The first time Erna held her sister-in-law’s foster baby, something inside her cracked open.
She breathed in that sweet baby scent—and began to sob.
It wasn’t just the newness or the tenderness of the moment. It was the aching weight of what this tiny child had already lived through. Erna tried to wrap her mind around how a mother could risk her own baby’s life by using drugs while pregnant. Abuse—whether inside or outside the womb—was unthinkable to her.
As the baby’s fingers curled tightly around hers, God began to tug at her heart.
Several months later, another moment left her shaken. She was again with her husband’s sister, helping lift one of her foster children out of the pool, when she noticed something horrifying—cigarette burns on the little girl’s arms and legs. They had been left by the mother’s boyfriend.
The girl looked up at Erna and said, “I need you to be my mama.”
That sentence marked a turning point for Erna. A mother of seven, she already had a full plate—but she and her husband Troy couldn’t ignore the need.
With encouragement from Troy’s sister, they said yes to the call God had placed on their hearts.
That was in 2005.
Since then, the Bishops have fostered more than 115 children and adopted one daughter, Savanna—all while raising their seven biological children.
They’ve opened their home again and again, not because it’s easy, but because the need is always there.
One of their foster children once asked, “How do you keep on doing this?”
Erna’s answer was simple: “Because you need a home.”
Letting go is never easy. Erna admits she cries every time a child leaves. “If we didn’t have some emotion when they left,” she says, “then we wouldn’t be parenting—we’d be babysitting.”
Their story is one of fierce love, unwavering faith, and a lifelong commitment to children who need safety, stability, and healing.
You can be part of this mission, too.
Foster families like the Bishops step into broken places every day. But they can’t do it alone. Whether you’re called to foster, give, or simply pray—there’s a role for you to play in caring for vulnerable children. Visit tbhc.org to learn how you can help meet the ongoing needs of foster families across Texas.
Erna and her family fostered my 3 daughters when I had hit rock bottom during my active addiction. I was so thankful they got to stay together and they received the love they did from this family ! And I’m so very grateful that she gets to see the girls grow through our social media ! And I’m beyond blessed she is seeing me being their momma ! This family has a special place in our family for ever ! Thank you so much for loving my babies when I couldn’t even love myself !