Paul Miller, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH), took messengers at the state convention annual meeting on a journey from today’s reality back to the beginning days of the ABCH.
Miller said when the ABCH founder J.W. Stewart lobbied for a state Baptist children’s home in 1893, many did not believe in his vision. In fact, Stewart was left alone to establish the home.
To Stewart the concept was simple, Miller said. Find a home, find a motherly matron and take in a needy child then “let Alabama Baptists know what you’ve got, and they’ll do the rest,” Stewart is reported as saying.
Today “we are trying to let Alabama Baptists know what is going on through magazines, through Web sites and in all kinds of ways,” Miller said.
But what Miller really wants Alabama Baptists to know is that the ABCH is operating with a deficit of $331,339.
“I believe Alabama Baptists want to help needy children and families,” Miller said, noting many Alabama Baptists don’t know of the needs at the ABCH. “I believe your people will continue to give strongly to your ministries and through the Cooperative Program,” Miller said, encouraging pastors to help spread the word of the ABCH financial needs.
“I believe what we do is scriptural,” Miller said. “I know, I know, I know it is needed. I think if you look around you know it is needed.”
Strong Christian child care pays good dividends, said Miller, introducing Dana Watson as an ABCH success story.
God redeemed
A recent graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Watson came to the Mobile campus of the ABCH in 1987 at 11 years old.
“I lived in a house with domestic violence and drug violence,” Watson said. “At the age of eight I had my first marijuana cigarette,” he noted. Neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse were common in his home.
“God saw fit to take me out of that situation and place me in the children’s home,” Watson said. “From that day forth I had a new purpose.
“God had given me a new purpose. This was a plan for my life,” Watson said. “I had three square meals a day and … a solid family structure.
“But most importantly I was presented with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Watson, who plans a career in social work. “My life changed and has never been the same because of the ministries of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Families Ministries,” he said.
“There are more just like me that just need an opportunity,” he told messengers at the convention. “I pray your church would continue to pray for and support our ministry so that they would always have a chance.”
Watson’s houseparents, Marie and Jim Marchetti, were spotlighted via video at the convention. “Look at Dana and say let’s see another Dana,” Jim Marchetti said. “It’s worthwhile,” Marie Marchetti added.
The Book of Reports stated that the ABCH served 1,005 children, youth, adults and families at 29 locations in the first six months of 2003 through Pathways Professional Counseling.
Also during the first six months of 2003:
Homes were provided for 74 children and youth in foster care.
Family Care home and ministries in Alabaster served five individuals.
Homes were provided for 91 children and youth at Children’s Homes campuses, group homes and emergency shelters in Decatur, Gardendale, Oxford, Dothan and Mobile.
Alabama Crisis Pregnancy HelpLine provided confidential help for 480 callers.
ABCH professionals led family training workshops such as youth violence prevention, financial stewardship, marital enrichment, effective parenting and protecting churches and communities against child sexual abuse.
Physical, emotional and spiritual needs of 23 children were met when one or both parents died.
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