AFAH Conference March 6, 2021 (11am - 2pm CST)
Keynote Speaker: Saul Paul
We are doing things a little differently this year. We are going virtual! And we are focusing our sessions for those who are exploring fostering, adopting and learning more about serving within the foster care community.
Are you a post-placement family? This year, we are hosting another event on April 9 called Hope for the Journey. This was formerly known as the Empowered to Connect Conference. It is new and improved, and we’ll have registration for it up soon!
Exploring your role in the foster and adoption community?
At 2:05 and 2:30 you will have options to join different foster/adoption agencies on Zoom calls to meet them and learn about ways to volunteer with them.
On March 6, join us to be inspired and encouraged by keynote speaker, SaulPaul. He’ll share his personal story about how it only takes one caring person to help transform a child. He is an incredible musician with a cause! We’ll also have an outstanding panel of experienced foster and adoptive parents and volunteers who will share how they decided to get involved. They will answer your questions about the joys and challenges of fostering and adoption!
Be Inspired. Learn more. Join us on March 6.
Are you a post-placement family? Mark your calendar for April 9 – Hope for the Journey. Registration will open soon.
We have three ticket types available for purchase:
- Household ticket (1-2 people): $25 includes tickets for up to 2 people and a welcome packet with coffee, discounts for lunch options (on your own), activities for kids in your home during the event, and conference materials.
- Host home (3-8 people): $120 includes tickets for up to 8 people, a welcome packet with coffee, discounts for lunch options (on your own), activities for kids in your home during the event, a sample schedule for hosting, and 2 Fostering Hope tshirts for the hosts.
- Host Church (10-40 people): $400 includes tickets for up to 40 people, discounts for lunch options (on your own), a sample schedule for hosting, fidgets for attendees, and 10 Fostering Hope tshirts for hosts and volunteers.
2021 Speakers
Keynote Speaker: SaulPaul
GRAMMY Award – nominated artist SaulPaul has garnered an international reputation as a musician with a message. Part rapper/part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul is an entertaining artist who blends his voice, his guitar, and his loop pedal to create a live show that is nothing less than an experience. SaulPaul shares his art with his heart and has been inspiring audiences through his music. From performing at two TEDx Talks, five Super Bowls, America’s Got Talent, SXSW, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Austin City Limits, SaulPaul has performed nationally and internationally in theaters, concert venues and festivals across the country.
Through his music and by sharing his life journey, SaulPaul will encourage and challenge you to the be the change in the life of a child. Having experienced the life-altering change himself, SaulPaul will inspire you to step into the life of a child or teen as a mentor, a new family member, or even friend.
Lisa Ho
Lisa Ho is a single, foster/adoptive mom whose "foster only" plan was interrupted when the reunification for her two foster sons didn't come to fruition. Lisa adopted her sons in March 2019, works as a Business Analyst at a large technology company, and is passionate about foster care awareness. She attends Mosaic Church Austin where she has contributed to building a Christ-minded singles community and helped create support for foster/adopt parents. In her rare free time she loves to dance country and salsa and write for her blog, Kingdom Love Stories, which has encouraging, real-life stories about Jesus, foster care, and singleness. Visit mamalisafosters.com to find out more.
Zach Lambert
Zach W. Lambert is the Lead Pastor and founder of Restore, a church in urban Austin, Texas. A native Austinite, he moved back to the city to start Restore after receiving his Masters of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Zach also serves as a board member for Restore Houston, a non-profit for survivors of sexual violence called Louder than Silence, and the Austin Church Planting Network. He and his wife, Amy, met each in other in the 6th grade, fell in love at 17, and got married at 21. They love watching live music, discovering local Mexican food places, and playing with their two boys.
L.J. McCulloch
L.J. currently ministers to children and families as the Kids Pastor at First Baptist Church in Georgetown, TX where he's been for 4 years. He has extensive experience in family and social services and has worked in a variety of settings to help people from numerous backgrounds. This includes children in foster care, parents struggling with poverty, and refugees trying to rebuild their lives in Texas. L.J. believes that the church is positioned in a unique way to bring hope to those who are disadvantaged through partnerships with other churches and like-minded organizations. He created a "family restoration team" at First Baptist with the goal to further equip families involved in foster & adoptive care, to encourage local service providers, and to link arms with local agencies to fight the issues that cause fatherlessness in Williamson County.
Patty Madden
Patty Madden is an adoptive mother of three children. She and her husband became licensed foster parents in California in 2013 after becoming aware of the great need for loving homes in their area. After adopting their third child in 2019, the Maddens moved to Austin. They are currently in the process to become a licensed foster home in Texas.
Brett Millican
Brett Millican is originally from Atlanta, GA where he and his wife, Melissa, first met and became high school sweethearts. He attended the University of Georgia where he played football and received Bachelors degree in Finance. He currently serves as a pastor at Mosaic Church in Austin, TX. He and Melissa have 4 children ranging from age 16 to 6. They adopted their youngest from Ethiopia in 2016. Brett has a passion for helping people understand the love of Christ and God’s design for their lives, and loves helping families realize that love and purpose together as well.
Dr. Brooke Wagen
Brooke Wagen is a follower of Jesus, wife, mom of 3, and physician. Her youngest, Elaia, came home from Ethiopia when she was five months old. Their family moved to East Austin over a decade ago to help start Salina Street Church; they still live and work in the neighborhood they love. Brooke graduated from Dell Medical School at UT Austin in May 2020 and is currently an Internal Medicine resident at Dell Seton Medical Center and the Austin VA.
Laura Faircloth
Bio coming soon!