Lifeprints Spring 2017

SPRING 2017

LP

by R O D M A R S H A LL, Pr e s i d e n t / CEO

2

Lifeprints

here is a fascinating Japanese legend about a man named Ashikaga Yoshimasa, a Japanese general, who lived from 1436 to 1490.

He once sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs. When the tea bowl was returned, it had been repaired with large, crude metal staples, which did not please the general. The general challenged his Japanese craftsmen to come up with a repair strategy that would be more aesthetically pleasing. His craftsmen took seriously this challenge and used lacquer mixed with powdered gold to repair the tea bowl. Yoshimasa was quite pleased. In fact, he found the cracked and repaired bowl to be even more beautiful than it had originally been! His craftsmen pleased him so much that word spread of their technique and resulted in a new art form called Kintsugi, roughly translated as “golden repair.� Kintsugi pottery became so popular that some individuals would intentionally break vases or bowls to have them repaired by Kintsugi artists! Here at your Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes, we are focused upon

serving children from hard places and leading them to experience hope and wholeness.

I suspect Yoshimasa had the resources to allow him to discard his broken tea bowl and to buy a new one (or dozens of new ones), but Yoshimasa must have been the kind of man who did not like waste. Our ministries are all about telling the stories of young lives that have been damaged (some may even be described as “broken”) and upon first glance they may seem to be “beyond repair.” To a technician, these lives can be repaired, but they will never look the same. To a loving Creator, no life is ever beyond repair, and especially not the life of a child. To an artist, these lives serve as a canvas upon which to find beauty.

We do not view ourselves as technicians, seeking to use the latest social service fads to patch up families so that no one will ever know they were broken. We are apprentices of a Great Artist, the Greatest Artist. Our Master Artist does not use lacquer and gold to repair lives. He uses the blood of His only begotten son. It is the blood of Jesus that restores families, protects children, and nurtures the abandoned, neglected, and abused. That is why our ministries must remain unapologetically and unabashedly Christ-centered.

We believe in the paradox of Christianity, that our wounds sometimes remain obviously visible, but that they are transformed from a source of shame to an opportunity to give God all the glory. Just as we are healed by His wounds, so He uses our wounds to point men back to His Heavenly Father.

Where once there were cracks and holes, now there is the healing blood

“

To a loving Creator, no life is ever beyond repair, and especially not the life of a child.

”

of the Lamb. What once brought us shame, now brings Him glory.

We hear stories of the Good News of hope and wholeness. We are reminded that it is our belief that the only healing for the children and families we serve is the healing that comes from Christ, the very Author of Hope. We introduce them to the One, the only one, who can turn their tears of mourning into laughter and dancing.

The Greatest Artist, whose art is displayed not on canvas or in clay but with the lives of the least, uses neither paint nor gold, but he repairs and restores lives and adorns them with glory using the blood of the Lamb. What a privilege it is to be His apprentice. I am so thankful that you join with us in helping children and families discover that like the ancient Kintsugi bowls, they are more beautiful for having been once broken, but now restored. We obey, we do the ordinary and allow God to use it for extraordinary purposes, and we introduce children to the only one who can transform their obvious suffering into evident glory.

From Broken to Beautiful

3

Allen and Angelyn Huguley with their daughter, Ettie Faith

Change of Plans an Adoption Journey

b y NI CO L E WA L K ER , C om m unications & Des ign Specialis t 4

Lifeprints

to go back to a bad situation. So, I never even mentioned or thought about foster care, even when Allen and I were dating. Adoption, though, was something that was brought up from the start and something we both had a heart for.”

llen Huguley first met little Ettie Faith when she was placed in foster care, and he knew there was something special about her. “When I held her, I just knew . . . I felt a special connection with her. I just wanted to take care of her, to love her in a way that she needed and deserved.”

Following after the call on their lives to adopt, Allen and Angelyn started the process of adopting from Uganda a few years ago. During this process, though, Angelyn felt the Lord open up her heart to an idea she had once tried to push away. “One day I was on my way home from work, and I felt the Lord saying, ‘What if you’re the only person who will share Jesus with [children in foster care]?’ This seemed out of nowhere.” Angelyn could not get this idea out of her head, so she talked with Allen, and they both felt like this was what they were supposed to do. With the green light from their adoption agency to pursue fostering, they moved forward.

At that time two years ago for this family in Birmingham, though, the idea of fostering never crossed Allen’s mind, and wasn’t even an afterthought for his wife, Angelyn. “We went in with an open mind to They always pictured themselves foster,” Angelyn shared. “We didn’t adopting internationally—especially want to have high expectations, and from Uganda. on the other hand, we didn’t want to scare ourselves with horror stories.”

ANSWERING A CALL They did learn, though, that patience From an early age, Angelyn felt that was key. “We were excited and ready the Lord called her to adopt one day since her stepmother was adopted. to start from the moment [training] classes started . . . but it can take Angelyn had a special place in her months to go through background heart for Uganda, especially as a result of the experiences she had sev- checks, home studies, paperwork, etc. At one point we had everything eral times there on mission trips, and ready, but the state changed their saw a huge need for children there to rules, so we had to go through some have a safe, loving home. hoops again.”

But fostering was something she A REAL CONNECTION never gave much thought. “I always It was during this time they met said I could never foster because sweet Ettie Faith, who was originally I would get too attached,” Angelyn placed with some close family friends, shared. “I thought I could never send the children back, especially if it was the Polks.

From Broken to Beautiful

5

“

When I held her, I just knew I FELT A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH HER. I just wanted to take care of her, to love her in a Pictured above are Charlie, Miguel, and Eddie with their biological mother, Maria way that she needed and deserved.

”

6

Lifeprints

“I told Allen when we left the Polks’ house that Ettie just looked up at me like I was her momma!” Angelyn reminisced. “For me, it was almost instant, the connection we had, even though she wasn’t in our care. I just loved her so much.”

“I felt a real connection with Ettie,” Allen shared, “I remember when she first came to the Polks, she was so tired, and she cried so much.

I remember she had this distinct cry at the time, like a gurgling sound, and “It was disappointing, but it wasn’t as heartbreaking as I thought it was I just wanted to hold her.” going to be,” shared Allen, “We knew When Allen and Angelyn were that the kids we have in our care are approved as foster parents and didn’t where they’re supposed to be. Just the have any children in their home yet, joy of being able to care for these chilEttie Faith was eventually placed with dren and to watch them flourish . . . it them since she needed more individ- affirmed the path of foster parenting.” ual attention. “Even though we didn’t know exactly where it would head, A few months later, they learned they were able to adopt Ettie Faith, and whether she would be with us for a this past November, they officially season or if she would eventually welcomed her as a Huguley into become a part of our family, we knew their forever family! To make it even she was supposed to be with us.” sweeter, Ettie’s adoption was finalThen they were given some bad ized on National Adoption Day. news—come to find out, they were THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S PLANS no longer able to go through the proThinking back on it, they see God’s cess of adopting in Uganda while hand though it all. “Our plans changed being foster parents. Two weeks after and our ideas shifted, but ultimately they found out that news, Uganda God knew,” Angelyn shared. “Who completely closed the doors to knows if we would have met Ettie or international adoptions for those if she would have been placed with who had not completed all of the us if we hadn’t taken that long jourpaperwork and performed all of their ney to try and adopt through Uganda, home studies, of which they had not. or gone through that long approval “Allen and I did feel strongly about adopting from Uganda,” Angelyn shared, “although it’s funny because we really think that God used that to open our hearts to the idea of fostering, more so than to actually adopt from Uganda, because He ended up closing that door.”

process to foster. We may have had other children placed with us, or she may not have been in the age range for us to foster.”

God took the broken plans and made something even more beautiful, and intricately wove Ettie’s story to be a part of the Huguley’s.

From Broken to Beautiful

7

A Life Forever Changed

by DON EADES, former ABCH r es ident

8

Lifeprints

on Eades was an 8-year-old ABCH “Home Boy” who lived at our home for boys in Eastlake, and then in our Gardendale home, now present-day Family Care home. Life there in the 70s was, in his words, a wonderful and blessed time. He has never forgotten the providence of his time with us, and he loves to tell others about it . . .

I’ll never forget it. I was walking across the street, about to cross the railroad tracks in Woodlawn. And they saw me.

They could have moved on. But they didn’t. It was a Sunday, and I was walking to the convenience store to purchase some food. On the way back, literally at the railroad tracks in Woodlawn, where I lived at the time, George and Nell Norton, a retired couple we had gotten to know during church visitation with First Baptist Woodlawn, stopped . . . and talked to me. And for a second time, after initially saying no—mostly because I didn’t think I had the right clothes— they invited me to church.

So the following Sunday, I went. And in the best ways, my life was never the same again.

I was living with my mom and stepdad, but my step-dad left us, and my mom was having some medical issues.

Subsequently, she was placed in the hospital, and I needed a new home.

The Nortons opened up their home to me, but knowing the season of life they were in, I knew they wouldn’t be my long-term parents/guardians. After about six months, I was placed at the Children’s Homes.

TOP: Don Eades with Nell Norton BOTTOM LEFT: Don with his wife, Lynne BOTTOM RIGHT: George and Nell Norton

At the time, there were eight boys living there. From 1971 to 1973, I lived at the home in Eastlake, on the old Howard College campus, moved away for a couple of years with my former house parents, and then came back from 1976 until I graduated high school in 1979.

In that time, the home had moved to Gardendale, and in that community, I can’t begin to tell you all the wonderful people who poured into my life!

MY EXTENDED FAMILY We were like a big family at the Children’s Homes. We had daily chores and were heavily involved in school, church, and sports. And we did well

“

And in the best ways, my life was never the same again.

”

academically, too (well, most of us!). It was a time in which I know God had his hand on my life. He placed me under the care of house parents, the Griffins, Elton and Gail, and they were amazing. For me to be under their wings, if you would—I was so blessed. God blessed me with those two, true givers.

They were like family then, and still are today.

We all attended First Baptist Church Gardendale (FBCG), and they were also like family to us. All of us boys were so well received. And it was in the time I attended FBCG that I accepted Christ, July 4, 1976 (talk about an independence day!). From there, I made even From Broken to Beautiful

9

“

gift God gave me at that time and how He had his hand on my life, to get into such a great school and meet so many wonderful people—people who still impact my life today.

[ At the

Children’s Home ] I became a part of a big family.

I wound up moving to the Atlanta area and worked for AT&T for years. I’m now working for another company, but still in sales. My wife, Lynne, and I have four daughters. Because I’m now able to see how people sacrificed for me, providDon Eades, in the top left ing all those years for my food, shelter, corner, with other “Home Boys” clothing, and even Christmas gifts, I try to teach my girls the importance of takmore friends and met people who loved ing care of others. I try to stress to them on and discipled me. Two of those peo- and show them how blessed they are for ple were Rick and Jonell Caldwell. Rick the things I’m able to provide for them, was our youth pastor, and they also the things I’m able to do for them, and became house parents for us at the for the chances they have, that so many Children’s Homes. kids don’t have.

”

But it wasn’t just these couples who impacted my life so much—there were SO many people in that church and in the Gardendale area who took care of me, who took care of all of us at the Home. From the holidays to the dayto-day, it was a comfort that we all lived there. It was a good time and a good place.

GIVING BACK I’ve been blessed and have been given so much. And that’s why I give. That’s why I encourage others to give . . . because it’s for real. It was my life. I was able to be a recipient of those gifts. When you give, it makes a difference.

I didn’t see it then, but I know my life could have gone a different path. If the COLLEGE AND BEYOND Nortons had just kept on going, had When I finished high school, I had the they not stopped and taken a chance on opportunity to begin looking at colleges. me, had I not then been guided into the Through the Children’s Homes and Children’s Homes and the many blessthose who gave, both my roommate ings that followed, I don’t know where and I were fortunate to be accepted my life would be. From that Sunday at Samford University. I was really afternoon walk, my life changed! I mean, involved in campus life, Step Sing (stuliterally—my life changed. dent showcase), and served as President and Chaplain for Pi Kappa Phi frater- And there are a lot of different scenarios nity. I graduated in 1984, and in that today of people who need help in foster whole time, all of my books, tuition, care. Who’s going to stop for those kids? and meals—everything was all funded Who’s going to give to them? Somebody and paid for by the Children’s Homes. took the time out of their lives to give to When you look at a price tag of what me, and hopefully others will take the that is today, its unbelievable to see the time and stop for someone else, too.

10 Lifeprints

two pearls

by M ICHEL L E GL ASSF ORD, Communications Dir ector ave you ever had the joy of doing something you’ve always wanted to do? For two high school girls in Campus Care in Decatur, Mandy* and Oni*, they don’t have a bucket list written, but in their busy days of school, church, playing softball, and singing, they do take time to dream.

One of those dreams came true, thanks in part to their hard work to raise funds, and in part to our generous donors who funded half of each girl’s trip to Hawaii, as they traveled there this past December with their school choir to perform at the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Commemoration Service!

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

What began as pure excitement over the idea of traveling to this dream-come-true destination, soon turned into something far more meaningful. They were immersed in a new culture with new learning experiences for a week in the tropical paradise of Oahu, “The Gathering Place.”

From Broken to Beautiful 11

Trip photos taken by Mandy, seen below, overlooking the Hawaiian waters

“

Thank you . . .

I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to go. If I wasn’t here ( at ABCH), I don’t know where I’d be.

12 Lifeprints

As people gathered from across the globe to “honor the past and inspire the future,” they celebrated our veterans, both fallen and surviving. Mandy said of the service, “We sung with a few other schools and with a barbershop quartet too. The mayor talked and so did some of the survivors. Some though, were too old to speak, so someone spoke for them.”

Oni said that in addition to tours, the beaches, food, and attending a luau (and dancing the hula!), another highlight was being in the memorial parade, “We sang the national anthem and then got to walk in the parade, coming in behind the veterans.” And they loved getting to see and meet some of our veterans! “It was very emotional to see them,” said Oni, “In the parade, they were crying. I think they were really happy. It made me cry.”

Harbor with my wife. It was amazing for me to be there, knowing my father had been there 70 years earlier. It was great to get to walk through an idea of some of what he had experienced.

I wanted to be a part of helping these girls travel there too, to help honor my father’s service.”

Mandy and Oni know that this trip was one that God provided. “I’m glad He gave me the opportunity to go,” shares Oni. They both expressed that had they been “home,” before coming home to ABCH, they would have never considered the possibility of doing something like this, “Neither of us would have ever had this chance. Ever.”

And on that note, they wanted to say a big thank you to our donors; both for helping with their trip and in their everyday . . .

The girls were able to tour the USS “I just want to say thank you. Your help Missouri and literally walk through was a humongous help for us! If it history. “I (Mandy) never thought about wouldn’t have been for you, we would history like that until we got on the ship. have had to raise all of the money to go, It was more than I thought it would be. and we probably wouldn’t have been You could see all the notes they had able to. We are blessed,” said Mandy. written home. That was my favorite “Not many kids get out of the situations thing, reading their notes. I started crylike we’ve been in. I’m just glad God ing reading them, just imagining them took us out of those situations. We are wanting to go home.” super blessed.”

Overall, being there to them was “amazFeeling the weight of that truth, with ing.” One donor who helped support their trip, who also shares their senti- tears dotting her eyes, Oni added, ment, is Ron Musgrove, a third-gener- “Thank you. And I hope God blesses ation ABCH supporter. When he heard you. I’ve been blessed just to have the about their opportunity, he knew he opportunity to go. If I wasn’t here (at wanted to be a part of their experience ABCH), I don’t know where I’d be.” by giving. For him, it was personal, as his dad was a Pearl Harbor survivor.

This abridged story was origiRon shares that though he never really knew his dad, he said, “A few years ago, I had the chance to visit Pearl

nally featured in our 2016 Annual Report. A full version may be read at alabamachild.org/PearlHarbor.

From Broken to Beautiful 13

CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT

Dothan

New to Lifeprints this year, we’re featuring Campus Spotlights to focus on one of our campuses, offering real time news and happenings in each area. In this issue’s Campus Spotlight, we are happy to share with you stories, updates, and other news from our Dothan campus!

Lives Changed WE WECARED CAREDFOR FOR

61children children 61

THROUGHCAMPUS CAMPUSCARE CARE THROUGH FOSTERCARE CAREIN IN2016 2016 &&FOSTER

children 22children 22children children

IN FOSTER CARE ACCEPTED CHRIST IN 2016

IN FOSTER CARE ACCEPTED CHRIST IN 2016

IN CAMPUS CARE WERE BAPTIZED THIS MONTH

IN CAMPUS CARE WERE BAPTIZED THIS MONTH

1 child

2 children

WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE GIFTED PROGRAM AT SCHOOL

1 child

WAS ACCEPTED INTO A LOCAL MAGNET SCHOOL

1 youth

EARNED A-HONOR ROLL AT SCHOOL

WAS NOMINATED FOR HOMECOMING COURT

EARNED A/B HONOR ROLL AT SCHOOL

WAS VOTED HOMECOMING QUEEN FOR HER GRADE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1 child

14 Lifeprints

1 child

IS PARTICIPATING IN CHOIR

1 child

Highlights Volunteers

Families

S taff

Chicktime Dothan is part of a national women’s group that serves once a month at our Campus Care home. Their monthly workshops with our children in care can range from fall crafts, to sushi making, to building scarecrows with our kids for a community event! We are so thankful for this group of women. Read more about them on our blog at alabamachild.org/chicktime.

After 868 days in care, the Cowarts adopted four siblings from two separate counties, making their only child now the oldest of five. What an amazing way to start the year!

Renee Cartlidge began working as Administrative Assistant for ABCH on September 14, 2015. She enjoys working with ABCH because she feels like she is making a difference in people’s lives. Renee is also a foster parent for Houston County DHR (due to state policy, she cannot foster through ABCH). However, she appreciates the training and knowledge she is afforded and the comradery with other foster families!

Urgent Needs Playground

We are hoping to provide our children at our Campus Care home with a playground! Some campuses in other parts of the state have these at their homes, and we think it would be a great tool to help our kids exercise and enjoy the outdoors! For more information about this need or other Campus needs, or to contribute, please contact our Dothan office at 334-677-7856 or dothan@alabamachild.org.

You can sign up to receive the remainder of our Campus Spotlights, with more content included, to your email inbox at alabamachild.org/email.

From Broken to Beautiful 15

PAID

PERMIT #2036 BIRMINGHAM

CAN HELP US

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

YOU & YOUR CHURCH

REACH MORE

CHILDREN

& FAMILIES

(1) professionally printed 11x17 poster (1) promotional DVD with two videos (25) colorful bulletin inserts All of our partnering churches across Alabama will be receiving this “care” package. Offering envelopes are not included but can be requested for free, along with additional bulletin inserts and posters at alabamachild.org/resources or by calling (888) 720-8805.

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

New for 2017, our complimentary Church Promotional Materials serve to help raise awareness within your church about the needs of children and families around our state. Each package includes: