Fall 2019 Lifeprints

FALL 2019

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waterin g & tendin g

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BY ROD MARSHALL, PRESIDENT/CEO elcome to the Superhero issue of Lifeprints! When you were younger, did you ever debate with your friends which superhero power was the best? Would you rather have the strength of a dozen men or would you want to be able to fly? Would you rather be able to move objects with your mind or turn invisible? Earlier this year, the local cinemas were packed with fans of superhero movies, many looking forward to seeing how Avengers Endgame would complete the long story arc of the Avengers, a well-organized group of superheroes. Isn’t it interesting that even superheroes have to work together as a team to achieve all their lofty accomplishments?

In 1 Corinthians 3:5–8, the Apostle Paul talks about his relationship with Apollos, but more importantly how both of them are subject to God’s plans. This passage says, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”

Paul and Apollos worked together.

They had different assignments, but both were crucial. And, they both were working for God. In our ministries, we have different gifts and talents. We have different assignments and different duties. But, we all serve the same Master. Whether it is a social worker, a foster parent, a house parent, a ministry partner, a donor, a supporting church, or a prayer warrior, all are working together in service of the same Master, Jesus Christ!

How futile it would be for a farmer to plant seed, but neglect to water the seed! How equally foolish it would be to carefully water fields where seeds have never been sown. How much more can the harvest be multiplied if a team of farmers are working together to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, tend to the plants, and work the harvest?

Here at your Baptist Children’s Homes we have a wonderful team of superhero farmers who each play the role assigned to them by our Master, to faithfully serve in the fields. We praise God for each Hero profiled in this newsletter and for each reader. Together, we follow God’s assignments and look forward to a delightful harvest!

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Cathy McDaniel with Maleah Hurd, who was recently adopted (photo credit: Kathy Acton Photography)

2 0 y e a r s o f s e r v ic e For children in foster care, there are many unknowns and upheavals in their lives.

That’s why the role of a social worker is pivotal, as they walk with them through this difficult journey every step of the way. Cathy McDaniel is one of those social workers, and she has served in this role with us now in the Birmingham area for 20 years! Below is an interview with Cathy, giving you a glimpse into what 20 years of service to children and families has looked like.

While I was at college I was blessed to have several wise mentors who encouraged me to seek experience through internships and volunteering.

I began to fall in love with the hurting children I was encountering in my internships and knew I wanted to be a part of bringing healing into their lives. After obtaining my master’s degree in Social Work, I was blessed to work at a residential treatment center in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area.

WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME After being there for a while, I felt the Lord leading me to step out in faith A SOCIAL WORKER? The short answer is God’s providence.

As a senior in high school, I remember an assignment where I had to write out my goals for the next five years.

My five-year goal was that I wanted to work with hurting children. At that time, I had no idea what that looked like, nor did I understand what role a social worker played in a child’s life.

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and resign. I asked the Lord that if possible, I wanted to be able to use my faith in my work with children. While visiting my brother in Birmingham, I happened to read a copy of The Alabama Baptist newspaper, where I saw an advertisement for Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH). I sent in my resumé

and within a few days received a call back.

The rest is history! I left my job in Tennessee on February 20, 1999, and

by June of 1999, the Lord had sold my condo, bought me a house, and moved me to Alabama!

HOW HAS SERVING AT ABCH BEEN A BLESSING TO YOU?

The Lord has taught me over and over that I must stand on His sovereignty and trust in His goodness if I am going to last as a social worker. His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8–9).

I often use Joseph as an example when explaining foster care. If the Lord had asked me to plan Joseph’s life, I would not have chosen for him to be hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, thrown into prison, and forgotten.

Yet, the Lord had a bigger plan and used Joseph in an amazing way to save Israel.

Over my 20 years at the Children’s Homes I have seen the Lord do amazing things that thrilled me and hard things that I may never understand on this side of heaven. During this journey, my faith and love for the Lord has deepened, and day-by-day, He continues to teach me to walk by faith and not by sight and trust Him in all situations.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST JOYS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED?

Anytime a child comes to a saving faith in Christ is a joy. I have been blessed to attend several baptisms as a social worker with ABCH. Some children come to faith while in our care, and others came to accept Christ after being discharged. Sometimes seeds

are planted, and I never get to see the fruit of those seeds, thus I am always honored when a parent reaches out to me after a child is discharged and includes me in this life-changing event.

Seeing a biological parent grow and change and be able to successfully parent their child still brings me chills. Finally, seeing the Lord create a new family through adoption always amazes me!

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES?

I have so many! I have been blessed to work with an amazing team of social workers. Often, we must pull together to meet the needs of our families and children. I love working with my team and am often amazed by each and every one of them and their selflessness in caring for the children the Lord has entrusted to us.

I also have worked with many fantastic foster families. Watching as a child enters a family as a scared and hurt stranger, and through the love, grace, and hard work poured out by the family, that child becomes a welcomed and valued member of their family!

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN GOALS IN BEING A SOCIAL WORKER?

As with all things in my life, it is to glorify God. I believe the mission statement of ABCH says it best—to protect, nurture, and restore children and families through Christ-centered services.

God has used Cathy to impact countless lives and generations in her time with us.

We are so thankful for her dedication and service to children in need for these past 20 years!

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a d e c a de o f

BY MICHELLE GLASSFORD, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS ike and Heidi Pickels are two of the kindest and most servant-hearted folks around.

Earlier this year, the Lord led them to a new season of retirement, but for close to ten years prior, they served children from hard places at our Campus Care home in Dothan.

Whether on good days or challenging days, they’ve always seen the Lord at work and have much to share about His faithfulness and goodness.

Director for Southeast Alabama) that day,” says Heidi, “They had just lost their house parents and were in a hard spot. Kim showed me around the house and told me about the ministry . . . With the stories she told of the children, I just thought, this is so amazing.”

When Heidi later shared with Mike about her experience that day, she remembers feeling like there was “something that just went through us COMING TO ABCH both” as they discussed it, something With backgrounds mainly in childcare special in their spirits that they paid and as a first responder with military, attention to. They felt they should fire, and police, Mike and Heidi didn’t look into the opportunity to serve and have the Children’s Homes in mind, began to pray about it and asked their but the Lord certainly did. pastor to pray too. After meeting with Kim again and walking through the “I remember thinking so many times process, in two months time from the when I would leave a place for whatride, Mike and Heidi became full-time ever reason and go to get another house parents. job, why does God always have me working with children? He must have a SERVING THE 111 reason. When we came to the Since beginning their service ten Children’s Homes, it was like a big years ago, between two childcare epiphany, as we had to tell our story agencies, the Pickels have cared several times. I have no doubt, those for 111 children. “We came in and experiences were training for me to thought we were going to save the day, get there,” says Heidi. but it wasn’t that way. We’ve heard of They weren’t familiar with ABCH, but the worst situations, but (most) kids another local ministry was. “We were want their mom, and they want to part of Faith Riders Motorcycle minis- go home, no matter how badly they had been treated. And we saw that try, and they were doing a benefit run for the home. Mike couldn’t go, but I these parents really did love their went to be a part of it with our daugh- kids, they just didn’t have a clue on how to be a parent. And many times, ters, and I met Kim McGainey (Area 6

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hearing their stories, (it seemed) their parents didn’t know how to parent,” Heidi says.

Children in care oftentimes don’t understand the selfless ways our parents love them. And sometimes, they even ask them why they do what they do. In those times, Heidi says they took the opportunity to share about the Lord and the way He loves us, no matter what or how we feel towards Him. Their hope in

parenting was that the Lord would open the minds of our kids up to Him, and they’ve been encouraged in times where they see He’s done just that.

Earlier this spring, there was a young lady in care who left after a year, but her time with us was full of purpose!

Heidi shares, “She struggled with salvation and giving her heart to the Lord. After bedtime, she would often ask, ‘Can I talk with you?’ I knew if she called me by herself, she usually Watering & Tending: Superhero Issue

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. . . TH IS IS W ORTH IT. IT ’ S W HAT YOU L IV E F O R A N D HOPE F O R, THAT A DI FFER EN CE (E TER N A LLY W I TH C H RIS T ) I S MAD E IN T H EIR LIV ES . had a deep question and would ask me things like, what is faith and what does that mean—grace? And in those times, I just prayed, Lord, give me the right words.”

During their conversations, this little girl would also ask hard questions about why she had to be there and why she couldn’t be with her mom.

Though terrible things had happened in her home, things she didn’t understand, she just wanted to be back there. Heidi assured this child, “I don’t know for sure, but I know the Lord has us in places we need to be, and we just have to trust Him because He loves us.”

She continues, “The last night she was there, we sat in her bedroom and talked. About a week earlier, she had asked the Lord to save her. She said on this last night, ‘Ms. Heidi, I think I know now. I think I know now why God wanted me here—so I would know Him and become a Christian.’

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“There’s nothing that can top that! On the days you want to pull every hair from your head—this is worth it. It’s what you live for and hope for, that a difference (eternally with Christ) is made in their lives.”

THE HOPE OF SERVICE

Spending time together with the kids, whether on vacation or just riding down the road, are some of the Pickels most cherished times. Heidi shares, “I loved riding in the car someplace and turning on Christian music and hearing them singing the words to those songs. It thrilled my soul to hear those little ones sing, hoping God would bring those words back to them some day; that He would bring them peace, and they would look upward, and seek the Lord.”

In this next season of life, Mike and Heidi are going from large campus home, to building their own tiny home! Mike will continue part-time work driving a school bus, and Heidi is hopeful to soon begin volunteer work with the second group close to the heart of God as mentioned in James 1:27, the widows.

Looking back at their past years of service, Heidi says, “It’s been a wonderful ministry to work for, and we’ve always had confidence that people are praying for us . . . It’s been such a blessing to be a part of this ministry and have the opportunity and be a part of living out James 1:27 . . . There are children that have walked out of the home, and we have prayed, Lord, please let something we’ve said or done (affect them). It’s our job to plant the seeds. The Lord does the watering and growing . . . We are very thankful God chose us and let us be a part of that. I just hope he is pleased.”

the s uper s upp or t

BY NICOLE WALKER, COMMUNICATIONS & DESIGN SPECIALIST

Janara Parrish handing Kim McGainey the proceeds from Concord Baptist Church’s bake sale ince the beginning of our ministry, the local church has been an essential partner in our mission to care for children and families in need across Alabama. There’s no telling the amount of lives that have been impacted by the work of these faithful men, women, and children too, over our 128-year history.

As we celebrate “heroes” to our ministry, we’ve highlighted a few churches that reflect the ultimate superhero to our kids— Jesus Christ.

CONCORD BAPTIST CHURCH

Ever since Janara Parrish was young, she’s held a special place in her heart for the kids in our care. “I remember when I was a child and there was a Children’s Home in Troy, and a lot of the churches would go and bring canned goods,” said Janara.

Her involvement continued into adulthood, including joining our Ambassadors program when it first Watering & Tending: Superhero Issue

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Some of our foster parents enjoyed a Montgomery Biscuits game during Foster Parent’s Night Out (photo credit: Flickr, StretchyBill) started. Ever since then, she’s rallied churches across the Judson Baptist Association to get involved, including her home church, Concord Baptist Church in Headland. With roughly 35 members, they have found many creative ways to help.

Recently, Janara heard through Kim McGainey, Area Director for Southeast Alabama, that our ministry was looking to relocate our Dothan office space and needed a down payment. Hearing this, Janara brought this need to her church, and one of the ladies came up with the idea of the bake sale. “It all came together, and the Lord just blessed every part of it,” said Janara. “Even the girls in the campus home at Dothan baked some cookies. The day of the bake sale was not a pretty day, yet so many people came through.” They ended up raising $1,106 by the end of the day!

same, we love them because they’re God’s children.”

THORINGTON ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH

“I remember going to Walmart with a brother and sister in our care, and the little girl was having a come-apart,” said Crysta Trull, reflecting back on her time as a foster parent with her husband, Michael. “One of our church members happened to be there, and she asked if I needed help.” This church member was with them for 15 or 20 minutes to help her grocery shop.

It’s moments like these that Crysta recalls how a helping hand really made a difference during their journey as foster parents. Due to their parents’ health issues, the Trulls are no longer able to foster, but that hasn’t stopped them from helping children in foster care. Michael, pastor at Thorington When speaking with Janara, you Road Baptist Church in Montgomery, can hear just how much her church and Crysta, Administrative Ministry truly cares for our kids. “Sometimes Coordinator, have used their experience the kids will ask, ‘Why are you to help their church minister to families helping?’ and we’re able to share, currently fostering. because God loves them,” said Janara.

“Even though they may be going through For example, this past Christmas the a hard time or we may not look the church helped provide gifts for children 10 Lifeprints

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placed with three of our families. Crysta split the wish list for each child on little cards and put them on clothespins for members to take and sponsor.

Everyone was so eager to help, that the cards didn’t stay on there for long!

Their involvement didn’t stop there, though. Earlier this summer, the church hosted a Foster Parent’s Night Out. Volunteers provided free childcare, and church members pitched in to provide gift cards for foster parents to use for dinner and fun activities, such as attending a Montgomery Biscuits baseball game. Also, they took a picture of each family, and when the parents returned, they received their picture in a rustic-style frame.

“Our foster parents really loved it,” said Jessica Palmer, Administrative Assistant in our Montgomery office. “[The church] really went above and beyond, and especially providing small touches like the picture frame.”

full, home-cooked Thanksgiving meals from Kroger, often adding in some extra homemade desserts for all of our campus homes in Decatur. “It is a blessing to be able to help,” said Kathy Alexander, member at Chalybeate Springs. “We’re not looking for credit . . . we just try to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

Even the kids at Chalybeate Springs have provided a helping hand. Every year during VBS, they make ABCH the missions focus and donate much needed items to our Decatur campus.

One year, we had a need for peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches, so the boys brought peanut butter and the girls brought jelly. Another year, they all brought Little Debbie snacks. This past summer, the kids brought in hygiene products, since that was a huge need for us.

The church’s involvement stemmed from their former pastor, Bill Pullen.

Several years ago, he joined our Ambassadors program, and to this day, “The people here are just really sweet is still very involved.

He encouraged and really giving, and it just gives the church to find ways to help the kids them another opportunity to be able to in our care because he saw firsthand [serve],” said Crysta. In thinking of the how it impacted children. “He shared best ways to help foster families, Crysta how he loved seeing ABCH minister to shared some insight. “Ask them, ‘How all the children at Camp of Champions, can I help you?’ Sometimes, they need and how amazing it was to be a part of help with a certain task, or they just it,” Kathy shared. She also shared how need you to pray for them. Anything church members enjoyed attending you can do to help out, I think they our annual Open House in December, really appreciate it.”

“I remember . . . we were in one of the CHALYBEATE SPRINGS homes with the girls and there was one BAPTIST CHURCH small child. She opened my heart even For many people, Thanksgiving is a holmore than what I thought it could. You iday they look forward to. Some of the could feel the love in the house when kids in our care, though, can find the you walked in.” holidays difficult, especially in times These are only a handful of the hundreds of transition. That’s where Chalybeate of churches that have poured in their time, Springs Baptist Church in Hillsboro has talents, and resources. We are so thankful stepped in to help make the holiday something to look forward to. For sev- for our church families and how God is eral years now, members have provided using them!

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Bobby and Deborah Golden with their son, Dylan

l ife as a fo ste r parent:

BY TAYLOR FUNDERBURG, COMMUNIATIONS & MARKETING COORDINATOR t takes a village” is a phrase t spoken when takes commonly talking about raising children.

This statement is also very true for the life of a child in foster care. From those who give of their time and resources to generously provide for the work we do, to the social worker who attends every family visit and walks alongside each foster parent, to the men and women who step in as parents to those children who need a safe home—each part played is truly heroic.

Bobby and Deborah Golden are two of those “superheroes” who have gone 12 Lifeprints

above and beyond in their service to children from hard places. This is their story, and we hope it encourages you that, no matter what stage of life you’re in, you have a part to play in the lives of children in need.

THE START OF THE JOURNEY

Bobby and Deborah, married for 22 years, have a 14-year-old son, Dylan, whom they adopted at three months old. With Bobby having served as a firefighter and paramedic for over 20 years and Deborah previously serving in the mental health field, the couple has always served out of their passion to help those in need. While foster parenting wasn’t something they originally planned to do, God directed their hearts, already stirred for the broken, to this new adventure.

Deborah says, “Our church, Arbor Baptist Church, was involved in a week-long mission event with ABCH in Oxford, where we had a lot of direct contact with the children from the Friendship House, and they really touched our hearts. The area director at the time talked to us about becoming involved with ABCH as foster parents. We began to pray about it, and God made it clear to our family that we were supposed to do this.”

THE IMPACT OF FOSTER CARE

Here at ABCH, we train each foster parent, aiming to equip them to the best of our abilities and theirs, to serve these children well. What’s naturally harder to prepare them for, is how deeply it will impact them personally in special, sanctifying ways.

WE H AD N O IDEA TH AT B EC O M I N G A F OS TE R FAM I LY WO ULD H AVE S U C H AN IM PAC T O N US A S A FAM I LY A N D O N O UR FA ITH .

“We had no idea that becoming a foster family would have such an impact on us as a family and on our faith,” Deborah says. “It has made us so opening up their homes and loving much more compassionate toward others—of course for the children, children with Christ’s love, in turn but also for their biological parents, impacts the parents themselves. grandparents, and families. We have “We love being able to watch these come to a strong realization of how frightened, unsure, and untrusting desperately this world needs Jesus children be able to become well-adand a love for one another. Is it hard for us at times? Yes, it is, but we can’t justed, begin to trust us, to know they imagine how much more difficult are loved, and to be able to enjoy just being a kid . . . We have laughed at it is for the children who have been some of their conversations with ripped away from their normal, even when it’s not in their best interest each other . . . and overhearing them to stay.” waking each other up in the mornings with conversations such as, I can’t SWEET MEMORIES TO wait to play ball with Duyan (Dylan), or, CARRY FOREVER I wonder what Mama Debbie is going to With some moments harder than cook us for breakfast, or, I hope Pop Pop others, our foster parents always (Bobby) will be home and play with us have the sweetest stories to share— today.

This is what makes all of the memories they will carry with them adjustments and challenges to our for a lifetime. These tiny glimpses into the impact they’re making by lives so worth it!”

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hero s o ciet y sp otlight:

BY DANIELLE CASTILLE, COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT ith each gift made to ABCH, you are not just changing the lives of the children in care right now. You are making an impact on generations for years to come.

in Troy, Alabama. He was with us for twelve years, until he graduated high school.

Before coming to the Children’s Home, Ron shares that he rarely attended “Because of the life my daddy lived in church. Afterwards, however, that all front of me, my children are blessed changed. He says, “We always had an to grow up in a Christian home.” This old saying that if the church doors is what former ABCH resident, Ron are open, being from the Children’s Carroll’s, daughter wrote recently in Home, we were in church.” While in thank you cards. These cards were our care, at nine years old, he came to attached to baked goods her daughter know Christ. As he grew up, he continsold for a Vacation Bible School proj- ued to see Christian values modeled regularly in the home, which greatly ect, with proceeds supporting ABCH. influenced him when it came time to Our Hero Society donors provide start and raise a family of his own. monthly support for those in our care, and in this Spotlight, Ron and Cindy When thinking back on his time in our Carroll share how the ministry of care, Ron quotes Proverbs 22:6, “Train ABCH shaped their lives and those of up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart their children and grandchildren. from it.” He shares, “The Children’s A FAMILY AFFAIR Home was there for that training, and As a young child in 1951, Ron Carroll they made a difference in how I raised went to live at the Children’s Home my children.”

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Ron and Cindy met at church and married in 1970 and have been together now for 50 years. Their two children both know the Lord as their Savior, and they seek to serve Him alongside their own families. Their son is married and serves as a youth minister in Texas and has two children, and their daughter is also married with two daughters and works at First Baptist Trussville for WEE (Weekday Early Education) Center.

EVERY HOME NEEDS A HERO You can help children and families in our care, just like Ron, by participating in the Hero Society, our monthly giving program where: • You choose which location and program to support • You receive an exclusive Hero t-shirt and decal • 100% of donations are designated to meet the most essential needs of our programs:

A LEGACY OF SUPPORT

Because of the way Ron has lived his life, people who know his story have been influenced to give to ABCH. Cindy says, “Several families we know give because of the person he’s become. And our children love to go to the Homes, and they’re big supporters of the Home.”

FOSTER CARE

FAMILY CARE

HOMES FOR CHILDREN

Learn more at alabamachild.org/ herosociety, or get started today:

In the Carroll family, we see a sweet testament to God’s sovereignty and that He has a plan for all of our lives.

Ron and Cindy’s impact for the kingdom is immeasurable!

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In many ways, Ron and Cindy have been long-time supporters of ABCH. Early in their marriage, they served as relief house parents at the TEXT: JOIN ONLINE: “@ABCH hero” alabamachild.org/ former Birmingham area home for hero to 52014 children, located in Gardendale (now ------------------------------------------a Family Care home). Soon after, they YES, I’m interested in learning about began giving financially and eventuthe Hero Society. Please contact me ally committed to give monthly. “We with more information also give (financially to the ministry) rather than flowers when there’s been YES, I’d like to become a Hero a passing of somebody or for birthSociety Donor. Please contact me days. We’ve made a point that’s where about joining the program. it goes because we want to invest in NAME: ________________________ the lives of other children,” says Ron. “. . . We figure in two days flowers are ADDRESS: _____________________ gone, but money (invested) for a child ____________________________ will last a lifetime.”

CITY: _________________________ STATE: ______ZIP: ______________ PHONE: _______________________ EMAIL:_______________________

PAID

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SAVE THE DATE FOR

Each December, we look forward to opening up our homes to you at our CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE events. Please join us at a location near you!

DECATUR

Sunday, December 8, 2–5 PM 1404 16th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35601 256-355-6893 // decatur@alabamachild.org

MOBILE

Sunday, December 8, 2–5 PM 6512 Grelot Road, Mobile, AL 36695 251-639-1022 // mobile@alabamachild.org

OXFORD

Sunday, December 8, 2–5 PM 1931 Donna Drive, Oxford, AL 36203 256-831-4081 // oxford@alabamachild.org

GARDENDALE (Family Care)

Sunday, December 8, 2–4 PM 241 Gowins Drive Gardendale, AL 35071 205-945-0037 // birmingham@alabamachild.org Friday, December 6, 6–8 PM 368 County Line Road Dothan, AL 36305 334-677-7856 // dothan@alabamachild.org All Open House events are FREE. More details are available at alabamachild.org/openhouse.

Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries P.O. Box 361767 Birmingham, AL 35236-1767

DOTHAN