Denver Seminary

Harold also listened to the stories of his classmates. "I learned from top authorities in the field of counseling and marriage and family therapy," he said, "but I was with a group of leaders in those areas—pastors and counselors who were able to share their experiences in the classroom. We had some good discussions where fellow cohorts would share their experiences in the industry and how it related to a topic. We learned from the professors and from each other—it was a good sense of community. We were all involved in ministry, and it was easy to talk to one another inside and outside of class." These conversations helped Harold shape his research and his ministry. FOREVER FAMILIES In 2015 Harold and Wendi founded a ministry called Forever Families. Its mission is to connect, equip, and mobilize Canadian church communities to effectively journey with vulnerable children and their families. "With the formation of the ministry, and as we got to know people in adoption," he said, "we realized there are adoptive parents struggling and feeling hopeless; they need support." Harold explained, "Churches can create a sphere of support. We want to empower the church to care for these families in preventative support and in family restoration. We want to support the biological families who are trying to get back together, and we want to help youth who are aging out of the foster care system. It's a spectrum of support and care. Our role is to mobilize and equip the church to care for the children in our communities. We speak at churches, and we do workshops and seminars." RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD Harold completed his thesis and graduated from Denver Seminary in May of 2018. He said his research has helped and will continue to help adoptive parents be more resilient in the challenges they face. "Adoptive parents need to seek out connection. They need to turn their relationships to God and reach out to Him to find guidance, hope, and security. They need to participate in healthy community for support and resources. And they need to seek out new perspectives to equip themselves. That connection is key," he said. "When I speak with adoptive parents, I'm equipped to share the information I've researched and say, 'What are you currently doing that is working, and what areas can you improve on?'" Forever Families is now diving in even deeper to engage people in the adoptive and foster care world. "We just partnered with a Kansas City- based ministry called Care Portal. Churches in Canada have signed up to be part of a pilot program here. Care Portal is a web platform that connects child welfare needs with the church. We will be the conduits through which church and state can work effectively together in real time with available needs. Whatever is needed—a crib, a mentor, helpers to move a family—the church can be called on to help provide." 18 SPRING 2019 Ran Kyu Park/iStock TAKE IT FROM HERE

• Cover