In a world where faith and values are increasingly under scrutiny, actress Jen Lilley has taken a bold stand, speaking out against what she sees as a troubling trend: Christian families reportedly being barred from fostering children due to their biblical beliefs.

Lilley, best known for her work in film and television, is also a passionate advocate for adoption and foster care. Her journey into foster care and adoption is deeply personal, shaped by her childhood experiences and her unwavering Christian faith. Recently, she shared her story and convictions with CBN News, shedding light on an issue that has sparked controversy nationwide.

“The journey for me started as a child,” Lilley explained. “My parents were kind of what I call unofficial foster parents. My dad was a judge, and my mom was a director of a women and children’s charity.”

Although her family couldn’t legally foster children due to their professional roles, they opened their home to those in need, instilling in Lilley a heart for helping vulnerable kids. This foundation ultimately led her and her husband, Jason Wayne, to consider fostering themselves.

Despite Lilley’s comfort with the idea, her husband initially struggled with the thought of opening their home to strangers. “For most people who go on the foster care adoption journey, there’s usually one spouse that’s like, ‘Let’s do this,’ and there’s another spouse that’s like, ‘You’re crazy,'” she said.

But their faith led them forward. In 2011, Lilley became a child advocate with Childhelp, one of the country’s largest nonprofits dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. She began mentoring a young girl, which further solidified her calling. “When love is your motive, you have to look at these kids,” Lilley stated. “You can’t look away.”

Lilley recently spoke out against Vermont’s reported decision to bar Christian families from fostering due to their beliefs on gender identity. The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed by two families who claimed their foster care licenses were revoked because they upheld biblical teachings on gender and sexuality.

Lilley called the move not only a violation of constitutional rights but also a direct threat to children in desperate need of safe and loving homes. “This action not only violates our constitutional rights but also jeopardizes the well-being of children in dire need of safe, loving homes,” she said. “The government is deciding that it’s safer for a child to remain in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation than to live in a home with Christian beliefs? Make it make sense.”

Wanting to understand the state’s position firsthand, Lilley contacted Vermont’s governor’s office last year. She approached the conversation with an open mind, advocating for a more inclusive approach to foster care.

“I just believe that there’s a seat at the table for everybody,” she recalled saying. “As long as your home is safe—truly safe—and is providing love, safety, and stability for these children, you should have a seat at that table.”

Lilley pointed out that the goal of foster care is reunification, not separation. She questioned why the state would exclude Christian families who are otherwise qualified to provide loving homes.

“If the issue is that you’re not going to allow Christians to foster because we don’t agree with the transgender issue, well, then put those children with a family that will affirm that if that’s your fear,” Lilley said. “I don’t understand why you’re saying, ‘No, Christians can’t foster anymore.'”

The response she received was unsettling. The government official claimed they weren’t barring Christians but also remarked that aside from the families in the lawsuit, she didn’t know any faithful Christians who wouldn’t affirm a child’s gender identity.

Lilley didn’t back down. “I have to back up then and just let you know that I am one of the Christians that would not stand for that,” she said. The official reportedly rolled her eyes and smirked, leading Lilley to realize the conversation wouldn’t progress any further.

Despite the challenges, Lilley remains hopeful and is calling on the Church to step up. If Christian families continue to be barred from fostering, she suggests the Church create safe homes before the government even steps in.

“Maybe that looks like the church stepping in before the government, opening up their homes as safe homes—that’s a thing,” Lilley said. “How beautiful would that be if single moms, single dads, families that are going through crisis say, ‘I don’t have the ability to safely provide for my child,’ and the church steps up and says, ‘We have five homes within our church. How can we wrap around you? How can we serve you?'”

She also encouraged those considering fostering to take an orientation class and educate themselves on the process and the urgent need for loving homes.

“I really believe that every single person was created on purpose, for a purpose—for this exact moment in time,” Lilley affirmed. “And I love looking at people’s differences because we all reflect God and His nature. And I just think it’s so cool.”

The Vermont Department for Children and Families declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing lawsuit but reiterated their commitment to ensuring foster families affirm all aspects of a child’s identity. The department stated, “It is a human right for all to be valued, supported, and not face discrimination, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

However, Lilley and others argue that such policies are, in effect, discriminating against Christian families and leaving children without desperately needed homes. With five to seven children dying every day in the U.S. due to abuse and neglect, the need for more foster families is greater than ever.