In Honor of Adoption Month: How We Got Here {The Johnsons}

I had the privilege of meeting The Johnsons last November at an event I was singing at called "Foster The Story". I was immediately so inspired by their story and their heart for orphan care - truly an example of selfless commitment to love the kids placed in their care with reckless abandon. 

Here is The Johnson's "How We Got Here Story" in the words of my new friend, Lisa:

Discussion about adoption started long before I met my husband, Rodney. I had a daughter from my previous marriage, and the covenant I wanted in my next marriage would include adopting her. I put that in my biography on match.com, and Rodney still showed up to the first date! I thank God every day for that! This, I believe, was the planted seed that would prepare our hearts for what was coming later.

Fast forward 6 years, 2 more kids, 4 moves, and a few jobs later. We were in our current home and had recently settled in a church.

Our new church home had several families that were adopting or had already adopted. The spiritual reasons behind their decisions were what intrigued me the most. James 1:27 kept coming up in these discussions and I knew God wanted me to do something, but it wasn’t clear what I was supposed to do. Our children’s pastor scheduled an information meeting about foster care and adoption and Rodney agreed to go to the meeting with me. The statistics were staggering to us. My heart was broken and was sure this was going to be our role in helping the fatherless. Rodney was so fantastic and he listened to me go on and on, but he wasn’t quite ready. The next month I went with a friend to the same meeting. I came home ready to fill out the application, but Rodney told me to stop and pray. He still wasn’t sure. I immediately urged my Bible study sisters to pray with me and within two weeks Rodney handed me his filled out application. He believes he was just being a good husband, but I am sure God was whispering into his heart.

It took us 6 months to do the training and get licensed through TXDFPS. Four days later 2 little boys came to our home. When the caseworker placed one of the boys in Rodney’s arms, he knew this was his calling too.

We have been foster parents for 6 years now and we have had 9 foster children. We still have two in our home that we are fostering and one that we have adopted.

Following this call on our lives has been tough at times, but our family is so much stronger for it!

he Johnsons are great supporters and advocates of an organization called "The Orphan Care Network" out of The Woodlands. If you are interested in learning more about how you or your church body can practically get involved and support orphan care, check out: www.tocn.org