About the Ministry
This new outreach ministry, The Foster Youth Project, involves a practical way to live out the way of love with the most vulnerable children in our midst through a system of Compassionate Empowerment with the goal of providing emotional and other support to youth living in residential institutions. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Rev. Jacquelyn Rowe and a small group of volunteers initiated this ministry, seeking to serve the needs of youth at risk who were abandoned, foster children, children with incarcerated parents, pregnant youth, and youth victims of sex trafficking.
Help is also being provided to young persons who have “aged out” of the foster care system and are given assistance (to age 24) while in college, or otherwise engaged in other plans for their independence. St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church has committed to join this project and there are several ways in which you will be able to participate.
How can I get involved?
There will be several ways that you can get involved with the Foster Youth Project through St. M&M's. We will post volunteer and other opportunities as they become available. For now, start praying and asking God in which of the following ways you are being called to serve in God's name.
- Through Prayer. The goal is to have people or groups providing intercessory prayers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When launched there will be sign-ups available for individuals or groups such as Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Women, Episcopal Church Men, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Cursillo Reunion Groups, etc., to commit to a day and time.
- Volunteer. Volunteers are needed for outreach services. Members with specific social service, communication, and technical skills to develop a website, provide information to disseminate to the diocese, etc.
- Get Trained. We need people willing to be trained in Compassionate Empowerment, which integrates the Way of Love with modern psychological approaches and techniques. Information on upcoming training sessions will be available shortly.
- Be a Godparent. Church members may volunteer to be a "Godparent" or "Grandparent" to one of the youth. This could entail as much or as little as you have time for. Perhaps by sending on an occasional card, calling, even a "Zoom" meeting or FaceTime call if personal contact is not advisable.
Fill out the form below if you are interested in Getting involved in this ministry!