Finding an African-American family in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago may require a house to house search. At least that's what area white foster parents felt, who had adopted or were fostering African-American children.

From Shirley and Rich Polk, longtime DCFS foster parents. "We heard from some friends who knew we have a multiracial family, that there was a black church congregation in Cary, Illinois, lead by Reverend Michael Love. Rich's work is in Schaumburg, so we had decided to live close by in Cary, but really work at maintaining our children's culture. Usually that means driving quite a distance to cultivate relationships or attend events. When we heard about the church, we went right away!"

"We were looking for a small town atmosphere within close driving distance to my work when we moved here from Tennessee," says Rev. Love, whose day job as a successful corporate senior manager is close to Cary. "As a Baptist minister, I started a night Bible study group with just a handful of people at the beginning of 1991. As years passed, through word of mouth, a church emerged with 125 adult members and 30-40 children in our children's church. After five years, most of our member families are African-American professionals living in the northwest suburban area."

While living in Tennessee, Rev. Love and his wife, Karen, and their two children had no contact with families who had adopted or were fostering transracially. In 1994, the Love family became friends with a white family living in the area who, in casual conversation, mentioned a foster parent networking group and the many member families who were fostering and had adopted transracially.

"It surprised and touched me that there were so many families, who had stepped outside the norm to take care of children," Rev. Love recalls, "Knowing the obstacles they must be facing, I put some of the families in touch with resources for African-American children and serveral families began attending church regularly."

And the word spread and a small, informal mentorship program with Reverend Love matching an African-American family from his church to a foster or adoptive family raising black children was born. As time passed, the program grew until it now has 15 pairs of families matched.

"Church families joining our mentorship program must be members for one year to be considered and show commitment and interest," Rev. Love emphasizes, as he matches the families himself. "I've told the families to be relaxed and let thier relationships grow naturally."

What has been the reaction of others to African-American families becoming friends and mentoring white families raising black children? "You begin to look beyond what society expects and come together in a common bond caring for children who need futures," punctuates Rev. Love. "Children are growing up today. We have to all work together today to give them what they need, not wait for the perfect time or the perfect child welfare system."

Barbara Hellmer, Foster Care & Family Agency in Wheaton met Rev. Love several years ago. Last February, Rev. Love joined the ECFA Board of Directors.

"We first met to discuss mentoring programs and I was overjoyed when he agreed to join our board," smiles Barbara Hellmer, ECFA Foster Care Director. "Rev. Love believes we need to be about the business of taking care of God's children caught up in the foster care system. He truly puts into practice what he preaches."

Sitting in my Chicago living room, humbly discussing his African-American Mentor Program, while waiting to pick up his son from choir practice, I felt Rev. Love's sincerity and his competence. But, most of all, I felt his humanity and personal dedication to children and to bringing families together who see the color differences, but don't let those differences keep children waiting for families or for mentors.

Rev. Love is a hero to the children and families in his church and mentorship program. And now, he's mine and yours.