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Caring and Connections Lead to Foster Care Initiative in Kentucky

by Cynthia J Thomas


During the month of May, designated as Foster Care Awareness Month, many communities across the United States worked to raise awareness of the challenges faced by children in the foster care system and the families serving as foster parents. More and more Assemblies of God districts and ministry networks are responding to the scriptural mandate to care for such children by implementing practical resources to help churches support foster parents in their congregations and communities.

One of those networks is the Kentucky Ministry Network, which officially rolled out their foster care initiative at their recent 2025 network conference. Led by Ashlee McCoy, the initiative has been a result of prayer and Spirit-led connections between McCoy, Network Secretary-Treasurer Darren Lewis, and U.S. missionary with Chaplaincy Ministries, Adam Bell.

Conversation about a network-wide initiative in Kentucky began at the inaugural AG National Foster Care Network conference in 2022. Lewis and his wife, Jenna, adoptive parents themselves, had been serving as unofficial advocates in Kentucky, coordinating with a faith-based para-church ministry while pastoring at Calvary Christian Center in Louisville.

Upon becoming network secretary-treasurer, Lewis wanted to do more, and asked the network’s superintendent, Joseph Girdler, to put foster care under his portfolio, leading to his attending the conference. There, he was introduced to Adam Bell and his ministry of equipping churches to do this work in Michigan.

As the conversation continued over the next year, Ashlee McCoy was also feeling the need to do something in Kentucky. McCoy is familiar with foster care challenges through her own family as well as serving as a family service coordinator for a public school.

After studying for ministry credentials with the Assemblies of God, she says that during her final credentialing interview with network officials, it became clear that specialized chaplaincy focusing on foster care was God’s prompting for her ministry direction.

“It all starts with awareness,” she says, “and I wanted to help.”

“Ashlee was an answer to prayer,” says Bell. After several Kentucky pastors and leaders were impacted by a 2024 article in the network newsletter, Bell agreed to serve as a resource and a mentor for McCoy while an initiative in Kentucky was developed.

The need is great, as any staff person at social service agencies or public schools, like McCoy, is well aware.

Over 400,000 U.S. children are currently in the foster care system, with more than 100,000 awaiting adoption. However, being a foster parent is not an easy calling; many of those who become licensed end up quitting.

“Addressing this reality creates multiple levels of potential involvement for any congregation,” says McCoy. A church coming alongside foster parents can be a game-changer, as congregations step up to provide respite care, provide meals during crisis times or just as a nice break, facilitate support groups, and help with practical needs such as furniture and clothing.

Starting at McCoy’s home church, River of Life Ministries in Paris, Kentucky, she and Bell have been sharing at churches, along with developing resources for the 2025 network conference.

A survey and QR code were distributed at the conference to generate on-the-spot conversation or later contact by pastors and church leadership. The responses are already helping Bell and McCoy determine what churches are currently doing and what needs they see in their communities, so they can meet those churches at whatever point they are in ministry development. A possible network summit is under discussion for the future, along with organic growth happening across the network as people see the need and invite McCoy to share at other ministry events, including women’s ministries.

The need for resources is not limited to just helping the foster families.

Child welfare workers, who sometimes experience burnout or secondary trauma, can be greatly encouraged through a special “thank-you” event hosted by a church. This is particularly true in Kentucky’s many rural counties, where sparse population ratios mean those counties struggle with funding and staffing while serving some of the highest-need populations.

To better serve those counties, Lewis will help McCoy develop a team of at least two additional leaders, creating three regions to facilitate training and support. McCoy also hopes to train more network pastors and leaders to build relationships, provide appropriate counsel, or even serve as chaplains for these valuable caseworkers.

Overall, state and local child welfare and family services agencies are generally welcoming of faith community involvement, as many officials recognize the advantages and appreciate the resources and support.

Starting with U.S. missionaries with Chaplaincy Ministries Gary and Tammie Webb in 2006, the AG Foster Care Network, today led by Alan Bixler, now has 45 missionaries. Backyard Orphans, founded by U.S. missionary with Chaplaincy Ministries Eric Porter and his wife, Trisha,  in 2011, is another ministry that helps churches recognize the need “in their own backyards” and trains them to help; the Porters have provided valuable advice to the Lewises over the years.

Approximately half of the AG ministry networks across the U.S. are pursuing foster care initiatives at the district level to facilitate connections and resources.

Kentucky churches are encouraged to contact [email protected] to get involved. Other churches wishing to do more in their own communities can visit the AG Foster Care Network website for information and a referral to network resources or a missionary near them.

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