After starting as an intern and giving 39 years of service to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH), Paul Miller, outgoing president and CEO, gave his final state convention report Nov. 16.
“I can’t think of a place I would have rather served than the Children’s Homes & Family Ministries,” he said.
Under Miller’s leadership, the foster home ministry was started, and now it has the most children involved, he noted.
Miller also reported a large growth in ABCH’s preventative services of counseling. Currently the staff visits 35 locations across the state each week.
The ABCH’s newest efforts are through family care, which serves mothers and children who need a safe place after leaving abusive homes.
According to the Book of Reports, the ABCH “served 354 children … in 2010, 85 mothers and children … and 2,954 individuals through Pathways Professional Counseling. At least 13 professions of faith were made by children while in our care.”
“Every day, children and families are in the storm of their lives,” Miller said. “We want to do everything we can to prevent it. When we can’t prevent it, we will do everything we can to minister to them.”
His expansive career was evident not only in his report but also in his company on stage.
Thuan Sims, a product of the ABCH who is studying to be a minister, softly played his guitar throughout Miller’s report.
“Thuan was with us for eight years,” Miller said. “Together we worked to care for him and then send him to the University of Mobile. Gifts from Alabama Baptists helped make that possible.”
Milton and Christa Sims also joined him on stage. They have been foster parents for almost three years. In that short period of time, they have cared for approximately 10 children.
In a rare moment at the conclusion of Miller’s remarks, his wife, Diane, joined him on stage so they could thank Alabama Baptists for praying for them.
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