BRINGING THE 4POINTS FAMILY SERVICES FOSTER-CARE & ADOPTION FOOTPRINT TO CENTRAL TEXAS
Meet the 4Points Family Services Family
UNITING TO IMPACT YOUNG LIVES
4PointsKids is joining the strength and influence of two significant organizations:
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International Family Services
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Celebration Church, Georgetown, Texas
Together, each doing our part, we bring the 4Points Family Services footprint of excellence, and the 4PointsKids faith-based foster-care model, into the Central Texas area identified as Region 7, generally known as Austin to Waco, and counties East and West of the I-35 corridor.
Bringing nearly 30 years of orphan care and adoption experience of International Family Services, and the affiliation, endorsement and blessing of Austin’s Celebration Church, 4Points Family Services brings the culture and DNA of both organizations to Central Texas.
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY SERVICES - IFSERVICES.ORG
As a young couple in college preparing for marriage, God planted a vision in the hearts of Bob and Carol Mardock to impact the lives of children and families. In 1991 the world was witnessing the political upheaval in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The Mardocks, who had served as school teachers, church planters and pastors, already had five children, on their way to ten, including an adopted daughter from Korea.
The Los Angeles Times heard about the Mardocks and their family’s newest plan to adopt another child, this time from Romania. Their adoption story was published throughout the US and abroad and to Bob and Carol’s surprise, families from around the nation asked if the Mardocks would help them adopt. (Download the free ebook A Stormy Night In Bucharest, Angela's Story, how the Mardock's personal dreams of adoption changed the lives of thousands.)
In a giant leap of faith International Family Services was born. At first there were a handful of adoptions, but the vision grew, new God opportunities were seized upon, a lot of frequent flier miles were recorded, and by the early 2000s, IFS was completing over 350 adoptions every year and International Family Services became a recognized leader in the international adoption community. Key milestones include:
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Nearly 5000 adoptions from 17 countries.
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Agency status in nine states.
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Facilitating adoptions of nearly 1000 older children from Ukraine, Russia and Moldova, ages 5-15, through a unique older-child foster camp visitation program (40 camps in 20 cities across the country) – children traveling to the US for the 2-4 week adventure of a lifetime, living with foster/host families and meeting potential adoptive families.
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Participating in major capital projects, including the building of 3 orphanages and 3 medical clinics in Vietnam and India, and funding numerous specialty projects such as orphanage remodeling and supplying medical equipment and supplies throughout Russia. IFS has channeled over $3,000,000 in humanitarian aid to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children.
Through the years the Mardock’s “open heart, open home” philosophy of family life would eventually lead them to adopt six children and welcome over a dozen foster kids into their expanding family. God began to ignite a new and fresh vision for a significant foster-care initiative in Texas. In early 2018 IFS and Celebration Church leadership began to envision transplanting the DNA and success models of both organizations, and a new nonprofit organization was born that would become 4Points Family Services, aka 4PointsKids.
To better understand how the Mardocks view their Biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable, they have enlisted the help of BibleProject.com. Click HERE to view the short video.
CELEBRATION CHURCH - CELEBRATION.CHURCH
“It is Austin.” A quiet yet bold directive from God revealed to Pastors Joe and Lori Champion in the year 2000 was the seed planted in their hearts that brought about the family’s move from South Louisiana to Austin, Texas. Starting with a handful of worshippers in the local library, Celebration has become one of the most recognized and influential churches in Central Texas, and the US, with over 10,000 people calling Celebration Church home.
Celebration is a life-giving church where authentic Christianity is lived out. When Bob & Carol Mardock landed at Celebration in 2011 they recognized the powerful and sacred responsibility that had been placed on Pastors Joe and Lori and upon Celebration Church. Celebration felt fresh and alive with preaching that was uncompromising, culturally relevant, and impactful. This was a house of prayer, faith, worship, mission and service; a family for the Mardock clan who quickly immersed themselves into church life.
Early in 2018 Pastor Joe and the Mardocks began to discuss the possibility of bringing excellence in faith-based foster care to Central Texas. All agreed that something significant was in the making. Celebration Church pronounced its blessing on the venture and invited what would become 4Points Family Services to take root in the footprint of Celebration Church as a Celebration Affiliate Ministry. Celebration Church now provides a spiritual home and covering for 4PointsKids and a launching pad for expansion into other churches and the Christian community of faith throughout Central Texas, and beyond.
