Dr. John Sweet

“I help parents, caregivers, churches, and leaders respond to children with wisdom, connection, healthy limits, and practical tools that work in real life.”

As a seasoned child welfare advocate, pastor, and global educator/consultant with decades of experience equipping organizations and caregivers to serve children from hard places. For more than 20 years he has led child-caring agencies and built sustainable systems for residential care, foster care, adoption, and family support—helping teams strengthen safety, stability, and long-term outcomes for vulnerable children.

Together with his wife, Alice Sweet—founder of Haven of Hope International—he helps lead the HOHI Orphan Care Training Institute, equipping caregivers and directors across 35+ nations and touching the lives of tens of thousands of children through healthier caregiving and stronger leadership.

About

Parenting on Purpose exists to connect real-life parenting challenges with biblical wisdom, offering step-by-step guides, printable tools, and leader resources that help families, caregivers, and churches nurture resilient, Christ-centered kids in every season.

An accomplished author, Dr. Sweet’s publications include Healing in a Hurting World, Beyond the Walls, Being Right the Right Way, and Ascending to Your Dreams. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. His background as a pastor, foster parent, law enforcement chaplain, crisis intervention specialist, organizational consultant and chaplain trainer brings a rare blend of pastoral care, organizational leadership, and field-tested crisis skills.

Explore resources
A cozy multi-purpose playroom is arranged to illustrate real-life caregiving scenarios: a low circular rug patterned with soft geometric shapes anchors the scene, surrounded by a mix of wooden puzzles, a toy doctor kit, and a set of laminated picture cards showing feelings through simple icons. In the background, open shelving holds labeled storage bins distinguished only by colors and symbols, suggesting organized routines for different ages. Late afternoon sunlight filters through blinds, forming gentle stripes of light and shadow across the rug and toys. Shot from a slightly elevated angle in photographic realism, the composition keeps the central rug sharply focused while the background shelves blur slightly, creating a welcoming, practical, and judgment-free atmosphere for learning.

Stories

A modern home office nook is tailored for a parenting educator: a sleek light-wood desk holds an open laptop displaying a video call interface, a stack of organized lesson folders with color-coded tabs, and a small metal stand with illustrated flashcards about emotions and boundaries. A corkboard on the wall behind is dotted with simple icon-only schedules and diverse family silhouettes, avoiding any text. Gentle mid-morning window light streams in from the side, catching the edges of a potted plant and creating faint leaf shadows across the desk. Photographed in clean, sharp photographic realism from a three-quarter angle, the scene feels professional yet warm, suggesting accessible, structured support for parents and caregivers.

John K.

Before Parenting on Purpose our options for discipline were few and ineffective. Now, we have the capacity to see behaviors through a different lens.

A nursery corner designed for calm caregiving moments features a plush cream-colored rocking chair with a textured throw blanket draped over the back and a small knitted pillow resting in the seat. Next to it stands a simple wooden side table holding a dimmable lamp, a small, closed devotional book, and a glass of water with soft condensation. A woven bassinet sits nearby with a neatly folded swaddle inside, its pattern subtle and modern. Warm lamplight creates a gentle pool of illumination, leaving the rest of the room in soft shadow. Captured in photographic realism from a slightly low angle, the composition focuses on the rocking chair as a sanctuary, evoking peace, attentiveness, and faith-rooted care without showing any people.

Jim D.

As a single dad, the discipline worksheets helped me respond calmly instead of reacting. They’re practical, grace-filled, and actually doable.

Greg M.

I used the small-group guide with our youth leaders. It sparked honest conversation and gave us a shared language for supporting parents.

Hope D.

The printable tools turned vague ‘we should pray more’ intentions into a daily-weekly family routines and rhythms that fits our busy, blended household.