On Feb. 14, 1891, a long-held vision finally became reality when Alabama Baptists officially established a home to care for widows and orphans. Now known as the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH), the ministry will mark 125 years of faithful service this year with celebration and thanksgiving for what God has accomplished through the dedicated staff, volunteers and partners who have been part of the ABCH mission.
“The mission of ABCH is to protect, nurture and restore children and families through Christ-centered services, and we have been privileged to serve alongside Alabama Baptist congregations throughout our 125-year history,” said Riley Green, ABCH vice president of administration.
When the state officially recognized the Louise Short Baptist Widows’ and Orphans’ Home in 1891, those charged with setting up the ministry were lacking a few important resources — specifically money and a location.
According to ABCH history, Mariah Woodson agreed to deed her estate to the Alabama Baptist State Convention for the purpose of establishing the ministry. However, in 1891, Woodson was still alive so those funds were not yet available. The committee also needed a place to establish the home. In 1893, John Stewart, pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church, decided it was time for the committee to act and proposed his town for the location. Stewart and Evergreen Baptist converted an old parsonage owned by the church, hired a matron and officially opened the doors March 8, 1893.
Since the establishment of that first home in Evergreen, the ministry of ABCH has experienced significant growth: a relocation of its home office first to Troy and later to Birmingham; the expansion of campus homes into other parts of the state; the development of programs to help children stay with their biological families; and the addition of a counseling ministry to help children and families throughout the state.
Six locations
Today there are six ABCH locations: Birmingham, Decatur, Oxford, Dothan, Mobile and Montgomery. All but the offices in Birmingham and Montgomery offer campus care for children and each location offers foster care, counseling and family education. Additionally, counseling services are available in more than 40 locations throughout the state.
Throughout its history ABCH’s commitment to its mission “to protect, nurture and restore children and families through Christ-centered services” has never changed.
The results of that commitment are seen in both the data that has been collected through the years and the stories of those who have been touched by the ministry.
Rod Marshall, president and CEO of ABCH, said, “With the support of Alabama Baptists and like-minded followers of Christ, in the past 125 years we have served more than 30,000 childrenin need of out-of-home care. We have actively served fragile families to keep them from disintegrating. We have provided excellent care to children who through no fault of their own were in need of other-than-family care. We have watched over the last two decades as our foster care program has grown rapidly to now include 145 foster families all across the state who in 2015 provided 41,507 days of care to 312 children. God has been good to this ministry.”
The numbers show the breadth of the ministry, but the stories like Vanda Davenport’s show the heart.
Davenport works in the ABCH Birmingham office, but her involvement in ABCH ministry goes much deeper.
“Every workday I walk past the spot where my two adopted children were first placed in my arms,” Davenport said. “I remember those first moments they came into my care. I remember the first days at home as they adjusted to their surroundings. I remember their eyes when I held them as they tried to make sense of my face. I knew then and I know now that God was there in those first moments. He is there now in the teenage moments and has been there in all of the moments in between. His faithfulness to my children is one of the sweetest blessings I have ever witnessed.”
Kori McCormick, a social worker for ABCH in Mobile, said she has been blessed by seeing God work in multifaceted ways through the ministry.
“He has restored families, expanded families and opened people’s eyes to have a heart for children in need,” she said.
The faithful support ABCH receives from Baptist churches, individuals and business partners contributes to the fruitfulness of the ministry, said Michelle Drashman, ABCH director of communications. Though every donation and drive is important, Drashman said some of the most touching gifts come from children.
“So many gifts come from children who are responding to the needs of the kids in our care, and it’s a blessing to know that their families are helping these children see the world outside themselves,” Drashman said.
The ABCH story is one worth sharing, which is why ABCH representatives are regular guests at churches throughout the state. Sharing the mission and the stories in churches and now on social media is a way to connect people in the pews with the needs of hurting families, Green said.
The 125th anniversary also will provide many opportunities throughout the year to share the story of ABCH.
Anniversary celebration
The celebration will begin Feb. 14. Marshall and others from ABCH will be at Evergreen Baptist to recognize the role the church and Stewart played in starting the ministry. Lonette Berg, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, will present a recognition plaque to Marshall that day in honor of the anniversary. On Feb. 15, ABCH will launch a website dedicated to the history of the organization. That day, offices around the state will be celebrating the anniversary and sharing photos on various social media channels.
The anniversary will not be the end of the celebration, however. Throughout the year the anniversary will be incorporated into several annual events for the children and families served by ABCH, including Party at the Parks in April, the Maddox Farm Day & Trail Ride in April, Camp of Champions in June and other events throughout the year.
Followers of ABCH social media channels also will receive weekly photos and spotlight stories all year that highlight various aspects of the ministry.
Sharing stories
Drashman said, “We hope by sharing photos and stories of so many lives and communities impacted over our 125 years of ministry, it will excite, inspire and encourage others in their part of our story as either a longtime supporter or one who will jump in for the very first time to join in what the Lord has been doing and will continue to do through His people.”
Though 2016 will be spent recognizing the past, it is the future that really matters, not because of ABCH but because of the children whose lives are changed through the ministry.
“Everyone here recognizes the opportunity to introduce Christ to children in our care,” Drashman said. “For some of our children, this might be the first time someone has taken them to church. Some make decisions to follow Christ while in care. Over the last decade we’ve seen more than 200 professions of faith made through the ministry.
“We have the opportunity to plant seeds in their hearts. Our prayer is that through our ministry children’s lives are changed, and when they go back home their families are changed as well.”
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