February – the month of love! The world’s idea of love is often quite different from the type of love we learn about in the Bible, isn’t it? We all know what is referred to as the love chapter – 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient, love is kind . . .” In verse 7 it says that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
At MBCH Children and Family Ministries (MBCH CFM) when we hire new staff there is a commissioning service. We emphasize that working at MBCH CFM is being on mission. Our mission statement says this: “MBCH Children and Family Ministries is committed to serving God by responding to the needs of children, youth, and families to make a lasting difference in their lives.”
In order to meet that mission and to work with troubled and traumatized youth and families as well as their often very heartbreaking situations, love (the love that comes from knowing and loving Christ) has to be in the equation. If this love isn’t there, we will fall apart ourselves and be of no help to those we seek to serve.
Love always protects: Working as a case manager in child welfare requires our staff to ensure the protection of children and youth. Parents, or caregivers sometimes have overwhelming problems such as substance abuse issues, or mental health issues that cause their children to be in harm’s way. One of our cases included a young child found wandering the street near her home. Her mom was unconscious due to a drug overdose. Our job was to find a safe place for that child until next steps could be determined.
Love always trusts and hopes: Trusting God and keeping hope alive can be challenging for staff when working with youth and families that have difficult circumstances. Can that mom overcome her drug addiction in order to care for her child whom she loves dearly? The one noted above, whose child was wandering the street, was not successful in that endeavor, but she did help her child understand the necessity of living with grandma until mom could get better. God finds a way (not always the way we thought it would be, but a way nevertheless) and so because of the love our staff have for their clients, they continue to trust and hope in God.
Love always perseveres: A youth that we were case managing was placed with one of our treatment foster parents. This young man had experienced so much trauma in his life. He was experiencing a flashback that caused him to be physically out of control, which endangered himself and others. The foster parent called the Treatment Foster Care Specialist who went to the home to assist. They could not get him to calm down. The foster parent and the specialist had been praying silently as they worked with the boy. The supervisor was called, and she said, “I’m praying right now that God will help him calm down.” Five minutes later that youth had calmed down enough that he could talk through his experience and receive help and care. Our staff persevere in often extremely difficult circumstances.
When a new employee is commissioned at MBCH CFM, he/she is sure to be involved in some challenging cases, but armed with the love of Christ that employee will be able to protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Please pray for our staff as they seek to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families in need. If you or someone you know is being called to be on mission with us at MBCH Children and Family Ministries, please go to HR Resources or call 800-624-6224 and ask for HR.
Ramona Conrad-Cooper MSW, ACSW, LCSW
Vice President, MBCH Children and Family Ministries
