As Christians, we are called to care for the most vulnerable in society. One group that is often overlooked are older children who are aging out of foster care.

Alex Lyons, a foster alumnus, shares his experience of aging out of the system without a forever family. He says, “who among us are ready at 18 or 21 to just be like, here you go, just go on with your life and you’re ready to become a full adult without any kind of support?” It’s a challenging transition that many of us can relate to, but imagine going through it without the support of a family.

Support through Mentorship

As Christians, we have the opportunity to step in and offer support through mentorship. We may not be able to replace the role of a parent, but we can be a steady and caring presence in the lives of these young adults. Alex emphasizes the importance of having healthy mentorships, and having people that are coming alongside you to walk you through the process of adulthood. As the church, we have the opportunity to provide that kind of support.

Our role as mentors can be as simple as being a person that can answer questions about cars or finances, or just being there to listen and offer advice. As Alex says, “with all those questions, having somebody providing some of those answers through the church is what’s beneficial. Having a caring adult that could be able to walk them through as they transition out.” It’s an opportunity to show the love of Christ in a practical and meaningful way.

Let’s not forget about the older children who are aging out of foster care. As Christians, we have a responsibility to care for them and offer support through mentorship. We may not be able to change their past, but we can make a difference in their future.