2020 Year-End Mailing

Transform A Life THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

ABCS accredited by the Evangelical Counsil for Financial Accountability.

Transform

YOUR GIFT CAN

Hope can come out of hard places. The three young women living in the Arms of Love Home all entered foster care as teens and faced many hardships during their childhood. Analeys, Jackie and Josie moved into the Arms of Love Home for young women aging out of foster care earlier this year.

Being removed from their families as teens brought unexpected challenges in their lives, and eventually brought them together in the home. A safe place where they can discover who God is and who they are meant to be.

ANALEYS and her two brothers were removed from their home by the state when they were young because their mom was in trouble with the law. Their mom was an addict and had worked as a prostitute. Analeys was placed with a relative who adopted her when she was 7 years old and her brothers went to live with their dad. Analeys describes her childhood as “good” from age 7 to 11, until her adopted parents had severe financial problems and other life stressors. Her dad started to drink and gamble and her mom became addicted to medications following an accident. As things spiraled downwards, Analeys’ dad began abusing her. She stopped eating and didn’t want to live. Eventually she ran away to family members. After staying with them for a while, Analeys was placed in a group home at 17. This ended up being a blessing because it was where she committed her life to Christ.

JACKIE lived with various family members growing up, including her grandJACKIE mas, dad and mom. Her dad was abusive so she ran away to her mom’s at 15. However, this was also not a good situation since her mom struggled with substance abuse. Jackie became the primary caretaker of her new baby brother while her mom was “living her best life.” After an incident where the police came to the house, Jackie and her baby brother were removed from the home. Jackie was 17 and planned to start at Grand Canyon University the next week, so they had to separate her and her brother. She was in a foster home for one week before moving into a dorm. Although she was required to see her foster mom once a month until she was 18, Jackie was basically on her own and loved being independent.

JOSIE and her brother were raised by their grandmother. It was a struggle for her grandmother to raise two children on her own. While her grandmother loved young children, as Josie and her brother grew older there was a disconnect between them. Eventually Josie had to care for her aging grandmother, taking away some of her childhood. Her grandmother passed away while Josie was temporarily living with her mentor from Big Brothers Big Sisters.

That home did not work out because she needed more of a family setting.

Next Josie was placed in the state's care at 17. She was terrified because she didn’t know what to expect. Her new foster family had expectations for her to achieve, which was something new for her to adjust to as Josie’s grandmother had few expectations regarding grades, discipline, etc. Josie is glad to have people she calls family.

Analeys was the first young woman to move into the Arms of Love Home.

She moved in and was immediately quarantined with Danica, the live-in

LIVES resident assistant (RA). Danica shared, "I am seeing how intentional it is that God specifically chose Analeys to be our first resident." Being in lockdown together forced a less hurried life that enabled the two to connect and grow as roommates as well as sisters in Christ. Analeys says the transition wasn’t hard despite being in a new place with a stranger during lockdown, but it was “different” learning to be a roommate. Analeys graduated from high school this year and is currently working at Culver’s, which is her first job and one of the requirements of living in the home. She is also going to college online to get her general education credits. Analeys hopes the home will be a part of her testimony where she "became successful and had this loving, Christian organization that helped her become independent." She wants to have her own family someday and shares, “I want a family that is functional and healthy.”

Jackie also joined the home during quarantine, moving in a few weeks after Analeys in April. She recently graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Counseling and was recognized by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) for her accomplishment. Jackie was part of an incentive program created by DCS to encourage young adults in foster care to go to college. Though both Jackie and Analeys’ graduation ceremonies were canceled due to COVID-19, they felt loved and encouraged by friends, churches and strangers who helped celebrate their academic achievements. Jackie feels like she has community now through the home. She wasn’t looking for it, but she’s glad she has it now. Jackie is getting ready to apply for graduate school to earn her master’s degree and is also starting a new job. She is very motivated and shares, “If you stay focused on your goals, then it’s going to happen because that’s where your focus is.”

Josie heard about the home through her DCS case manager. After she graduated from high school, her foster family felt that she was independent enough to move out. However, Josie is afraid of being alone – afraid of silence. She hates the feeling of being by herself. The Arms of Love Home is the perfect place for her to test out her independence while still being able to rely on a support system. Josie moved in after the lockdown and has been getting to know the other girls. She loves the home because of the support she receives, the other girls and the reasonable cost of living. Josie has worked at Culver’s for a year and is also attending school part-time. She loves art and hopes to be a graphic designer or work in a creative field someday. Josie wants to gain a better understanding of what it is like to be an independent adult. She shared, “I just want to grow and learn, not only about myself but others as well.”

We are grateful God brought these special young women to the Arms of Love Home, and for all who have loved, cared for and supported them during this challenging time. For teens aging out of foster care, the future is uncertain. They are at high risk of pregnancy, homelessness, human trafficking, drug addiction, incarceration or even death. Our goal is to prevent those outcomes by providing Christ-centered hope and care through mentoring, discipleship and life skill development. The Arms of Love Supportive Housing Program is part of Arms of Love Foster Care, which partners with the state to provide foster care and adoption services for those wishing to provide safe, loving homes for children in the state’s care. The Arms of Love Home does not receive state funding and is solely dependent on charitable gifts. You can learn more at abcsfostercare.com/housing.

Your support helps these young women to know they are worthy and abundantly loved by God, while helping them become independent adults. This holiday season, your gift can be doubled through a generous matching gift. Donations towards the home received by December 31 will be matched up to $25,000. The goal is to raise $50,000 for the home. Because Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries is a Qualifying Foster Care Organization, your gift to the home or any of ABCS’ seven ministries qualifies for a state foster care tax credit.

What began as a dream to provide safe, functional housing and support to young women aging out of foster care has come to fruition with Analeys, Jackie and Josie now living in the home. Thank you for making this possible and being a part of transforming their lives. *Photos courtesy of nbowmanphotos.com

Double Your Impact & RECEIVE A STATE TAX CREDIT

Gifts to Arizona Baptist Children's Services & Family Ministries or any of our seven ministries qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar state foster care tax credit

up to up to

$ 1,000 per couple $ 500 per individual

Learn more and donate at

abcs.org/transform

Matching Gift Any gift to the Arms of Love Home will be matched up to $25,000 through the end of 2020. Learn more and give at abcsfostercare.com/housing

& Family Ministries providing hope & care

7 MINISTRIES | 1 MISSION Foster Care & Parent Aide Resources Missions Counseling Pregnancy Adult Ministry Transitional Program Yes! I would like to donate to ABCS today to help transform a life and qualify for the TAX CREDIT. Donate to any ABCS ministry using a check or credit card.

We will mail you a receipt in January 2021.

Amount enclosed:  $500  $1,000  Other ____________ Name ______________________________________________________________

Claim the tax credit on your state income tax return.

 I’d like to pay by credit card Credit card type: Visa Discover M/C American Express Card #______________________________________ Exp._____/_____ CVV__________

Address_____________________________________________________________ Name as it appears on the card: _________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _______________________________________________________ Signature_______________________________________________________________ Phone _____________________________________________________________

Note: By using your credit card, you authorize Arizona Baptist Children’s Services to charge your card.

A complete billing address is required to process payment.

E-mail______________________________________________________________

Mail checks to: Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries 1779 N. Alvernon Way | Tucson, AZ 85712

ABCS is a Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization and accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Gifts to ABCS or any of our seven ministries qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.

Learn more at abcs.org/taxcredit.

Yo u c a n a l s o d o n a t e o n l i n e a t a b c s. o r g / d o n a t e abcs.org | (800) 678-0648 |

MNPV ABCSministries

Designate my gift to the following ministry: _____________________________________ (A list of ministries can be found at abcs.org)