The following post comes to us via one of our newest Board Members Marla. We Love her heart and we are honored to have her involved with our Mission to FOSTER hope!
I never imagined that my personal life and my professional career would mirror each other to the magnitude that it does; yet I am grateful and hopeful because of what I know….
I am adopted. I was adopted at the age of 2 months into a loving family that tried their best to support, nurture and guide me into becoming a responsible young adult. I was thankful for being adopted yet I always wondered where did the roots of my existence come from….little did I know that in my 18th year of life God would bring me the answer.
I met my birth family a few days after graduating high school. It is incredible how in addition to being nurtured to become a productive citizen after meeting my birth family…I discovered it was part of my DNA…that I was resilient and was destined to positively impact those in my circle of influence!
After college and starting my career, I found myself kinda falling into foster care/child welfare system (meaning that was not MY career plan but HIS). Yet 20 years later, I cannot imagine working in any other field other than helping kids have forever families; forever significant relationships even if they don’t get legal permanence. Along the way of establishing my career, I married and became the legal guardian with my husband to two nephews. It was not an easy season of parenthood but in spite of everything, I am glad those young men are a part of my life and story. Additionally, my husband and I were graced with a daughter who is a miracle and a blessing to us and those who know her (another generation of resiliency continuing on).
My husband and I started Liberty and Truth Ministries over 16 years ago. It is a ministry that is near the inner city of Milwaukee that is called to “liberate the people of God through the truth of God’s Word”. One group that we are called to serve are the children and families impacted through the foster care/child welfare system. Some of our strategies are our annual Back to School celebration, Boxes of Love November outreach, Angel Tree giving in December and supporting parents through job readiness training. We are excited about our new involvement with OneHope 27 and the new opportunities to support this vulnerable population of children…who are our future.