Joseph Morton, a former juvenile officer who now serves as a foster parent, has changed the lives of 85 teenage boys by giving them a stable home, personal guidance, and a clear path to build their futures.
God works in beautiful ways through people who say yes to His calling. When He places a burden on our hearts to help others, amazing things happen. As believers, we see His hand at work when broken lives are restored through acts of love and service.
Morton’s desire to help teens grew from his 20 years of working at Woodland Hills Youth Development Center as a juvenile officer. During his time there, he saw many young men struggling with difficult home situations.
This led him to partner with Youth Villages, a non-profit organization, where he began taking in foster teens who often arrived at his doorstep feeling lost and hurting.
His home runs like a well-organized family unit. Every new teen who arrives finds a carefully planned system waiting for them. Morton has created detailed chore charts that cover everything from taking out trash to doing yard work and washing clothes. “I try to do all I can to have things set up for when the new kid comes in,” he explains.
His message to each boy is clear: “We can’t change what’s happened. As much as I want to change what has happened in their life, I can’t. What I can do is take today and move forward.”
Morton’s care goes beyond providing just a roof over their heads. He takes each new foster teen to get a YMCA membership and buys them new clothes from Ross. These simple acts help the teens feel valued and give them a fresh start in their new home.
Carter Gregory, the first teen Morton fostered, speaks warmly of his time there: “He treated me like a man, a young man. He was very realistic about how things go in the real world.” Today, Carter manages sales at Black Diamond Roofing Solutions.
To show his gratitude, he made sure Morton received a new roof for his house at no cost. “I can’t repay him for the time he let me stay here, but it was a small thank you,” Carter shares with a smile.
Oswaldo Ramirez, who lived with Morton until last year, shares his own story of growth. He now studies at Lincoln Tech to become an auto mechanic. With genuine affection, he jokes about their relationship: “With all the McDonald’s he spent on me, man, I owe him!” His time with Morton has led him to say, “Right now, I feel like the best person I’ve ever been.”
Morton explains his approach to helping these young men using a simple but powerful image: “What I tell these boys is, ‘they’re not in the boat by themselves.’ What I do is I get over in the boat with them, and we both paddle together. It makes me stick my little bird chest out to let me know I’ve accomplished something.”
This team approach works well, as Morton continues to open his home to new teens, believing in their potential for a better future.
His work has touched many hearts beyond his immediate foster family. People online have responded with deep appreciation.
One person wrote, “What a beautiful soul! He lives according to his name.” Another shared, “Performing a ministry of the Lord. The Lord’s blessing & protection over him and all these beautiful young men!”
When we follow God’s call to serve others, we never know how far our impact will reach. Morton shows us that one person’s faithful service can change many lives. His story reminds us that we each have something valuable to give, whether through fostering, mentoring, or showing God’s love in other ways.
Let’s pray that more people will open their homes and hearts to young people who need guidance and support.
WATCH: Good News Story of Joseph Morton who Fostered 85 Teen Boys
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