Open Hearts Open Homes Orphan Ministry Informational Meetings

If you have ever wondered what the Open Hearts, Open Homes Orphan Ministry does we have an opportunity for you!  The upcoming dates are set for an informational meeting at both Bethany Baptist Church and Bethany Community Church.

These meetings will give you an overview of the ministry and help you to see where you could possibly get plugged in.  You do not need to have the desire to open your particular home to a child or children to attend this meeting, simply have an interest in finding out why the ministry exists and how you could be a part of helping to care for children within our church family.

The following are the dates:  Stay tuned for more information.

Bethany Community Church - Sunday, March 1, 2015
     for questions you may contact Jill at tjgerst@hotmail.com

Bethany Baptist Church - Sunday, March 8, 2015
     for questions you may contact Amy at levisix88@gmail.com

Christian Alliance for Orphans Upcoming Webinar

The Church as a Partner in Biological Family Reunification in Foster Care

 While it is true that a number of children entering foster care will not be able to return home, the goal for the majority of them is to reunify with their birth families.  In this webinar we will explore how foster families, churches and organizations can play a vital role in the reunification process.

Presenters: Herbie Newell, Lifeline Children’s Services; Erin Kim, Mariner’s Church; Lesli Reece, North Point Ministries and Johnston Moore, Home Forever

Date:    Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Time:    2:00 PM (Eastern)

 Follow this link:  http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/resources/webinars/

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Are you looking for a way to support those doing foster care?  


"CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) needs volunteers. A lot of volunteers. There is an especially strong need for male and minority volunteers.
There are currently more than 1,000 pending juvenile abuse and neglect cases in Peoria County matched to a current roster of about 180 trained CASA volunteers. That means more than 80 percent of the cases move forward without the benefit of a CASA volunteer representing the individual needs of the children in the system who have been removed from their homes by a court order.
CASA will hold an informational meeting about the program on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Two25 in the Mark Twain Hotel, 225 NE Adams St., Peoria. The meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Light snacks will be provided.
The next 30-hour training class begins Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and continues on Nov. 11, 12, 13 and 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and concluding on Monday, Nov. 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The training location is the Detweiller Center, 809 W. Detweiller Drive (west of Knoxville Ave.) in Peoria. A swearing-in ceremony will be held at a later date in Courtroom 424, in the Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main St., Peoria.
For more information, or to register, contact any one of the three advocate supervisors by email: Terry Pyatt, tpyatt@peoriacounty.org; Dominque Alexandre, dalexandre@peoriacounty.org; or, Michael Zerneck, mzerneck@peoriacounty.org. Or call 309-669-2939."

Check out the full article here:
 http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1343101777/CASA-volunteers-help-shoulder-burden-of-child-abuse-cases#ixzz2hGJHwRzQ

Fall Happenings!

Fall is upon us and with fall comes the beginning of many activities.  Open Hearts, Open Homes Orphan Ministry has a couple of exciting opportunities for those looking for ways to become involved in some way in the care of the orphan.

Always something we look forward to is the start of a new Orphan Care Bible Study!  Mark your calendars now for this study.  This study is not only for those considering foster care and/or adoption but for anyone who is interested in hearing what God's Word says about the church's care for orphans.  We will be using some new video clips to get us started and the resource written by Dr. Daniel Bennett, Bethany Community Church, entitled The Passion for the Fatherless: Developing a God-Centered Ministry to Orphans.  While our study will take place on Sunday mornings, those outside of the Bethany Fellowship of Churches are also welcome to join us!  Jerry Sanderson will lead this study.

Open Hearts, Open Homes Orphan Care Bible Study      

Beginning Sunday, September 23 - October 28, 2012

Time:  11am 

Place: Bethany Baptist Church; 7422 N. Heinz Lane, Edwards,IL 
      We will meet in the Living Stones Classroom.

Questions? Jerry Sanderson - jerry@bethanycentral.org or Amy Park - levisix@frontier.com

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Secondly,  there is an opportunity through The Forgotten Initiative to take part in Mentor Training being hosted at Bethany Baptist Church.  The Forgotten Initiative provides training for anyone in the Body of Christ that would like to mentor a child that is currently in Foster Care.

You do not need to be a licensed foster parent to mentor a child.  The requirements are as follows:

- 21 years old (or older)
- valid driver's license
- Completion of TFI training
- minimum of 1 year commitment to mentor
- Successfully pass DCFS background check
- Successfully completes Application Process at Agency
- Belief/commitment to the TFI Statement of Faith

TFI Mentoring Training

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

6-9pm

Bethany Baptist Church
7422 N Heinz Lane, Edwards

To RSVP for training: infor@theforgotteninitiative.org

Questions? use above email address or 1-309-531-5824

Ministry Opportunity helping Foster Parents

We have been made aware of a need from The Forgotten Initiative.

Need: Family Core is looking for 3-4 childcare providers to volunteer during their foster care support group meetings once a month. They meet the 2nd Thursday of each month from 6-8pm.

This would be a great way for people interested in becoming foster parents to get a "taste" of working with foster parents and children.

To find out more about this opportunity contact: Jill at jill@theforgotteninitiative.org