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Agape Foster Care & Adoption

This Ministry exists to assist Calvary families to become foster families or welcome into their family orphans through adoption.
We accomplish this by:

  • Creating awareness of the need to provide Christian homes for children in need
  • Providing training for Calvary families to foster or adopt children
  • Provide ongoing support for our families who foster and adopt children

Contact Information

Staff Leader:
Pat Marder
727-441-1581 ext 111
pmarder@calvarybaptist.org

Leadership Team:
Brooke Cooney
727-482-9419
bcooney@tampabay.rr.com

Mark & Nancy Searcy
727-409-5813
gauchsearcy@aol.com

Calvary has formed a three year foster care & adoption ministry partnership with the Florida Baptist Children's Homes to create a community ministry right here at Calvary.

This partnership includes Community Ministries Case Worker, Jennifer Norman, hired by the FBCH. Jennifer has an office at Calvary and can be reached at (727)441-1581 x 175 or email jnorman@calvarybaptist.org  

The Director of Community Ministries will recruit, train, license, and supervise foster homes and adoptive homes.  This social worker will build support through the Agape Ministry for Calvary's foster and adoptive families. Regular MAPP (model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) classes will be held.

This class is a requirement for becoming a foster or adoptive family. MAPP classes usually run 12 weeks.

This social worker will work with the local CBC (Community Based Care) organization to place children in need of foster care or adoption.

We hope that here at Calvary we can begin to care for some of God's children who have been abandoned or neglected.

Three Ways to Bless

Angel Tree Project
During the months of November and December, Calvary sponsors an Angel Tree, during which we invite numbers of the church to "adopt" a local foster child or a child who lives in the Florida Baptist Children's Home in Lakeland, Florida.  You can pick up an angel in the lobby, shop for Christmas gifts, and then return the gifts to the lobby location. This is a great way to "bless" these children and families at Christmas time.

Foster Care & Adoption Orientation Meeting
Held every 3rd Tuesday of the month. You must attend an orientation meeting before starting a MAPP class.  The next orientation meeting will be September 21st from 6:30pm - 8 pm in HS 121 (Cafe B).  Call Jennifer Norman at 441-1581 x 175 or email jnorman@calvarybaptist.org for more information.

Adoption Connection
If you have already adopted, are in the process, or are considering adoption, we encourage you to join us for a time of connection. We meet every 3 months.  For more information, please contact Nancy Searcy at gauchsearcy@aol.com or Jennifer Norman at jnorman@calvarybaptist.org or go to 143millionlessone.blogspot.com.