News & Articles
Helping Communities Show Up Well
Resources for Stronger Foster Care Collaboration Bonus Resource: If you came here from our newsletter, we’ve added one more foster care collaboration resource below: a conversation about why meaningful work for children and families is too big for any one person, church, or organization to do alone. Our mission at The Village is to guide,…
“We See You!”
Showing Up for Those Who Show Up Every Day Building communities that show up means caring for vulnerable children and families. It also means finding practical ways to support child welfare professionals who serve them every day. “We See You” is part of Care for Caseworkers, a national effort coordinated by Promise686 to encourage and…
It Started With One Connection
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:5–6 (NIV) In one West Virginia county, a young man had been in and out of foster care for much of his life. His experience highlights the importance of strong support for young adults aging…
One Church. One Family. One Step at a Time
by Melissa Cargill, Village Community Coordinator Summer is a beautiful season! It’s a time of sunshine, fruitfulness, and abundant life. I’m always grateful to see the flowers in bloom and trees with full green leaves. In late summer, we enjoy fruits and vegetables that were planted much earlier. It’s easy to forget that, not long ago,…
Building Communities That Show Up
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) This spring, more than 200 people gathered…
I Came to Serve. I Found Healing.
Contributed by Teresa, a FAM Volunteer.I signed up as a volunteer for the Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) at my church almost two years ago because I was looking for something to help me heal from the loss of my son. I started by providing a meal for one foster family, and then another, and even…
Pie, People, and a Taste of The Kingdom
Article by Melissa Cargill, Village Community Coordinator. About 30 years ago, before our wedding, my husband and I were gifted a beautiful ceramic pie plate and a recipe book titled “Pies and Tarts”. I remember thinking, “What a lovely gift! If only I were the kind of person who baked pies!” I enjoyed pie, but…
The Match Is Met. The Mission Moves Forward.
A Challenge to Multiply Impact In November 2025, we invited others to join the Be The Village Match Challenge. Through this effort, every gift was matched dollar for dollar, up to two hundred thousand dollars. The goal was clear. We aimed to double the impact, strengthen the work, and expand the reach. Now, we are…
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From One County to Many: CarePortal Momentum Builds
Momentum continues to build across West Virginia as CarePortal expands and connects local churches with real, immediate needs of children and families in crisis. What began with a single launch in Monongalia County in April 2025 has grown into a multi-county movement. CarePortal is now active in Monongalia, Preston, Harrison, and Marion Counties. This month,…
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REGISTER NOW: 2026 All In Foster Care Summit
This Summit is more than another date on the calendar. Instead, it serves as a focused gathering that encourages clear action. At Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown, pastors and church teams will connect with child welfare professionals, foster alumni, foster, adoptive, and kinship families, and community leaders. Through that connection, participants will strengthen collaboration across…
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How It started. How It’s Going. And Why It Matters.
In April 2024, Chestnut Mountain Village, two Monongalia County churches, and a local family serving organization launched a small but ambitious “proof of concept” to see whether CarePortal could help meet the real needs of children and families in crisis. Through CarePortal, local child serving agencies are able to enter needs such as beds, clothing,…
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Passing Through the Waters Together: FAMs Give Hope
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:2a When a family steps out in faith and opens their home to foster care or adoption, they need to know they are not walking the journey alone! Family Advocacy…
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Be The Village: A Vision Worth Doubling
We were excited to announce the launch of our Be The Village Match Challenge in November 2025. For six months, every financial gift to The Village will be matched dollar for dollar, up to two hundred thousand dollars. The generosity of donors will immediately double in impact and help strengthen and expand The Village’s work…
Bridging the Gaps for Children and Families
Recently, there was a family who needed a bridge. Their small home sat in a rural part of West Virginia, and the only way to reach the road was by crossing a narrow footbridge over a creek. The bridge had fallen into disrepair, and the condition was quietly brought to the attention of local Child…
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When the Church Answers the Call
Psalm 10:14 says, “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand.” That truth is seen every time the Church notices the pain of others and chooses to step in with compassion and care. Not long ago, a foster family supported by their local West Virginia…
Chestnut Mountain Village Launches $200,000 “Be The Village” Match Challenge to Strengthen Foster Family Support Across West Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Campaign offers dollar-for-dollar match to provide churches with training and resources for foster, adoptive and kinship families Morgantown, W.Va. – [DATE] – Chestnut Mountain Village (The Village), a ministry equipping West Virginia churches statewide to support foster, adoptive and kinship families in their communities, announced the launch of a $200,000 matching gift…
About Us
Chestnut Mountain Village (‘The Village’), a ministry of Chestnut Mountain Ranch, is dedicated to creating Christ-centered communities to provide hope and homes for vulnerable kids and families. To do this, the Village guides and equips church partners to care for vulnerable children and families by providing a proven, step-by-step ministry model …