By Oregon Family Council,
From offering no-cost childcare to teen parents to supporting foster care adoption, Oregon churches promote healthy families..
Life is hard for teen parents. Diapers, daycare, family pressure, not to mention finishing high school, and landing a stable job. But if you’re in the Parkrose neighborhood of northeast Portland there’s help. To assist teen mothers as they complete their high school education, a local church, The International Fellowship Family provides no-cost day care for teen parents attending Parkrose High School, just across the street from the campus. The church did some significant renovations to their building to create a more suitable space for these teen parents and their children.
The International Fellowship Family is just one church, doing what they can to help Oregon families thrive. But they’re not alone – according to research recently published by the Oregon Family Council Education Foundation, 96% of Oregon churches provide staff and resources to strengthen families and marriage, both those that are members of their congregations and the community at large.
Responses indicate that the scope of marriage and family resources offered through churches include pre-marriage counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling, parenting classes, single parent ministries, adoption assistance and adjusting to divorce or loss of a spouse or parent.
Household of Faith Church, a medium-sized congregation in Gresham, has responded to the challenges facing orphans, and children in the foster care system by encouraging and supporting adoption. Over twenty children have been adopted and are now part of families in the congregation. Many of these children were born into addiction and poverty, and now have caring parents and a strong chance for successful lives.
Oregon Churches are “good neighbors” meeting the needs of families and children, in practical, life-changing ways.
This spring, the Oregon Family Council Education Foundation conducted a research survey to learn more about how churches are involved in lives of those in their congregations, and the wider community. You’ll find the introduction to the report here.
Want to see the complete survey results today? Visit Oregon Family Council.
Disclaimer: Articles featured on Oregon Report are the creation, responsibility and opinion of the authoring individual or organization which is featured at the top of every article.