Help Meet Needs for the Mobile Campus
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home > Homes for Children > Southwest Alabama > News Foster care upbringing inspires Mobile, Alabama woman’s service as volunteer Many groups from churches in and near Mobile, Alabama, have discovered that one great way to warm the hearts of the children and houseparents at the Mobile campus of the Baptist Children’s Homes has been to satisfy their taste buds.
“One time, they brought some of the best chili I’ve ever eaten,” exclaimed one of the teen-aged boys. Each month, several volunteers from Covenant Church of Mobile bring a wonderful meal for the children and houseparents. Covenant’s special ministry to the Mobile campus began with Teresa Gunter. When church members were asked to pray about how they individually could help minister to others, Teresa knew her calling was to do something for children. Having grown up in a foster home, she had experienced the love and kindness of others at a challenging time in her life. “It really all started with a little nudge from the Lord,” said Teresa. She called her sister, who encouraged her to contact the Children’s Homes to see if she could help. Working with the staff on campus, Teresa began to organize monthly meals. Teresa turned to others in the church to help get the project going. Carma McDowell, leader of the church’s hospitality team, is no stranger to whipping up meals for large crews. Teresa was able to get Carma involved, who began to pull a volunteer team together. As coordinator of the volunteers who bring the meals, Carma shares her life-long expertise, including recipes for making economical meals in large quantities. Carma admits she wasn’t seeking more projects on her plate, but believes the Lord was leading her toward this opportunity. Pastor Stephen Simpson and the elders of the church have been very supportive of the church’s involvement with the Children’s Homes. In addition to the monthly meals, the church helps with childcare for Children’s Homes foster parents while they’re completing training. The church also hosted a special Christmas dinner for the Mobile campus children. Teresa, Carma and the other volunteers are excited about the opportunity to spread God’s blessing to the children. As long as God keeps nudging her along, she knows she and the volunteer team from Covenant Church are doing the right thing. |
Children and
houseparents at the Mobile campus have enjoyed tasty food such as chicken
and dumplings, tortilla soup and fried chicken provided by local church
groups. One of the congregations frequently feeding the children and adults
and helping them in other ways is from Covenant Church of Mobile.
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