Where Waiting Feels Like Home: Serving with Isaiah 117

We had such a wonderful time connecting and serving with our newest CROP member, Isaiah 117 House.

According to their website, when children are removed from their homes out of concern for their safety, they are usually brought to a child welfare services office to await placement. This wait can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. During that time, children often arrive with nothing, feeling scared, lonely, hungry, and wearing dirty clothing. Isaiah 117 provides a comforting home where these children can be brought instead—a safe place filled with friendly, loving volunteers who offer clean clothes, warm meals, toys, and snuggly blankets. In this environment, children receive the care and comfort they need while child welfare staff are able to complete necessary paperwork and identify an appropriate placement.

The mission of Isaiah 117 House is threefold: to reduce trauma for children awaiting placement, to lighten the load for child welfare services, and to ease the transition for foster families. From what we have experienced while vetting the Brazoria County location as a CROP member, they are more than prepared to fulfill that mission.

In January, Community Radio, Inc. | KJIC had the privilege of supporting Isaiah 117 by attending their Isaiah 117 Day Celebration on January 17 (1/17) and by helping complete some final tasks at the home as they prepare to begin hosting children and caseworkers. The celebration was a chili cook-off filled with volunteers, supporters, and lots of laughter. While KJIC didn’t take home the win with our pot of chili, we loved sharing the station with everyone present and connecting with the people who are truly the heartbeat of Isaiah 117. With cornhole, giant Jenga, and giant Connect 4, both kids and adults enjoyed friendly competition while judges sampled eleven different pots of chili. From super spicy to chicken chili and everything in between, their palates were treated to an abundance of flavor. Awards were given for Best Overall, Most Creative, Spiciest, and Darn Good Try—and it’s always a good thing when you can win for losing. Overall, the day was full of joy, connection, and gratitude, and we were thankful to be part of it.

Later that week, we had the joy of serving at the newly completed home. Our volunteers helped add additional decking to the attic space to increase storage capacity and cleaned windows inside and out. I love the heart of the staff and volunteers who serve with Isaiah 117. Some of our KJIC Serve Crew included children, and as we walked into the home, one of them said, “This is like a dream house!” Mona, the Care Coordinator for the Brazoria County home, smiled and replied, “That’s exactly how we hope kids feel when they come in.”

All Isaiah 117 homes across the nation share a similar design, most notably the red front door, and each is intentionally created to feel like someone’s home—not an office. While there is an office connected to the living room, tall open windows allow a full view of the living, dining, and kitchen areas, and even that space feels unobtrusive, never detracting from the homey atmosphere. There is a comfortable living area perfect for watching a movie, a play space for littles, a dining table, and a pantry and refrigerator stocked with snacks and drinks.

The goal is for a child’s time at Isaiah 117 to be as comforting as possible—to feel like a visit with friends while waiting for placement. Mona described it this way: while children are there, it’s essentially a “Yes Day.” Want a snack? Yes. A drink? Yes. Want to do a craft at 3 a.m.? Yes. Sit on the couch and have a book read to you? Yes. There is a bedroom for girls and one for boys, both sponsored and beautifully decorated to create a restful space—especially during late-night or middle-of-the-night arrivals.

Our General Manager, Justin Vaughn, shared how meaningful this mission is from his own perspective, having experienced transitions through more than five different foster homes over a seven-year period in his early childhood. He reflected on the time he spent waiting in his caseworker’s office for his next placement and how transformative it would have been to wait in a home like this—surrounded by caring volunteers in a warm, welcoming environment.

Playing even a small role in preparing this space to serve children and caseworkers was truly our pleasure. We are so thankful to support Isaiah 117 and their heart to reduce trauma on one of the hardest days a child may experience. They beautifully embody our CROP mission—to extend hope to the hopeless, empower the weak, provide comfort to the fearful, and illuminate the path to the life found in Jesus.

We are also deeply thankful for our listeners and donors who make moments like this possible. Because of your faithful support, KJIC is able to step beyond the airwaves and serve alongside ministries like Isaiah 117—offering not just encouragement through music, but tangible help that prepares safe, welcoming spaces for children and the caseworkers who serve them. Your generosity allows us to be present, to lend helping hands, and to reflect the love of Jesus in real, practical ways within our community.