There Goes The Fear (Dr Viv Thomas, OM International)


22 March 2016 - HFG-SG is privileged to have Dr Viv Thomas, Associate Director of OM International share with all of us. 

Dr Viv shared deeply about his personal experience growing up in a troubled family. He shared how God redeemed him and how his foster parents showed him what it means to be cherished and loved. Dr Viv almost teared up when he related to us his foster parents' offer of two eggs and chips for dinner, during his time of need. He encourages the foster parents to press on with the little tiny things during the placement. The two eggs and chips are symbolic of the love and attention he received during his stay.

Dr Viv reminded everyone that his foster parents were ordinary people, far from perfect. In spite of their imperfection, they opened their hearts and home to him. Till this day, Dr Viv keeps in touch with them and count them as important figures in his life.

Dr Viv reminded us not to foster because it is a good thing to do. But to foster because it is consistent with the narrative of scripture, the gospel. 

We also are privileged to have Liping share with us her fostering journey. Liping shares authentically about her struggles in fostering and how God has provided for her opportunities to grow as a person. She shares that the hardest thing she had to do in the last few months was to manage her own emotions and expectations. While she may expect certain things of her own children, she realized she may not be able to expect the same sometimes of the foster children. 

Liping shared how her foster child has really flourished, simply by being able to be home, and be home and have dinner. She concluded by sharing about the concept of Redemptive suffering, where God uses our suffering to redeem another, and in her case, she sees her suffering as something God can use to redeem and heal her foster child.

We also have MCYC community services society, Focus on the Family Singapore and Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home share a little about their ministry to children in the care system. 




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