by Dava Williamson
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).
On August 26, 2007, Dr. Tony Merida quoted the above scripture in a sermon. Little did he realize the immense impact that moment would have on the congregation, and soon after, his own life. Many Temple members knew Tony and Kimberly Merida planned to adopt. But on that day, Tony’s passionate sermon awakened two Temple members to not only Tony and Kimberly’s deep yearning for adoptive children, but also to God’s commandment to support the orphans of the world.
“You hear his passion. You know he desires to be a daddy,” explains Sandy Mayfield. After the sermon, a conversation about Tony’s message sparked between Sandy and Jill Hodge in the hallway. Both women, merely acquaintances at the time, were moved by Tony’s petition to help orphans. Sandy and Jill decided to meet at Starbucks, the first of many coffee- and prayer-laden meetings, to discuss the mutual stirring they felt to do something.
“I feel like it’s a commandment. It’s not an option. It’s not if you want to help, if you feel like it, but DO it,” says Sandy. The two prayed individually and together, beseeching God to clarify their purpose in this cause. An answer soon came when God provided the women the idea to start an adoption ministry.
This ministry would help prospective parents fund adoptions, an expensive and tedious process. The first goal would be to assist Tony and Kimberly. “Abba Father Ministries” seemed the appropriate name for the ministry as they read Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
Once they put a name on their mission, Sandy and Jill took the next, somewhat daunting, step: to collect funds — a goal of $50,000 to be exact — to help Tony and Kimberly in fulfilling an international adoption. They sent about 150 letters to random Temple members explaining the vision of Abba Father Ministries, the first financial goal, and the invitation to support and volunteer for the ministry. Jill and Sandy emphasized the secrecy of the letter — they wanted to surprise the Meridas with this gift! They also encouraged the recipients to discreetly spread the word about the ministry to other members. Sandy and Jill mailed these letters in September. In just two short months, the ministry raised $48,000.
“We mailed the letters. That’s it. God did the rest,” says Jill. Meanwhile, anticipation for the gift presentation was building among members.
“It was like Christmas morning around here. It was very exciting. Everyone kept asking when we were going to present to Tony and Kimberly,” recalls Sandy. “I feel like Temple is a big family. It felt like it [the adoption] would be an addition for everybody.”
On November 18, 2007, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Jill and Sandy presented the Meridas with this awesome gift. Gary Shows called Tony and Kimberly onstage to introduce a new ministry, at which they were unknowingly the core. As Sandy illuminated the mission of Abba Father Ministries, Jill presented two size 18-months t-shirts with “Abba Father” written across the front to Tony. “Tony took the t-shirts to his face and began crying. Their dreams were coming true,” says Sandy. Tony and Kimberly couldn’t agree more. Their excitement as their dream comes into fruition is evident as Tony writes in a blog on his website, www.tonymerida.com: We have had many wonderful nights dreaming about names, and colors of bedrooms, and most recently: getting a mini-van. I never thought I could get excited about a mini-van. Unless of course, it had wood paneling on the sides! But what makes me excited about a mini-van is the purpose of it and what will be inside it. This is a new era of our lives, and one that I cannot wait for. Somewhere our kids are alive in Ukraine today. Sometime soon, by God’s grace, they will be riding with us in a mini-van playing slug-bug.
This dream will soon be a reality for the couple as they travel to Ukraine in late summer or early fall to select their child(ren). Though they hope to bring home two children, Tony and Kimberly are unsure of the number or gender of the child(ren) they might be allowed to adopt because they are participating in a ‘blind’ adoption process. Until they meet with Ukrainian adoption authorities they will know nothing of their future child(ren). During a trip that may last up to five weeks, they will visit several baby houses to pick out the child(ren). This blind process makes for difficult preparation but Tony assures, “During that time [in Ukraine] we hope to coordinate with friends and family to prepare a few things back home to accommodate whatever needs we may have.”
One way Tony and Kimberly encourage people to help them prepare now is through prayer. They believe that prayer from the church family is the “greatest means of support” for prospective adoptive parents. Tony writes in his blog, “We are always in need of your prayers for this process. The thought that our kids are already over there is a sobering and exciting thought. We are praying that God would prepare both us and the kids.”
Tony and Kimberly consider themselves “blessed” to share this exciting life change with the Temple family. “It is a blessing to be able to share this incredible experience with the TBC family. They are a wonderful church family. They are our family,” explains Tony. “We were humbled by the support from Temple personally. God has blessed our lives immeasurably since being privileged to serve here as Interim.”
Though extremely grateful and excited about the personal benefits of this ministry, Tony and Kimberly are even more excited about the church’s commitment to Abba Father Ministries: We were thrilled to see the church do something about the ‘least of these.’ Too often in Baptist churches we have neglected socialt ministry for fear that we will be labeled ‘liberal.’ However, good works and proclamation of the gospel go together. They should not be separated. Let them call us what they will. We must be a people who share the good news and show the good news in love and deeds. Adoption ministry is one way that the church can help the poorest of the poor.
Jill and Sandy agree with this view that the church and Christians need to provide hope and love for those in need. They support this thought with a scripture they quote in their donation letter: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18 NIV).
Sandy and Jill are now enthusiastically planning the expansion of this precious ministry. Due to numerous inquiries, they now know the great desire of many families within Temple to adopt. They hope to one day extend the ministry into the community. For now, they focus on funding Abba Father Ministries. “What we do from this point on will be about [raising] more sources to disburse among other families. This is an ongoing financial ministry,” says Jill.
One way they will raise funds and promote the ministry to the church is by selling Abba Father Ministries t-shirts for Temple members and friends to wear on Father’s Day. Adult t-shirts are $12 and youth t-shirts are $10. To purchase the t-shirts, contact Jill Hodge at 601.466.2292, or Sandy Mayfield at 601.818.2444. They also suggest memorials and honorariums for fathers given to Abba Father Ministries as a way to recognize fathers on June 15.
“Our dream is to see our halls filled with children from all over the world that have been brought into the Temple family,” says Sandy. The Meridas’ brother-in-law Ryan reveals a similar notion, “We can go to the nations, and we can bring the nations to us.” Tony emphasizes that not everyone can physically adopt, but encourages everyone to do something for the orphaned.
If you feel the same stirring that Jill and Sandy and the Meridas felt to do “something” for the orphans of the world, contact Jill or Sandy. Donate a financial gift to assist hopeful future parents in the costly adoption process. Volunteer your time or expertise to the ministry. “We’re just wives and mothers, not business people,” says Sandy.
Perhaps you have social work experience, a financial background, or maybe even counseling skills that might benefit the ministry, as it plans to offer support groups for adoptive families in the future. You might even feel called to “go all the way,” as Tony and Kimberly describe it, and adopt an orphan. Whatever your gift to the ministry, know that you will be given one in return: the gift of experiencing life changes with fellow Temple members.
The Abba Father Ministry T-shirts are available during June in the Oasis during the week & around the church in different ministry areas on Sundays. After the month of July, please contact Jill Hodge to purchase a shirt.