Three Ways Faith Makes an Impact at Wedgwood

Three Ways Faith Makes an Impact at Wedgwood

 

Pastor LeRae Kuperus, Wedgwood’s Chief Officer of Mission Integration & Spiritual Formation, has been a part of the Chaplaincy Team at Wedgwood Christian Services here in Grand Rapids, MI for 23 years.

While participation in Chaplaincy & Youth Ministry faith-based activities is optional for youth in Wedgwood’s Residential Care, these donor-funded Transforming Services remain at the heart of Wedgwood’s grace-filled care.

Faith, and the Christian perspective on which Wedgwood was founded, can integrate with the specialized therapies and treatment provided to children and teens who have experienced immense trauma and are navigating significant mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges.

Here are 3 ways Pastor LeRae has seen faith make an impact at Wedgwood.

Drives the Work We Do

Kids in Wedgwood’s care come from varying experiences, but they all come from environments where they’ve experienced brokenness, abuse, and neglect. They have had disappointments and have lived through more hurt in their young lives than others might in their entire lifetime. Providing care for kids dealing with impacts of such unimaginable trauma is not easy.

We know that we’re loved by a God who can love us perfectly, even though we ourselves cannot. The staff at Wedgwood come in each day and show through the big and small things, what love is. Staff model healthy relationships, love, and trust through their actions. Kids need to see Christ in what people do, not necessarily in what they say. Because of their backgrounds, many Wedgwood kids don’t know what love really looks like.

At Wedgwood it looks like: showing up daily, preparing meals, holding kids accountable, saying the hard things with compassion, encouraging, reminding kids that they matter and have purpose and value, accepting kids as they are while knowing they are capable of greater things, and giving second chances.

Helps Kids Discover Purpose & Belonging

When kids arrive in our care, they just want something stable. They want to learn who they are. They want to find purpose in their lives.

The kids in our care, more than anything, desire to experience belonging, acceptance, and purpose. We can show them that they can find belonging in the family of God, and in being loved by a perfect, heavenly parent. While we don’t know where life will take them, God goes with them and they can continue to find belonging and family in him, wherever they go.

Through the Christian lens, our chaplaincy team and direct care staff can point to that purpose, belonging, and their intrinsic value in Jesus’ unconditional love.

Rebuild and Establish Trust

The grace, love, and patience staff extend to kids gives an opportunity to develop healthy, trusting relationships. Kids begin to see that they can trust the people caring for them and begin to trust God. Allowing kids to explore their faith and what life is all about and asking big questions in a safe environment reminds them that even if they don’t have all the answers, they are accepted.

While in Wedgwood’s care kids are shown that no matter what they may say or do, the staff members will stick with them as they walk through difficult things– just as God does for all of us!

Kids begin to learn that there are people who consistently show up for them, support and advocate for them, and encourage them. Our team will always be there to celebrate their wins, and sit with them in their hurt and setbacks.

In her 23 years at Wedgwood, Pastor LeRae has seen countless children and teens discover hope, healing, and brighter futures through experiencing the love and grace of God – whether that be through participation in bible studies and worship services, or simply thought the Christ-like actions of the Wedgwood staff.

Want to hear more of Pastor LeRae’s story and how she sees God at work at Wedgwood? You can watch full-length video of the Wedgwood Coffee Break Conversation on Wedgwood’s YouTube Channel. Or, listen to LeRae’s interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.