We see a picture of an abandoned or abused animal, and our hearts break. People rush to donate or adopt an animal from a shelter. Yet each year, children in San Antonio are abandoned, neglected or live in unsafe environments. They are God’s children, and they, too, need the stability of a loving home.

Child Protective Services manages the emergency and removes the children. But where do they go?

FamilyLink Foster and Adoption Agency is one agency that bridges the gap between a desperate child and a family. The non-profit, licensed, Christian, placement agency finds not just a safe, but a Christian family, to nurture these children. The San Antonio office became an official branch of the Austin-based organization in March.

The need is great. Although the non-profit agency has placed 40 children in 18 homes since Jan. 2011 alone.

“We literally turn down 25-30 children A DAY because we don’t have enough families willing to take them,” said LCPAA and program director Christy Holland.

Conversely, couples exist who long for children. Others feel God’s call to care for the abused or orphan. FamilyLink provides the missing puzzle piece to connect children with loving families, and provides training, counseling and ongoing support to their referral families to smooth the transition.

“It is a wonderful ministry all the way round. We help families and children, too,” Holland added. “The Ernst family now has 4 pre-school aged children. They’ve adopted the two boys and are fostering two girls. They have an amazing testimony that their hearts are full of love for children and desire to be a parent. God provided the children and has truly blessed them.“

Children come with different issues. Some may just need temporary housing while their parents work out legal or penal system issues. Others will be available for adoption, like a 7 week-old baby boy addicted to opiates and other drugs. A recently licensed family with three girls had always wanted a boy and was delighted to have him.

“We have such a dire need for foster families,” Holland said. “CPS is overloaded. We’d love for more families to come on board. If you feel God’s tugging at you heart, pray about if he is calling you to find out more about becoming a foster parent.”

FamilyLink will hold a training class Dec. 3, to provide information about becoming a foster family and the adoption process, at Churchill Baptist Church, 12400 Vista View St., 78231. Class runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. To register or for more information, call FamilyLink at 476-5014, or visit their website at FamilyLinkKids.com.