We want to encourage, equip, and empower adoptive and foster parents as individuals, as couples, and as a community. Together Called is one way we do that.
Together Called is an annual weekend experience for adoptive and foster couples designed to invite them to slow down and experience connection, with one another and with a community of others on similar journeys. Grounded in Christian faith and open to all, the weekend offers generous hospitality, shared meals, helpful sessions, and worship.
It’s not a large scale conference. In fact, it’s intentionally capped at 100 couples so that we can experience connection and community in deep and transforming ways.
Our 13th Together Called retreat is March 12th-March 14th, 2027 at the beautiful Bear Creek Mountain Resort nestled on 330 acres in Berks County, Pennsylvania (approximately 90 minutes from the Philadelphia Airport and 35 minutes from Lehigh Valley International Airport).
We’re so excited to have Brooke and Renaut Van der Riet part of our team this year. Renaut and Brooke have been married 30 years and lead Mosaic Church, which they planted together in Orlando in 2002. They founded Axum Coffee Company in 2010, a growing chain of coffee shops and restaurants with the goal to fund church planting and justice and mercy initiatives around the world. And, in 2012, the same year they launched the nonprofit Love Made Visible to care for vulnerable children in the U.S. and worldwide and equip churches to do the same, they adopted a sibling group of 4 children from Axum, Ethiopia, growing their family from 4 kids to 8. Brooke brings a passion for whole-body wellness — mind, body, and spirit — and Renaut has a heart for living all of life through the lens of the Gospel, encouraging others to discover what that might look like in their own story. We’re thrilled to have Renaut serve as this year’s keynote speaker. Together, they care for people with humility and intentionality and are eager to join us in serving couples impacted by adoption and foster care at Together Called 2027.
Registration will open Monday, October 19th and typically fills within 24 hours. Make sure you subscribe to our mailing list for reminders and follow our social media accounts including our Together Called dedicated Instagram account.
Generous sponsors allow us to offer this experience to couples below actual cost. If you are interested in sponsoring Together Called 2027, please email us at info@sparrowfund.org. We’d love to talk to you about it.