While many people were relaxing during Christmas break or preparing for the New Year, members from Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte geared up for a radically different end to 2021. A team of one-dozen runners, and their support team, literally took to the streets to raise awareness and support for fostering and adopting vulnerable North Carolina children.

A statewide, relay race dubbed “RUN FAR” (Foster Adoption Run) saw team members begin at the Virginia/North Carolina border on December 29 and run 139 miles to a finish line at the North Carolina/South Carolina border in a little more than 24 hours. The
runners divided into teams of four taking turns to complete the 15-leg race.

“I think everything we do, we do it for the glory of God, even a challenge such as running for the cause of foster care and adoption,” says Casey Norkett, Missions Pastor for Hickory Grove and President of the Board of Directors for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC).

It would be tremendous for every church to develop foster families and respite.

Casey Norkett

The church is a strong supporter of the EVERY CHILD Foster & Adoption Ministry, a partnership between Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) and BSCNC to equip churches and their couples to be involved with foster care and adoption. The RUN FAR team used
the race to point toward the reality that there are more than 16,000 children in the state’s foster care system that need caring Christian homes.

The race not only raised more than $3,500, but in the days following, BCH saw an increase in churches and couples inquiring about EVERY CHILD.

“For these men and women runners to point toward the need is incredible,” Norkett shares. “It would be tremendous for every church to develop foster families and respite.”

The church is the answer for the 16,000 children in the N.C. foster care system. Learn how we can equip your church and couples in your congregation to be a part of foster care and adoption. Learn more at every-child.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published by Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina.

by Blake Ragsdale  /  Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina