&noscript=1 />
Faith Focus: Freedom is amazingly true

Faith Focus: Freedom is amazingly true

On Thursday, we’ll celebrate the nation’s 243rd birthday. Throngs of people will fill military bases and parks for games and music. Parades will...
Faith Focus: Nowhere else to turn

Faith Focus: Nowhere else to turn

Ruby didn’t know where to turn. She had nowhere to live, and no real prospects for her and her daughter. She did the only thing she could think to...
Faith Focus: Sometimes life is tough

Faith Focus: Sometimes life is tough

Life isn’t always easy. In fact, long stretches of life can seem like a never-ending series of challenges. ...
Faith Focus: I don't wanna

Faith Focus: I don't wanna

I just woke up, and I’m not sure which side of the bed is supposed to be the right side, but I definitely didn’t find it this morning. ...
Faith Focus: That doesn't make sense

Faith Focus: That doesn't make sense

As Christians, there’s a lot we do that doesn’t seem to make much sense to those outside the faith. ...
Faith Focus: As parents, we don't always have the words

Faith Focus: As parents, we don't always have the words

At some point it happens to all of us. Despite all of our planning, thinking about things and rehearsing talking points, it still happens. We don’t...
Faith Focus: Stepping into the spotlight

Faith Focus: Stepping into the spotlight

Aiden Leathers walked through the tunnel underneath the Texas Rangers baseball field starry-eyed. He and his big brother, Justin, 13, were being...
Faith Focus: Made in the image of God

Faith Focus: Made in the image of God

Ask anyone about 2-year-old Nayron, and they’ll typically respond in the same way: “He’s the happiest baby in the world.” ...
Faith Focus: We all want a superhero ending

Faith Focus: We all want a superhero ending

After much anticipation, “Avengers: Endgame” captured the world’s attention this weekend, filling theaters and smashing records on the way to...
Faith Focus: I could see clearly if it weren't for this plank in my eye

Faith Focus: I could see clearly if it weren't for this plank in my eye

The world around us is falling apart. But the problem isn’t me. Chances are, it isn’t you, either. At least that’s what research says.

 ...
Faith Focus: What success in life actually looks like

Faith Focus: What success in life actually looks like

Since Christmas, I’ve been on a quest to become healthier. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m getting older and need to take better care of...
Faith Focus: It's your time

Faith Focus: It's your time

When Adonis Creed defeats Viktor Drago at the end of Creed 2, an important moment in the Rocky series happens in one of the quietest moments of the...
Faith Focus: Small steps of faith

Faith Focus: Small steps of faith

Friday was National Shoe Day, and after distributing more than 3 million shoes over 20 years, we at Buckner know a thing or two about footwear. ...
Faith Focus: Will you reach out?

Faith Focus: Will you reach out?

It’s never easy going into a new situation. Perhaps no one knows that better than children in the foster care system. They’re suddenly removed...
Faith Focus: The power of recognition

Faith Focus: The power of recognition

Near the end of February, the Houston City Council awarded Buckner Houston a $100,000 grant to provide case management and services to 30 families...
Faith Focus: Teach me to craft

Faith Focus: Teach me to craft

Yesterday, my son was trying to teach me how to play Minecraft, the seemingly ubiquitous building video game. He’s played the game off and on for...
Faith Focus: Dimension vs. metric

Faith Focus: Dimension vs. metric

This weekend, I started what should have been a fairly simple introductory course about collecting and examining Internet traffic. It should have...
Faith Focus: God will put people in your life

Faith Focus: God will put people in your life

Last week, a full house of nearly 200 people attended the fourth annual Heart of Buckner Amarillo fundraiser at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. The...
Faith Focus: Martin Luther King's last sermon and you

Faith Focus: Martin Luther King's last sermon and you

On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his last sermon. Looking back, many have noted the prophetic nature of his words, wrapping up the...
Faith Focus: Will you go today?

Faith Focus: Will you go today?

Undoubtedly all of us are familiar with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and...
Faith Focus: I don't believe we've met

Faith Focus: I don't believe we've met

Just after Christmas, I met someone for the first time. Well, that’s not exactly correct. I’ve known this person my entire life. I’ve spent...
Faith Focus: Is the world just too busy?

Faith Focus: Is the world just too busy?

The other night, I was walking through a poorly-lit part of a town I didn’t know well. My youngest son and I were on our way to help my in-laws...
Faith Focus: How would you respond?

Faith Focus: How would you respond?

Certain songs have the ability to affect us instantaneously. I’ve noticed it’s been happening quite a bit lately to people around me. It often...
Faith Focus: We're in a crisis. How should we respond?

Faith Focus: We're in a crisis. How should we respond?

Make no mistake, we are in the middle of a crisis. There are 111,820 children in the United States waiting to be adopted. There are nearly 30,000...
Faith Focus: With all your heart, soul and mind

Faith Focus: With all your heart, soul and mind

Thom had a problem. His son was being teased because of his weight. He couldn’t force the bullies to stop, so he took a different approach: Build...
Faith Focus: Who is the next superhero?

Faith Focus: Who is the next superhero?

As we wrap up our month highlighting Buckner “superheroes” – those who have gone to great lengths to protect children and strengthen families,...
Faith Focus: This superpower is rarely seen but always noticed

Faith Focus: This superpower is rarely seen but always noticed

As we continue to look at “superheroes” who protect children and strengthen families, it dawned on me that most superpowers are obvious: super...
Faith Focus: Superheroes in the making

Faith Focus: Superheroes in the making

We don’t think about superheroes long before thinking about their alter egos. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. Superman is Clark...
Faith Focus: Something just like this

Faith Focus: Something just like this

In the past week, I’ve listened to a lot of music. Mostly pop music, but plenty of rock, alternative and country. There was even some jazz and...
Faith Focus: 1 John 3

Faith Focus: 1 John 3

In the month of September, we'd like to change this devotional a bit. We believe people are changed when they read and meditate on God's Word. The...
Faith Focus: 1 Corinthians 13

Faith Focus: 1 Corinthians 13

In the month of September, we'd like to change this devotional a bit. We believe people are changed when they read and meditate on God's Word. The...
Faith Focus: The Lord will be my God

Faith Focus: The Lord will be my God

This week marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey devastating Southeast Texas. I spent part of last week in Houston visiting with victims...
Faith Focus: When was the last time you received a gift?

Faith Focus: When was the last time you received a gift?

Last week, former Texas Rangers players Elliot “Bump” Wills and George Wright joined Buckner in North Texas to send 92 children from the Dallas...
Faith Focus: Before children go back to school ...

Faith Focus: Before children go back to school ...

You may have noticed something different at church yesterday. The building was a little louder. The hallways were a little busier. Most of the...
Faith Focus: Why won't my son listen to me?

Faith Focus: Why won't my son listen to me?

This morning, my 2-year-old son needed to be changed. He knew it. I knew it. Pretty much everyone who walked near him knew it. ...
Faith Focus: The bench

Faith Focus: The bench

A long wooden bench sits just outside the training room of the Buckner International offices. Though it’s been well maintained, it’s clearly been...
Faith Focus: A lamp for our feet

Faith Focus: A lamp for our feet

Trapped in an unhealthy relationship, LaCheryal Royal didn't know what to do. If she left, she didn't know where she and her two young boys would...
Faith Focus: What do you expect?

Faith Focus: What do you expect?

When single parents come to Buckner Family Pathways, they come from diverse backgrounds. Some of them have suffered abuse. Others have been through...
Faith Focus: Inward renewal

Faith Focus: Inward renewal

When I moved to Waco in 2008, one of the more distinctive landmarks in downtown Waco was the pair of large rusting grain silos near the “grease...
Faith Focus: What do you want to pass down?

Faith Focus: What do you want to pass down?

Like too many men, my dad and I are far more comfortable talking about things we’ve done that day, projects around the house and cars. Maybe it’s...
Faith Focus: 'I love you, Daddy'

Faith Focus: 'I love you, Daddy'

Rodrick knows hard times. He grew up moving from home to home. As an adult, he’s struggled with addiction. His four children have spent time in the...
Faith Focus: Who we truly are

Faith Focus: Who we truly are

When Ashlee Robinson first met Anna Rodriquez and Carrie Johnson, she couldn’t even look them in the eye. Reeling from what felt like a series of...
Faith Focus: Layers of history

Faith Focus: Layers of history

Like any major modern city, London is constantly changing. Construction projects never end, they simply change locations. Large teams of workers dig...
Faith Focus: The sacrifices of those who came before us

Faith Focus: The sacrifices of those who came before us

More than 400,000 people – largely former members of the military – are buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Nearly 5,000 of...
Faith Focus: Through the looking glass

Faith Focus: Through the looking glass

Since the beginning of time, multitudes of people have suffered silently in poverty. For many, they’ve been easy to overlook. ...
Faith Focus: Seeing what you didn't before

Faith Focus: Seeing what you didn't before

Last week, Buckner Senior Living and Cooper Aerobics announced a collaboration that will bring Cooper experts to the Ventana by Buckner campus in...
Faith focus: Jason Witten and grit

Faith focus: Jason Witten and grit

Last Thursday, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten retired. With him, he took a slew of franchise records, including most career receptions, most...
Faith Focus: Who are the first people to volunteer at Buckner?

Faith Focus: Who are the first people to volunteer at Buckner?

The first people to jump at a volunteer opportunity at Buckner International don’t hear about it through email. They don’t come across it online...
Faith Focus: When the unexpected happens

Faith Focus: When the unexpected happens

My son recently started his second season of baseball. It's the first time anyone on his team has had another child pitch to them, and the first two...
Faith Focus: The widow's mite

Faith Focus: The widow's mite

When we talk about the needs of the vulnerable children and families served by Buckner International, we’re often met with sympathetic ears....
Faith Focus: Thank you, God, for the small things

Faith Focus: Thank you, God, for the small things

Many times in this devotional series, we've talked about big actions people have taken to share the hope of Christ with others. We’ve chronicled...
Faith Focus: This week, please pray

Faith Focus: This week, please pray

For many people, this week is Spring Break. And here at Buckner, that means a week of special service by mission teams from around the country....
Faith Focus: Did you miss it?

Faith Focus: Did you miss it?

Friday was a significant holiday – at least for those of us who live in the Lone Star State. Did you miss it? Do you even know what it was? ...
Faith Focus: Delivery?

Faith Focus: Delivery?

Food delivery services like Grubhub and Uber Eats are growing exponentially, changing the restaurant industry along the way. Armed with the ease of...
Faith Focus: These are the times we live in

Faith Focus: These are the times we live in

In 1859, Charles Dickens famously wrote “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The words are as powerful today as the day he...
Faith Focus: The perfect father

Faith Focus: The perfect father

Last night millions of people tuned in for the television event of the year. We just had to wait until the Super Bowl was over. ...
Faith Focus: It’s always time to go fishing

Faith Focus: It’s always time to go fishing

Some people choose a senior living community for its friendly atmosphere, five-star dining or luxury amenities. ...
Faith Focus: What is this thing?

Faith Focus: What is this thing?

Yesterday for worship I snuck into the sparsely populated balcony of my church and sat with the folks who hope no one notices they are there. Many of...
Faith Focus: University encourages students to live in 'actual reality'

Faith Focus: University encourages students to live in 'actual reality'

Georgetown University is installing a unique section of seating for its Jan. 20 basketball game against St. John's University. Each person in the...
Faith Focus: Let us run with purpose and perseverance in 2018

Faith Focus: Let us run with purpose and perseverance in 2018

The sound system in my wife's SUV was bad when we bought the vehicle two years ago. The radio acted up. Two of the speakers were blown. It hadn't...
For the first time, Christmas doesn't sink Valley family

For the first time, Christmas doesn't sink Valley family

Christmas should be a time of celebration, a period of joy, hope, love and peace. Instead, it meant debt for the Morales family. ...
Friday photo: Dallas Mavericks players distribute Thanksgiving meals to Dallas families

Friday photo: Dallas Mavericks players distribute Thanksgiving meals to Dallas families

Last week, Dallas Mavericks players Devin Harris and Jeff Withey helped distribute Thanksgiving meals to 250 Dallas families participating in Buckner...
Faith Focus: Count your blessings by counting the people you love

Faith Focus: Count your blessings by counting the people you love

As I contemplated Thanksgiving leading up to this devotion, I thought of the many ways God has blessed my family this year. We’re healthy. We’re...
We do missions differently. So should you.

We do missions differently. So should you.

Chances are, if you’ve scrolled through your social media feed lately, you’ve run across a video by Christian comedian John Crist. His...
Faith Focus: We never know where meeting a need might lead

Faith Focus: We never know where meeting a need might lead

In the mid-1990s, roughly 800 of the 4,000 students at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, were single parents. Many of them had come back to school to...
Faith Focus: What to do when you’re not good enough

Faith Focus: What to do when you’re not good enough

Robbie is a hero of mine. He has been for some time. I admire the energy he brings to every room he walks into, his ability to connect with people and...
Faith Focus: Do what you need to do

Faith Focus: Do what you need to do

Dequante “DQ” Thomas couldn’t have imagined as a single, 27-year-old man, he’d know all the words to “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen....
Faith Focus: Expect the Unexpected

Faith Focus: Expect the Unexpected

Brent and Savannah never thought they’d care for a child with special needs. But here was Zach, a “completely non-verbal” 2-year-old in their...
Together, we change lives

Together, we change lives

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, one principle has shown through again and again. At Buckner International, we truly are a family. We each bring our...
Faith Focus: Meet Aleida. Pray for her and her family.

Faith Focus: Meet Aleida. Pray for her and her family.

In one day last week, the Buckner Family Hope Center at Houston/Aldine distributed food, water, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and clothes to...
Friday photo: We are #TexasStrong

Friday photo: We are #TexasStrong

Hurricane Harvey could have divided people and families, each of them trying to pull themselves out of them storm by themselves. Instead, Texans are...
Faith Focus: Your prayers have made a difference

Faith Focus: Your prayers have made a difference

As Hurricane Harvey approached Texas, Buckner leaders asked you to pray for the children and families we serve. Today, there is no doubt your prayer...
Buckner begins serving in Houston following Hurricane Harvey

Buckner begins serving in Houston following Hurricane Harvey

Volunteers serving through Buckner International today are cleaning out homes of families affected by Hurricane Harvey. ...
Buckner families check in as safe

Buckner families check in as safe

All children, families and seniors served by Buckner International in Southeast Texas continue to be safe. ...
Let’s go back to school

Let’s go back to school

Going back to school can be an anxious time for students. They’re faced with new teachers, new schedules and maybe even new friends. ...
Faith Focus: 'Twas the night before school begins

Faith Focus: 'Twas the night before school begins

Shannon* first met Tim* during the second semester of first grade. It was the first time Tim had ever gone to school, and Shannon was trying to help...
Faith Focus: We can do better

Faith Focus: We can do better

This weekend, the nation mourned and voiced its outrage over the tragic events of Charlottesville, Va. Social media was filled with posts voicing...
Young professionals raise $8,000 for school supplies

Young professionals raise $8,000 for school supplies

Young Professionals in Houston raised over $8,000 in donations last week to give school supplies and school uniforms to children involved in the...
Buckner Family Hope Center students pitch in for shoe drive

Buckner Family Hope Center students pitch in for shoe drive

A group of students involved in the Buckner Family Hope Center at Aldine in Houston recently helped vulnerable children through the Buckner Shoes for...
Faith Focus: Home

Faith Focus: Home

If you’ve ever taken a trip for a significant period of time, you know how good it feels to come home. The bed feels perfect. Everything is right...
Faith Focus: What's your why?

Faith Focus: What's your why?

London went to college for four years, but she didn’t graduate. She admits she didn’t buckle down and focus on her education like she should...
Faith Focus: Keep plugging away

Faith Focus: Keep plugging away

Bruce was up against the wall. At 22, he’d signed a major record deal and thought he was on the road to success. But after two disappointing...
Faith Focus: 'We changed the trajectory of his life'

Faith Focus: 'We changed the trajectory of his life'

Andi Harrison is director of Buckner foster care and adoption in North Texas. She’s also a foster parent. When her first foster child was placed...
Friday photo: A special summer

Friday photo: A special summer

For many of us, the summers of our childhoods include some of the most special moments of our lives. Thanks to the many volunteers that serve through...
Dallas family declares ‘This is our time’ to succeed

Dallas family declares ‘This is our time’ to succeed

Tilia Sanchez volunteers at Burnet Elementary School in Dallas whenever she can. She wants to make the school the best it can be for every student,...
Faith Focus: Sitting on the precipice of something new

Faith Focus: Sitting on the precipice of something new

In an office near the front of the Buckner Children and Family Services campus in Longview, Texas, Buckner Family Coach Courtney Barr visits with a...
'I'd like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free'

'I'd like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free'

On Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a largely empty bus in Montgomery, Ala. after a long day at work as a seamstress. She walked by several rows of...
Pain to perseverance: Conroe mom forges forward to earn college degree

Pain to perseverance: Conroe mom forges forward to earn college degree

When Ashlee Robinson first met Anna Rodriquez and Carrie Johnson, she couldn’t even look them in the eye. Reeling from what felt like a series of...
Faith Focus: Beverlye Dodd's story is the story of all of us

Faith Focus: Beverlye Dodd's story is the story of all of us

Beverlye Dodd grew up being told she was not smart enough, not good enough and not worth enough—and never would be. ...
Friday photo: Family Hope Center at Bachman Lake graduations

Friday photo: Family Hope Center at Bachman Lake graduations

This month, Buckner leaders honored the first graduating classes of the Buckner Family Hope Center at Bachman Lake in Dallas. Joy beamed across the...
Faith Focus: Freeze frame

Faith Focus: Freeze frame

Last week, Buckner leaders honored the first graduating classes of the Buckner Family Hope Center at Bachman Lake in Dallas. The ceremony is the...
Let's kick the summer off right!

Let's kick the summer off right!

The Buckner Family Hope Center at Wynnewood in Dallas recently brought the community together to kick off the season with the Summer Fam Fest and...
Faith Focus: Cel-e-brate good times, come on!

Faith Focus: Cel-e-brate good times, come on!

The first full week of June is upon us. That means graduations and graduation parties. ...
Buckner Lufkin volunteer instills joy of reading in children

Buckner Lufkin volunteer instills joy of reading in children

Every day is fun at the Buckner Mary Jo Gorden Child Development Center. Smiles and laughter fill classrooms each day as children play with each...
From grief to graduation: First Buckner Family Pathways mom in Longview earns college degree

From grief to graduation: First Buckner Family Pathways mom in Longview earns college degree

Stephanie Fletcher’s best friend was her grandmother. She could tell the family matriarch anything and receive wise counsel. Her grandmother was...
Ware Elementary students respond to clothing need at Longview Buckner Family Hope Center

Ware Elementary students respond to clothing need at Longview Buckner Family Hope Center

Leaders change the world. For the Ambassadors leadership team at Ware Elementary School in Longview, Texas, that begins with making life better for...
Beaumont Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® drive sets local record

Beaumont Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® drive sets local record

A record number of vulnerable children will have hope and help as a result of the 88.1 KLBT Community Shoe Drive that collected nearly 2,900 pairs of...
Faith Focus: What if we worked together?

Faith Focus: What if we worked together?

Elephants realize how how important and difficult it is to raise their offspring. That's why they travel together in herds, working as a team to...
Faith Focus: Small great things

Faith Focus: Small great things

More than 400,000 children live in foster homes in the United States, including over 31,000 Texas children. Many of these children have been removed...
Faith Focus: Three lessons from Mary on motherhood

Faith Focus: Three lessons from Mary on motherhood

Jesus’ mother, Mary, may be the most famous mom in the world. She’s the subject of countless pieces of art, books and theological...
Faith Focus: Do you have a plan?

Faith Focus: Do you have a plan?

Last season, Gordon Hayward was one of the better players in the NBA. The Utah Jazz small forward averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 assists and 5 rebounds a...
Faith Focus: Why not being good at everything is OK

Faith Focus: Why not being good at everything is OK

I’m not good at a lot of things. If I made a list of them, it’d be extensive Here’s a sample: ...
Buckner Family Pathways: A road to a better life

Buckner Family Pathways: A road to a better life

Tiara Johnson was going to go to college. Nothing was going to stop her – not the long hours, not having to balance a full-time job with a heavy...
Faith Focus: So now what?

Faith Focus: So now what?

I hope your Easter weekend was filled with friends and loved ones gathered to celebrate the risen Christ and what his victory over death means for...
Faith Focus: God save us

Faith Focus: God save us

Yesterday, we kicked off Holy Week by celebrating Palm Sunday. We remembered and reflected on Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Christ...
Friday photo: City Credit Union hosts shoe drive

Friday photo: City Credit Union hosts shoe drive

In honor of their 75th anniversary, City Credit Union is giving back to the Dallas-Fort Worth community. Throughout the month of March, City Credit...
Conroe computer company provides laptops for Buckner Family Pathways moms

Conroe computer company provides laptops for Buckner Family Pathways moms

Bruce Freeman often helps people put their computers back together. Whether someone walks in with a virus, malfunctioning software or some other...
Faith Focus: What's on your mind?

Faith Focus: What's on your mind?

Holly Jones, wellness coordinator at Buckner Villas, knows better than to forget her iPod for work each morning. ...
Friday photo: Jobs For Life

Friday photo: Jobs For Life

Thursday, Buckner President and CEO Albert L. Reyes shared his family testimony during the new Jobs For Life class led by the Buckner Family Hope...
Faith Focus: The weight of our past

Faith Focus: The weight of our past

For Melanie, returning to the Texas Hill Country was a homecoming. She’s from the area, but returning there wasn’t high on her list of priorities....
New Houston Family Hope Center becoming a reality

New Houston Family Hope Center becoming a reality

Once, a second Buckner Family Hope Center in Houston was merely a dream. We saw multitudes of vulnerable families and children who needed help, and...
Faith Focus: Intentional living for Christ

Faith Focus: Intentional living for Christ

Chances are this devotion arrived in your inbox quietly after a pile of weekend junk mail and before the deluge of early morning messages about the...
Friday photo: Families are never alone

Friday photo: Families are never alone

At Buckner Family Pathways, families are never alone. At Family Pathways, families build lasting relationships not only with each other but with...
Faith Focus: ‘The pleasing aroma of Christ’

Faith Focus: ‘The pleasing aroma of Christ’

When Vivi first came to her Buckner foster home, she was frightened to be away from her foster mother, Robin. Her foster mother meant comfort, safety...
Faith Focus: Looking for something more

Faith Focus: Looking for something more

Tiara was living in a small Texas town and pregnant at 18. Given her situation, she quickly realized her ability to support her daughter would be...
Faith Focus: And the Oscar goes to...

Faith Focus: And the Oscar goes to...

Last tonight, much of the world gathered around screens of various sizes to see the fashion of the stars and watch who was crowned the very best in...
Poverty spotlight: Choosing between your children

Poverty spotlight: Choosing between your children

When vulnerable families are struggling beneath the crushing weight of poverty, the simplest decisions often become difficult for parents. Even the...
Faith Focus: Faith of our fathers

Faith Focus: Faith of our fathers

Chris, Keith and Dan Malloy are surfing legends. They are known throughout the surfing community for their looks and skill. They’re also known...
East Texas high school athletes collect backpacks, stuffed animals for Buckner foster children

East Texas high school athletes collect backpacks, stuffed animals for Buckner foster children

When children are removed from their home due to neglect or abuse, it often happens quickly. As a result, children many times leave most of their...
Faith Focus: Love is all you need

Faith Focus: Love is all you need

Fifty years ago, the Beatles were part in the first live international satellite television special. It was called “Our World” and featured the...
Faith Focus: What's your story?

Faith Focus: What's your story?

Last week, representatives from Subway stores across East Texas presented a check for more than $8,000 to Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® to shine...
By the numbers: Poverty in Dallas

By the numbers: Poverty in Dallas

Buckner International has served the vulnerable in Dallas since 1879. Through our Buckner Family Hope Center in Wynnewood, Buckner Family Pathways and...
Faith Focus: Faith is taking the first step

Faith Focus: Faith is taking the first step

The young lady pictured above is Kalista, an energetic, imaginative, funny and joyous kindergartener I had the pleasure of meeting last week. She’s...
Friday photo: New beginnings

Friday photo: New beginnings

All the apartments at Buckner Family Pathways in Longview are now occupied as nine single-parent families moved in this week, joining the seven...
Determined, driven and dedicated: Lufkin single mom overcomes obstacles to succeed

Determined, driven and dedicated: Lufkin single mom overcomes obstacles to succeed

Tiffany Pangarakis was determined. No one ever doubted that. Smart and hard-working, she could succeed at anything she put her mind to. Nothing was...
Faith Focus: Rejoice in new beginnings

Faith Focus: Rejoice in new beginnings

During the weekend, several more families moved into the Buckner Family Pathways in Longview, Texas. Today and tomorrow, three more will move in. In...
The crushing psychological weight of poverty and the need for hope

The crushing psychological weight of poverty and the need for hope

A few months ago, I met a family Buckner serves in Peñitas, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. The six of them slept in a run down trailer, their...
Make 2017 count: How you can help vulnerable children and families this year

Make 2017 count: How you can help vulnerable children and families this year

Everyone wants his or her life to matter. We want our actions to impact others positively and leave a lasting legacy. The start of a new year is the...
Faith Focus: 'I will be with you' in 2017

Faith Focus: 'I will be with you' in 2017

With the turning of the calendar, we often find ourselves turning introspective. We assess where we are and where we'd like to be. Statistics say 45...
Art Weiner carries on legacy of caring through Buckner Children’s Village

Art Weiner carries on legacy of caring through Buckner Children’s Village

Her picture is the first thing Art Weiner sees when he wakes up each morning and the last thing he sees before nodding off to bed at night. She’s...
Buckner in East Texas rings in Christmas early for vulnerable children, families

Buckner in East Texas rings in Christmas early for vulnerable children, families

Christmas came early this year for vulnerable families and children served through Buckner in East Texas. ...
Faith Focus: Giving gifts

Faith Focus: Giving gifts

In the past few weeks, the children and families who are served through Buckner have been abundantly blessed by the generosity of people who support...
Frisco woman makes decade-long impact on children through Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls®

Frisco woman makes decade-long impact on children through Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls®

Lisa Schaefer isn’t much of a shopper. It just doesn’t excite her. Unless it helps vulnerable children through Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls. ...
Faith Focus: It's time for a dance party

Faith Focus: It's time for a dance party

When Beth and Ryan Vela adopted Claire through Buckner, it was "easily on of the best days" of their lives, "right up there with the birth of our boys...
Send greetings to friends, hope to vulnerable families this Christmas

Send greetings to friends, hope to vulnerable families this Christmas

This Christmas, sending a Christmas card can do more than bring greetings to your friends and family – it can make a difference in lives on the...
'You are home'

'You are home'

Each day, Ben Shelton tells his 8-year-old son, Banks, the four things he needs to know: ...
Faith Focus: Where do you see Jesus?

Faith Focus: Where do you see Jesus?

Weekly, the Buckner staff gathers for a devotional time that includes prayer for each other and the families that we serve. Last Monday, we gathered...
Buckner cuts ribbon for new Longview campus Nov. 18

Buckner cuts ribbon for new Longview campus Nov. 18

Buckner Children and Family Services of East Texas officially opened a $6 million campus Nov. 18 in Longview, Texas, including its expanded Family...
Faith Focus: A week of thanks

Faith Focus: A week of thanks

Thursday may be Thanksgiving, but there's no need to wait until then to be thankful. Truth be told, Buckner has a lot to be thankful for in November. ...
Rio Grande Valley family sees bright future constructed just outside its doorstep

Rio Grande Valley family sees bright future constructed just outside its doorstep

PEÑITAS, Texas – Maria Luisa Morales’ future was so close, it was right outside the front door of the aging one-room travel trailer that...
Faith Focus: Do you have the courage?

Faith Focus: Do you have the courage?

New to Peñitas, Texas with few friends, Abigail Garcia didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she followed a classmate’s...
Friday photo: Building the future

Friday photo: Building the future

This week, a Woman's Missionary Union of Texas team is finishing the construction of a home through Buckner Domestic Missions for the Morales family...
‘I think God put it in my way for a reason’

‘I think God put it in my way for a reason’

PEÑITAS, Texas – New to town with few friends, Abigail Garcia didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she followed a classmate’s...
Faith Focus: Fear or faith?

Faith Focus: Fear or faith?

Halloween is most often associated with things that go bump in the night. When we find ourselves in the darkness of uncertainty, every little noise...
How to be a voice for the vulnerable in your church: What we can learn from the CIA

How to be a voice for the vulnerable in your church: What we can learn from the CIA

In the 1990s, CIA Analyst Carmen Medina saw a gap in the information flow from the field to American intelligence agencies. Put simply, the flow was...
Faith Focus: Obedience happens one step at a time

Faith Focus: Obedience happens one step at a time

Hector Flores has one wish for his children: “I want them to study so they can become someone. Not like me.” ...
Non-Conformists: Changing the world one family at a time

Non-Conformists: Changing the world one family at a time

Nearly five years after his death, Steve Jobs is largely still considered by many to be the greatest visionary and innovator of his generation. He...
Friday photo: Blessing

Friday photo: Blessing

The Gabriel Apartment Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas, recently delivered an SUV-load of kitchen supplies that equipped...
We must always remember where many of the families we serve come from

We must always remember where many of the families we serve come from

Families often come to Buckner Family Pathways when they’ve tried everything else to better their situations on their own without seeing any...
Faith Focus: The eyes of Texas are upon you

Faith Focus: The eyes of Texas are upon you

Every other month, a group of men from Buckner Villas in Austin, Texas, meets with Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors, the Richardson-based company...
Buckner Family Pathways in Midland empowers single mother to dream again

Buckner Family Pathways in Midland empowers single mother to dream again

Sitting in a shelter for abused women was never in Michaella Saucedo’s plans. It’s never in anyone’s plans. Yet that’s exactly where...
Faith Focus: Living an atypical life

Faith Focus: Living an atypical life

From outward appearance, Christy Haston is a typical, single 30-something woman. An assistant principal at a North Dallas elementary school, Christy...
Faith Focus: Lessons from Thomas Edison

Faith Focus: Lessons from Thomas Edison

You probably know Thomas Edison is one of the greatest inventors in history. He was the force behind the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and...
Faith Focus: God of turning points

Faith Focus: God of turning points

Buckner Family Hope Center at Longview mother of two Vanessa Powell can remember the exact moment her life changed forever. She and her boyfriend...
Faith Focus: What are you fighting for?

Faith Focus: What are you fighting for?

Recently, a team of volunteers traveled with Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® and WAY-FM radio in Nashville, Tenn., to place new shoes on the feet of...
Faith Focus: August prayer requests

Faith Focus: August prayer requests

This morning young people across Texas are waking up and getting ready for their first day of school. They're nervously putting on backpacks and...
Buckner Family Hope Centers make going back to school easier for vulnerable children

Buckner Family Hope Centers make going back to school easier for vulnerable children

When the door opened in a small portable building at the Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine, a soothing voice beckoned a mother and her three...
Friday photo: Back-to-school

Friday photo: Back-to-school

About 300 children received backpacks filled with school supplies this morning at the Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine. Noble Energy was a...
Camp Buckner Foster Family Camp: A week of firsts for foster children, families

Camp Buckner Foster Family Camp: A week of firsts for foster children, families

Buckner foster and adoptive families know that family is about more than biological connections. It’s about people who love and care about each...
Faith Focus: A father to the fatherless

Faith Focus: A father to the fatherless

Dressed in a white T-shirt and bright orange sneakers, Bishop Putney stands out in more ways than one. While the other five boys glue pieces of wood...
Faith Focus: The difficulty of introspection

Faith Focus: The difficulty of introspection

A couple years ago, a pair of disc jockeys interviewed actor/comedian Bill Murray and the conversation turned to more serious subjects. Murray went...
Faith Focus: Four things God wants us to know today

Faith Focus: Four things God wants us to know today

Each day, Buckner Adoptive Parent Ben Shelton tells his 8-year-old son four things to remember: ...
Faith Focus: July prayer requests

Faith Focus: July prayer requests

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year at Buckner. Mission teams are shining hope around the world by distributing new footwear through...
Buckner Family Hope Center helps make life ‘200 percent’ better for single mom

Buckner Family Hope Center helps make life ‘200 percent’ better for single mom

Each Wednesday of the summer, the Buckner Family Hope Center in Longview, Texas, offered free meals for children at her apartment complex. BK...
Faith Focus: Sacrifices for freedom

Faith Focus: Sacrifices for freedom

On May 29, 1944, Joe Griffin and the rest of the 4th Marine Division sailed for Saipan, a Japanese stronghold in the Marianas Islands during World...
First ESL class graduates from Family Hope center at Wynnewood

First ESL class graduates from Family Hope center at Wynnewood

Manuela Rodriguez has five children, each of whom has homework to do each night of the school year. She encourages them to work hard and do well in...
Volunteer: Serve children in foster care so parents can  continue caring for them

Volunteer: Serve children in foster care so parents can continue caring for them

In order to be a foster parent, adults must participate in regular training sessions where they learn how to best care for the children who have been...
Faith Focus: Prayer requests

Faith Focus: Prayer requests

Antonio Galeno knew how to cut hair. He even knew how to get new clients for his young business. ...
The many roles of dad

The many roles of dad

It’s nearly impossible to overrate the importance of involved, supportive fathers. The relationship a child has with his or her father affects...
Faith Focus: Biblical insights on fatherhood

Faith Focus: Biblical insights on fatherhood

Buckner is blessed with some of the most amazing fathers. Each day, hope shines through their actions. In many ways, they reflect how a loving God...
Buckner Family Hope Centers: Making summer fun possible for all

Buckner Family Hope Centers: Making summer fun possible for all

Summer is upon us. Swimming pools are open as are students’ schedule for friends, camps and vacations. There’s plenty of time for fun in the sun....
Vital signs | Dallas single mom goes from homeless shelter to self-sufficiency at Buckner Family Pathways

Vital signs | Dallas single mom goes from homeless shelter to self-sufficiency at Buckner Family Pathways

6 p.m. That’s when Leticia Harley, her 2-month son and 2-year-old daughter could re-enter the emergency homeless shelter in Dallas. They would file...
Faith Focus: Coming to Christ with confidence

Faith Focus: Coming to Christ with confidence

Asking for help can be difficult and humbling. Many of us struggle to admit our need for assistance until we don’t have any other option. ...
What does it take to change the life of a single mom? Heart, help and hope

What does it take to change the life of a single mom? Heart, help and hope

When Denise Macon first called Buckner Family Pathways in Amarillo, she was days away from becoming homeless. Now she and her two children have a...
Faith Focus: Generosity begets generosity

Faith Focus: Generosity begets generosity

As Uyless Bland walked out to the mound at Globe Life Park in Arlington for Buckner Day at the Rangers, he had an entire city behind him. ...
Faith Focus: Prayer for foster care needs

Faith Focus: Prayer for foster care needs

In honor of National Foster Care Month, we're asking the Buckner family to pray for children in the foster care system and parents who are caring for...
Faith Focus: Living out Matthew 5:14-16

Faith Focus: Living out Matthew 5:14-16

Bettye Mack awoke one Friday morning in April to water quickly coming under the door of her house. She did everything she could to make it stop, but...
Faith Focus: How much is a good mom worth?

Faith Focus: How much is a good mom worth?

Last year, a Dallas man tried to figure out how much his stay-at-home wife would earn if she were paid market value for taking care of their son in...
Buckner Peru helps man connect with God, changes life

Buckner Peru helps man connect with God, changes life

The weight of Angel Coyllo’s past was crushing him. ...
Faith Focus: Prayer for families

Faith Focus: Prayer for families

Each day, Buckner serves families. The needs of each are as different as their situations. No matter why they come, they all are looking for hope for...
Faith Focus: Commitment affects the entire family

Faith Focus: Commitment affects the entire family

Few events in life bring as much anticipation and enthusiasm as a wedding. Months of planning come to fruition in one beautiful day where friends and...
Faith Focus: 'Everyone has to help somehow'

Faith Focus: 'Everyone has to help somehow'

Buck and Stephanie Baskin have been foster parents for four years. During the process of caring for children, they sensed God calling them to adopt. ...
3 ways shoes bring hope

3 ways shoes bring hope

For the past 16 years, we've been giving shoes to children around the world and in the United States. Most of us don't think twice about the shoes we...
Faith Focus: Where will you guide someone this week?

Faith Focus: Where will you guide someone this week?

Lester O’Garro has made mistakes in life. He’s learned lessons the hard way. If he can help it, others won’t repeat his errors. ...
Faith Focus: Small steps of faith can have the biggest impact

Faith Focus: Small steps of faith can have the biggest impact

The ministry of Buckner International touches hundreds of thousands of lives a year. It protects children. It strengthens families. It serves...
An experience. And a calling.

An experience. And a calling.

The moment I stepped off of a bus on my first international mission trip and mentally photographed a smile from a little boy, I experienced a feeling...

Big shoes to fill: A call to action

DALLAS – Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® has an urgent need for new boys’ and men’s athletic shoes in sizes Youth 1-Adult 10. ...

Making dreams come true

When many kids were singing along with "Barney and Friends," Jozlyn Hall was watching open heart surgeries on TLC, dreaming of her future as she...

A place to call home

Plastic dishes neatly in the kitchen counter’s drying rack. Paw-shaped mud stains on the concrete driveway. Disney Channel from the corner...
Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine: 25 years of fulfilled promises

Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine: 25 years of fulfilled promises

HOUSTON – Surrounded by longtime friends and supporters, Sylvia Bolling takes it all in – the smiles, the laughter, the memories, the pure joy....
Buckner Family Hope Center founder named 2015 Outstanding Woman

Buckner Family Hope Center founder named 2015 Outstanding Woman

HOUSTON – The North Harris County Branch of the American Association of University Women named Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine founder...

Buckner sends 6,700 pairs of shoes to aid refugees affected by ISIS

DALLAS – Buckner International is sending more than 6,700 pairs of shoes to aid refugees in Kurdistan who have fled from the Islamic State of Iraq...
Holy Week Series: Redeemed, Released and Ransomed

Holy Week Series: Redeemed, Released and Ransomed

Note: This series of Holy Week devotions is taken from Dr. Albert Reyes’ upcoming book, The Jesus Agenda: Becoming an Agent of Redemption. All...
Holy Week Series: Redeemed and Reconciled

Holy Week Series: Redeemed and Reconciled

Note: This series of Holy Week devotions is taken from Dr. Albert Reyes’ upcoming book, The Jesus Agenda: Becoming an Agent of Redemption. ...

15-year-old creates mural for Buckner in Beaumont

A 15-year-old is previewing her art this week -- not at a gallery but at Buckner Childrens' Village where she is doing a mural. Artist Kaylee...

Foster care teen looks to become first in her family to go to college

It’s easy to take for granted the role family plays in our lives, especially throughout childhood and adolescence. But Midland High School senior...
Roy named executive director of Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine

Roy named executive director of Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine

HOUSTON – Buckner International has appointed Shawna Roy director of its Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine. ...
New shoes celebrate a new life for Guatemalan mom

New shoes celebrate a new life for Guatemalan mom

JOCOTENENGO, Guatemala – Gratefulness overcomes Rufina Hernandez when she talks about her shoes. They are the second pair of new shoes she’s ever...

God delivers perfect construction supplies at perfect time

PEÑITAS, Texas – God’s blessings are always perfect in timing and amount. ...

Weaver volunteers calculate perfect assistance at perfect time

HOUSTON – In the past few months, the Buckner Family Hope Center Houston/Aldine received an unprecedented number of in-kind donations, so many...
Dreaming big dreams: Education defines family's past successes and future hopes

Dreaming big dreams: Education defines family's past successes and future hopes

Nicolas and Sara Flores know what it means to have nothing. Growing up in Tampico, Mexico, they had plenty of it. He went to work as a child after his...

Against the odds

By Shawn SpurrierPhotos by Chelsea QuackenbushOn any given Saturday afternoon, Dustin Haley can be found studying at a local coffee shop – blending...

Christmas parade brings cheer to Buckner families

By Lauri Ann HansonBuckner International hosted its Annual Christmas Parade to kick off the holiday season Dec. 3 at Buckner Children’s Home in...

Get uplifting stories of how you can shine hope in the U.S. and around the world!

We're excited to share with you all the ways you can shine hope to vulnerable children and families around the world. We invite you to stay connected with us while also growing in your own faith.

Click below to get the latest news, updates and invitations to exclusive events from Buckner. And, we'll send you spiritual encouragement through our weekly Faith Focus devotion. You won't find these stories and resources anywhere else!