Replanted Conference Equips Foster & Adopt Families

Last fall, Grace hosted a simulcast of the Replanted Conference—a time away for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to be refreshed, equipped, and inspired. Many of our families benefited from the content and community, and they are excited about the conference coming up again this year.

Dan and Amy Johnson began fostering in 2015, adopted their two sons in 2018, and have been fostering ever since. They shared some of their takeaways from the Replanted Conference with us:

One helpful part of the conference was hearing from adults who have grown up in foster care or been adopted. There were several speakers who had lived in foster care as children and shared their story and perspective. It was so helpful to us to hear what their foster parents did well and what they could have done better. It was very applicable, and we were able to use their tips in our current fostering experience. They also shared the importance of fostering sibling relationships if their sibling isn't placed in the same home. Our two current foster children have a sister who was placed in another home, not with us. It opened our eyes to the importance of helping our two fosters have a way to still communicate and visit with their sister.

There were also speakers who gave us practical ways to help with our foster children's sleeping habits, discipline issues, and how to best care for children from trauma backgrounds.

It takes a commitment of time and work to find childcare for your children in order to attend, but it is definitely worth it. We were able to talk with other foster parents in our community whom we have kept in contact with since the conference. It can be such a lonely place when people in your lives don't understand the daily life of fostering, all of the uncertainties, the ups and downs, the busy schedules of therapy, DSS visits, etc., but when you have others around you who are living the same experiences, it helps to be reminded we are not alone. We cannot do this ministry of fostering alone. It truly takes a community of others around you who are willing to step in and walk along beside you.

We are so thankful for this opportunity for our foster, adoptive, and kinship families to connect and be equipped as they live out the gospel in this unique way. If you or someone you know could benefit from this conference, please click below to learn more. Registration for the 2023 conference is open, and it will take place at Grace Church’s Pelham campus on November 3–4. If you have any questions, please email Beth Drake at [email protected].