Christian Child and Family Services Association » Agape of Central Alabama

Helping Children Around the World Through International Adoption

Sally Shank — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:12:11 +0000

International Adoption
Unite with Agape to help even more children…
from around the world.
Greg and Rayla Black ‘s adoption story
began like many families. It started with a desire for a child. They yearned for a large family and for siblings for their son, Tucker. But months of trying to get pregnant turned into years.

When they led the 4th graders at their church in a study on the book of James, one particular verse kept speaking to the Blacks…”Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) And then when their church participated in an Orphan Sunday event, the Blacks felt convicted that God was speaking to their hearts. That’s when they took the first step to adopt.

After lots of prayer and research, the Blacks chose to adopt 2 children from Russia through Children of the World, an agency in Mobile. The process took 21 months to complete. But Olivia Ann and John Mark are now officially part of the Black family!

“The waiting is when you need God the most, and He was there through every delay and document. We really believe that if you step out of your comfort zone, God will help you survive it all and bless you in the process,” says Rayla.
For so many families, God has laid out His adoption plan. Whether the catalyst is infertility or answering His call (or both!), families are rising up to “vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute; rescue the weak and needy.” (Psalm 82:3-4) God is taking center stage in the need to defend the orphan…and He’s asked us to join Him.

Unite with Agape to help create more families like the Blacks. There are many ways you can join this ministry. Your financial support is vital to our efforts. Click here to donate today! And, as always, we are here to serve. Please contact me if I can be of assistance in any way.

Thank you,
Jimmy Dobbs, Director

Agape at Auburn University in Montgomery

Sally Shank — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:02:59 +0000

Agape at AUM
Agape was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to some of the
students at Auburn University in Montgomery on Nov. 16. Carole
Jones, a nurse at Montgomery Women’s Health Associates, spoke to the
students about the values of abstinence and the realities
of a sexually-active life. Carole is the wife of Agape
board member Tracy Jones. Agape was invited by
S.A.L.T. (a Christian group on campus) to present
this information to the students. Thank you
to Carole and S.A.L.T. for your support!

Recipes ‘Specially for You’ – Compiled by Diana Taylor White

Sally Shank — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:40:12 +0000

‘Specially for you…
“Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a
boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure
out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and
imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music.”
– Julia Child
This holiday season, pull out a few recipes that were created
with more than taste in mind. And a long the way,
support Agape and honor a woman who was esteemed as “a
teacher of women.”
Diana White, Montgomery, has enjoyed the art of
cooking for years. For her, preparing a meal for someone
is a sign of affection and a token of respect. It is her gift
to people. So, when it comes to compiling recipes into a
cookbook, she approached it with that same altruistic flare.
“I chose to dedicate this book to the memory of Jean
Welch,” she said, “because I wanted to honor her in some
way. The only way I know to do that is through cooking.
This is my flowers for the family.”
The cookbook features some of Jean’s favorite recipes
that many of her friends and family will recognize, like her
chocolate pie recipe below. Also included in this hardback,
spiral bound book is a section of Diana’s cheesecake
recipes. The book contains 500 recipes, pictures of Jean,
and a lot of Diana’s heart.
Jean Welch was a strong and caring woman whom many respected.
She dedicated much of her time to serving the children of Agape, as well as many other ministries.
Jean’s heart and talent are not easily forgotten.
“I still miss her everyday,” said Diana. “I think of her when I make decisions. What a role model!”
To purchase a cookbook, please contact the office at 334-272-9466 or e-mail us at info@
agapeforchildren.org. Books are $15 each. Shipping is available with the appropriate fee.
JEA N’S CHOCO LATE PIE
(aka Fudge Pie, pg. 10)
1 cup sugar 1 cup milk
3 level tablespoons cocoa 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick butter)
2 heaping tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch salt 1 – 8 or 9 inch pie crust, baked
3 large egg yolks
Mix dry ingredients together. Mix milk and egg yolks and add to dry ingredients. Cook
in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until thick. Add butter and let melt. Remove from
heat and add vanilla. Pour into cooled, baked pie crust. Top with meringue and bake for
10 minutes at 350 degrees.
MERINGUE
3 large egg whites 3-4 tablespoons sugar
Beat whites until foamy and then start gradually adding sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form
but whites aren’t dry. Spread the meringue over the entire pie and seal to the edges of the
crust.

Agape of Central Alabama Seeking A Christian Social Worker

Sally Shank — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:40:09 +0000

Job Opening:

Agape is seeking a licensed (or immediately licensable) Christian social worker desiring to impact children’s and families’ lives through a Christ-driven faith-based ministry. While the office is based in Enterprise, travel, in-home services and community-networking throughout the Wiregrass region are significant components to the position. Comparable salary and benefits.

Job description:

-diverse child-welfare caseload including services to foster children, their birth parents, & foster parents
-pro-life, non-directive and supportive counseling services to pregnant women
-preparation, placement, follow-up, and referral services to adoptive families

For more information, please contact Jimmy Dobbs at jdobbsagape@gmail.com.

What Other Agencies Are Doing In Response to “National Adoption Month”

Sally Shank — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:00:07 +0000

Agape of Central Alabama – Montgomery
As far as agency activities, our primary activity is an “Adoption Celebration” event on Saturday, November 5th. It is an outside, fall festival kind of event. Fun and games (big blow-up slides, etc.), with some of the games/centers having an “adoption” connection. For instance, a “family tree” center where kids and parents together fill in their family tree, with everything “above ground” (trunk, limbs, leaves) being adoptive family and their extended family, and with everything “below ground” (roots) being birth family. Puppets doing a skit on “how God puts families together”, emphasizing that God can put families together in lots of different ways, but each family and each child is special (puppets will teach the kids the kids song “Look all the world over, there’s no one like me, no one like me, no one like me, look all the world over there’s no one like me, there’s no one exactly like me”, with verses following that talk about short and tall, dark and light, etc.). Play therapist will be here to do funsie activity with families and kids, very light, nothing heavy, but just something to engage them and get them talking a bit. And of course food. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Outside. Completely free. Invite anyone in the whole community, not just “our” adoptive families.
And just as a note of interest, although we are supportive of it, another local event that we did not organize, but which was put together by a grassroots support group at one of our main supporting churches, is an “Orphancare Sunday” event which is connected to the Orphancare movement and national Orphancare Sunday that is on November 6. That day will involve classes taught by adoptive families, and a worship time centering on the orphans of the world. We are doing all we can to encourage our churches to promote any kind of event that raises the visibility of kids’ needs, whether the event is connected to Agape or not.

Agape Child and Famimly Services, Inc., – Memphis
Agape has graciously received a congressional award through U.S. Bob Corker’s office announcing Agape as a 2011 “Angel in Adoption.” Below you will also see the release that went out from his office. I have also attached the congratulatory letter from the group presenting this award, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Also, Senator Corker plans to do a :30 – :60 congratulatory video on this congressional award, which will be shown at HeartLight on November 5!

Corker Congratulates Agape Child & Family Services on Being Named an “Angel in Adoption”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., today congratulated Agape Child & Family Services of Memphis and Jackson on being recognized as a 2011 Angel in Adoption for their advocacy of adoption and foster care issues.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption program, honored Agape, along with more than 140 other “angels,” at an awards ceremony and gala event in Washington yesterday, October 5.

“I was proud to nominate Agape Child & Family Services for this award,” said Corker. “For over 42 years they have been committed to serving thousands of children and families in West Tennessee. Their good work serves as an example to us all.”

Agape Child & Family Services, a Christian-based organization with locations in Memphis and Jackson, is being honored for their commitment to providing children and families with healthy homes through community restoration, homeless services, mentoring, foster care, adoption, maternity services and counseling. Agape will serve more than 18,000 children, adults and families this year through its services.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a 501©3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes through adoption.

The Angels in Adoption program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for members of Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit http://www.ccainstitute.org/.

Agape’s 6th Annual Golf for Kids Tournament – August 15, 2011

Sally Shank — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:45:23 +0000

Wanna golf for a cause? How about to help find Christian homes for foster children and orphans? Wanna help a woman through a crisis pregnancy? Agape’s 6th Annual Golf for Kids Tournament is more than just a great day of golfing. It’s an opportunity to be a part of a ministry that serves neglected and abused children, families who want to share their love with a child, and pregnant women in need of assistance. Through adoption, foster care, and unplanned pregnancy services, Agape of Central Alabama cares for the vulnerable in our area…but we need your help to keep it up. Join us on on August 15, 2011 at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery for a day of golf, fellowship, and purpose! Register today. If you’re interested in sponsoring the event, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Emily at info@agapeforchildren.org or 272-9466.

Agape of Central Alabama Seeking A Licensed Christian Social Worker

Sally Shank — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:41:11 +0000

Job Opening:

Job description:

For more information, please contact Jimmy Dobbs at jdobbsagape@gmail.com.

Agape of Central Alabama Present Adoption and Fostering Needs

Sally Shank — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:22:21 +0000

Agape currently has 2 great needs, and we are humbly asking for you to conisder how you can help.

1) African American homes who are interested in adopting African American children – Call us at 272-9466 or e-mail info@agapeforchildren.org if you would like to discuss the possibility of opening your heart and home to a child in need. We’d love to talk with you!

2) Foster homes for every age and race -If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to take care of one of the 500,000 children in foster care, we’d like to invite you to our Informational Foster Care Dinner on May 26. You’ll hear real-life experiences from some of our current foster parents. It will be a casual and non-threatening way to learn more and to ask questions of the ones who really know what it’s like – the foster parents!

Agape of Central Alabama Presents Two Opportunities

Sally Shank — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:20:13 +0000

Agape currently has 2 great needs, and we are humbly asking for you to conisder how you can help.

Informational Foster Care Dinner

Thursday, May 26, 6-8pm

Vaughn Park Church of Christ

Montgomery, AL

Please let us know how many will be attending with you.

Childcare will be provided for children up to 10 years old. Please specify children’s ages.

Cost: FREE

Agape of Central Alabama to Host Run For a Mom 5K and Fun Run

Sally Shank — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:54:44 +0000

Agape’s Run for a Mom 5k and Fun Run, Saturday, May 7, 7:30am, Vaughn Park Church of Christ Agape is having our first 5k on May 7. The theme is Run for a Mom, and we are asking each runner/walker to dedicate their run to a special woman in their life…mom, birth mom, foster mom, friend. Not only is May 7 Mother’s Day weekend, it’s also Birthmother’s Day. So, we’re hoping to honor the role of mom with this event.

All proceeds from the event will go towards helping prevent unplanned pregnancy in teenagers and assisting women facing a crisis pregnancy. What a great way to celebrate Mother’ s Day weekend and Birthmother’s Day!

So, who are you running for? Is it the woman you call “mom” or is it another special lady you’ve always adored? Whoever it is, make sure to wear or carry something while you run to serve as a reminder of her.

Contact Emily for more details, including how you can sponsor this wonderful event! info@agapeforchildren.org 334-272-9466