'Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I'll take anyone': Teenage orphan who has spent a lifetime in foster care stands up in church to ask if anyone will adopt him

Davion Navar Henry Only told worshippers at Florida's St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church that he would 'be really appreciative' of being adopted
The 15-year-old found out in June that his biological mother, who gave birth to him in prison, had passed away
Davion has lost 40lb over the summer and been working hard in school - achieving A grades in almost all of his subjects

PUBLISHED: 15:44 EST, 16 October 2013 | UPDATED: 16:59 EST, 16 October 2013

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A 15-year-old orphan, who has been bounced around the foster care system his entire life, stood in front of a church congregation last month and made a simple plea - for someone to be his family.

Davion Navar Henry Only nervously stood before worshippers at Florida's St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church and said: 'My name is Davion and I've been in foster care since I was born... I know God hasn't given up on me. So I'm not giving up either.

'I'll take anyone. Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don't care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be.'

Davion Navar Henry Only told worshippers at Florida's St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church:

Davion Only, 15, gets some last-minute help with his tie from his case worker Connie Going before nervously making his speech before the congregation

Davion spoke quietly in front of the full pews wearing an over-sized, donated suit that had come from his latest foster home.

The boy was born while his mother was in jail and has spent his entire childhood in countless foster homes.

It was his idea to approach the St Petersburg church to find his own adoptive parents and take control of his future. In three years time when he turns 18, he is aware that he will be on his own.

He told his caseworker Connie Going that he knows his adoptive parents are out there somewhere.

More...

In June, Davion had come to terms with the death of his mother after he used his birth certificate to search for her for the first time.

He found her mugshot from her arrests for petty theft and cocaine. And then he found her obituary.

La-Dwina Ilene 'Big Dust' McCloud had died aged 55 in Clearwater, Florida just weeks before.

The 15-year-old had spent the past few years at Carlton Manor residential group home in Eckerd, living with 12 other teenage boys, all suffering their own problems.

Looking for a family: 15-year-old Davion spoke to the church congregation about how badly he wanted a family to care about him

He longs to play football but has no one to take him to practice; to be able to use the bathroom without someone unlocking a door. He would like the light left on when he sleeps.

Davion's portrait is one of many in the Heart Gallery - an organization which helps children in foster care find moms and dads.

However, the teenager has had behavioral problems - struggling with his own anger at the circumstances in which he finds himself.

Dealing with his mother's death has led Davion to believe that he doesn't want to be angry anymore - he wants to discover a better life.

Davion Only, 15, left, to spend some quality time talking one-on-one with his mentor, Richard Prince, 22. He is hoping to find a family after a lifetime in foster care

He has spent the summer studying hard in 10th grade - achieving As in all but one subject - geometry. He has lost 40lb and tries to let go of his anger.

Davion also has support from his mentor Richard Prince, 22. The two got paired up through the One Church One Child program and usually go to a park to play basketball or talk.

Floyd Watkins, program manager at Davion's group home, told Naplesnews: ''He's come a long way. He's starting to put himself out there, which is hard when you've been rejected so many times.'

The newspaper reported that as of this week, two couples had made inquiries about Davion but he is still in the foster care system.

For more information about the teenager or the other foster children in the area, call Eckerd (866) 233-0790.

An orphan goes to church and asks someone, anyone to adopt him

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scots lass, middle earth, 6 minutes ago

This is heartbreaking. Why are there so many throw away kids. I hope above all that you find your forever family young man. You need and deserve one

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Jonathan Bull, England, Just Outside Europe., 17 minutes ago

The whole world loves him already! I hope he finds happiness very very soon. Given the big-hearted nature of Americans, I am sure he will.

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Not Surprised, Somewhere in the U.S., 21 minutes ago

This poor boy, that just breaks my heart- I hope a good family will open their home to this child.

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mbyers22, tunnel hill, United States, 36 minutes ago

I respectfully disagree. Sadly too many opinions are based on the negative life stories we hear. Look at rescue animals. I have a rescue pup 3+ yrs. who was found rain soaked in a ditch with a myriad of problems including broken front legs. The misconception is these animals rescue us not the other way around and he is nothing short of amazing. It's a shame we don't hear more positive stories of these children. They are out there just a little harder to find. God bless this boy and the family lucky enough to share his life.

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chazmundo10, doncaster - UK, 39 minutes ago

I wish him all the best.

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jbee, atlanta-ga, United States, 1 hour ago

Well God bless him. This nearly brought me to tears. I pray that he finds the right family and that they find him and the boy finds peace and happiness.

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Tunisia Riant, Le Mans, France, 49 minutes ago

It brought tears to my eyes too - I will keep paying his message forward - there is someone out there who is already chosen to be his PARENT/S God has a plan for this kid and it's going to be marvelous - I have no doubt that he will be in a loving home real soon -

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cass, Birmingham - England, 1 hour ago

Send him to me ! How heart breaking x

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Ajay13, London, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

i would adopt him if i wasnt 19 and half way across the world, this broke my heart. we need more love and less focus on money.

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Buttercup2013, Arlington, United States, 2 hours ago

Although I feel sympathy and sadness for this young boy, I can't help feeling anyone who would adopt him would be facing a mountain of problems with him. He has been hurt and damaged too much to not have some serious problems. I wish him well.

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exmish, Chicagoland, United States, 21 minutes ago

IT's not being part of the problem to be 100% open-eyed as to the challenges of older-child adoption. It IS a problem when people go into it thinking "all s/he needs is LOVE!" and then find out that sometimes love means calling the police when the child pulls a knife on another member of the family, and sometimes it means holding a raging pre-teen for four hours straight to make sure s/he doesn't hurt him/herself or others. Do I think everyone deserves a chance? Of course. But we do those children a disservice when we don't prepare adoptive families for the very difficult and common realities of trauma parenting.

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Missy, Ohio, United States, 19 minutes ago

He sounds like he has problems, but that he is aware of them and actively trying to conquer them. The fact that he is doing so well in school shows his determination to make changes in his life. I hope he gets a family soon because once the kids turn 18, they are basically kicked out of their foster homes and are on their own in the world.