The Church Was Made for This.We Help Her Fulfill It.
Labor of Love International equips and mobilizes local churches to care for vulnerable children — through foster care ministry, FASD support, orphan care in India & Thailand, and indigenous pastor training.
"Pure and genuine religion means caring for orphans and widows." — James 1:27
THE CRISIS
400,000 Children Waiting for a Forever Family in U.S. Foster Care. 140 Million More Globally.
These are not statistics. They are children — waiting for someone to show up. The foster care system is overwhelmed. State agencies are stretched thin. Nonprofits are doing their best. But none of them have what the Church has: people in every zip code, relationships that span generations, and a 2,000-year track record of caring for the most vulnerable.
Globally, more than 140 million children have been orphaned or abandoned — across India, Thailand, Eastern Europe, and beyond. In the U.S. alone, over 400,000 children are in foster care, waiting for a family to call their own.
The problem isn't that the Church doesn't care. The problem is that most churches don't know where to start. That's where we come in.
Every child deserves a family. The Church can make it happen.
24%
Divorce Rate Drop
WHY THE CHURCH?
Social Institutions Serve Problems. The Church Transforms Them.
We've watched it happen. When the church gets organized around vulnerable children — when pastors lead, congregations mobilize, and families open their doors — things change. Not slowly. Dramatically.
In Jacksonville, Florida, a coordinated church-led initiative helped drive the divorce rate down by 24% in three years.† The research is documented. The results were real. That's the power of the local church when she is equipped and activated.
Our role is simple: we come alongside churches, help them discover what God has already placed on their hearts, and walk with them every step of the way from inspiration to launch.
† The Jacksonville statistic is from the published Institute for Family Studies / Philanthropy Roundtable report. Wayne was personally part of this initiative at Celebration Church.
Wayne Lanier (shown on screen) — National Child Protection Faith Summit, Washington D.C., May 2026
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
National Child Protection Faith Summit — Washington, D.C.
On May 21, 2026, Wayne Lanier was invited to serve as a panel member for three sessions at the National Child Protection Faith Summit — a landmark gathering of faith leaders, lawmakers, and child advocates hosted by Jack Brewer (Jack Brewer Foundation) and the America First Policy Institute.
The Summit brought together voices from across the nation — including Dr. Alveda King, Congressman Byron Donalds, Sean Feucht, and Jaco Booyens — to address foster care, adoption, human trafficking prevention, and the role of the Church in protecting vulnerable children and strengthening families.
"We can't talk about saving kids without rebuilding families. Faith, responsibility, and community must lead the comeback." — Jack Brewer
OUR FOUNDATION
A King Heard About an Orphan. He Didn't Send a Program. He Set a Place at His Table.
In 2 Samuel 9, King David heard about Mephibosheth — a crippled orphan, the forgotten son of his covenant friend Jonathan. David didn't create a task force. He asked one question: "Where is he?" Then he gathered people with specific roles — some to bring the child, some to gather the resources, some to steward the ongoing care — and he brought that child to eat at his table.
This is the picture of what God asks of His Church today. Not every person is called to foster or adopt. But every person has a role:
- Some are called to open their home — to foster, to adopt, to provide a family.
- Some are called to gather resources — to give, to fund, to sustain.
- Some are called to build the support structure — to walk alongside, to serve, to equip.
The table is already set. The question is whether the Church will rise to fill it.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress."
— James 1:27
HOW WE HELP
One Mission. Two Fronts. A Clear Path Forward.
01
INSPIRE
We come alongside church leaders to cast a vision for foster care and orphan ministry — connecting what God has placed on their hearts to a clear, actionable path.
02
EQUIP
We provide the training, tools, FASD resources, and church partnerships needed to build a sustainable, trauma-informed foster care ministry that lasts.
03
LAUNCH
We support each phase of your ministry's development — from your first foster care Sunday to a thriving respite network — and stay as long-term partners.
OUR REACH
Local Church. Global Vision.
U.S. — Foster Care & Church Mobilization
We come alongside church leaders and congregations to help them accomplish what God has called them to do in this arena — understanding the scope of the orphan crisis, locally and globally, and seeing clearly where they fit in God's response to it.
▶ Take the Church Assessment
India — Orphan Care & Pastoral Training
Our Caleb India campus in Odisha currently serves 70+ orphaned and vulnerable children, with plans to expand to 160. We have trained over 80 indigenous pastors through Bible Training Centers — equipping local leaders to serve their communities with the Gospel and compassionate care.
▶ Learn About Our Global Work
Clean Water — Wells of Hope
In rural India, access to clean water is a matter of life and death — and a powerful open door for the Gospel. Through our Wells of Hope program, we fund freshwater wells for persecuted Christian communities, bringing physical relief and spiritual hope to entire villages.
▶ Fund a Well35 YEARS IN THE FIELD
We've Lived Everything We're Asking You to Do.
Pastor Wayne and Diana Lanier founded Labor of Love International more than 35 years ago. They have six children — five adopted through foster care. Every one of their adopted children has been affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). They've navigated the systems, fought the battles, found the tools that work, and come out the other side with hard-won wisdom they now share with churches and families across the country.
Wayne also served at Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida — one of the largest churches in the state — where he helped lead a community-wide initiative that produced a documented 24% decline in the local divorce rate. He knows what happens when the Church gets organized. He knows how to help it happen.
This isn't a ministry Wayne and Diana started because they read about a problem. They lived it. They're still living it. And that's exactly why churches and families trust them.
Pastor Wayne & Diana Lanier with their family
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Trusted by Leaders Who Know This Work.
"The church is uniquely positioned to be a beacon of hope for children in foster care. When we neglect this calling, we allow a cycle of brokenness to continue unchallenged."
Jedd Medefind
President, Christian Alliance for Orphans
"Pastor Wayne has embraced passing on a legacy of healthy leaders and healthy ministries — helping move churches from measuring marketing to measuring ministry."
Matt Engle
Ministry Innovation, Gloo
Join Our Mission
Ready to Get Involved?
There's a place for you in this mission — as a church partner, a donor, or someone ready to explore what God has put on your heart.
Is Your Church Ready?
Take our free 5-minute Church Readiness Assessment and schedule an introductory call with Wayne. Discover exactly where your congregation fits in God's response to the foster care and orphan crisis.
▶ Take the Free AssessmentDonate Today & Transform Lives
Your gift provides direct care for orphaned children in India, funds clean water wells for persecuted communities, and equips churches to build lasting foster care ministries.
▶ Give Now — Every Dollar CountsContact Wayne Directly
Whether you're a pastor, donor, or simply curious — Wayne loves these conversations. Reach out and let's explore how Labor of Love can serve your church, community, or family.
▶ Contact Wayne"Pure and genuine religion means caring for orphans and widows." — James 1:27