Christie, “Why don’t I just work for you?” After focusing on fundraising for Project Zero, Kandace transitioned to marketing and raising awareness for the organization’s work throughout the state of Arkansas.
Two Critical Connections
Kandace tells me that Project Zero’s goal is simple: “We want to see Arkansas become the first state with zero kids in the foster care system waiting to be adopted.” Over the organization’s thirteen-year history, the number of kids waiting peaked at over 700, but today, it’s 228.”
Two crucial connections have helped drive that number down. One is with the Department of Child and Family Services. This partnership gives Kandace and her team direct access to caseworkers and kids in the foster care system, which lets them share the many stories of the kids waiting to be adopted. The other crucial connection is with churches. Kandace tells me that getting the number of foster kids waiting to zero “only happens if the church steps up, and there’s a waiting list of approved families, and their homes are open.” She goes on to explain how churches are in a unique position to be part of the solution. “Churches are great about having a heart for orphans and foster care. If half the churches in Little Rock adopted one kid, there’d be zero kids waiting in Arkansas.”
Kandace tells me, “Every child is more than a number, and they deserve to have dreams like you and me. Today, we had a short film blitz interviewing kids. These short films are a great way to introduce these kids to others who could become their “forever family.” We ask them questions like, ‘What’s your favorite superpower?’ ‘What’s your favorite subject in school?’ ‘What are you looking for in a family?’ You know, they aren’t asking for a perfect family. They just want a family that’s for them, that’s in their corner. They want someone to be there and cheer for them at sporting events.”
Advocating, Building, and Connecting
How does Project Zero get kids from waiting to finding their forever family? Kandace tells me it happens through the ABCs of their mission. First, they advocate awareness about adoption. “We let people know these kids are available and waiting to be adopted. Growing up, I thought adoption was something you did with international kids. I didn’t realize there were so many waiting here in Arkansas.” Adoption is complicated, so advocacy also includes walking with families to answer questions and guide them through the adoption process.
Project Zero has three Heart Galleries with portraits and stories of the kids waiting to be adopted. These galleries (one in Northwest Arkansas and two in Central Arkansas) travel throughout the state. “We love to get into church lobbies and let people see the kids’ faces when they leave the church service. We also have them at events. We’ve taken them to golf tournaments and clubs. We have amazing photographers who donate their time and talent for these photos. And we make each kid feel special for that photo.”
Sometimes, getting a family to say “yes” to fostering or supporting foster families comes from seeing a kid in the Heart Gallery at their church, seeing a Project Zero post shared on social media, or filling out paperwork to see if they would be approved. “There are a million beautiful stories of God working in small ways to get a big ‘yes’ from families.”
Second, Project Zero builds hope. “We pour into these kids on special days like their birthday. With our Candyland Christmas event, we try to get everything on their wishlist. Each of them is precious and unique, so we try to build hope specifically for each child.” Hope is needed because the longer a kid is in the foster care system, their hope of being adopted can diminish. Some kids age out and choose the independent route, which Kandace says is not ideal for the statistically. “What kids face as they age out is awful—homelessness, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse are just rampant.”
Third, Project Zero connects. They host connection events monthly. From February Fun Day to a spring carnival to a Disney Extravaganza in June to a Candyland Christmas in December, these events connect foster kids around the state with families that have opened their homes to adopt. “The focus is getting kids to interact with families. Some families will come with specific kids in mind. Since Project Zero has a statewide focus, we have kids and families coming to these events from around the state.”
The Church’s Role in God’s Story
If there’s one thing Kandace is adamant about, it’s the critical role churches play in Project Zero’s mission and how it perfectly dovetails with what Christians believe about God and His Church’s mission. “God is the Father of adoption. It’s everywhere in the Bible. It’s a perfect parallel, and it’s amazing to see it played out in the lives of over 1,400 kids with whom we’ve had the blessing of being part of their adoption journey. Churches are already primed for this because believers are in tune with the Spirit and, hopefully, the Spirit’s stirring their hearts, telling them, ‘You can do this.’ Churches are also a great space for us to host events. For example, seventeen adoption connections were made between kids and families at our February event at a church.”
Kandace believes churches are vital to providing the necessary wrap-around support for foster kids and families. “There are 4,600 kids in foster care in Arkansas. There are 228 that are available for adoption. They are waiting for someone to say ‘yes.’ There are countless ways, big and small, that God’s people can be part of someone’s ‘yes.’ You can adopt a child in prayer or share their short film with your small group. Maybe a small ‘yes’ is simply getting information on what it would take to open your home. These kids need a mentor and guide. They need someone to be for them, someone in their corner to encourage them and be their cheerleader. You could say ‘yes’ to that. Not everyone will choose to adopt, but everyone can do something. Everyone has a role in the story God is telling. Small roles from small ‘yes’s are significant to the story, too.”
Light Breaking into Darkness
At the heart of Project Zero’s mission are those 228 foster kids in waiting. “We want to show a watching world the value of these kids. We want to do everything with excellence and go over the top to show every child that they are over the top loved. We want to be an expression of the Father’s heart for them.”
What motivates Kandace and the Project Zero team to keep going? “In our day-to-day work, we are playing the long game. Every time we get a ‘yes’ from someone or a ‘family found’ banner goes up, it motivates us. We had a teenage boy in foster care for ten years until he finally met his forever family at our Disney Extravaganza. In this work, I see and hear dark and terrible things that are gut-wrenching. Those things are hard and sad…but God. We are His Church. We are the light of the world breaking into the darkness of the world, and the light will always overcome. That’s our biggest hope. We don’t see a ‘yes’ for every kid. Sometimes, kids age out of the system. We try our hardest, and we know God has a plan for every single kid. Seeing a kid find their forever family makes the hard things worth it all.”
How to Get Involved
Hosting a Heart Gallery is the best and easiest way for churches to get involved. “It’s a low-commitment ‘yes’ and helps raise awareness. Be our liaison and talk to your pastor about getting our Heart Gallery in your church. If you want, we can come to your church and talk about Project Zero. We’re open to sharing with anyone, whether the whole church, a small group, a women’s ministry, or a men’s ministry. Anyone” Another easy way to get involved is through giving. “Our mission is way beyond our means. It’s a God-sized mission, and we do big, outside-the-box events because we believe every kid is worth that.”
For more information about Project Zero’s mission and how to get involved, visit their website at www.theprojectzero.org.
Eric Gilmore – Executive Director, Immerse Arkansas
After Eric Gilmore and his wife began their foster care journey. Many of the kids who turned eighteen and aged out of the foster care system were having an extremely difficult time transitioning into adulthood. Eric tells the story of one girl, Meagan, who came into their lives and reinforced this unfortunate reality. “Meagan really grabbed our hearts. She came into foster care when she was twelve. We met Meagan when she was fourteen or so. She experienced all kinds of horrible abuse before she was twelve. Meagan was in about fifty different placements between the ages of twelve and eighteen.”
Meagan would often stay with Eric and his wife. When she turned eighteen, they threw her a birthday party. During the party, Meagan asked if they would come to the bus station the next day to say goodbye to her because she was leaving for Fort Smith. The next day, Eric and his wife arrived at the Greyhound bus station in North Little Rock. Not long after, Meagan and her caseworker arrived. Eric recalls the site that has stuck with him ever since. “She’s got one bag of clothes, one night’s worth of her bipolar medication, and a one-way ticket to Ft. Smith to go back to some family members she hasn’t seen since she was brought into foster care. It just landed on us like a ton of bricks that this was her entrance into adulthood. This was her transition.”
Seeing the Church Rise Up
It was a wake-up call for Eric, and God used Meagan to get his attention. At first, Eric felt indignation. He wondered, “Why isn’t someone doing something?!” To that, God replied, “Why don’t you do something?” Then Eric thought, “Where is the Church in this? Why isn’t the Church doing something?!” Again, God told Eric, “Well, you’re part of the Church.”
Through a series of events, God made it clear that Eric and his wife had an opportunity to do something. “We couldn’t shake it. We couldn’t ignore it. We started talking to people about it. People told us, ‘That’s not an isolated incident. Not every incident is that dramatic, but there are about 200 kids who age out of foster care every year in Arkansas, and there’s a need, there’s a gap there.’” Shortly thereafter, in August of 2010, Immerse Arkansas opened its doors.
When Eric reflects on those early years at Immerse, he sees God’s fingerprints everywhere. “It was an incredible ride. I constantly witnessed some of the worst things in our society while, at the same time, seeing God provide in miraculous ways, both for the youth we were serving, through people who stepped forward to help in a variety of ways, and navigating all the challenges you might imagine would be inherent in that. It was amazing to see the Church rise up and be part of building a solution that works for these young people and makes a difference.”
In the beginning, there was a lot of trial and error, which Eric describes as “a lot of people doing the best they could with what they had when they could.” But behind it all, there was God. “The bigger story was God’s faithfulness in revealing His character to young people that He really, really cares about.”
Youth Transformed into Overcomers
The overarching goal for Immerse Arkansas is to see youth from crisis transformed into overcomers. Typically, those youth are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-four, who are, as Eric tells me, those who have “aged out of foster care, are in foster care, have been adopted, have run away, are homeless, or are trafficking victims.” Given those circumstances, it’s hard to imagine the uphill climb these youth take entering adulthood.
But it’s a climb that Eric and his team are willing to take with them. “We want to see them become whole, resilient adults. We want to see them go on to flourish. That’s easy to say but challenging to accomplish. We realize it’s a significant task. For us and for these young people. Truly, we are trying to walk alongside young people at one of the most critical times in their lives, helping them build a solid foundation from which they can grow and be a full and participating member of society.”
What does that look like at Immerse Arkansas? Eric tells me, “That looks like a youth center here that serves youth ages 14-24. That’s a low-barrier entry. You don’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get help or get involved. Youth can come here, and we’re going to help them with their needs and their dreams. They can take a shower, get food, or get help getting a job. They can see a therapist. All those things. At the same time, they can get help getting into college. They can get help starting a career and figuring out their skills and what’s the best fit for them. They can pursue hobbies. They can experience incredible things that will, hopefully, challenge and expand their worldview. Things like hiking or floating the Buffalo River or rock climbing or camping. All kinds of adventure and transformational experiences. That all happens out of here.”
The First Youth Shelter in Arkansas
Immerse Arkansas has a transitional living program, which includes houses and apartments for young people to practice adulthood and build a strong foundation for life. Eric and his team have also taken what they’ve learned about serving youth ages 18 and up and adapted that learning to younger teens. “There’s a track in that transitional living program just for teens to help them have healthy relationships, finish school, work on employment, or get safe and stable housing. The goal is to do that earlier in their lives because it’s an incredible opportunity for these young people at that stage of life. It’s an ideal time to jump in, work with them, rally around them, and build them up. We’re doing a lot of mentor pairings right now, seeing people come and build long-term relationships with young people, and that’s beautiful.”
The organization is building Arkansas’ first shelter dedicated entirely to youth ages 18-24. “We hope that’s going to be a game-changer for teens and young adults. Rather than go to a shelter that’s designed, typically, for adults with just cots in a room, it’ll feel more like a dorm. They’ll have their own bedroom and bathroom. They’ll be part of a community. Many of these young people are living on the streets or don’t have anywhere to go. That’s an extremely vulnerable position to be in. Frequently, they’re likely to be victimized. They could get on drugs, get caught up in violence, or get taken advantage of somehow. The big idea behind the shelter is, ‘What if they didn’t have to experience all that?’”
The shelter is called the Station, which Eric tells me is in honor of Meagan, who inspired everything. “The Station is a callback to what we wish could have been there for Meagan as she was aging out of foster care. We wish we could have dropped her off somewhere that was for her. That could have changed her story.”
The Joys and Challenges
When asked about the joys and challenges of caring for these youth, Eric says, “They are always happening at the same time on the same day.” The biggest challenge for the Immerse Arkansas team is competing for the attention of youth. “We’re fighting for the hearts and souls of these young people we care for. And we face stiff competition when it comes to the world. Whatever it is, whether it’s relationships, substances, or materialism, we’re offering something very different from what might be available to them.”
In the midst of challenges, there are things to celebrate. Eric highlights a few for me. “We take it all as a win if a young person shows up and they come back the next day. They are taking steps toward owning their life and their future. We have a young person at the Clinton School of Public Service right now, working on a project they just presented. The big things everyone here gets excited about are first things. Driver’s licenses, getting into college, first jobs, getting a place of their own, getting baptized.”
The Church’s Role
Eric knows that, without churches, Immerse Arkansas would simply not exist. They played a critical role in the beginning, they play a vital role today, and they will play a critical role well into the future. “So much generosity comes from people in the Church—so many volunteers, mentors, resources, and donations. Here we get to see the Church carrying out its role on a daily basis in caring for young and vulnerable people, which is exciting. It’s phenomenal the level of care and concern from the Church for the young people we’re serving. It’s astounding.”
How to Get Involved
When asked how churches can get involved, Eric points to their most significant need right now—people. “This is a relationship problem. This is a people problem. That means it’s a relationship and people solution. We need mentors. We need volunteers. We need people to come and serve meals. We need people to come and teach life skill classes. We need people to tutor youth. Those opportunities are easy to find on our website.”
For more information about Immerse Arkansas’ mission and how to get involved, visit their website at www.immersearkansas.org.
