 By JASON CURRY President, TBHC For 115 years, this ministry has been shaped by faith, faithfulness and moments both ordinary and extraordinary. In the months ahead, I’ll be sharing stories from across that journey in a series called From Time to Time, stories that may surprise you. I hope you can learn something new about TBHC as you embark on this journey with me. We are more than a foster care and adoption agency; we are your co-laborers in equipping your church for providing a holistic family ministry. We may not be the ministry you think we are; we are so much more. “WHY AM I HERE” If you sit long enough with a child in care, whether yesterday or a hundred years ago, you will eventually hear a question that is rarely spoken out loud, but always felt: Why am I here? And somewhere underneath that question is one even harder to name: Is this my fault? Across generations, that question has remained unchanged. What has changed is the story surrounding it and the way children come to understand their place in it. Then a century ago, children most often entered orphanages through the hand of someone who loved them. Poverty, illness or loss created impossible situations, and parents made heartbreaking decisions. Many children heard some version of: “This is what’s best for you.” Those words did not remove the pain, but they gave it meaning. Even in sorrow, there was a framework: This is not what we want, but it is what you need. Orphanages in that era focused on provision and structure. They offered stability in an unstable world. Emotional care was present, but less individualized. Trauma was not yet understood in the language we use today. Still, there was a shared clarity, however limited, that helped a child hold their story together. And that mattered. Now today, children most often enter foster care through removal for their safety. The circumstances are different- neglect, abuse, instability- but so is the message many children carry with them. Some have heard directly, others have simply come to believe: “You were taken.” “You don’t belong there.” Now the question, “Why am I here?,” is no longer just about loss. It becomes about trust.
What once leaned toward grief can now lean toward resistance, not because children are harder, but because their stories are more conflicted.
WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHY IT MATTERS Over time, we have gained a deeper understanding of what children experience beneath the surface. Today’s care is shaped by trauma-informed practices, recognizing that behavior often reflects disrupted attachment, fear and loss. Counseling, therapeutic support and intentional caregiving are central to healing. According to the U.S. Children’s Bureau, children in foster care frequently experience complex trauma and require consistent, supportive relationships to rebuild trust and emotional stability. TBHC has learned that:
And yet, despite all we know now, one truth remains the same across every generation: Children still need someone who stays. WHY SUPPORT MATTERS This is where foster families step into the center of God’s will. They welcome children who may not yet be ready to receive what is being offered. They provide consistency when trust has been broken. They speak truth over a child who may not believe it yet. They help rewrite the message from: “This is my fault,” to something far different: You are safe. You are wanted. You are not alone. But this work was never meant to be carried alone. Foster families need support that is steady, faithful and visible. They need the church. When the church comes alongside them through encouragement, resources, prayer and presence, the body of believers is not just helping families succeed; they are helping children heal. That’s why we created a resource we’d love to share. Email [email protected] and ask for “More Meaningful.” It simply helps you see that caring for children is already within your church. We want to help you recognize and nurture it. God has always spoken to the places children feel most deeply: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 And the promise of Christ still speaks into every child’s question: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18 God meets children in their uncertainty, and more often than not, He does it through the faithful presence of His people.  115 YEARS: HONORING THE PAST, CELEBRATING THE FUTURE As we reflect on 115 years of ministry, we honor the caregivers who came before us. Those who served in orphanages offered what they had, structure, provision and consistency, in a time when that was what children needed most. Their faithfulness helped build what we continue today. And we celebrate how God has grown our understanding. Today, we engage more deeply, care more intentionally and support more holistically. The mission has not changed, but our awareness has. We are still caring for children. We are offering stability so that children can discover their worth and helping them heal after trauma. And we are still trusting God to meet every need along the way. An Invitation
Why? Because somewhere today, a child is asking: Why am I here? And through a supported, faithful family, they may begin to discover: I am not alone. Next month, I will share another installment in my From Time to Time series, running through September to celebrate 115 years of ministry. We may not be the ministry you think we are; we are so much more! Memorials & HonorariumsAn Expression of Everlasting Love Many of our friends choose to honor or remember a family member, a friend, or an associate with a gift for the children of TBHC. Texas Baptist Hope for Children, in turn, notifies the appropriate person. Listed in bold letters are those honored or remembered from Jun. 1 to Jun. 30, 2026. ENDOWMENTS Bill Stokes HONORARIUMS WELDON HAYWOOD: Ebenezer Baptist Church of Pittsburg MIKE PORIER: Ebenezer Friendship Baptist Church of Pittsburg LEON & JOHNNIE ROSS “GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY”: Charles & Charlotte Johnson CANDY THOMPSON: Weldon & Lana Sparks MEMORIALS BARBARA WHITE BUSH: Charles & Charlotte Johnson CECIL DOWNEY: Carlie Downey CECIL GEORGE: Beacon Hill Baptist Church EASTER HAYNES: Michael & Joy Vestal BUDDY & LULU HAZELL: Cheryl Briscoe WENDELL HOLIFIELD: Charles & Charlotte Johnson THOMAS JAY: Deborah Foster Jay CYNTHIA RANEY MONTGOMERY: Joel & Sammy Borders, Mike Allison, Tom McAfee, Liz Grindele, Barbara Rice, Barbara Bigham & The Monday Night Millionettes, Richard & Ginger Sconyers CAROLYN MORROW: Charles & Charlotte Johnson, Jerry Null MIKE OGDEN: Donny & Mary Traywick LOVITA OUIMET: James Ouimet PAT, SAWN & NATHANIEL: Shari Moore TOM PATRICK: Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Mineola TAMMY SWANNER: Logan & Miranda Williamson LOIS TUCKER: Charles & Charlotte Johnson CONNIE VESTAL: Temple Baptist Church Comments are closed.
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