Chris and Lindsay Ciufo (pronounced Chew-fo) always planned for their home to be filled with children. It is appropriate that their recent professional photos were taken against the Western North Carolina skyline where they live, as the vastness of the mountains echoes both the size of their eight-member family as well as the hearts of Chris and Lindsay. The couple has four biological children and two brothers that they fostered and have now adopted through the ministry of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) and the support of Cowee Baptist, their home church in Franklin, NC.
"God has blessed us mightily with six children," shares Chris, "and two of them in a way that we never saw coming."
After the birth of their fourth child, Chris and Lindsay were at a crossroads. They desired more children, but unforeseen medical challenges created risks with future pregnancies. That’s when God opened up a new door—foster care.
Like many couples, the Ciufos naturally had some hesitation about fostering. Lindsay confides, "I thought, 'Oh, I could never do that. I could never love a child and have them taken from me.'"
However, Lindsay remembers feeling convicted one day, realizing that it wasn’t about her but about the children. "If you can offer your home for six months and share the love of Christ with these kids, then it's all worth it," she continues.
The opportunity came when Cowee Baptist hosted an Every Child interest meeting in partnership with BCH, which trains and licenses couples for foster care. The Ciufos felt compelled to attend, and soon they were licensed. Before long, they received a call about a three-month-old foster child named Liam.
"We were told we would have him for the weekend—it’s been a really long weekend," Lindsay jokes.
About a week after meeting Liam, the couple invited Tyler, his 14-year-old brother, to church. Liam and Tyler share the same mother but have different fathers. "We wanted to get to know him and keep the brothers connected," says Chris. Through a series of divine circumstances and a partnership with another family at Cowee Baptist, Tyler eventually moved into the Ciufos' home so the brothers could live together.
During a church service in 2023, Tyler approached Chris during the invitation time and expressed his desire to follow Jesus. Together with Cowee’s Senior Pastor Jason Smith, they kneeled at the altar as Tyler accepted Christ. Immediately afterward, the three stepped into the baptismal, where an emotional Chris baptized his foster son.
"It’s been our prayer since the moment we received him into our family that he would be our son, but also our brother in Christ," Chris tearfully shared with the congregation just before immersing Tyler underneath the water.
Pastor Jason added, "We’re expecting one day Liam, too, will place his faith and trust in Christ and be adopted into God’s forever family."
In February 2024, Tyler and Liam were legally adopted by Chris and Lindsay. The dream of a home brimming with children had come true.
"It’s overwhelming—the support of the church, not just at Cowee but the local church and Baptist Children’s Homes," Chris concludes. "I can’t thank them enough. I know it’s impacted our lives."
NOTE: The Annual Offering collected by NC Baptists made Tyler and Liam's story possible! Click below for offering resources for your church or to make an online gift to the offering.
Written by Blake Ragsdale, Vice President of Communications
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