Lifeprints Fall 2016

FALL 2016

LP

Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries

A SUPER

N O S A E S R FO S E O R E SUPERH

by ROD MARSHALL, President/CEO

W

hen I was much younger, a friend of mine and I started a business. We would walk around our neighborhood, pulling his dad’s lawnmower behind us along with my dad’s rake, and we would offer to cut people’s yards.

We were bold in our sales pitch. We would knock on every door (even those with freshly mown, immaculate lawns) and ask if we could cut their grass.

Most people declined our services, which only seemed to encourage us even more to knock on the next door.

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Granted, we were 8-year-olds, and I suspect the quality of the work we provided was not always excellent, but we worked really cheap! Our goal was to earn enough money to go to the convenience store down the street and buy two ice-cold soft drinks, two candy bars, two bags of chips, and as many comic books as our remaining funds would allow. On a good day, we had cut two lawns before noon and could take the afternoon off to find a cool spot in the shade and read comic books.

After reading the one or two we each had bought, we would trade and read the other’s comic books. Our favorite comics were of the superhero genre:

Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and the Incredible Hulk.

Why is it that the superhero figure has captivated our imaginations for so long? Webster defines a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities,” and defines super as “extremely good.” Though Webster offers a definition for superhero, in my opinion, it falls a little short. In this issue of Lifeprints, we will be considering the idea of superheroes.

Our superheroes cannot fly. They do not have x-ray vision. They are not endowed with the attributes of a spider or with superhuman strength. They are also not fictional! Our superheroes are real people who are, in fact,

in her child’s life. You will read about a young couple who has made a commitment to be monthly donors in order that they can be anonymous heroes to a child in need. You will read about a young teenager who is working tirelessly making hair bows to raise money for children in foster care—inspired to do so because one of her best friends was adopted out of foster care.

Interestingly, none of the people you will read about would describe themselves as heroic and would almost certainly be embarrassed if you called them “superheroes!” They were not born on other planets, nor have they been bitten by radioactive spiders. In truth, each one is a pretty normal person. However, in

WHen followers of Christ submit their everyday efforts to the Lordship of Jesus, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the mundane becomes heroic. Small acts of service submitted to Christ become superheroic! engaging in admirable acts that are “extremely good.”

In the pages that follow you will read about extraordinary people who walk with us as we seek to follow God and accomplish His desire to protect, nurture, and restore children and families through Christ-centered services.

You will read about a lady who has, for more than a decade, cooked meals for the children served on one of our campuses. You will read about a former ABCH foster parent who continues to be involved by tutoring the children in our care. You will read about an ABCH staff member and adoptive parent who shares about God’s redemptive work

saying that, I am reminded of the miracles of Christ. If Jesus was not our Lord, he would make an exceptional superhero. It is not uncommon for Jesus to use very ordinary things to accomplish miraculous outcomes. He used mud to heal blindness. He fed thousands with ordinary fish and loaves. He performed miracles at weddings, in living rooms, and at the temple.

When followers of Christ submit their everyday efforts to the Lordship of Jesus, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the mundane becomes heroic. Small acts of service submitted to Christ become superheroic!

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e c a l Ap

ll a c to

E M HO

by TAYLOR FUNDERBURG, Communications Assistant

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t Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH), we joyfully believe that God uses our foster parents to bring light into the lives of the children in our care. Vanda Davenport, the administrative assistant to our Birmingham social service program, and her husband, Shawn, are examples of this light. Shawn and Vanda have five children, two of which became theirs through foster care and then adoption.

A NEW BEGINNING Amberly is a 14-year-old social butterfly who loves to spend time with friends and cheerleads on her school’s cheer team. At two years old, the Davenports welcomed Amberly into their home.

Just a small, innocent child, she came into her new home in a rough condition, both physically and emotionally.

“When she came to me,” Vanda said, “she came really hard, really harsh. When we got home that night, I tried to rock her. But she was as stiff as a board; she wouldn’t look at me. This went on for nights . . . she was later diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder.” Vanda 4

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noticed that she was very detached as a result of her past and not being loved like a child should, which is characteristic of this disorder that develops when a child’s basic needs for comfort, affection, and nurture are not met, and loving, caring, stable attachments with others are not established.

While there seemed to be much struggle ahead and hard situations to overcome, God was with them and was not done writing Amberly’s story.

THE BEAUTY OF REDEMPTION The Davenports became Amberly’s forever family through adoption when she was six years old. Since then, they have seen God do a redemptive work in her life. Reflecting on this, Vanda said, “I was told that reactive attachment disorder is incurable, but I’ve seen healing. Reactive disorder is no longer her diagnosis! We see so much spunk, and her heart is beautiful.”

Vanda said that she feels most of Amberly’s healing has come from the Empowered to Connect resources and therapy provided by our counselors at Pathways Professional Counseling.

Shawn and Vanda have also been able to see this healing played out in conversations and situations recently.

This past year, Amberly and a group of her friends from her cheerleading team came to our Birmingham office to volunteer. As they helped our staff

fold and sort HOME t-shirts, Vanda witnessed her daughter unashamedly share her story for the first time.

trust, and they could wear their shirts proudly, having built that bond of trust with her daughter.

“In the past,” Vanda said, “Amberly has not felt free to share her story with her friends. Her friends would ask her before, and she would not tell them much. Throughout this day though, she was sharing more and more about herself with them. This was a safe place for her to share her story.”

While sharing about her time as a foster parent, Vanda told us that when her main focus is on the Lord and His will, she has more peace. “You can’t do it in your strength,” she said, “You have to depend on the Lord. I think you’ve got to relax and let the Lord lead.”

Vanda saw that, in those moments, Amberly was proud of the work God had done in her life and felt comfortable to share her story with a community of friends. After volunteering, the girls all wore the HOME t-shirts they helped sort, which proclaim, “Every child deserves a place to call home.”

To Vanda, for the girls to wear these shirts all together was a symbol of

ADVICE FOR FOSTER PARENTS

In Vanda’s experience in being a mother to Amberly, she has had the opportunity to see that God’s plan is much bigger than her own. “I’m so excited to see where God is going to take Amberly.

He has been so faithful!” said Vanda.

We agree!

On the next two pages, you’ll read about Lindsey Wood, a friend of Amberly’s who was inspired to use her talents to help other kids just like Amberly.

Amberly Davenport

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S S E L B T A H BOWS T How one

o bless t s t n e l a t r e h girl uses

others

by TAYLOR FUNDERBURG, Communications Assistant

a

t just 11 years old, Lindsey families has grown very close to Lindsey’s heart.

Wood began a simple hobby to help a friend. Now two “Lindsey came to me and said, ‘I want years later, that hobby is to help ABCH. I want to make bows an ongoing ministry called Bows for babies,’ and that’s what she first that Bless, benefitting the chil- named her project, ‘Bows for Babies,’” dren in our care. Lindsey first heard shares Vanda Davenport, ABCH staff about Alabama Baptist Children’s member and adoptive mom. Vanda’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) daughter Amberly and Lindsey cheer

i wanted to do something to help . . . so i taught myself to make hair bows. i had a great time making them and seeing how excited the children were, and I’ve even received thank you letters from some of the parents. through her church’s involvement, as well as through one of her best friends, Amberly, who was fostered and then adopted through ABCH (read Amberly’s story on pages 4–5).

Through these relationships, our ministry to hurting children and 6

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together at school, and Lindsey shares that Vanda and Amberly were the ones to really help her get started with their encouraging words.

What began with a request for two hair bows has become an ongoing ministry. In fact, Lindsey’s

care. “I wanted to do something to help through the church,” Lindsey says, “so I taught myself how to make hair bows. I ended up making a few of them and giving them to the Children’s Homes for Christmas presents. I had a great time making them and seeing how excited the children were, and I’ve even received thank you letters from some of the parents.”

Lindsey Wood bow-making business has become such a success that she’s expanded her ministry to benefit more than just babies, so she changed the name to Bows that Bless. Vanda said, “Lindsey has such a sweet and compassionate heart! She is extremely talented and skilled with her hands. A couple of years ago, I asked her to make some hair bows for my daughter and granddaughter. We talked about some ways she could use her skill for a service project. She took it from there and had over 50 bows ready to donate by the following Christmas for the little girls in our care! I am so excited to see God bless her business, and I am especially proud of her commitment to serve others.”

Lindsey’s church, Thorsby First Baptist in Thorsby, Alabama, has been connected with ABCH for some time now and often hosts events to raise money to help children in foster

One of her favorite memories during her ministry was when her church hosted a breakfast fundraiser before their Sunday morning service. When people bought their meals that morning, the money went toward purchasing car seats for the kids.

Thinking back on the memory, Lindsey responded, “It made me really happy when I saw the money we raised to help purchase the car seats to give to the children.” She sees her service through her church and bow ministry as a very rewarding way to give to the kids in foster care.

The profits Lindsey receives from Bows that Bless go to providing diaper bags and backpacks for the children that come into our care, who do not have supplies they’ll need for that first night. Bows that Bless is currently partnering with Michelle’s Boutique in Clanton, Alabama, to sell hair bows on a regular basis.

Lindsey says she hopes to partner with more stores across the state and country to sell more bows, in turn providing more support for ABCH. Follow Lindsey’s Bows that Bless board at pinterest.com/LindseyEwood11/ bows-for-babies or on Facebook at facebook.com/BowsThatBlessLW. Her bows are also available for purchase on Facebook and by phone at 205-245-4033.

Superhero Edition

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,

THE SUPERPOWER

Allison and Taylor Strickland

O F S U P P O RT

by NICOLE WALKER, Communications & Design Specialist

T

aylor and Allison Strickland wouldn’t call themselves extraordinary by any means. They don’t have any superpowers like the ability to fly or become invisible.

They don’t even wear capes! So why do we consider them superheroes?

someone who was good with details and had event planning experience. “I immediately told him I knew someone—my wife!” Taylor said. It was there that the Stricklands’ journey with ABCH began.

When Allison first agreed to help It was during a Christmas party that out with this event, she barely knew the Stricklands first heard about about ABCH. Neither she nor Taylor Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & grew up in Alabama, and they had Family Ministries (ABCH). Taylor ran only lived in Alabama for a few years. into an old college friend, Jay Boyd. “By getting involved with Party at Jay works as a Development Officer the Parks, I saw how ABCH fills a at ABCH, and he shared with them huge need throughout the state,” about an upcoming event at the time, Allison said. “The Bible calls us to our first annual Party at the Parks. care for widows and orphans, and we Jay mentioned that he was looking saw how the Children’s Homes were for help with the event, in particular doing that.”

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The more time Allison spent with ABCH and helping with Party at the Parks, the more she was able to see the depth of our ministry. “I saw that they’re not only fostering physical needs, they’re also making sure there’s emotional and spiritual healing through their counseling services, and these kids are learning about Jesus,” Allison said.

After Party at the Parks had ended, Taylor and Allison learned about the Hero Fund, our monthly giving program that helps provide for the needs of children and families across the state. “The more we prayed about it, the more we knew we wanted to do this,” Taylor said. The Stricklands were already involved with an international organization that provides for children in need in Peru, so getting involved with ABCH really struck close to home.

“We wanted to do something here, to change lives with those living among us, who talk like us, look like us, and live in the same area we do,” Allison said. “A huge part in us supporting ABCH was not only the kids, but also the foster parents. By working at Party at the Parks, I saw how important the foster and house parents were to reaching these kids.”

The Hero Fund is a monthly giving program where: • You choose which location and program to support • You receive an exclusive Hero t-shirt and decal • 100% of donations are designated to meet the most essential needs of our programs:

FOSTER CARE

CAMPUS CARE

FAMILY CARE

Learn more at alabamachild.org/ herofund, or get started today:

TEXT:

JOIN ONLINE:

“@ABCH hero” to 52014

alabamachild.org/ hero

So why do we consider Taylor and Allison superheroes? Most of the children in our care will never know the Stricklands by name, but they will most certainly feel the impact of their prayers and continual support. We consider them superheroes because at the heart of their giving is their desire for these children and families to know the ultimate hero— Jesus Christ.

Superhero Edition

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From foster parent to

MUSIC MENTOR

by TAYLOR FUNDERBURG, Communications Assistant

m

ark and Jane Brantley started their journey with Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) in Dothan, Alabama, around 2006. As parents and educators, and with Mark as a pastor of 42 years, they were familiar with the many needs of families and children. They felt equipped, but they weren’t initially sure if foster parenting was their calling.

to continue contributing his time and talents to the ministry and does so even today.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE Thinking back on that time, some of Mark’s fondest memories are moments when he saw God bring healing, redemption, restoration, and most importantly, salvation to the lives of children in care. In recent years, Mark and Jane saw one of their foster children accept Jesus as Savior, and Mark also had the opportunity to officiate the wedding ceremony of one of his foster daughters.

They spent a little more than a year in prayer and conversation about the decision to foster. After making their decision, they reached out to Kim McGainey, Area Director of our Dothan The Brantleys also had opportunities, location, to take the next steps. They in the midst of tough circumstances became licensed and provided a stable and behavioral struggles, to be examhome for six children in the four years ples of God’s grace and forgiveness to they spent with us as foster parents. As the children they cared for. Mark says, a result of family health circumstances, “When you take in children that have the Brantleys were unable to continue been on the streets their entire life, and fostering, but Mark saw an opportunity they tell you that, for the first time, they 10 Lifeprints

feel safe and that no one is going to hurt them, that’s a reward. That’s why we did it.”

importantly to provide the opportunity for conversations about Jesus. He says, “I use every opportunity as a means for sharing with those children when I’m In caring for children with harsh and in the one-on-one sessions and to talk unfortunate backgrounds and expewith them about the Lord. Sometimes riences, he admits that being a foster they respond and sometimes they parent is not without hardship and don’t, but most of the time they do.” struggle, but that moments such as Mark’s ultimate hope, whether in fosthese made the experience rewarding tering or volunteering through a talent, and reminded him why God called him is for him and Jane to be used by God to to foster children in need. point children to Christ and lead them CHANGING SEASONS in the right direction. By God’s grace, As life circumstances change, it often they have been able to do just that, and impacts how we can spend our time. as these children grow up and leave our As their family health needs shifted, care, they are often able to stay in touch the Brantleys realized their season of and continue conversations with them fostering needed to come to a close, but about the Lord. not their season of service to children in need.

Mark would love to see others serving chilToday, Mark volunteers at our Dothan dren through music, and currently there is a Campus Care home to give private need for someone to volunteer piano lessons music lessons to children who want in the Dothan area to children in ABCH’s and need them. As a former band direc- care. If you would like to know more about tor of 17 years and a lover of music, he volunteering with ABCH, please email your is able to serve children by sharing his interest to info@alabamachild.org. musical talents with them. He offers tutoring for all wind instruments, Mark Brantley advice for entering new programs and competitions, repairs when needed, and with the assistance of local band directors, he helps ensure that any child in our care who desires to play an instrument has one. Unfortunately, many children placed with us in the middle of the year who were already taking music lessons have lapses in their training. Because of this, Mark helps these children continue training to improve and maintain their skills.

While he thoroughly enjoys volunteering and using his gifts to serve a greater purpose, he admits that his main goal through tutoring is not solely to improve kids’ musical skills, but more Superhero Edition 11

LOVE

ew m e a ls m a d

i

it h

f more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” If anyone embodies these words from

J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit, it’s Carma McDowell. For more than thirteen years, Carma has been whipping 12 Lifeprints

by NICOLE WALKER, Communications & Design Specialist up home-cooked meals for the kids at our Mobile campus, though she quickly adds that fellow church members at Covenant Presbyterian Church have helped her over the years.

Carma first heard about this opportunity to serve at Alabama Baptist Children’s

Homes & Family Ministries from a always sharing stories and talking friend at her church who was raised in about school.” Carma used to work in our homes. “I wanted to do something the local school system that many of for the kids there when I heard about the children on our Mobile campus the Children’s Homes,” Carma shared. attend, so she’s been able to form speWhile praying about this opportunity, cial bonds with several of the kids there.

James 1:27 came to her mind: Religion “One little girl, Casey*, always updates that is pure and undefiled before God, the me about the old school I used to work Father, is this: to visit orphans and wid- at. She’ll tell me about her friends, ows in their affliction, and to keep oneself the teachers, and the happenings of unstained from the world (ESV). After the school. It’s so sweet.” the Lord put that verse on my heart, I Carma not only uses this opportunity just felt Him say that this was a good to serve kids, but she also sees it as a thing,” Carma said. “I love to cook, and way to minister to house parents. “It it’s turned out to be a great fit to provide meals for the kids!” Ever since helps give the house parents a break

I just like to connect with the kids, to be one more person who cares for them while they’re [at the children’s homes]. then, Carma has faithfully provided meals the last Monday of every month for our children and house parents in Mobile.

Before preparing the monthly meals, Carma will ask the kids what they want to eat. It’s not hard to guess what the most requested items are— pizza, beef roll-ups, and hamburgers.

What is the most popular dish right now? Tacos, and of course her famous dessert—Death by Chocolate! This sweet treat combines chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and whip cream to make a trifle, and it is topped with pieces of chocolate candy. Who could turn that down?

“The kids are always super polite and so gracious when we come over,” Carma says about her experience serving. “We receive love and appreciation from the kids. And they’re just so fun to be with,

from cooking and [allows them to] enjoy being together with the kids,” Carma said. Over the years, Carma has gotten to know the house parents very well.

Hearing her talk about preparing these meals, you come to understand that it’s more than making a meal— it’s about showing love. “I just like to connect with the kids, to be one more person who cares for them while they’re there,” Carma said. “I love kids, and I always try give them a good word and be a good influence. I want to provide a good example, and to let them know there’s someone who loves them out there, outside of their house parents.

I want them to know there’s a community interested [in them] and caring for them.” *Name has been changed to protect identity.

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PAID

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NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

Save the Date This Christmas season, the children in our care want to open up their home to you at our Christmas Open House events. Make sure you come to a Christmas Open House event near you!

Dothan Friday, December 2, 6–8 PM 368 County Line Road, Dothan, AL 36305 334-677-7856 // dothan@alabamachild.org Decatur Sunday, December 4, 2–5 PM 1404 16th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35601 256-355-6893 // decatur@alabamachild.org Mobile Sunday, December 4, 2–5 PM 6512 Grelot Road, Mobile, AL 36695 251-639-1022 // mobile@alabamachild.org Oxford Sunday, December 4, 2–5 PM 1931 Donna Drive Oxford, AL 36203 256-831-4081 // oxford@alabamachild.org All Open House events are FREE. More details are available at alabamachild.org/openhouse.

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Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries P.O. Box 361767 Birmingham, AL 35236-1767

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