By Carolyn Tomlin
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Assisting with recovery efforts in Haiti following the destruction created by Hurricane Matthew is just one of the latest disaster areas in 37-year-old Holly Frew’s life.
The former Alabama Baptist serves as the emergency communications officer for Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), an international humanitarian organization based out of Atlanta. She attributes the preparation for her life’s work to her upbringing at home and as part of Gardendale First Baptist Church.
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw poverty,” Frew said, noting her first missions experience was to Jamaica during her sophomore year in high school.
And after studying abroad for a semester during her college years at the University of Alabama, Frew discovered the need for volunteer work but she stuck to her plan to work for a pharmaceutical company after graduation. She moved to Atlanta and began her career.
Even though Frew loved her work, she could not shake the feeling that God was calling her to something special — something she couldn’t identify. During this same time period, she and a friend volunteered for a missions trip to Africa and it was there she discovered what that something was.
Preparing for Africa
“This was a mountain-top experience,” Frew said. She returned home only to quit her job and begin preparations to return to Africa.
“I had to raise my own money to pay for the trip and six months of living expenses. Donations came from churches, speaking engagements on ‘why’ I was going to Africa and fund-raising parties,” she said. “In 2005, I was in Swaziland, Africa — an area with one of the highest AIDS rates in the world. I was involved in a ‘Beat the Drum’ program where I spoke to students and encouraged abstinence. During this time, I was the student.”
It was a humbling experience, Frew said, noting she has grown in her perspective on how to help others in need since that first missions trip to Jamaica. And through it all she is motivated by faith as she serves God while serving others.
“As an example, when I was in Africa, people had very little in material wealth,” she said. “Yet, they had simple homes, love of family and they were happy people.”
‘Deeper calling’
“I might add, I was a novice when I first went to Africa,” Frew noted. “As Christians, we should go with good intentions. And go when we feel the ‘call,’ but we must be mindful of what we do. There is a deeper calling and it makes you humble. Those of us who do this work are not heroes. The heroes are those people whose homes have been destroyed, refugees who are struggling just to feed their children, those who are trying against all odds just to stay alive. These are the real heroes.”
Noting her current focus on the Middle East, Frew said, “The desire of my heart is to serve God and people.” And when life becomes difficult, she is reminded of a favorite verse, John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.”
Frew’s mother, Stephanie, said her daughter’s heart for missions was always present.
“As a teenager, Holly was always involved in local missions opportunities,” Stephanie Frew said. “Once they gave out light bulbs, connecting it with the verse, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).
And after Holly Frew returned from Haiti recently, the mother-daughter duo stopped by a store to pick up a few personal items.
Stephanie Frew said, “Suddenly I noticed tears streaming down her cheeks [and asked her what was wrong].”
Holly Frew answered, “Oh, Mom, we have so much in this country. I see people in disaster areas that have nothing.”
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