Lifeprints Fall 2018 Edition

FALL 2018

LP ISSUE

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Lifeprints

Y A D E RY

BY ROD MARSHALL, PRESIDENT/CEO y wife is an assistant principal.

For most of our marriage (and almost her entire adult life) she was a classroom teacher, but six years ago, she had the opportunity to move into administration, and she felt it was the right time to make a change.

She is very good at her job and she looks the part. She is confident, but soft-spoken. She is very well organized, but has a wonderful, subtle sense of humor. Kids love her and flock to her, and a college friend of ours recently told me that she was known in college for being very nice and kind. She is very disciplined and likes structure.

She runs at least three times a week, rarely misses her quiet time, and speaks to all the neighbors whenever we walk our dog. But, there are things about my wife that most people do not know. Some would be surprised to learn this next fact about her.

My wife loves superhero movies. I suspect most people would have thought she was the romantic-comedy type, but she gets most excited when she sees the previews for a new superhero movie. My wife has a great imagination. She does not daydream often, but when she does, I suspect the topic of her daydreams are which superpower she would most enjoy having. Maybe you have wondered the same. Would

O U R H O U SE P A R E N T S, FOSTER P A R E N T S, A N D S UP P O R T E R S ARE HEROIC AND O F TE N T I M E S , S U PE R H E R O I C .

you rather be able to fly or have superhuman strength? Would you prefer to be able to breathe underwater or to read people’s thoughts? Would you choose x-ray vision or lightning speed?

To my knowledge, my wife does not have any superhuman powers (though she is truly extraordinary!). Our house parents, foster parents, and supporters are heroic and oftentimes, superheroic.

They have levels of empathy that are exceptional. Their compassion is taller than big city skyscrapers. Their observational skills far exceed those of most people. They pray with confidence and humility. They see a need and, rather than forming a committee or bringing it to the attention of others, they simply (and most times very quietly) meet the need!

I praise God for the superheroes He has placed in the life of this ministry!

I hope you enjoy reading about just a few of them in this issue.

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AWA R D - W H O U S E P AI N N I N G RENTS

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BY MICHELLE DRASHMAN GLASSFORD, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS ver the course of 35+ years, Jimmie and Martha Harris estimate they’ve been able to serve and care for around 300 children through Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes (ABCH), in Gardendale for a season and then largely on our Decatur campus as they care for school-aged girls.

“We think around 300 kids have passed through our home; it could be more.” Not thinking they would be with ABCH long-term, “We didn’t initially keep count,” says Martha.

Jimmie and Martha Harris met in high school and married not long after, in 1971. A life of serving children from hard places was never in their career plans—but it was exactly what the Lord saw and purposed, from day one.

Including one year of volunteer service as relief house parents, Jimmie and Martha will celebrate 36 years of service through ABCH this December!

“WE’LL GIVE IT SIX WEEKS” When they first came on board as relief house parents in our former Gardendale boys’ home, they were leading active and successful lives at their church and in their careers.

They weren’t exactly looking for a life change, but after a need opened up for full-time parents on our Decatur campus, they agreed to pray about it.

Jimmie says, “We had an eighteenmonth-old . . . We were scared and turned it down the first time. Then we prayed. We agreed to put all work aside for six weeks and try it. We really just fell in love with it.”

1. http://www.houseparent.net/WhatisHP.php

Both being a part of larger families themselves, they couldn’t help but feel God had been preparing them for years to serve in this way. “ . . . I had reservations,” says Martha, “I almost said yes to going back to my old job . . . but I knew this was it.”

WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING According to The Houseparent Network, six months is the average tenure for house parents.1 Knowing this, the obvious question is, what keeps the Harrises not just here, but thriving and making an impact on their girls?

A ND TH E GR E ATE ST PRI VI LE G E W E H AVE , I S W E G E T A C H AN C E TO S HAR E J E SUS WITH TH E M .

ABCH President/CEO Rod Marshall says, “Many would describe house parenting as one of the most difficult jobs there is. I would not disagree.

Jimmie and Martha Harris do not see house parenting as a job. This is their ministry, and their fuel that has kept them going for well over three decades is the knowledge that children in their care have experienced unconditional love from them and have, therefore, become open to be Superhero Issue

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I ’M ALWAYS E N COURA GED T O SEE TH ES E G I RLS RETURN T O V ISIT AFTER TH EY’ V E BE COME YOUN G, I ND EPEND EN T W OMEN . introduced to the One whose steadfast love endures forever. ” Though every child’s story doesn’t end the way we would hope, there are many children in care who come to know Christ while with us, are able to break those cycles of addiction or dysfunction within their family, and go on to lead successful lives.

Martha shares, “We have one who graduated on the Dean’s List and has three degrees now. She’s a nurse, and is married and has kids of her own.

She keeps us updated a lot.” Martha also says that many of the girls send Christmas cards with all their family pictures, and some still make the Harris’ cottage on the Decatur campus their home for Thanksgiving dinner, each year!

CHANGE AND CONSISTENCY It’s easy to imagine the amount of change the Harrises have experienced in their 35 years of service; from family dynamics, to changes 6

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in childcare laws, to reasons why kids most often come into care. A lot has changed, but one thing remains the same—their dedication to being Christ-honoring parents and a consistent source of love and teaching for their kids.

At times, Jimmie and Martha feel the pressure of time to make an impact, and they pray that in the short period of time these girls are in their care, about 15–18 months on average, that something will click. Martha is quick to say, and Jimmie agrees, “One thing we cannot rush is pushing them into salvation. They know we have devotions every morning, and they know we go to church on Sunday and Wednesday. This is what we pray for, that something will stick with them.”

Jimmie adds, “The kids we take care of have never seen consistency in a good way; they’ve never seen consistency as far as their meals, let alone in life itself. And the greatest privilege we have, is we get a chance to share Jesus with them.”

“So many kids need a family, and that’s our main concern, trying to make it a family. They don’t see (in their homes) that a husband and wife can argue and disagree (healthily)—you don’t have to fight and shoot,” says Martha. She continues, “We try to have a lot of fun . . . and (as they come into our care) I always tell my girls, I’m not here to replace your mom, and he’s not here to replace your dad, (but) we’re the closest things you have right now.

And we want you to know we love you; we want you here.”

GRATEFUL HEARTS We are certainly thankful for all the ways Jimmie and Martha serve, and

Jimmie and Martha with Emily Lepper, who was formerly in their care we aren’t the only ones. This October, they are being honored at an awards banquet in conjunction with the 2018 National Conference of the Coalition of Residential Excellence (CORE), as Houseparents of the Year! CORE is a national voice for residential excellence, advocating for children and youth in need, and we join them in celebrating the dedication and heart in all that Jimmie and Martha do.

The Harris’ supervisor, Chief Operations Officer, North Alabama Michael Smith says, “It has been my privilege to serve with Jim and Martha for the past 12 years. They are a wonderful example of putting Christ’s love into action. Jim and Martha create lasting bonds with the girls in their care. The deep roots often extend years after girls have left their cottage. I’m always encouraged to see these girls return to visit after they’ve become young, independent women.”

Rod adds, “It is a privilege to serve alongside Jimmie and Martha and to

see the incredible impact their ministry has had on children from hard places.”

Thinking back over the years, Martha says, “I know this was God’s plan. I had never heard of the Children’s Homes. When we came on full-time, I thought, I don’t know if I can do this.

But He has always provided.”

Jimmie adds with a smile, “I don’t know if I can quit now. We’ve always prayed that the Lord could put us anywhere but on a shelf. We don’t want to be on a shelf.”

For the Harrises, whether it is in the standard day-to-day interactions of school work or chores, the special activities or vacations, summer days at ABCH’s Camp of Champions, or times of meaningful conversations and prayers with the girls, they love what they get to do and know that all glory belongs to the Lord.

Read more of their interview at alabamachild.org/harris.

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VE R E S TO T R A HE S ’ H Members of East Centre RC U H Baptist Church volunC A teering at our annual Camp of Champions

BY TAYLOR FUNDERBURG, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING COORDINATOR ne of the biggest blessings we’ve been given as a ministry is in our relationships with churches throughout the state. Lately in Oxford, we’ve seen volunteers from East Centre Baptist Church (ECBC) be the hands and feet of Jesus to our children and families in care, as well as to our staff! Senior Pastor of ECBC, Chip Smith, is admittedly very intentional in his leadership, to point his church’s congregation to give with their time and talents, not just their finances. He says, “There’s a big hole in the gospel that we preach. We say the right things and a lot of times we’ll give financially.

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But I see our Lord’s plan to be that we really be the hands and feet of Jesus . . . When I first came here, I began to prayerfully ask God to open some doors for us and to give the people here a heart for some ministries—ministries that we could support not only financially, but more importantly, that we could actually use our hands and do something for our Lord.”

GETTING CONNE CTE D After visiting Open House in Oxford one December with fellow church members, Chip knew he wanted the church to get involved: “I think for all

of us, when we toured the home and met the house parents and staff from the Oxford office, it was impressed on our hearts to serve . . . [You] are doing the good work for the Lord. You’re good stewards. We were very impressed because the home is nicer than most of our homes, as it should be!”

L O V E LIVED O UT Since connecting with us, they’ve certainly served faithfully! In addition to their kids raising over $300 for our ministry during VBS, they have helped with lawn work, deep cleaning, and showing our kids generosity and thoughtfulness. Area Director for Northeast Alabama Amber Albright says, “I’m grateful for ECBC, for their commitment and dedication to ABCH in Oxford. They have not only taken the time to do simple things, like mow the grass or deep clean the house, but they have thought about the kids in care and have truly shown what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus . . . We appreciate everything East Centre Baptist Church does for us and truly feel they are superheroes to our ministry!”

Chip says the call on their hearts to serve is something the church has truly run with. A group of ladies threw a cookie and ice cream party for the kids, and for Christmas, they came alongside the kids to help them with the call on their own hearts—serving their parents. He says, “The house parents shared with us that the year before, they took a couple of kids Christmas shopping to the dollar store and instead of buying gifts for themselves, they all wanted to buy gifts for their parents. The ladies at ECBC did a church-wide event where we got plastic balls and filled them with gifts, as well as gift cards to shop for their parents with!”

. . . [ECBC H A S ] TR ULY S H O W N W H AT IT M E AN S TO B E TH E H AN D S A N D FE E T O F J ES US . . .

SERV ING AT CAM P This year when Chip heard we needed volunteers for Camp of Champions, he was ecstatic to come and to bring members from his church too! “Our guys drove golf carts and our women served as meal-time hosts. We came away once again, just blown away . . . One thing one of my senior adults said was, ‘Did you notice how respectful those kids were?’ We talked about that on the way home, and I said, ‘You know, you’re right. I never saw a kid have a meltdown. I always heard yes and no sir. They were very polite, very well-mannered kids.’ That impressed the folks that went on that trip even more.” When we asked about the impact serving our children in care has had on members from his church, Chip said, “I think by working with the Children’s Homes, it’s made them more sensitive and has given them Christ-like compassion.”

ECBC’s partnership has been invaluable, and we are so grateful for the difference they are making in our kids and families!

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G A W I N NAITNI O N COMBIN

BY NICOLE WALKER, COMMUNICATIONS & DESIGN SPECIALIST

Eric Ludgate and Jimmy Dietz with ABCH Mobile staff, Haley Walker and Josh Farmer, presenting a check from the amount raised at Trees for Hope

hree businessmen + Three willing hearts + One shared passion to help. God used these three ingredients in 2017 to do some great things to benefit children and families in care at our Mobile campus.

of EnSec Pest & Lawn. He and Jimmy Dietz of Air of Excellence know each other from the local Business Network International (BNI) chapter in Mobile and began working together to create a really unique event to benefit our ministry.

“Jimmy and I just both felt strongly about supporting the community, and we both have a heart for kids and both love the Lord,� shared Eric Ludgate 10 Lifeprints

One day ABCH Development Officer Josh Farmer spoke to the BNI group about ABCH, and God stirred Eric and

Jimmy’s hearts to help the children at ABCH. “When Josh spoke at one of our groups, Jimmy and I wanted to see what we could do about helping out,” said Eric. They decided to do a fundraiser, and Eric shared a fundraiser he had attended, Christmas at the Clinic Gala, to benefit the Health and Hope Clinic in Escambia County, Florida.

Drawing inspiration from this event, Eric and Jimmy created the fundraiser Trees for Hope to benefit ABCH. Attendees participated in a silent auction for a chance to purchase a variety of themed and pre-decorated Christmas trees and wreaths, as well as enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, fine coffees, and desserts! There were also opportunities to bid on a week’s stay at the beach, an overnight stay and golf package, and a premier portrait studio package with a world-renowned photographer. In all, they raised a total of $39,500! Local oral surgeon, Dr. Christopher Mullenix was a major factor in the event’s success by jumping on board as the inaugural title sponsor. The event was such a success that they have decided to hold it again this year on #GivingTuesday, November 27.

“I hope that through this event, we’re creating awareness and involving the community,” said Jimmy. “I pray that

in some way we’re helping to change lives by supporting such a great organization and what they’re doing to help children and families.”

It’s incredible to see how these two men have worked to create a bigger impact than they could have on their own. “Jimmy and Eric are great examples of how God can use combined resources, gifts, and talents to accomplish something great,” shared Josh.

“By working together, giving of their time and resources, and leveraging their relationships, Jimmy and Eric are a great example of how we are able to do more together.”

For more information on this year’s event, please visit alabamachild.org/ treesforhope.

I PRAY THAT I N SO ME WAY WE’R E HELPING T O CH A N GE L IV ES . . .

MUCH MORE THAN A MATTRESS In addition to Eric and Jimmy using their resources to help children and families in need, business partner, Bedzzz Express, has been a long-time supporter of the Children’s Homes.

Most recently, their kindness was extended to our moms and children being served in Family Care in Mobile Superhero Issue 11

at the newly opened Grace’s House of Hope.

A few years ago, we were wonderfully blessed when Bedzzz Express donated several Tempur-Pedic mattresses to our Campus Care homes across the state.

When we began to expand our Family Care ministry in Mobile last year, Josh reached out to Steve Greene with a local Bedzzz Express store about partnering with us at Grace’s House of Hope.

“Josh shared with us about the new house being built and how it was going to serve the community,” said Steve, when he first heard of the project. “It was a project that we got really excited about and something we felt could help make a difference in people’s lives.”

Although Steve wasn’t sure what that partnership would look like, he knew this was something the company could rally around.

At first, Steve thought they may be able to provide a discount for any mattresses and box springs we would

purchase, but he decided to see if there were other ways they could help. He reached out to one of their key vendors, Park Place, who makes their private label beds called Bedzzz by Order Rest. They were able to provide the mattresses and box springs at no cost to us, which would have been a $10,000 expense. Not only that, they went above and beyond by delivering the mattresses and box springs, as well as setting everything up for the first mothers and children to stay at Grace’s House of Hope!

“We wanted to help save the Children’s Homes the time of choosing the right mattresses, picking them up, and setting everything up,” said Steve. “Our mission as a business is to be good citizens and serve our communities, and I’m glad we were able to do so.”

If your business is interested in partnering with us, email info@alabamachild. org or call (888) 720-8805.

At our new Family Care Home, Development officer Josh Farmer thanking Craig Holstein, Area Manager, Bedzzz Express

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J O R D A NK S WILBAN Jordan Wilbanks, Hero Society supporter and former ABCH employee e are excited for you to hear from one of our former employees who chooses to support children and families in need in Alabama through the Hero Society, even though he lives states away! Jordan Wilbanks served on our Communications Team in Birmingham for 18 months during 2015 and 2016, when he was called to Missouri to work as Director of Church Partnerships at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Your experience is unique as a Hero Donor, in that you were at one time an ABCH employee. What you did do at ABCH and how did the Lord lead you to be a part of the Hero Society?

families, volunteers, counselors, and staff was simply amazing, and I had the wonderful privilege of telling as many people as possible all about it.

Most notably, I aimed to use our videos for the purpose of telling stories of lives being changed.

Even though my stay in the role was brief, it was easy to say I believed in what we were doing as an organization. It was fun to tell stories of selfless sacrifice, and it was absolutely invigorating to see kids who came from a myriad of difficult backgrounds have opportunities to “just be kids.”

I even got to have a small part in the inception of the Hero (Fund) Society, and once it was up and running, I For just a brief year and a half, I jumped in right away to want to serve served on the Communications team the kids whose stories we were priviat ABCH as Web and Digital Specialist. leged to tell. One thing I realized over I was tasked with managing the conthe course of my time at ABCH was tent we as an organization would put that a ministry like this is made poson our website and also on our social sible through the collective efforts of media accounts. Here is why that many, even if in small ways. was awesome: the ministry being done every day by our organization’s So even though I haven’t been on house parents, social workers, foster staff (or in Alabama) since the end of Superhero Issue 13

2016, I still want to contribute to the ministry of ABCH knowing that real, tangible work is being done which has an impact on the real lives of kids.

And many of these kids just need to believe someone out there will care for them, clothe them, and hold their hand in a time of distress. And that’s exactly what the Church is called to do.

. . . M AN Y O F T H ESE K I D S J UST N EED TO B E LI E VE S OM E O N E O UT T H ER E W I LL C AR E F OR T H E M . . .

While serving at ABCH, what were the most fulfilling and most challenging parts? How did God grow your heart for children in need during this with far less than we had, unless we season? dive in headfirst for the sake of children like this. They can educate us, When such an enormous percenthumble us, and drive us to a much age of your job is fulfilling, it’s quite more Christlike level of compassion. challenging to say what was most fulfilling. But the real answer is that I If someone didn’t know anything know for a fact that the Lord has used about ABCH, what would you share the ministry of ABCH to bring children with them? to know Jesus. God’s provision for us all who know Christ comes in vary- For someone completely unacing experiences, but for these kids, it quainted with the ministry of ABCH, has happened through a house parent the first thing I’d want to do is introbeing the first one to share the basic duce them to a social worker or a truths of the gospel with them. It has house parent. It doesn’t take but a few happened because a child can see his minutes with one of them to see how or her prayers get answered through deeply they love children and famia foster family, and through that fam- lies, and what lengths they’ll go to for ily the Lord reveals himself and grabs the sake of “the orphaned and abanhold of that child’s heart never to doned.” They give-give-give because let go. that’s what Jesus has always done for us. We bring nothing to the table, and What was most challenging was to we have everything in Christ. When learn how many kids were in desperI’d see social workers or a house parate need, and to learn what kinds of ent spend themselves for the sake of environments many of these children a child, it reminds me that the only grow up in. Those of us who grew up hope I’d ever have for reconciliation with a lot of advantages from the with the Father was for the Son to start—say, a mom and a dad—will spend himself for me. always have a hard time understanding the challenges facing those who More of Jordan’s interview may be found are forced to grow up in a harsh world at alabamachild.org/wilbanks.

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THE HERO SOCIETY 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” alabamachild.org/ to 52014 hero

To learn more about the Hero Society, fill out the information to the right and mail it in the envelope included with this issue:

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YES, I’m interested in learning about the Hero Society.

Please contact me with more information.

YES, I’d like to become a Hero Society Donor.

Please contact me about joining the program.

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SAVE THE DATE FOR

Christmas Open House

Each December, we look forward to opening up our homes to you at our our CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE events. Please join us at a location near you!

DECATUR

Sunday, December 2, 2–5 PM 1404 16th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35601 256-355-6893 // decatur@alabamachild.org

MOBILE

Sunday, December 2, 2–5 PM 6512 Grelot Road, Mobile, AL 36695 251-639-1022 // mobile@alabamachild.org

OXFORD

Sunday, December 2, 2–5 PM 1931 Donna Drive, Oxford, AL 36203 256-831-4081 // oxford@alabamachild.org

GARDENDALE (Family Care)

Sunday, December 2, 2–4 PM 241 Gowins Drive Gardendale, AL 35071 205-945-0037 // birmingham@alabamachild.org Friday, December 7, 6–8 PM 368 County Line Road Dothan, AL 36305 334-677-7856 // dothan@alabamachild.org All Open House events are FREE. More details are available at alabamachild.org/openhouse.

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

DOTHAN