By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
On Wednesday, March 26, First Bossier hosted a powerful Adoption Seminar, featuring guest speaker Amy Barton, founder of House of Grace NWLA. The evening served as a faith-driven call to action, urging the Church to reclaim its biblical role in foster care and adoption.
The event highlighted the urgent need for Christian families to step up in caring for the fatherless, as Scripture commands in James 1:27:
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.”
Barton, a longtime foster and adoptive mother, shared her powerful testimony of answering God’s call. Twenty years ago, she was on the path to private adoption when she received a call from a social worker asking her to take in a five-week-old baby who had nowhere to go. With no prior experience and no idea what lay ahead, she stepped out in faith.
“It was love at first sight,” Barton said. “That moment changed my life. I realized that adoption wasn’t just something I wanted to do—it was something God was calling me to do.”
Over the years, Barton and her husband continued fostering, but one particular case shook them to their core. A 14-year-old girl they had cared for was sent back to an unstable home, leading her into a cycle of brokenness that ended with her aging out of the system in jail.
“That was when the Lord broke my heart for these children,” Barton shared. “I asked myself, ‘Where was the Church? Why were we leaving this to the government?’”
In response, Barton and her husband prayed fervently about how they could help. After three years of fundraising, they opened House of Grace NWLA, a faith-based home for young women ages 18-24 who have aged out of foster care. Since its launch in November 2022, it has provided a safe, Christ-centered environment for 20 young women, helping them break generational cycles and experience the redeeming love of Jesus.
Pastor Brad Jurkovich of First Bossier echoed Barton’s message, sharing his own adoption story and how it shaped his understanding of the importance of family.
“I was adopted. I grew up with three different dads, and my stepdad in Southern California adopted me and my younger brother when I was in seventh grade,” he revealed. “I know the emotional and physical reality of moving and becoming part of a new family. Your name changing. It’s powerful.”
Jurkovich emphasized that many families in the Church have a heart for fostering and adoption but simply need more information and support to take that step.
Throughout the night, Barton challenged the congregation with a sobering truth.
“In Louisiana alone, there are 4,215 children in foster care, but only 1,923 certified foster homes,” she revealed. “That means thousands of children have nowhere to go.”
She emphasized that God’s heart for the orphan is evident throughout Scripture:
Psalm 68:5-6: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.”
Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless.”
Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
“The Church must rise up and take back its biblical responsibility,” Barton said. “Foster care and adoption were always meant to be the Church’s mission. We have been entrusted with the Gospel—we must live it out.”
Barton provided practical ways that churches can step up:
✅ Encourage More Families to Foster & Adopt – Pastors should preach on God’s call to care for orphans and actively encourage church members to consider fostering or adopting.
✅ Offer Training & Resources – Churches should provide trauma-informed training to better support foster and adoptive families.
✅ Financial Support – Many families hesitate due to financial barriers. Churches can offer scholarships for childcare or help with adoption fees, which can reach $30,000+.
✅ Provide Community & Support – Churches should rally around foster and adoptive families, offering:
“This is not optional for the Body of Christ,” Barton said. “We are commanded to care for the orphan. If the Church refuses to act, we are failing in our mission.”
‘We Must Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus’
Barton also reminded the audience that not everyone is called to foster or adopt, but everyone is called to do something.
“Our girls at House of Grace ask us all the time, ‘Why do you care? Why do you still love us after all we’ve been through?’” she said. “And we always tell them the same thing: Because Jesus first loved us.”
As the night closed, Barton expressed her deep gratitude to Pastor Brad, First Bossier, and everyone in attendance.
“This church has been an incredible blessing to my family and to House of Grace,” she said. “If God is stirring your heart tonight, don’t ignore it. If you feel called to foster, adopt, or support these children in any way, act now. The need is great, but our God is greater.”
For more information on House of Grace NWLA and how to get involved, visit https://houseofgracenwla.com/.
