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Right now across the U.S. there are 442,000 children living in the U.S. foster care system. Nearly a third of them are eligible for adoption.
As Proverbs 24:12 reads: “Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.”
And that’s exactly what led Brandlayn Musial from a career in marine biology to one of advocacy for vulnerable children.
She works with The Salvation Army and beyond to understand the factors that result in family breakdown, the needs of hurting kids and families and how the Church can effectively live out the Scriptural call to look after orphans as found in James 1:27.
As a trained practitioner in helping communities better understand and navigate the impacts of childhood trauma, she works with churches on becoming agents of change and places of healing for children and foster and adoptive families.
Based in British Columbia, Brandalyn also serves as the OrphanSunday and Stand Sunday Coordinator for Canada, helping connect churches with the resources to bring awareness and education to their own church family.
In this episode, she shares more about our responsibility to care for vulnerable children and what exactly we can do.
Show highlights include:
- Career transition: God, am I doing what you want me to do with my life?
- “The Miracle of Katie”: Story of child with Down syndrome spending seven years in orphanage and never taught how to talk, walk or eat solid food until given love, attention and care by a family.
- Modern-day truth: This can’t be how we treat children. We must hold ourselves accountable to act.
- Orphan Sunday: God’s call to care for the fatherless made Brandalyn’s mission to share her story.
- Who are the fatherless? Children not living with the love, care and protection of family that God intended.
- Role of church with government: Can’t do it without the Church’s involvement and intentional engagement.
- Brandalyn’s belief: Why adoption is not widely adopted—it’s hard, not easy.
- What can you do? Spread the message of need to make a difference and change lives:
- Make yourself available to God.
- Commit to learn about foster care needs.
- Connect with service providers to take action.
- Impacts of trauma: Best intentions can continue to hurt children. Offer support to understand, treat and heal vulnerable kids.
Good words from Brandalyn Musial in this show:
“I think I had always known that children who don’t have parents have a rough time.”
“So, now that you know, now what? I kind of just couldn’t go back to living my life blissfully unaware.”
“Caring for the fatherless reflects the very heart of who God is.”
“It can’t happen without us. The role of the church, I think, is pivotal. The role of the church is truly intentional engagement.”
Additional resources:
- Orphan Sunday Organization
- The Miracle of Katie
- Visit westernusa.salvationarmy.org to join the fight for good in your community.
- What’s your story? Take our free email course to see why your voice matters and how to find your story.
Download this episode wherever you get your podcasts. Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/dogooderspodcast. Connect with Brandalyn Musial via the Orphan Sunday Organization.
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