So Many Davions: A Foster Child's Plea to the Church

Many of you have already read this story.

Some of you could almost feel your heart ripping out when you read it.

But in case you missed it...

It was an ordinary Sunday morning at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida when 15-year-old Davion Only entered with his caseworker, Connie Going, by his side. This particular morning, he wasn't in church to merely sing hymns, pray, and listen to a good sermon.

Davion had a higher purpose on his heart and mind.

Armed with that purpose, he courageously addressed the congregation. Though fearful, he publicly asked for someone -- anyone -- to consider adopting him.* He asked for a family -- a family that could "reach out and get me and love me until I die."

And he's not picky. "I'll take anyone," he said. "Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don't care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be."

Some might consider these tactics desperate. I say this young man has vision, and he knows the prognosis of his life is grim. Born to a mother while she was in jail, he's lost count of the many places he's lived. He currently lives in a group home, with 12 other troubled teenage boys.

Four months ago, his dismal situation got even worse. Sitting at a library computer with his birth certificate in hand, he searched for his mother's name for the first time. He found her mug shot online, noted her resemblance and read her rap sheet -- petty theft, cocaine.

Then he saw her obituary. His mother had died just a few weeks before. No chance of reunification now.

So yes, Davion's plea at St. Mark was a desperate one. He knows that with every passing year, month, week, day, and even minute, his chances of finding a forever family decreases. And he knows that if he ages out, his chances of a successful life are minimal.

A few statistics** for the 27,000 young people who age out of U.S. foster care each year:

• 40% become homeless or "couch surf" from home to home
• Nearly 60% of young men who age out have been convicted of a crime
• 52% of aged out males are unemployed
• 75% of young women who age out receive government benefits to meet basic needs
• 50% of all youth who aged out were involved in substance use

Not a pretty picture, is it?

It's the same picture that Davion, and so many "Davions" see when they dream of their futures. Especially African American foster children. Their dreams don't include a cap and gown, a wedding dress or carrying a briefcase to work one day.

But some of them still dream of one thing.

A family.

When Davion shared this dream at St. Mark, he said, "My name is Davion and I've been in foster care since I was born... I know God hasn't given up on me. So I'm not giving up either."

I pray we won't give up on the Davions of our communities, either.

* Since giving his plea at St. Mark Missionary Baptist, several people have inquired about adopting Davion. Let's pray that one of those inquiries will provide him with a loving, godly family.

** Statistics on aging out foster youth are from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.