Preparing for Foster Care

For Pastor Brendan and his wife, Nastashia, foster care and adoption was never an if, they just didn’t know the when. Parents to seven children, with all seven still living at home, Brendan shared that he and his wife take what the book of James says seriously, “We all have opportunity to participate.”  

Nastashia is a nurturer and believes it is an honor to love and provide a child with a safe place to grow. Brendan agrees, adding that serving the least of these, helping a community member in need, is a way to share Christ’s love. 

In 2018, the couple began to pray together about fostering. Soon, Nastashia began to prod, ready to move forward, but Brendan wanted to wait until he settled into his role as a pastor. In 2020, both were ready to move forward, and they attended a Project 1.27 Info Night and then pre-certification training. Going through virtual pre-certification training was a blessing, as Brendan pastors a church in a remote mountain community, far from the Denver area.

One lesson both Nastashia and Brendan learned during training was the huge impact early childhood trauma has on the brain. Nastashia says, “I learned how the fight, flight or freeze response makes it difficult for the child to respond when triggered.” Brendan adds, “Trauma impacts a child’s ability to mentally process what’s going on. Survival mode can make it challenging for the child to connect with safe adults.”
 
Once Brendan and Nastashia completed training, it was difficult to find a certifying agency since they live in a remote community. Surprisingly, having a large family was also a challenge. They were happy to find Winspire who certified them for foster care in April of 2021. 
 
Once certified, the couple began to pray that God would prepare their family for the child they would serve. They also prayed that serving in foster care would be contagious in their church and community. In August, Brendan and Nastashia welcomed little Paul, a toddler living in a nearby county. 
 
Since little Paul has been in their home, everyone has welcomed him as part of the family. There have been some challenges along the way, but with lots of support, everyone is making progress. Please take a moment to pray for the family, for endurance and for Paul’s anxiety.