One of the core values of the South Carolina Baptist Convention is the Potential of Every Life. This every life extends to children who are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. It extends to the biological families who have had their children removed from their care. This Every Life extends to the families who choose to be a safe landing spot for the displaced children and to the Child Welfare workers who oversee the whole process.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month. We want you to be aware of the 3,800 children in the Foster system in South Carolina – and the 119 children/youth whose parental rights have been removed and will remain in care until they age out of the system or are adopted. We want you to be aware of a need for hundreds more families to be willing to foster the kids currently in state custody.

Awareness is good. Prayer and action are even better. Please use this prayer guide to pray for specific areas of foster care. Pray for families, pray for children, pray for DSS workers and others. Please also use this prayer guide as an opportunity to hear how God might want to use you to serve vulnerable kids in South Carolina.

1. Pray for the physical and emotional well-being of children in foster care. They may have experienced trauma or abuse. They may be struggling with feelings of loss, uncertainty, or anxiety. Pray for their healing and that their physical and emotional needs are met. Pray that their time in foster care will give them the opportunity to know the peace and love of Jesus.
   
2. Pray for the relationships of children in foster care. Foster children may have complicated relationships with their birth families and may be navigating uncertain relationships with their foster families. Pray for these relationships to be healthy and supportive. Children in care often lose relationships with extended family and classmates. Pray they would find new, encouraging relationships while in care.
   
3. Pray for foster families. Fostering is hard work. Foster Parents are in a unique situation that is often complex and is always in need of wisdom and discernment to navigate daily life. Pray for wisdom. Pray for peace. Pray for a community of support to surround them.
   
4. Pray for the many youth who age out of the foster system each year. The statistics of youth who age out of the system (those never having been adopted) are bleak. Homelessness, incarceration, and drug addiction are potential landing areas for these youth. Pray that they would find a strong, godly support system to walk with them into adulthood. Pray for safe and secure housing and a community of believers to love and mentor them.
   
5. Pray for church leaders. Pray that God would give them a vision for serving vulnerable kids who are in their community. Pray that through strategic leadership from churches, not only will children be served, but God’s beautiful love will shine in the dark corners of our communities.
   
6. Pray for Child Welfare Workers. The job of serving in the child welfare system is difficult work that can be exhausting and heartbreaking. These workers would benefit greatly from consistent care from churches that would commit to love and support them. Pray for many South Carolina Baptist churches to begin care relationships with every DSS office in the state.
   
7. Pray for Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. Pray for the staff who care for children in residential care and for those who provide licensing, training, and support for churches and families across South Carolina. Pray for churches with a heart to care for vulnerable kids in their community to begin working with Connie Maxwell to develop a strategic plan to serve these children and families well.