Building a Coalition to Welcome Children Home with Tony Lewry

A multitude of orphanages in the Global South continue to be supported by well-meaning Christians throughout the world. Research and scripture both indicate that God's design for children is to grow up in a family, but what do we do when it's the church that needs to be convinced of this? Brandon Stiver is joined today by Tony Lewry who shares his experience in orphan care and cross-cultural ministry over the years as we dive into what it looks like to change mindsets and practices in these global chains of care. Tony leads The Homecoming Project and coordinates across a coalition of organizations tackling the issue of children outside of parental care. In our conversation, Tony and Brandon discuss the evolution of family-based care, the challenges and successes of implementing foster care, and the vital role of the church in advocating for vulnerable children. 

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Resources and Links from the Show

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Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

03:00 Introduction to Tony Lewry and His Journey
05:56 The Evolution of Family-Based Care in Brazil
09:13 Challenges and Successes in Implementing Foster Care
11:57 The Role of the Church in Foster Care Advocacy
14:54 Reintegration and Community Support for Children
17:54 Navigating Reentry to the UK
20:52 The Homecoming Project: History and Vision
23:47 Collaborative Efforts in Care Reform
27:03 Addressing the Funding Dilemma in Child Care
30:05 Engaging with Orphanage Supporters
32:59 The Coalition Approach and Its Impact
36:11 Next Steps for the Homecoming Project
39:08 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License