Published on June 25, 2024, 12:30 am

For children at risk, charitable individuals, particularly those with a Christian worldview, are often the ones stepping forward in adoption and fostering roles. However, recent regulations from the current administration may inhibit these faith-driven acts of compassion due to potential clashes with religious beliefs. This issue is now more prominent than ever due to its portrayal in a new film named “Sound of Hope,” releasing on July 4th with collaboration between DailyWire+ and Angel Studios.

In the United States, the number of children needing adoption or fostering is alarmingly high. The latest figures for 2022 show that while over 53,000 foster kids were adopted, double that figure had adoption case plans yet couldn’t find suitable family environments.

Joe Knittig, CEO of the Global Orphan Project and Founder of CarePortal, highlights some worrisome statistics: there are currently around 400,000 children in foster care nationally. Disturbingly though, a common myth surrounding these statistics is that all these children are victims of abuse; instead poverty-related neglect seems to be the leading cause.

Reflecting their dedication to the problem’s magnitude, practicing Christians are reported by Barna research to be more than twice as likely to adopt compared to others. Particularly for evangelicals – whom “Sound of Hope” focuses on – this likelihood increases fivefold. Such communities not only adopt but also offer essential material support when needed.

The responsibility for foster care perceived by Christians stems from their biblical belief that they ought to care for orphans– a sentiment echoed by an overwhelming 77% according to Barna Research. Moreover, this view is portrayed vividly in “Sound of Hope”, recounting how all 22 families within the Bennett Chapel church based in East Texas adopted a total of 77 children from foster care.

Intriguingly enough however,this scenario has stirred political debate as it challenges some societal norms.The Department of Health and Human Services recently introduced the ‘Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements’ rule. The mandate obliges foster families to respect a child’s chosen pronouns, chosen name, and rights to dress in an identity-reflecting manner. In light of these directives, there is a clear conflict between the traditional Christian belief system and the principles of this new rule, which 18 Republican attorneys general argue is unconstitutional.

As regulations like these are enforced at state-level, Christians often find themselves barred from adoption due to their religious beliefs – as was reportedly the case for a widowed mother in Oregon who intended to adopt siblings from a foster care arrangement.

Ultimately though, the primary concern in all this political back-and-forth should be those who require help the most: children living in perilous conditions. Advocacy through mediums such as film can serve as an impactful tool by shedding light on real-life stories and motivating audiences worldwide – regardless of their religious inclination – to act now for affected children’s benefit.