Mrs. Universe Tori Hope Petersen on Foster System Experience: ‘There Were People Who Saw Me As God Saw Me’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Mrs. Universe Tori Hope Petersen opened up about her time as a foster child, and encouraging others to open their homes and hearts to a child in need.
“Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family Through Foster Care” is Petersen’s upcoming memoir. In the book, she details her journey through the foster care system to her life today as Mrs. Universe.
Petersen was moved in and out of 12 different homes during her time as a foster child, and credits her track coach and her time at church for changing her life.
“There are people in society that we all just instantly have prejudices against,” she explained. “That we just say, ‘Oh, that person comes from this background. Well, that means they’re X, Y and Z.’ And I really wanted to propel people to think differently about those who are on the outskirts, people who are on the margins. Because there were people who saw me as a statistic and then there were people who saw me as God saw me.”
“Because of those people, I saw myself as God saw me, and that’s encouraged me to see people as God sees them,” Petersen continued. “He [her track coach] was the most ordinary man, but he changed my life because he chose to see me as God sees me.”
Her life today is so much different than what Petersen had initially seen for herself, and she shared that she wants to spread a message of hope to her fellow foster children.
“I just wanted to keep that promise to God, saying [publicly] that ‘God did this.’ But also looking at the miracle that it truly was, in what God had done in my life,” she explained.
“I wanted [foster children] to know that even if no one wanted them in their home, that God made a room for them in a Kingdom — and that trumps people kicking you out. And even though no one wants to claim you as a son or daughter here on Earth, God says, ‘You are my son, you are my daughter,’ I wanted that message to be really clear,” Petersen concluded.
Petersen is not the only big name advocating for foster children. Movieguide® previously reported:
Actress, singer and former Movieguide® Awards host Jen Lilley said that despite her many accolades, her personal favorite achievement is her time spent as a mother.
“I suppose my top three professional projects are THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, U.S.S. CHRISTMAS and THE ARTIST, if I had to pick. And personally, being a foster and adoptive parent through Childhelp and working to establish the Tulsa Girls Home are my greatest achievements,” she told City Lifestyle.
Aside from her appearance in Academy-Award-winning productions such as THE ARTIST, she is also known for several Hallmark Christmas movies.
However, Lilley became one of many actors to tout the up-and-coming GAC Family, founded by former Hallmark CEO, Bill Abbott.
“I’m expecting another baby in May, hoping to get a THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS sequel off the ground, and I have some exciting things in the works with television’s newest family-friendly network, GAC Family,” Lilley said.
Lilley is already the mother of three, two of whom she fostered and later adopted through Childhelp. Childhelp is based in Phoenix and is a nonprofit that seeks to protect and help abused and neglected children.
Lilley began her work with the organization in 2011 and is candid about her advocacy for children’s safety and well-being.
“I could literally write a book on my foster care journey and the ways it’s shaped me and adjusted my perspective on so many things in life, but I’ll simply say that being a foster and adoptive parent is the greatest experience of my life,” Lilley said. “While foster parenting is also the hardest thing I’ve ever done, it’s the most rewarding. The way it breaks you as a person is difficult but beautiful, because it opens your heart to new levels of love and empathy you really can’t experience any other way… I understand that not everyone is called to be a foster parent, but everyone is called to care for the children in the broken foster care system.”
“These are children who experienced an extremely traumatic set of circumstances through no fault of their own, who deserve the same love, safety, and education as any other child,” she added. “If we don’t do something, who will? There are so many ways to get involved.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
