These were the exact words Clark Vaughn perceived God speaking to him, at a church service one evening in Quito. Clark and Melinda Vaughn and their two young children, Phillip and Lesley, had joined friends at Church on the Mountain for a two-week mission team trip to Ecuador in 1988 when he heard this call.

After returning home to Mammoth Lakes, California, Clark and Melinda were excited with this new direction for their lives. Clark eventually sold his law practice and their home. With the encouragement of a pastor/friend, the Vaughns drove their RV to Guatemala where they helped at a children’s home for several months. With this experience, it became clear to them that their calling to Ecuador would have something to do with children.

In August 1990, the Vaughn family packed eight suitcases, and flew to Quito, Ecuador. Operating from their personal savings, they often wondered if they had heard God correctly, and if they fully understood why He was calling them to relocate to another country. Family members and friends often had a difficult time understanding their decision to move to Ecuador.

After settling in Quito, the Vaughns became a foster family, helping other children’s homes by caring for children needing individualized attention. They began to specialize in caring for premature infants, malnourished babies, and children with special needs.

For His Children remained under the leadership of the Vaughn family for many years. In 2010 Clark was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and passed away from complications in March 2012. Melinda continued to lead and guide the ministry until 2018, when she began to transition toward retirement. While she has moved away from overseeing daily operations, she remains passionately involved as an advisor, consultant and member of the Board of Directors.

From those early days of providing foster care, the ministry has grown to include homes in two locations. Now over 750 vulnerable and orphaned children have received the love and support of the highly trained and caring staff at FHC.