Paul Miller celebrates 30 years at ABCH

Paul Miller was serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army when he accepted God’s call to Christian child care. What followed has been 30 years as a faithful soldier of the Lord for needy children, youth and families throughout Alabama.
   
A recent celebration of Miller’s 30 years with Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries included recognition of Oct. 1 as his 10th anniversary as executive director. His deep concern for and commitment to the nurturing and restoring of lives of Alabama children, youth and families was applauded by Children’s Homes co-workers and Alabama Baptist leaders.
   
Children’s Homes director of development Bob Dewhurst said one of Miller’s most impressive characteristics is that he’s not a “shoot from the hips” sort of guy. His wife, Diane, will tell you that he awakes at 3 a.m. or earlier many days to pray, meditate on Scripture and think through things for hours as he considers a decision to be made for the Children’s Homes.
    
“In a world where a lot of people are wanting the spotlight, I’m grateful that the Children’s Homes focuses on building up families,” Dewhurst commented. “At the Children’s Homes, our leader is not out there flaunting himself, but he can be found instead standing behind children, youth and families in their times of need.”
    
Miller’s service with the Children’s Homes began during a summer break from graduate school when he served as a social worker on the former Troy campus. After graduation, he returned to the Troy campus as a full-time social worker and later served 15 years as superintendent for the Children’s Homes in Mobile.
   
“Becoming executive director in 1990, I was fortunate to succeed Dr. Tom Collier, who had served the agency for 28 years,” Miller said. “During his tenure, many services had been added such as an emergency shelter, foster care and maternity care. He had also established a strong and stable financial base.”
   
Rick Lance, executive director-treasurer of Alabama Baptist Convention and State Board of Missions, used the word “FAITH” in an acrostic to identify the impact of Miller’s ministry. Lance said Miller’s “focus” has succeeded in rebirthing the vision of ministry to children and families in far-reaching ways; his “abidance” in his Christian walk has been a testimony to his taking seriously God’s call; his life and witness reflect the greatest degree of “integrity” as a Christian leader; he has been one of the most positive examples of “tenacity” one could find; and he has set an example of a “hopeful” attitude “in the face of hard realities of leadership in changing times.”
   
Children’s Homes trustee Merrill Barron of Dothan noted that Miller’s influential witness to many people has been through his faithful letter-writing. “Paul’s footsteps fit comfortably in the steps of the saints who have preceded him: Stewart, Colley, McLeod, Cox, Shirey, Collier and hundreds of others who have ministered in Christ’s name,” Barron said.
   
“An equal share of congratulations goes to Paul’s wife, Diane, because of her support of both of them and this ministry,” Barron added. “Paul and Diane have managed to be excellent parents — a not-so-easily accomplished feat considering the hours away from home, the miles on the road, the speeches to give, the hours in the office, and the emotional cost of dealing with so many children not your own who have been in desperate need of help.”