'Live sent'

CRESTVIEW — One of the core values at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Crestview is to "live sent."

"Live sent means to live every day in a way that shows the love of Jesus to the people around you," Amy Anderson, the pastor's wife, said.

This core value motivates many programs and missions in the church, including support of foster care programs and adoptive families — both near and dear to the pastor and his wife.

"For me personally, it hits home," Anderson said.

Anderson and her husband adopted two children they once fostered.

Emmanuel Baptist Church has been working with foster and adoptive families for several years, Anderson said.

On Wednesday night during a typical ladies small-group, Anderson and a group of about 15 women gathered to sort through bags and boxes of clothing.

"(Our small group) is partnered with Families First Network to help them in various ways by getting these supplies ready for kids they serve and also doing small things to encourage them, as workers, in their day-to-day challenges in child welfare," Anderson said.

Each piece of clothing was separated by age and gender and placed in designated boxes.

The clothes went to a storage unit the Families First Network rented. Foster families will be able to take whatever piece of clothing they need.

"It helps them financially because they don’t need to go out and cover all those costs initially," Anderson said.

This was just one of many nights Emmanuel Baptist Church helped foster and adoptive families in the Crestview area.

All of the church's small groups partner with a community organization throughout the year, Anderson said.

"We just pick a month every year where we emphasize that as a church and serve all together at the same time," Anderson said.

Anderson said the church also hosts training and different support groups for families looking to adopt or foster and families that have already adopted or currently foster.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Live sent'