King’s Ranch leader is active Baptist

As the first woman executive director of The King’s Ranch and the director of Women on Missions at North Shelby Baptist Church (Shelby Assoc.), Elena Aldridge’s life models the Great Commission.
    Dedicated to sharing the hope of Calvary and to ministering to the needs of numerous Alabama children and families, Aldridge feels blessed to have the opportunity to work at The King’s Ranch, where her “life’s work” is taking place.
    “I have always wanted to make an eternal difference, and I believe God has blessed me with this opportunity,” Aldridge said.
    Aldridge’s leadership roles at The King’s Ranch and in her church allow her to minister to many, yet with that privilege comes immense responsibility.
    “I take very seriously that I will answer some day for all God has allowed me to direct,” Aldridge said.
Aldridge and her family are charter members of North Shelby Baptist where she serves as coordinator of the Christmas Gift Shop project that sponsors 75 children.
    “Elena is a fine lady who has been at the heart of our church since its founding seven years ago,” said Allan Murphy, pastor of North Shelby Baptist. “She was very surprised and humbled when she was asked to be The King’s Ranch executive director,” Murphy said. “I think they made an excellent choice. I attended a meeting she conducted a few weeks ago, and I was even further impressed with her leadership abilities,” he added.
    Aldridge advocates the importance of being involved in a local church and the critical component of evangelism at the local church level. The latter is especially close to her heart since she made a commitment to Christ as a result of a witness training class her husband was attending.
    Since she began her new position at The King’s Ranch, she is frequently away on Sundays at speaking engagements. However, she carefully keeps the balance between her ministries by seeking God’s direction.
    “Women have a tendency to commit to many things and get overwhelmed, setting themselves up for failure. I have learned to say no and to make choices in a way God can best use me,” she said.
    A sign on Aldridge’s desk reads: It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. The sign, a testament to her philosophy that you can learn from every experience, reflects just a bit of Aldridge’s uniqueness and humility. In order to succeed in her positions she feels God has equipped her with abilities and blessed her with a supportive family — husband Greg of 24 years and daughter Stephanie. Aldridge describes herself as a good listener, organized, detail-oriented and she loves to learn. All these traits are coupled with the gift of administration, Aldridge said.
    “God has truly blessed me with everything I need to do the work He has called me to do,” Aldridge said.
    As Christians, Aldridge believes each of us has a great missions opportunity through being the hands and feet of Jesus.
    “Time after time Jesus met the needs of those who crossed His path, and then they could understand and accept Him. They wanted to follow Him. We must show people how much we care (by being) a living gospel,” Aldridge said.
    Each day as executive director, Aldridge has numerous responsibilities. “I am responsible for the spiritual health of the ministry, seeking and imparting God’s vision for the ministry, seeing that we fulfill the mission, all daily operations for all programs and all resource development,” Aldridge said.
    She continues by saying there is no typical day at The King’s Ranch. “They start early and end late, and what’s in the middle is always a surprise.”
    Responsibility and challenges have been a part of Aldridge’s life for quite some time. Aldridge began working in the ministry in 1987 as a co-founder of The Holy Innocents Ministry, just two years after committing her life to Christ. In 1994, the ministry merged with The King’s Ranch.
    The King’s Ranch name was taken because it was more recognized. Established in 1976, The King’s Ranch is a “nonprofit residential community that provides loving, family homes in a Christian atmosphere to boys and girls from a variety of difficult backgrounds.”
    A Jasper native and an Auburn University graduate in social work, Aldridge realized early in life she had great compassion for the poor and troubled. Raised in a Christian family, Aldridge was taught early the value of sharing with those who were less fortunate. After graduation she worked with the Department of Human Resources in Walker County for nine years and then helped start a domestic violence shelter before moving to Birmingham.