John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Episode 103

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In this powerful Episode, I feature special guest,  Angela Paganelli.   Angela is the founder of Foster Blessings, and the author of the upcoming book, “Foster Blessings”.  She has been featured on Fearless Fostering, Orphan No More, FASD Hope, and many other podcasts.  In our authentic conversation, Angela shares her transformational “Not Just Cells” God Story and how she realized that she was made in God’s image and wasn’t just a clump of cells.  She also shares about her teen years in foster care and being institutionalized, and as a result ended up at a very young age, in an abusive marriage. Now 20 years later, her and her husband have fostered over 20 children, including 4 adoptions. Two of those are special needs children which led them to found,” All In”, a special needs children’s church program.  She also shares encouraging words to those who are struggling with getting support as Foster parents or are questioning their faith or belief in God.

In This Episode:

 

  • Angela is the founder of Foster Blessings, and the author of the upcoming book, “Foster Blessings.”
  • She was born two months early and she was in the Miami Herald paper as “Miracle Baby.”
  • There is an intersection when you meet someone who has a similar story to yours. It is very powerful to be able to say we have been there and done that and help someone through a similar situation.
  • Angela shares her “Not Just Cells” God Story. She was seven years old when she moved to New York with her mother. Her mother kidnapped her when she was two and hid her. 
  • She raised her sister who was eight years younger than her. Her mother had a stroke when she was thirteen and they went to live with her aunt and uncle. 
  • At the age of 16, she had been homeless for a year. After breaking into her aunt and uncle’s house, she went to a Christian home for troubled teens and stayed for four years. She went there a mess and it saved her!
  • Christians are going to disagree about a lot of stuff but the one thing we can’t disagree about is the cross. 
  • Angela and her husband decided to start fostering. Now they have fostered over 20 children including 4 adoptions. 
  • They started a special needs children’s church program called “All In.” 
  • Often youths age out of the foster care systems and homes and they end up homeless, in bad relationships, and even in human trafficking. 
  • Her church started a program providing food and treasure boxes for local foster families and foster children. They have adoption parties and foster care picnics each year and this ministry is continuing to grow. 
  • Her book, “Foster Blessings” shares her heart for their foster care ministry. The goal is to call the church into foster care. Not everybody can adopt but everybody can do something.
  • If you are on the verge of foster care, take it easy. You don’t have to jump into it with two feet. There are lots of podcasts and information out there. Foster Care runs the entire gamut but is totally worth it. 

 

Links:

Foster Blessings on Instagram

Fostering Our Faith Podcast

Quotes:

  • “There is an intersection when you meet someone who has a similar story to yours.” – Angela Paganelli
  • “Christians are going to disagree about a lot of stuff but the one thing we can’t disagree about is the cross.”  – Angela Paganelli
  • “The goal is to call the church into foster care. Not everybody can adopt but everybody can do something.”  – Angela Paganelli

 

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