Parker finds that family “doesn’t have to be blood”

By Blake Ragsdale | Charity and Children Editor

Parker’s definition of “family” would have been much different just a few years ago. The compassionate care he found through his Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) foster family has forever changed the 18-year-old’s perspective as he prepares to step into the future ahead of him.

“I’ve learned family doesn’t have to be blood. And that it’s not just about what one person can do for another,” Parker shares. “It’s about the sacrifice that comes with loving and being in a family.”

For the past two and a half years, Jason and Adrienne Willaford and their three biological children have demonstrated that kind of love to Parker. Having spent much of his life in and out of North Carolina’s foster care system, he found living with the Willafords to be a far different experience from a childhood where stability often proved elusive.

“I felt very welcomed in the family. And that’s just something that I haven’t experienced anywhere,” Parker says. “They didn’t make me feel that I didn’t belong or that I wasn’t theirs.”

This was Jason and Adrienne’s mission from the day they welcomed Parker into their home.

“We committed early on that he was going to have a home until he graduated. We were going to do our best to make that work,” Jason says.

A sermon that changed the direction of a family

Today, Jason serves as the pastor at Kellum Baptist Church in Jacksonville, NC. In 2020, he and his family were members at Kellum before being elected to the church’s pastorate position. During that year, Jason remembers a Sanctity of Human Life sermon preached by former Kellum pastor Jody Yopp, now a part of BCH’s Advancement team, a message that God used to forever change the direction of the Willaford family.

The sermon resonated deeply with Jason and Adrienne. At first, they considered adoption, especially since their elementary-aged daughter would eventually be the only child living at home. The couple’s two older sons were stepping into adulthood.

After prayerfully seeking God’s guidance, they reached out to BCH. Through those conversations, they learned more about the nonprofit’s foster care ministry and felt the Lord confirming a different path.

“It led us to the conclusion that God wasn’t so interested in us adopting a child as much as we felt like he was leading us to become foster parents,” Jason explains.

BCH foster care staff came alongside the couple through training and the licensing process. Once approved, BCH case managers worked alongside the North Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), whose social workers help identify safe foster homes for children who cannot remain with their families.

Welcoming Parker into their home

Jason and Adrienne, who have fostered a half-dozen children, first met Parker while providing respite care in 2024. Respite care is a short-term foster placement that gives a child’s primary foster family temporary support.

“When he left, I told my wife that the Lord impressed upon me that if he ever needed a place, I would consider a long-term placement for Parker,” Jason shares.

Less than 30 days later, Kelly Johnston, a trainer/licensor for BCH, called and asked whether they would consider a long-term placement for Parker. The teenager arrived at the Willafords’ home the day after Christmas, a move that would change the lives of everyone involved.

“The Lord prepared Parker for us. He and our middle son have very similar personalities,” Adrienne says. “We gave him a little bit of grace as he transitioned into our home, and I believe he came to realize that we weren’t going to kick him out or abandon him.”

The more Parker experienced life with the Willafords, the more he saw what it truly means to be a family.

“I was a foster kid, but they didn’t refer to me as a foster kid,” Parker says. “I felt very welcomed in the family.”

Learning what it means to be loved

Jason and Adrienne demonstrated their commitment to Parker in numerous ways. One of the most impactful moments for the teenager occurred early in his placement.

“I was here for only three weeks, and we went school shopping. She spent $100 on me. I got new shoes,” he says. “That was unheard of; I just was shocked.”

Over time, the Willafords were no longer simply his foster family. They had become the people who showed him what healthy relationships, sacrifice, and unconditional love looked like.

“I have this family, and I know what it’s like to be loved and to love,” Parker says.

Supporting Parker’s relationship with his mother

Even as they welcomed Parker into their home, Jason and Adrienne remained committed to supporting his relationship with his mother through shared parenting.

“It was always about supporting her, not replacing her,” Adrienne explains.

Adrienne intentionally included her in important moments, from birthdays and celebrations to hospital visits and school milestones.

“The Willafords have been great with nurturing the relationship with my mom and me,” Parker recognizes.

“There are things Adrienne has done that I think really show Christ because she knows what it’s like to be a mom,” Jason says. “I think both Parker and his mother have witnessed Christ through the process of this foster care journey and us being intentional in helping them be a part of each other’s life.”

Taking the next step

Today, Parker is taking the next step in that future. He recently began trade school as he pursues his dream of becoming a BMW technician. Because of the generosity of BCH donors, Parker has received support to help with a car as well as housing and tuition.”

“Our church supports BCH, but as foster parents we’ve really been able to see how the organization works,” Jason says. We could not have done it without them. Everyone we’ve worked with is loving, caring, and supportive.”

For Parker, what he has learned from the Willafords about family has created an impact that will forever be rooted in his heart.

“This family has shown me what it’s like to be loved, how to reciprocate and to be selfless,” Parker says. “Jason has taught me how to be a better role model and an example of what a dad is.”

Learn more at bchfamily.org/foster-care
Get answers about foster care: https://bchfamily.org/foster-care-questions/