Mike Chesterton shares updates, encouragement and prayer points related to Home for Good’s work across the North-West.

Reflection

‘So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.’ Exodus 1:20 &21

As I sat to write this update, I was reminded of this verse in Exodus which is from one of the passages we use in our foundations course.

In a chapter that spans centuries of Israel’s history, the two midwives Shiphrah and Puah are stand out characters. But whilst their actions were momentous and incredibly courageous, all these two heroes of their time did was what they had been trained to do, what they had a heart for, what they cared about. They were simply being true to their passion and conscience.

For you and me, I believe this is what God is calling us to do as well: the thing we have a heart for; the thing we are passionate and care about; the thing we know to be ‘the right thing’. To courageously live wholly and fully for Him, submitted to His ways and for His purpose.

At times this may require a depth of faith that seems beyond us, but like Shiphrah and Puah, we need to courageously continue to be true to our convictions, our calling, and to serving the purposes of our amazing God.

Thank you for play your part as we hope for a society where no family feels alone, and every child has a home where they can flourish.

Where is our work making a difference?

One of our passions as an organisation, is journeying with people as they explore fostering, adoption, or supported lodgings, and then being there for them when they welcome children into their home. Our Journeying Team do an amazing job of supporting folks who want that one-to-one support and advice. They listen, advise and pray with and for people who want to connect with them and help them deliver most of our online information events and Foundations courses.

I have had the immense privilege recently of meeting two couples from the North West who have received support through connecting with the Journeying Team.

Sian and Peter have a busy life with 3 teenage birth children and an energetic dog alongside their job, but they felt called to explore becoming foster carers.

“We met a number of foster parents at Spring Harvest in France. Their experience, knowledge and passion for fostering was a welcomed change compared to the negative image of fostering that we felt was often communicated around us. One of the family’s we met, suggested doing the Foundations course at Home for Good and so we booked onto the next online course that started the night we got home from holiday. The course was a really good and supportive course, answering our many questions. The lived experience and wisdom from the course leaders was both a challenge and an inspiration.”

God had put fostering teenagers on Sian and Peter’s hearts from early in their journey, and when Home for Good, shared the devastating statistic that 1 in 4 children who come into care are now over 16 they felt a new urgency to get their spare bedroom ready.

“We saw that this age group are so vulnerable to the challenges in society and that every teenager (still very much a child) needs a home they can call their own.”

I’m delighted to report that Sian and Peter have now been approved as foster carers and are awaiting their first placement

Sue and Simon (names changed) are foster carers for a youngster who has experienced significant trauma. A school refuser from day one, he also was also unable to cope with respite care and so Sue gave up her career to provide the level of care needed. A friend from another church introduced Sue to the local Home for Good peer support group and Sue also connected with Judith from Home for Good’s Journeying team.

“With no social worker assigned to us for the first 14 weeks of this placement, and Simon working full time, the support I received from Judith was crucial.”

These 2 years have been tough for Sue and Simon and folks around them were of the opinion they should quit.

“But we’ve stuck with it because we quickly grew to love him and fear he will be lost in a messed-up system if we were to part with him.”

“Chatting to Judith and getting along to the group when possible has been so helpful. Finding people who have been through what we are experiencing – people who ‘get you’ – is such a blessing and helps us feel we are not alone.”

It was also a privilege to visit Sue and Simon’s church recently and to help the folks there think through and understand a bit more about the challenges Sue and Simon face, and how the church can use that understanding to create appropriate support for them.

How have you been engaging with volunteers?

The number of volunteers in the North West continues to grow and it’s been a joy to welcome new folks who share our hope for a society where no family feels alone, and every child has a home where they can flourish. We believe the church is central to this and so volunteers who champion this vision within the church are essential to our journey. If you have recently joined that amazing group of people (or been part of our volunteer network for a long time) we say a massive thank you to you.

Any specific encouraging stories from visiting churches or network meetings?

Thank you to churches that have recently invited Mike to come and speak, “It was a great privilege for me to join with a number of churches for their regular gathering over the last few months. These included St Mary’s Church in Ashton on Mersey where we looked at expectations, preparation, and the hope of a new home; 360 Life Church in Stockport where our theme was Kingdom Compassion; Kay Street Baptist Church where we used the parable of the talents to challenge us to use the gifts that God has given us; Altrincham Baptist Church who are one of a number of churches signed up to our Home for Good Church programme; and St Pauls Longridge and Centre 4 Renewal in Ellesmere Port, where we saw in Ezekiel 47 that the life and the love is in flow of God’s Spirit.

Mike is looking forward to speaking at St Marks Haydock on 27^th April, and All Saints Marple on 8^th June.

If you would like to invite one of our speakers to come and visit your church, please email us at [email protected].

What can I be praying for?

• Thank God for the support we are able to give to those we are journeying with and pray for wisdom for staff and volunteers whose role it is to support individuals, couples, and families.
• Please pray for our team in the North West, both volunteers and staff, as we continue to evolve as one integrated organisation. Please pray for wisdom for those who are working out how this all fits together and for the team in the North West as we adapt to new structures, roles, and relationships.
• Please pray for all the children and families that we have the privilege to engage with as together we hope for a society where no family feels alone, and every child has a home where they can flourish.

How do I get in touch with a member of the Home for Good team?

Mike Chesterton – North West England Lead – [email protected]