When Markham Street Baptist Church made the generous decision to give their building to Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries (ABCFM) to become our central office, none of us could have imagined how powerfully God would use this space to write stories of redemption. What once felt like a daunting 55,000-square-foot building has now been transformed, piece by piece, into a place that serves children and families across our state.
This incredible gift was given in 2022, but the partnership between ABCFM and Markham Street Baptist Church remains strong. The church still gathers for worship each week, and many of its members continue to volunteer with ABCFM on a regular basis.
While the building has been used in many amazing ways, one of my favorite areas is the ABCFM Family Resource Center. This part of the building holds the grab-and-go kits, toy store, and a variety of foster care resources provided by church groups. The Resource Center also has a party room for birthdays and other special events, creating a joyful space where many children have been celebrated.
Parents can come in to pick up party supplies, choose a new toy or gift, and even use the wrapping station before hosting a party in the next room. For some children, this has made it possible to have a birthday celebration of their own for the very first time.
The Resource Center also includes family visit rooms that provide a comfortable environment for children in foster care to spend time with their biological parents. Since many children are eventually reunited with their families, these positive visitation experiences are an important part of that healing process. Caseworkers are welcome to use these rooms whenever a safe, family-friendly space is needed.
Sometimes, local DCFS offices are unable to find a safe place for a child to stay. When this happens, employees often have to care for the child in their office until a placement can be found. Because those offices aren’t designed or equipped for that purpose, the arrangements can be difficult. Thankfully, the Resource Center at ABCFM includes a restroom with a shower that can be used alongside the visit rooms during these situations.
Not long ago, a caseworker brought a child to our building to use the shower and take a break from the office. Our staff greeted them warmly and made sure they felt at home. When the child continued to return over the next several days, it became clear that a placement still hadn’t been found. While we were grateful to help meet a small need, our hearts ached knowing what this child truly needed was a family to say “yes.”
Across Arkansas, there are children in foster care who simply need a safe place for a season while their parents work toward what’s next. We believe those families already exist in our churches, neighborhoods, and communities.
Your role could be the connection that changes everything for a child. When you help find a foster family, you help create a place where a child can feel safe, supported, and seen. Your “yes” can change everything for the child waiting for a home where they can begin to heal.
To learn how you can join the search and help change a child’s story, visit www.abcfm.org/thesearch