In 2008, an issue of Outreach magazine was unexpectedly delivered to Steve and Mary Bryan’s Bigfork residence.

This particular issue altered their life in a dramatic way. The Bryans weren’t subscribers to the Christian magazine, which reports on America’s churches, but Mary paged through it and stopped to read an advertisement to her husband. Both were struck by ad that read, “143 million orphans, two billion Christians; if just 7 percent of today’s Christians cared for a single orphan, there would be no more orphans.”

They didn’t see the magazine arriving at their door as an accident but rather as a calling. Over the next couple of years they cared for elderly parents and contemplated the outreach they could provide to benefit the welfare of Montana’s displaced children.

In 2010 they launched a foster and adoption support and recruitment nonprofit organization called Child Support Hope Advocacy Resources Encouragement (S.H.A.R.E.) Montana and eventually provided foster care for a child.

The nonprofit is affiliated with California-based Child S.H.A.R.E., an organization that exemplified their vision.

“The nonprofit didn’t change our perception in terms of rewards and challenges [of foster care], but it highlighted and reinforced the need for families to be available to care for children in need — whether it be short- or long-term,” Mary said.

Two years after creating Child S.H.A.R.E. Montana, approximately 24 children have been fostered and six children adopted in families associated with the nonprofit.

In September 2011 there were approximately 1,794 children in foster care in Montana, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau.

The Bryans recruit foster and adoptive families. To do this, they enlist area churches, which have support ministries that aid foster and adoptive families, whether it’s creating care packages for children entering the foster system, organizing trips for families or providing childcare during support and training meetings held monthly by the organization.

The meetings are approved by the state for foster care license renewal credits. Meetings highlight a range of topics and speakers from First Aid to family engagement.

The Department of Health and Human Services cites several reasons why children are placed in foster care: neglect, sexual or physical abuse, or other family problems that don’t allow a child’s family to provide a safe, protective environment. Emotional, behavioral and physical problems often result.

Steve said he is guided by the Bible verse Hebrews 13:3 — “Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”

“We investigated the foster system in the U.S. We read heartbreaking stories. We want to help the state’s need with more foster parents,” he said.

Around the same time they were organizing the nonprofit, the Bryans fostered a 16-year-old from spring 2011 to spring 2012. The teenager has since been reunited with his father.

“It was probably one of the most rewarding experiences of our life. There were certainly challenges. Children don’t come into foster care because of a good reason,” Mary said. “Generally abuse and neglect happened to them — not something they’ve done wrong.”

While the focus of the organization is recruitment and awareness, there are people who reach out by donating birthday bags, books, pajamas, bathrobes and other new items foster children can call their own. Given something new — not second-hand — marks a joyful moment in a time of uncertainty, loss and grief, they said.

“Sometimes little kids come just with the shirt on their backs; sometimes not even wearing shoes,” Mary said.

Recently they won $500 in gift cards to area businesses from a Fair-Mont-Egan School raffle.

Fair-Mont-Egan parent Laurie Mason’s children sold the winning ticket. Mason found out about their mission and became a volunteer. She set up a Facebook page for Child S.H.A.R.E. Montana and has organized a pajama drive. New pajamas sizes 0 to 10 may be dropped off at Crossroads Christian Fellowship and The Barn Antiques, both in Bigfork, and Amore Salon and Spa in Kalispell.

“We request they leave the tag on to show children they’re worthy of something new,” Mason said. “To be the first person to own it means the world.”

Eventually household items will be needed for youths aging out of the foster-care system. Mason said these needs will be listed on the Facebook site.

“Let’s get our whole community together to support our foster children,” Mason said.

For more information about becoming a foster or adoptive family call 837-2247 or email sbryan@childsharemontana.org. Donations may be mailed to Child S.H.A.R.E. Montana, P.O. Box 310, Bigfork, MT 59911.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.