“Faith to Foster”: A 160th Pilot and His Wife Give Back

While our country is preoccupied with chasing the American dream, thousands of children long for a family and a place they can call home. Foster children live in nearly every community, waiting in silent anonymity for someone to welcome them into their life.

Today, there are more than 400,000 children in foster care according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. With a community that often doesn’t receive enough awareness or attention, people may not know how they can get involved and help these children in need.

In their inspiring new book, Faith to Foster (May 3, 2016 – Abeille Books), TJ and Jenn Menn share their courageous journey as foster parents to twenty-two children. From newborns to high school students, to groups of siblings, this young couple has been able to provide children with a safe place that they could call home in their greatest time of need.

TJ and Jenn met as West Point cadets in 2004. “As young newlyweds, we sought a way to serve the community together, and foster parenting fit well”, say the authors. “Honestly, the “perfect” time to have dependent little human beings suddenly appear in your life never comes, yet foster care serves a critical role in nearly every community”.

In addition to the stories of each of the children that have walked through their doors, Faith to Foster provides readers with an insider’s look into the role of today’s foster parents. From the enrollment process to the moment they get the first of many placement calls, to chronicling their decision-making process and then navigating the ins and outs of the system, this will be an invaluable resource to individuals who are in the midst, or about to start their foster parenting adventure.

In Faith to Foster you’ll read about:

* How a young military couple decided to get involved with foster care.

* The stories of each of the 22 children that they have welcomed into their home.

* How their faith has played a powerful role in their journey, and even in the hearts of the children.

* How their church became a lifeline to the couple, and the various ways that churches can support foster families in tangible ways.

* An insider’s look at the foster care process, and the role of a foster parent.

* The amazing joy and blessings that they’ve experienced as foster parents, as well as how they’ve coped with challenges.

• How this journey has tested and strengthened their relationship with each other and the Lord.
• How someone can get started if they feel called to be foster parents.

“Foster parents can intercede early to help shape lives,” says the authors.  “What better time to address the problems of poverty, homelessness, crime, and abuse than before they’re ingrained in the minds and lives of little ones?”

Faith to Foster reminds us how God can use us to make a difference in our communities and neighborhoods one child at a time. He can strengthen our congregations to change lives and redeem innocent children from harmful situations.

Is God calling you to care for some of our most vulnerable neighbors?

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About the Authors

TJ and Jenn Menn have welcomed twenty-two foster children into their home from multiple states across America. Ages have ranged from newborns through high school, as well as groups of siblings.

 TJ is a 2005 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and serves as an Aviation officer in the United States Army.  He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He and Jenn met while they were cadets, and married in December 2005.

Jenn graduated from Trinity College of the Bible and is a certified member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.  She later received her Master’s degree in Public Administration, also from the Kennedy School at Harvard University.

They currently reside in West Point, NY.

Connect with them on their website at: http://www.faithtofoster.com

This first appeared in The Havok Journal on May 9, 2019.