Floyd County residents respond to foster care call

More than 350 attend Project127Rome ministry orientation

Rome, GA (02/01/10) - Six Floyd County churches issued a call for the community to get involved in a new Christian foster care ministry called Project127Rome. Last night, more than 350 people responded and attended a 90-minute "Introduction to Christian Foster Care Ministry" event at Unity Christian School.

Pastor Mitch Jolly of Three Rivers Community Church spoke on behalf of the partner churches, explaining that foster care is a communitywide issue with multi-generational impact and that churches have a responsibility to act. Among his other key points:

• Floyd County has more foster children per capita than any other Georgia county.
• Six churches of various denominations have come together to serve as founding partners of Project 127 Rome, making it a diverse and dynamic group.
• Project 127 Rome selected Atlanta-based FaithBridge Foster Care to serve as the "back office" of the Floyd County efforts, providing staffing, operational expertise and a volunteer-supported, church-centric structure for organizing and supporting Rome foster families.

"Sunday was a great celebration of God's grace," said Pastor Tommy Overton of First Presbyterian Church of Rome. "The numbers were impressive but what's a big crowd if no one commits to actually care for foster children? Praise God for those families that expressed interest in serving."

The event offered an overview of the foster care needs in Floyd County and offered ways that Rome area families could get involved-from becoming a foster parent to volunteering to assist with clothing and material goods, transportation and more.

Also in attendance were leaders from Floyd County Department of Family and Children's Services as well as Open Door Home. Both organizations were instrumental in making instructions and bringing about the partnership between the churches and FaithBridge.

Project127Rome is a coalition of six church partners including First Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Hollywood Baptist Church, Lakeview Baptist Church, Three Rivers Community Church, and Seven Hills Fellowship. The group named the mission Project127Rome for the biblical call to serve orphans found in James 1:27.