December Ministry Spotlight - Entrusted Houston - Seeing People as People

How fitting that this month I have the joy of sharing about a ministry that impacts so many children and families in the Greater Houston area—especially at Christmastime. Entrusted Houston meets the needs of vulnerable families to promote restoration for kids, parents, and front-line workers in Jesus’ name. And the way they do this is truly beautiful.

I sat down with Entrusted Houston’s founder and Executive Director, Lisa Johnson, to learn how the ministry began and how God is using it to serve the community. In 2009, the Johnsons became licensed foster parents who were willing to accept emergency placements. This meant that children could arrive at any hour—day or night—often with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Those early days were full of frantic, late-night runs to gather the basics each child would need. Over time, the Johnsons began keeping essential items on hand “just in case,” which soon made them a resource for other foster families in their church and community. Their collection grew from a few items in their home, to a shed behind their church, to a room upstairs in the youth building, and eventually into a warehouse on the church property. As community crises like Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19 unfolded, the need for support and the volume of donated items grew rapidly, pushing Entrusted Houston into a new season of ministry.

As the team began partnering with local nonprofits and DFPS caseworkers, they became aware of tremendous needs among kinship placements, children without placement (CWOP), and families working toward reunification. Kinship caregivers—relatives or close friends who take in children while parents work through their CPS plan—are not licensed foster parents and therefore do not receive state subsidies. Many are grandparents or extended family members suddenly responsible for meeting the needs of the children placed in their care. Entrusted Houston stepped into this gap. Now, when a caseworker encounters a child with a need, they simply submit a form listing exactly what is required. Volunteers gather the items, package them thoughtfully, and place them on a designated shelf in the front office, ready for immediate pickup. In addition to supporting these children and families, Entrusted Houston also serves adults through partnerships with other nonprofits, including those that support veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness. Through this work, Entrusted Houston serves between 300 and 400 children and adults every month.

As Lisa and I talked, I kept thinking about the impact this ministry must have not only on kids and families but also on the caseworkers who serve them. I imagined the frustration a caseworker might feel when they encounter an urgent need in a kinship placement yet lack the resources to meet it. Caseworkers don’t choose this career for the salary—they choose it because they believe they can make a difference. Entrusted Houston helps them do exactly that.

Thanks to our partnership with the DFPS Faith-Based and Community Engagement office, I connected with CPS Supervisor Omesha Adams, who experienced Entrusted Houston’s support firsthand as a caseworker before becoming a volunteer. When I asked what led her to casework, she shared that her love for serving others and her desire to support people in her community led her into CPS after six years of teaching. What struck me most was her response when I asked why she stayed: “Although days do get hard—times get hard—you go home and you cry and you scream and you contemplate, ‘Why did I ever do this?’ But the reunification of families is the reason why I stay. Helping and serving others gives me joy, and that’s the reason why I stay.”

Omesha Adams - CPS Supervisor

When I asked Omesha if she had ever used her own money to meet a need, she didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely.” This is exactly where Entrusted Houston steps in. Meeting physical needs like clothing, cribs, or car seats is not within the scope of what DFPS or CPS is funded or structured to provide, yet it can be incredibly difficult for a caseworker to see an immediate need and not be able to fill it in that moment. Entrusted Houston bridges that gap. Their response time is incredible. Omesha shared several times she contacted them with an urgent need, only to hear back hours or days later that the exact item had just been donated. Lisa shared similar stories—caseworkers calling about needs the ministry couldn’t meet, only for someone to show up moments later with the exact item. God is constantly using His people to meet needs they don’t even know exist.

Most of the items at Entrusted Houston are gently used, but they go through a rigorous inspection process. By the time an item is hung in the warehouse, it has been checked at least seven times for stains and flaws to ensure that whatever is given communicates dignity and value. When I asked Omesha why this mattered so much, her words were powerful: “They see a person as a person—not the PID, not the case number, or anything after that. It’s amazing. And that’s what they provide. They see people as people.” Some items, such as diapers, are brand new thanks to Baby2Baby, a California nonprofit that supplies diapers, clothing, and essentials for children in need. Car seats and pack-and-plays are also frequently requested, and recently, KJIC had the joy of providing 20 pack-and-plays to restock the warehouse—20 families now equipped to safely care for an infant or toddler.

Seven years ago, Entrusted Houston launched their first Caseworker Christmas, serving more than 800 children that year. This year, they are preparing to serve 3,000. Throughout December, toy collection boxes are placed at businesses across the region. Volunteers sort and organize the gifts, and caseworkers are invited to come choose items for each child under their care. Because caseworkers know their kids best, they are able to select toys that reflect each child's personality and interests.

Lisa and Connie

Photo Credit: Arrow Creative

On Christmas Day from 12–3 p.m., Entrusted Houston also hosts a joyful celebration for children in CPS care who do not yet have a placement. They enjoy a meal provided by Gringo’s, play games, participate in activities, and receive toys from the Christmas drive. Entrusted Houston continues accepting toy donations through the end of December to meet needs for this event, and caseworkers can also request birthday gifts for the children they serve throughout the year.

In addition to the toy drive, Entrusted Houston hosts an annual Caseworker Appreciation Day each November, creating a space where caseworkers and their families can enjoy food, fun, and encouragement. As Omesha shared, “One piece I do want you to take away is that Lisa not only looks out for the families and the children we serve, she also looks out for us as caseworkers and as workers.”

Photo Credit: Arrow Creative

We are so grateful to call the team at Entrusted Houston friends. They are doing incredible work to speak value, hope, and dignity into families across our communities while strengthening and encouraging the caseworkers who serve them. In Omesha’s words, “They’ve made a difference. Period. Every facet, every stage, every case that I’ve ever had. Real time, real action.”

We are also deeply grateful for you, our listeners and donors. Because of your generosity, we were able to meet an urgent need at Entrusted Houston by providing 20 pack-and-plays for families welcoming infants and toddlers into their care. Your gifts don’t just keep Christian Country music on the air—they help us come alongside ministries like Entrusted Houston to meet practical needs, share the love of Jesus, and remind families that they are seen, valued, and not alone.

Delivery of 20 Pack N Plays from KJIC