Faith is most visible when it shapes how we lead, serve, make decisions, and care for people in need. In this feature from Living My Faith with James Fenimore, Herbert Newell, President and Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, shares how dependence on God, daily time in Scripture, and a gospel-centered mission guide his life and work.
Lifeline Children’s Services is a global child welfare ministry committed to equipping the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and their families. Founded in 1981, Lifeline serves through domestic and international adoption, pregnancy counseling, foster care, family restoration, global orphan care, education, and counseling services.
Living My Faith with James Fenimore: A Conversation Rooted in Scripture
At the center of Herbert Newell’s faith journey is a conviction that God’s Word is living, active, and essential for daily strength. When asked what encouragement or Scripture has been especially meaningful in this season, he pointed to Ephesians 3:14–21.
This passage is a prayer for believers to be strengthened through the Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and filled with the fullness of God. It also reminds the church that God can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
For leaders, families, ministry teams, and anyone seeking to follow Christ more faithfully, this Scripture offers a powerful reminder: spiritual strength is not self-produced. It comes from the riches of God’s glory and is sustained by His power at work within us.
About Lifeline Children’s Services
Lifeline Children’s Services is a gospel-centered, global child welfare ministry dedicated to defending the fatherless and serving vulnerable children and families with compassionate, Christ-centered care.
A Holistic Approach to Child Welfare
Lifeline’s work includes:
- Domestic adoption
- International adoption
- Pregnancy counseling
- Foster care
- Family restoration
- Global orphan care
- Education and counseling services
The ministry partners with churches, pregnancy centers, governments, and like-minded organizations to strengthen families, support vulnerable women, and help provide permanent, loving homes for children in need.
Serving with Gospel Conviction
Lifeline’s mission is grounded in the belief that every person is created in God’s image. That conviction shapes its commitment to preserve families whenever safely possible, equip churches to care for vulnerable children, and advocate for the dignity of every human life.
Through practical support, biblical discipleship, and strategic partnerships, Lifeline seeks to demonstrate the love of Christ in both word and deed.
Faith in Daily Life: Work, Home, and Community
For Herbert Newell, living out faith is not limited to one setting. It is a daily rhythm that shapes how he leads at home, at work, and in the community.
He describes the foundation of that rhythm as daily study and reading of God’s Word, recognizing that true hunger and thirst are satisfied by Scripture alone. From that foundation, he seeks to lead in every arena in a way that makes the gospel known.
Leading at Home
Faithful leadership begins close to home. Herbert emphasizes the importance of reminding his family of God’s Word and leading them in His ways. This kind of spiritual leadership is not about perfection; it is about consistently pointing those closest to us toward truth, grace, and dependence on the Lord.
Leading at Work and in Ministry
At Lifeline Children’s Services, prayer is a daily priority. Herbert shared that the team begins each day acknowledging their need for God and asking Him to lead their work.
This posture shapes the ministry’s culture. The goal is not simply to operate efficiently, but to make much of Jesus and His gospel while serving children and families with compassion and integrity.
Sharing Gospel Seeds in the Community
Living faith publicly also includes being intentional in the community. Herbert described the importance of sharing and sowing gospel seeds wherever God provides opportunity. For believers, that may look like speaking truth with love, serving neighbors, caring for the vulnerable, or bringing hope into hard places.
A Faith-Deepening Moment of Provision
One of the most meaningful moments Herbert shared involved a season of ministry that required deep reliance on God’s provision. During a slow donation period, Lifeline sensed a clear call to start a foster home in China. The need was pressing, and the call was unmistakable.
By the end of that summer, the ministry was financially stretched, yet they believed they were not supposed to quit. On the very day a major bill was due, the Lord provided the exact amount needed.
Herbert described that season as stressful, but also as one that deepened his dependence on the Lord and His provision for gospel-driven work. Later, Lifeline realized that more than 25 people, including children and adults, came to saving faith because of that foster home.
Practical Advice for Growing Spiritually
For anyone who is struggling to live out their faith or longing to grow spiritually, Herbert offered three practical areas of encouragement.
1. Go to God’s Word First
Scripture is not merely inspirational; it is living and active. When life is uncertain, when leadership is difficult, or when faith feels weak, God’s Word brings truth, correction, comfort, and direction.
A practical first step is to build a consistent habit of reading Scripture, even if it starts small. The goal is not simply to complete a reading plan, but to know God more deeply and allow His truth to shape your heart and actions.
2. Put Your Life in God’s Hands
Herbert used a simple illustration: a person can believe a chair will hold them, but confidence becomes real when they actually sit in it. In the same way, faith grows as we entrust our lives, plans, and purposes to God.
This means praying for the Lord’s direction, obeying where He leads, and learning through experience that He always acts according to His plans and purposes.
3. Walk in Accountability
Spiritual growth is not meant to happen in isolation. Herbert encourages believers to be accountable to brothers or sisters in Christ who will lovingly speak truth.
Healthy accountability provides encouragement, correction, prayer, and support. It helps believers remain grounded when life is difficult and faithful when obedience is costly.
What Leaders Can Learn from Gospel-Centered Service
Lifeline Children’s Services offers several practical lessons for leaders, ministry teams, and individuals who want their faith to shape their service.
Dependence Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
In many professional settings, dependence can seem like a liability. But in gospel-centered leadership, dependence on God is essential. Prayer, humility, and trust are not secondary to the work; they are part of the work.
Mission Clarity Matters
Lifeline’s work is broad, but its foundation is clear: equipping the Body of Christ to care for vulnerable children and families while manifesting the gospel. A clear mission helps organizations make wise decisions, stay focused, and serve consistently.
Compassion Must Be Paired with Conviction
Serving vulnerable children, women, and families requires both tenderness and truth. Lifeline’s approach reflects a commitment to practical care, biblical discipleship, family preservation where safely possible, and the dignity of every human life.
Conclusion: Faith That Moves Toward the Vulnerable
The conversation between James Fenimore and Herbert Newell highlights a powerful picture of lived faith. It is faith rooted in Scripture, strengthened through prayer, practiced in family life, expressed through leadership, and extended in compassion toward vulnerable children and families.
Lifeline Children’s Services continues to serve with a gospel-centered vision: to bring hope to children and families while advancing God’s heart for the vulnerable. Herbert’s story reminds us that God can do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, and He often deepens our faith as we step forward in obedience.
To learn more about Lifeline Children’s Services and its work with vulnerable children and families, visit lifelinechild.org.
