"One time, we were celebrating the birthday of a sixth-grade boy who was in our home. I realize that may sound somewhat ordinary, but for him, we learned it was the first time he had blown out a candle on a birthday cake.”

Over the course of 35+ years, Jimmie and Martha Harris estimate they’ve been able to serve and care for around 300 children through Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes (ABCH), in Gardendale for a season and then largely on our Decatur campus as they care for school-aged girls.

“We don’t know all the abuses she’s really endured because she was passed around so much.” Kim McGainey Area Director of Southeast Alabama shares this about 15 year-old, Kari*

For two brothers this year, Jaxon* and Luke*, years of instability came to an end. Because of mitigating circumstances that prevented them from being reunified with their parents, their stay in foster care was longer than expected.

Emily Lepper came into our care in Decatur as a hurting and angry 16 year-old. Not only did she finish high school and college with us, but she also came to know Christ

Missions had always been on Ricky and Debbie Thacker’s hearts, and going somewhere overseas had been something they talked about doing when they retired. God certainly called them to missions—but little did they realize it was just a few minutes away from where they lived.

Jacob*, an energetic and bright six-year-old on our Dothan campus, didn’t come into our care feeling very hopeful or sure of his future.

There are many things that make this tournament and church group special. For the people of Fairview, it’s more than just about raising money through a golf tournament. Because they live so close to our campus, they’re able to take an active part in the life of the campus.

Don Eades was an 8-year-old ABCH “Home Boy” who lived at our home for boys in Eastlake, and then in our Gardendale home, now present-day Family Care home. Life there in the 70s was, in his words, a wonderful and blessed time. He has never forgotten the providence of his time with us, and he loves to tell others about it . . .

Twon Mai was a neglected 9-year old when the Lord directed his path to the Children’s Homes. He came from a broken home with a mentally unstable mother who separated from his dad before Twon ever had any real memories with him. His mother moved them from California to Mobile on a Greyhound bus where they at first found shelter in a motel for a few days

After 45 years of wear and tear from hundreds of children literally coming through our doors, our Decatur homes are receiving some much-needed TLC in the form of new cabinets, countertops, and paint in our kitchen/dining areas!