TFI MINISTRY NETWORK
Coordinator Training.
Session One: Our Culture + Advocate Model
1.1 Our Culture: Beliefs
We’re committed to keeping Christ at the center of all we do. We strive to follow the example of Jesus and extend His radical love to others as we walk in faithful obedience to God’s Word.
The following foundational statements reflect the personal and corporate beliefs of our national and local teams.
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, our supreme authority and is fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.
(Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
God
There is one eternal God, the Creator of all things, who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and He is the sustainer, ruler, redeemer and judge of the world.
(Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:15-18)
Jesus
Jesus Christ, the Son of God was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, fully human and fully divine, and lived a sinless life.
(Matthew 1:18; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Peter 2:21-23)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit resides in the hearts of believers who have come to Him in repentance and found salvation in Jesus through faith and is evidenced by a spiritual rebirth, reconciliation with God and obedience to God’s word. (John 16:13-14; Romans 8:9)
People
All people, made male and female in God’s image, have dignity, worth and value, starting at conception, and yet are corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgment, separating mankind from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 3:9-20)
Salvation
The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, dying in our place, shedding His blood and rising again from the grave is the hope of the world. Man is justified by the grace of God through faith in the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ alone. (Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24)
Holiness
Believers seek to live out the teachings of Jesus, pursuing holiness and refraining from practices and places that hinder growth in a believer’s relationship with Jesus and others, including pursuit of sexual purity both in and outside of marriage, which has been designed by God to be between a man and a woman united in a lifelong union. (Mark 10:6-9; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
The Church
The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, is given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit’s gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel. (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11)
The Future
The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ is to fulfill the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth. (Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 20:12-15; Revelation 21:1-4)
Think about it:
How do you see your role intersecting with this set of beliefs?
1.2 Our Culture: Vision + Mission
At TFI we aren’t just doing this work because we like to (but we do like it!), we are doing it because we have a big vision in front of us. Our Vision Statement describes WHY we’re doing what we’re doing, while our Mission Statement describes WHAT and HOW we are doing.
Vision Statement
Every foster care caseworker supported by local churches, faithfully reflecting the redemptive love of Christ.
Mission Statement
Helping churches support foster care agencies across America.
Think about it:
How does the vision and mission inform what we do as a ministry? Are there ways you see that you could help the ministry do this even more? What gets you excited about this vision and mission?
1.3 Our Culture: Values + Behaviors
Honor God
Core Behaviors: We put Jesus first. We are here for the Church.
In all that we do, we need to remember that our ministries do not come first—Jesus does. Everything in our lives, both the ordinary and extraordinary, should be honoring to God.
Grow Through Service
Core Behaviors: We care about people. We play on a team.
Relationships can be messy and hurtful, but we don’t let that keep us from diving in and developing and building them. We work together and in doing so, become better than if we were by ourself.
Communicate
Core Behaviors: We don’t have all the answers. We honor our commitments.
We aren’t here to pretend to be the experts, and we aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know.” We follow through—do what we say, show up on time—because we want to build trust with those around us.
Celebrate!
Core Behaviors: We choose joy. We live with hope.
We love a good party! Not just for partying’s sake, but because we are filled with the joy of the Lord. No matter what is happening around us, we choose to be joyful because we have the greatest hope there is.
Think about it:
Which one of these values resonates most with you? Which of these do you have to work at the most?
1.4 Advocate Model: Church + Agency
You’ve seen our heart for local churches and foster care agencies all throughout our foundation. It’s in our mission, in our vision, and in our core values and behaviors. At TFI, we want to come alongside the church and help them engage in the meeting the identified needs of agency workers. The whole foster care community benefits, and the church learns and grows as it engages! The foster care community needs the church and the church needs the foster care community.
There are so many needs that your church could help meet and they could come from any member within the foster care community, but at TFI, we’ve chosen to specifically hone in on those needs that are identified by the agency as we seek to build their trust.
Why Well-Supported Caseworkers Will More Effectively Serve Children.
The church is called to care for its neighbors in need, including those in the foster care community. As you think about helping the church engage, listen in as Jami teaches through what it means to be a neighbor. Then, hear a testimonial from a pastor and agency worker about why their connection matters.
