Through lived experience and meaningful relationships, the Mississippi District is awakening a compassionate call among pastors and congregants to champion children and families in foster care.
Answering the Call: How Mississippi Churches Are Rising for the Modern-Day Orphan
For more than a decade, Jody and Lindsey Gurley have embodied one of the most powerful expressions of the Gospel: opening their hearts and home to vulnerable children. Their journey—rooted in conviction and fueled by compassion—is now inspiring a movement across Mississippi, awakening pastors and congregants to the urgent needs of children in foster care.
Their story took a pivotal turn following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. While many celebrated the victory for life, the Gurleys saw it as a beginning, not an end. Jody stood before his congregation at The Assembly and issued a bold challenge:
“Don’t applaud unless you’re willing to be the solution.”
Then, he and Lindsey led by example—committing to become foster parents and inviting others to do the same.
At first, they feared their hearts were “too big” for foster care—that the pain of loving a child who might only stay temporarily would be too great. But a simple truth spoken by Jody’s sister-in-law changed everything:
“Your fear of pain can’t be bigger than their need for love.”
That truth took root, and the Gurleys stepped forward in faith.
Their obedience sparked a ripple effect. Four other couples in their church followed suit, opening their homes to children in need. Over the next five years, the Gurleys experienced both joy and heartbreak—loving, losing, and reuniting children—but through it all, they remained anchored in purpose.
Jody believes foster care ministry is not just about building families—it’s about building a movement of radical compassion that reflects the redemptive heart of Jesus.
That same spirit drives Pastor Mike Hale of Cornerstone Church. For years, Hale has championed awareness and action for foster children, leading construction teams to COMPACT Family Services in Hot Springs, Arkansas—a ministry of the Assemblies of God Foster Care Network. This year, he led a team of pastors from the Mississippi District on a Vision Trip, where they laid new flooring in the Murray Transitional Living Center, a safe haven for teens aging out of foster care.
Hale’s commitment runs deep. Across eight trips, he’s mobilized churches to meet needs both at COMPACT and in their own communities.
“Even if a church doesn’t have a missions program,” Hale says, “serving at COMPACT is a simple, powerful way to start. The cost is low, but the impact is life-changing.”
For many who join him, the experience is transformative—igniting a passion for missions and revealing how God can use ordinary people to meet extraordinary needs.
“There’s a reason for everyone to go,” Hale says. “You minister to the kids and staff, and you get blessed in return.”
His relationship with COMPACT has grown into one of trust and readiness. When urgent needs arise, Hale is often the first call—ready to assemble a team and respond.
COMPACT has housed foster children every night for over 80 years. Its heartbeat remains gospel-centered, even when the choices are difficult. Gurley recalls Executive Director Alan Bixler sharing a story of placing a child in a non-Christian home simply because no Christian families were available.
“It was a gut-check,” Gurley says. “If the Church won’t step in, someone else will.”
Today, the Gurleys have adopted four children. Three other couples from their church have also adopted or are fostering—including one family whose son will grow up on the African mission field, learning to share the Gospel with the world.
This is more than a story. It’s a call to action. A reminder that the Church is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of the modern-day orphan—not just with applause, but with open arms.
