Lift

A community outreach of First City Church aimed at rescuing our most vulnerable children in the foster care system.

Our Vision

We will inspire our community to radically impact foster care!

Our Mission

We will support foster care, recruit foster families and partner with birth families.

Our Foundation

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4 NIV

At First City Church, our heart breaks for children who have suffered and experienced trauma and separation from a safe a loving home. We are diligent to run after all those who are wounded and looking to find hope, peace and joy.

Below is a list of several ways you can join us in this ministry. If you see any area where you would like to know more, please click the “interest” button and we will contact you.

Thank you!

Families Count

Families Count is a family restoration and preservation ministry for parents seeking permanency with their children.

For the Family

Parents seeking family restoration may be required to complete a parenting class and can elect to participate in Families Count, a six week, biblically based class and mentoring ministry.

For the Child

Children are not only impacted by the growth and healing they see in their parents, but are cared for by our trained childcare staff and often attend church activities and find their own place of belonging.

For the Church

Families Count equips church members to minister to at-risk families, and provides a platform to reach them, support them and love them unconditionally.

Feed Fosters

Feed Fosters started in April 2020 during the peak of the COVID pandemic. Foster families were struggling at home with all their children out of school/daycare with no routine. First City felt the call to step in where we could and provide a meal for these families as one small thing we could take off their plate. Since then, we have served meals to all foster families across Circuit 1 including Escambia Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties on a regular basis. Each month, we are able to connect foster families with a local church and encourage them to get involved in a church while serving them a meal. You can get involved by donating financially to help cover the cost of the meals or sign up to help hand out the meals.

Honduras Mission Trip

This summer we are sending a team to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Our team will be serving at the Rancho Ebenezer children’s community, which is a residential, family-based center where displaced or abused Honduran children and teens receive holistic care including: individual nurturing, treatment for emotional stress, preparation for a future as successful citizens and an introduction to the love of Christ.

There are two ways that you can join in this mission with us as the team prepares to serve in Honduras:

– Pray
– Offer financial support

Above all please cover this trip in prayer. Specific requests include safety and protection, open hearts for the children and staff of Rancho Ebenezer, and that our team would truly show the light and love of Jesus.

Care Portal

CarePortal is connecting technology that drives action for local children and families in crisis.

How CarePortal Works

We connect people who can help with people who need help. Right now, in real-time.

This in accomplished in four steps:

1. We uncover needs from a child or family requiring help.

2. We vet and then submit those needs into CarePortal.

3. CarePortal alerts nearby churches and community members to needs.

4. Churches and community members partner to ensure that the child and family is helped.

Breakfast With Santa

Breakfast with Santa is an annual Christmas party we host each year for all the foster families in Circuit 1. At this event, each family that attends receives free breakfast and then children are able to shop for two special adults and wrap the gifts of their choice. We use this time to connect with each family that attends and show them to love of God. You can get involved by coming to serve at the event on December 14, 2024 or by bringing needed donations leading up to the event.

FC Outreach

FC Outreach, Inc, is a licensed partner under First City Church leadership that provides direct care to vulnerable families under the oversight of NWF Health and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

We are the first church in the state of Florida to be awarded a state contract to serve vulnerable children and families in the Circuit One area in the name of Jesus. We have the honor of being asked to go into “at-risk” homes and offer support and resources to intentionally slow down the rate of children having to enter out-of-home care.

LIFT