**Editor’s Note:** For privacy reasons, names and certain details have been changed. These stories are shared by former houseparents who have served at various children’s homes to offer insight, encouragement, and prayer for those considering this role. To respect the privacy of the children in these stories, we use artistic depictions rather than real photos.
Finding Worth: Demetrius’ Story
Written By Chris Hagan, former House Parent
Demetrius arrived at our home in 2014 at the age of 15. His past was filled with hardship—he had never known his biological father and had spent much of his childhood on the streets of Huntsville, Alabama. He shared stories of his time in a gang, sometimes even showing us the scars left behind from gunshots and knife wounds. A couple in Huntsville had taken him in, wanting to give him a better life, but they knew he needed a fresh start. Through connections at their church, they learned about the children’s home and hoped it would be the safe, nurturing place he needed.
Despite his difficult past, Demetrius was outgoing and charismatic. At school and church, he was the life of the group, but behind that energy was a young man who wrestled with deep feelings of unworthiness. As the months passed, those emotions began to surface.
About three or four months into his stay, reports from the private on-campus school became concerning. Demetrius was refusing to do his schoolwork, and his behavior had turned combative and argumentative with faculty and staff. Concerned, we sat him down and asked what was troubling him.
His answer was heartbreaking.
“I don’t deserve to be here,” he admitted. “I don’t deserve this chance.”
He had convinced himself that his past defined him, that he wasn’t worthy of love, stability, or the fresh start he had been given. He carried the weight of his past mistakes like an anchor, holding him back from embracing the life in front of him.
As houseparents, we turned to God’s Word. We shared John 3:16 with him:
> *“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”*
We explained that none of us deserve what God has done for us, yet He still chose to love us—freely, completely, and without hesitation.
That one phrase, *“For God so loved the world,”* struck a chord in Demetrius. He had seen a world of hardship, violence, and pain, but in that moment, he realized that despite everything—despite his past—God still loved him.
From that day on, everything changed. His attitude shifted, his grades improved, and he became a leader in his youth group. He began to see his family back in Alabama through a different lens—not as a reminder of where he came from, but as a place he could one day return to with a renewed heart. He was no longer the boy who questioned his worth—he was a young man who knew he was loved.
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**A Prayer of Gratitude**
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the transforming power of Your love. We lift up children like Demetrius, who struggle to see their worth in a world that has let them down. Lord, may they come to understand that they are cherished beyond measure, that their past does not define them, and that their future is held securely in Your hands. We ask for strength and wisdom for houseparents, mentors, and caregivers who walk alongside them, planting seeds of hope and truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.