For Matthew and his wife, fostering isn’t just something they do—it’s a calling. Guided by their faith, the couple has opened their home to more than 35 children since 2018, offering stability, love, and hope to youth in need.

As a pastor in the Treasure Valley, Matthew believes that fostering is an extension of his ministry, a way to live out his faith through action. (Watch a short video version of Matthew's story here.)

“My faith is integral to everything in my life,” said Matthew, who has worked as a pastor in Washington state and Idaho. “The Lord began to break our hearts (his and his wife’s) for foster care. It was challenging for me, too heartbreaking. It’s easy for the kids to think of themselves as people without any hope.”

Hope is something that can be nurtured and passed on through family. Over the years, from Washington to Idaho, Matthew and his wife have now fostered more than 35 youth, including nine long-term placements of a year or more. They also have three biological children aged 15, 17, and 19.

“I saw my kids become more grateful for the things that they have and the family that they have, but I also saw them give of themselves,” Matthew said. “I saw them lovingly and gently wrap their arms around these kids who had come from a hard place.”

Some of the toughest placements have arrive during the holidays—like the children who showed up on Christmas Eve and stayed for 15 months before eventually returning home. But that’s the point, Matthew said. It’s to reunify families, to give parents time to sort things out and to help youth prepare to go home.

“The very best situation for kids is to reunite them with their families of origin,” Matthew said. “Their financial situation is irrelevant. As long as it’s a safe situation with the kid, it’s best to be with their biological family.”

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Not all foster youth can go home. A 15-year-old young man who is with the family now came to them at age 12. His situation was untenable. Parental rights were terminated, and Matthew’s family filed paperwork to become adoptive parents.

On the other hand, many of Matthew’s long-term placements thought they’d never reunite with their parents, but most eventually did. The doubt, fear, and brokenness may not have completely healed, but the youth usually went home stronger than when they’d landed in foster care.

“The kids are only part of the story,” Matthew said. “There’s a whole family, a community. They still love their children. You’ve got to push judgement out of the way. It doesn’t make you better than them; it just means you’re at a different point in life.”

Yet, with every placement, every goodbye, and every reunion—whether joyful or painful—Matthew and his family have learned that love is always worth the risk.

“Don’t worry about getting your heart broken,” he said. “Your heart’s going to get broken anyway. So might as well do it while loving some kids along the way.”

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, please call 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588, or visit DHW's foster care page for more information. Your willingness to open your home can make a profound difference in a child’s life.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.