We can all agree—kids belong in families. Yet right here in our own community, there is a crisis. More than 1,800 children have been removed from their homes and placed in the foster care system, and over 150 of those children are currently in institutional group settings. On any given night, 10 to 20 kids are left without a family placement, sleeping in hotels or child welfare offices due to the lack of available foster homes.
Fostering is incredibly difficult, but Commission 127 (C127) has developed a proven and compassionate response to this urgent need. Their mission is to strengthen and support foster, adoptive, and biological families in crisis by equipping local churches to create and lead Family Advocacy Ministries—building community around those who care for children.
In January 2024, with support from the Elinor & T.W. Miller, Jr. Foundation, C127 hosted their annual Marriage Retreat, a powerful event aimed at helping couples who are on the frontlines of foster care. Held January 19–21 at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, the weekend gave foster, adoptive, and kinship families a much-needed opportunity to reconnect, recharge, and refocus.
Friday morning kicked off with a deep-dive session on parenting children from trauma and strengthening communication in marriage—providing tools and safe space for couples navigating especially difficult dynamics. That evening, speaker and author Ted Lowe brought laughter and connection to the room, setting the tone for a restorative weekend. Saturday provided light teaching followed by generous time for couples to spend one-on-one, culminating in a meaningful date night. On Sunday, couples gathered to reflect and share how the retreat impacted their relationships and families.
This retreat is more than a weekend getaway—it’s a lifeline. By nurturing the marriages of foster and adoptive parents, C127 helps ensure the stability of the families caring for vulnerable children. As one foster parent shared, “There’s just a different reality when your day in and day out is fighting for kids and their ability to be healthy. To have a marriage retreat that’s focused on that community is just significant.”
Thanks to the support of partners like the Miller Foundation, families are being strengthened—and kids are finding the safety and love they deserve.