Graceview Baptist Church Hosts Training For Arrow Families

Graceview Baptist Church in Tomball, Texas, blessed Arrow foster families, their children and Arrow staff on Saturday, July 31st with a special opportunity. Graceview's foster care/adoption ministry, Hearts Open Wide, hosted a three hour training session for 21 of our current foster parents and provided childcare for 30 children.

Hearts Open Wide ministry leader, Kristi Prince, and her team had previously donated "Moses Baskets" filled with age appropriate items to be given to foster children coming into Arrow's care. After seeing how the ministry impacted both families and children, Kristi sought out additional opportunities to serve Arrow.

Kristi contacted Andrea Pellerin, Program Director at our Spring, Texas office, to find out more about Arrow's current needs. Andrea shared one of Arrow's desires was to provide more training opportunities that also offered child care since many of our families are not able to attend classes when child care is not available. While Arrow provides multiple training opportunities each month to allow families to acquire the training hours required by State regulations, we are limited in our ability to provide child care during those training.

After hearing of this huge need, Kristi led her ministry in hosting a breakfast, training and luncheon from 9am to 12pm. Hearts Open Wide volunteers went all out to provide a relaxing and informative training for our foster parents. Kristi, who is also an accountant, shared her financial wisdom by presenting a session on raising financially responsible children. Her class was based on Christian author, Mary Hunt's book, "Debt Proof Your Kids." Arrow Family Home Developer, Katie Ludtke also conducted a class entitled "Understanding Your Child's DSM Diagnoses and Family Communication." Both classes were very informative, helpful and greatly appreciated by our foster parents.

After training came to an end, families were served a wonderful, home cooked spaghetti lunch followed by a great selection of desserts. Senior Pastor Bryan Donahoo also attended the training/luncheon and spoke highly of Arrow and our foster families. Kristi and Pastor Bryan are already looking to provide another great training opportunity in the future. Thank you Graceview and Hearts Open Wide for your heart to serve others! You have been a great blessing to Arrow.

If your church is interested in serving alongside Arrow please contact Clay Barton at clay.barton@arrow.org. He will be able to answer any questions you have and get your church involved in our mission to help kids and strengthen families.