TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW
an edition of
The United Methodist Reporter
Volume 154 Number 42 054000
Bishop Wills relates to adopted children who were part of
the Miriam’s Promise report to the 2007 Tennessee
Annual Conference
Meet Miriam’s Promise
By Debbie Sims
Located in Nashville’s
historic Tulip Street
United Methodist Church
on Russell Street,
Miriam’s Promise was
established in 1985 by the
Tennessee Annual
Conference to provide
pregnancy, parenting and
adoptions services.
Originally intended to be
a small satellite office of
Holston United Methodist
Home for Children of
Greeneville, Tennessee, A very happy dad with his
Miriam’s Promise quickly adopted daughter.
grew in response to the need for services. In 2003,
Holston scaled back its operations to concentrate in east
Continued on page 5A
Pregnancy Counseling Program
Tina was 24 with two young children and pregnant
when she was evicted from her apartment. She learned
that money she was giving her soon-to-be-ex husband
was being used for drugs rather than paying rent. When
she called Miriam’s Promise, her counselor went into
action. Staff and volunteers rounded up household items
and furniture from surrounding congregations and made
sure Tina and her children had a safe place to live. She
found a supportive environment at Miriam’s Promise
that allowed her to explore decisions for her future, her
unborn child and ways to care for her family. Tina even-
tually chose adoption for her newborn son, selected the
adoptive family and stays in touch with them and her
counselor at Miriam’s Promise.
Mary was referred to Miriam’s Promise after living in
the state foster care system for years. The facility in
which she was housed was closing, she was almost 18
and pregnant. Through the Elizabeth Project, a mentor-
ing program at Miriam’s Promise, she found a church
family. This young Mary was surrounded by loving and
caring friends who welcomed her and her new child. Her
mentors helped Mary find an apartment and to furnish it.
They hosted a “Christmas in July” shower for her that
provided for her apartment needs and for her baby.
Miriam’s Promise mentors were there at the pre-natal
Continued on page 8A
February 22, 2008
Eliza Mae—An Adoptive Parents’ Story
As I sit down to try and put into words how the mira-
cle of adoption has touched our family, I wonder where
to begin. My seven month old daughter, Eliza Mae, is
rolling around on the floor at this moment, babbling
incessantly and pulling at her little toes. She has a head
full of dark hair, and her giggles are contagious. Though
she has been in our arms just over three months now, she
was in our hearts before she was even conceived in her
birth mother’s womb in Vietnam.
My husband and I were married in May of 2002, and
we had our first child in December of 2004. When he
was around seven months old, we decided to try and
become pregnant again. However, it wasn’t long until
thoughts of adoption began rattling around in our minds.
Each family comes to its decision to adopt in a differ-
ent way. For some, it follows on the painful heels of
infertility. Others make the choice to fulfill a lifelong
dream. And, for other families, including ours, it is an act
of faith and a willingness to watch God unfold a beauti-
ful plan. So it was that a few months into our efforts to
become pregnant, we decided to put things on hold, and
see what God might have in store.
At this time we began researching adoption. We also
began praying about this decision, and on Valentine’s
Day of 2006, we officially began our adoption “journey.”
We chose an agency that is out of state, so we contacted
Miriam’s Promise in Nashville to conduct our home
study. After it was completed, along with the mounds of
Expecting the Best—Prison Ministry Program
By Lee Ann Higgins, MSSW
On any given day, up to 600 women are housed in the
Davidson County Correctional Facility. On average, 15-
20 of them are expectant mothers. While medical care is
available, the county does not provide any pregnancy
counseling or mentoring services.
In late 2005, Miriam’s Promise received a request
for help from an incarcerated woman. Staff member Lee
Ann Higgins responded and provided counseling.
Through that relationship, it became apparent that the
women’s jail had an ongoing need for pregnancy coun-
seling. Lee Ann designed an eight-week curriculum that
From Scarlett—My Story
I was arrested on New Year’s Eve 2005. During the
processing medical exam, it was discovered that I was
pregnant—about 3 months. I was in total shock. I’d been
a regular user of crack, not taking very good care of my
health, smoking, etc. After a couple of months of pre-
tending it wasn’t true, I realized I needed to look for a
stable and sensible solution. The baby’s biological father
was out of my life. My ex-husband was supportive of me
but would never raise this baby for me or with me. My
plans were very incomplete for raising my child.
I wrote five letters but didn’t have stamps so my
weekend-time roommate mailed my letters to agencies in
which I outlined my situation, what I needed and how to
contact me. Miriam’s Promise was the first and only one
to visit me in person and that made an immediate impres-
sion. It told me I would be treated with respect and with-
out prejudice due to my incarceration. I wanted someone
who would treat me like a person.
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Four Sections—Section A
other forms required for an international adoption, our
paperwork was submitted to Vietnam and the long wait
began.
There were days, weeks, and months when it felt like
the phone call would never arrive. I have thought many
times about this wait. I so wanted to get to the end of it
and not look back with regret. I wanted God to find me
faithful in the waiting, and not constantly impatient.
There were times of failure in this area, for sure, but I
never lost faith in the belief that He was in control. For
every tear that I cried waiting and praying for Eliza to get
here, I was never able to escape a deep-down knowing
that He had already foreseen every detail of the “time-
line” of her life (*Psalm 139).
Finally, on September 27th, 2007, our agency called
to tell us that our daughter was waiting for us in the Nam
Dinh Province of northern Vietnam. One month later we
boarded a plane. We sometimes call Eliza our holiday
baby, because she was placed in our arms for the very
first time on Halloween, and we arrived back home in
Nashville early on Thanksgiving morning.
Adoption has added new dimensions to our family’s
life, love, and faith. It is clear to us now that there was
always a space meant just for Eliza. Watching her eyes
dance as she plays, we know she is truly home.
*If you would like to read more about our travels to
bring Eliza home, please visit our blog at www.lovetoel-
ly.blogspot.com
targeted the unique needs of these women and in
January of 2007 she began Expecting the Best, a pilot
counseling program for pregnant women in the
Davidson County jail. Today, the weekly group meet-
ings regularly draw a group of 7 or 8 women.
“Miriam’s Promise is the only entity that currently
offers this type of program to women in jail,” says Lee
Ann. “These expectant mothers have commonly experi-
enced domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse and
dependency, have been arrested and jailed before and
have other children. They are not only facing the conse-
Continued on page 5A
My counselor, Lee-Ann walked with me through the
decision-making process, and never once denied me the
option of parenting and helped me look at all the ways that
could happen. She did all she could to deliver the same
type of services to me she would to any other client. She
made sure I finally got the medical care I needed, was with
me in the hospital and helped to make sure I could deliv-
er like anyone else, without being chained or shackled.
I now get pictures and letters from Ike and Vicki, the
adoptive family. I also have the peace of mind that my
decision was and always will be honored and that I am
not alone.
Jail is a lonely place, hopeless and anonymous. This
type of service replaces those feelings with someone to
care about you and your situation, replaces it with hope
and being seen for who you are, not for the crime you
committed or are accused of.
Continued on page 4A
4A
International Adoptions
By Kim Warner Hudy, MSSW
Today, more and more families who
come to adoption feel that their child is
waiting for them overseas or may already
have a special connection to a specific
foreign country. Miriam’s Promise has
been pleased to assist these families who
choose to adopt internationally.
Caseworkers meet with prospective
adoptive families to discuss the adoption
and home study process. While there are
many countries to choose from when
adopting internationally, we also assist
families in exploring their options for the
best fit. Miriam’s Promise provides home
study and post placement services to
families in middle Tennessee. While we
are pleased to have partner agencies that
we work with for the actual referral and
placement of a child, a family is not
limited to only these agencies and has the
option to work with any placing agency.
We are also proud to be a member of the
Joint Council on International Children’s
Services aka JCICS which holds its
members to higher ethical and educational
standards than other adoption agencies.
Miriam’s Promise was proud to be the
first adoption agency in our service area
that implemented home study education
and training for prospective adoptive
parents. This training component occurs in
a group setting and is a critical part of
understanding the adoption process in
order to fully prepare to welcome a child
into their hearts and homes. The twelve
hour course is offered over the course of a
few weeks and covers such topics as the
history of adoption, the adoption triad,
potential attachment issues, transracial,
and transcultural issues, adjustment,
diversity, grief and loss and developmental
issues to meet a child’s needs. Families
also have the opportunity to meet with a
From Scarlett—My Story
Continued from front page
I want to say how much I appreciate the
respect and dignity I have been shown
from Miriam’s Promise and Lee-Ann. I
haven’t got that from many people since
being here in jail; not to say I expected dif-
ferent treatment because of the baby. I am
in jail for a reason.
I want to share that I am proud of
myself for not taking the easiest path in
spite of my need not to hurt. My baby
needed more than a temporary foster home
and time spent waiting for me. Miriam’s
Promise was there for me when no one
else was. Lee-Ann responded to my letter.
She visited me and really listened to me.
Miriam’s Promise met many of my mate-
rial needs. Lee-Ann was able to be right
there with me in the hospital and has con-
Sponsor a Therapy Session
Justin is an eleven-year-old who is being raised by his grandmother who is strug-
gling financially and her health is declining. Last year, Justin’s twin siblings were
placed for adoption by their birth mother through Miriam’s Promise. Justin has suf-
fered many losses. Due to his grandmother’s poor health, an adoption plan will also
need to be made for Justin. Justin is in need of intensive therapy which his grand-
mother cannot afford. Please consider giving a therapy session for a child like Justin
by donating to Miriam’s Promise. One half-hour session is $25, and a one-hour ses-
sion is $50.
TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER
Ayana, one of a growing number of chil-
dren adopted internationally.
family who has recently adopted as well as
an international adult adoptee. It is a
wonderful way for our clients to meet
other families who are also adopting and
form support systems from the very
beginning of the adoption process.
Over the years we have placed children
of all ages and races that include children
with both medical needs and children who
are considered to be healthy infants in
their respective countries. Our
caseworkers continue to support our
clients throughout their adoption process
and beyond the required supervisory
reports after placement occurs. We are
happy to assist when questions or concerns
arise and enjoy hearing from our families
year after year as adoption is not just a
one-time event but a lifelong process.
Many of our adoptive families come back
to us for assistance in completing a second
adoption. Some of our highest
compliments come from clients who tell
us their friends worked with us when they
were adopting. What a wonderful gift to be
a small part of building families for life.
tinued to stay in touch and to visit. She’s
held on to my personal belongings for me,
especially the keepsakes from the hospital
and the gifts from Ike and Vicki, my son’s
mom and dad.
In the future, I want to become involved
with Miriam’s Promise as a mentor for
other pregnant inmates. I know it made a
real difference for me and in how I han-
dled my decision to place my son. Lee-
Ann continues to make a difference since
then and to be a link to the world but espe-
cially to my son.
I have every confidence that Miriam’s
Promise and the adoptive family will keep
their promises to me; promises for open-
ness and for honesty in the exchange of
information and for ongoing services I
may need.
Pasta & Promises 2008 to
Benefit Miriam’s Promise
You are invited to Pasta &
Promises, the annual fundraising
dinner and art show benefiting
Miriam’s Promise on Friday night,
March 28, 2008 at 6:00 pm at the
Factory in Franklin. This annual
event supports the pregnancy, par-
enting and adoption services provid-
ed by Miriam’s Promise, a not-for-
profit agency affiliated with the
Tennessee Conference of the United
Methodist Church. Pasta &
Promises 2008 will again feature the
very popular live and silent auction
of original pieces by regional artists
along with a delicious pasta dinner. Art pieces by well-known regional artists are
available for sale at Pasta & Promises
Individual tickets are $100, or gath-
er several friends together and reserve a table for eight for just $600. If your company
would like to support the event as a sponsor, contact Miriam’s Promise for details on
corporate sponsorship opportunities. Last year’s event drew over 400 people, so make
your reservation now and don’t miss Pasta & Promises. Contact Miriam’s Promise at
(615) 292-3500.
Older Child Adoptions
By Allison Balthrop, MSSW
In the last 5 years Miriam’s Promise
has placed 18 “older children” in adoptive
homes. These children’s ages range from
2 to 13 years of age. (Older child adoption
is defined as the placement for adoption
of a child over the age of 12 months.)
Additionally Miriam’s Promise assisted in
the independent adoption of 14 older chil-
dren whose ages ranged from 14 months
to 14 years.
Recognizing the importance of prepar-
ing our families for the unique challenges
of raising older adopted children, in 2006
Miriam’s Promise expanded the education
curriculum offered to our clients.
However, before new curriculums could
be designed it was necessary for staff to
receive intensive training in such areas as
attachment and child development. (Staff
training opportunities were made possible
in large part because of the generous dona-
tions made by members of our board.)
Miriam’s Promise offers extensive
educational opportunities to adoptive
and prospective adoptive families each
year. Our attachment training program
begins with a 4 week seminar on
“Rebuilding Attachment in Traumatized
Children” followed by bi-monthly sup-
port group meetings. Topics covered in
these groups include: helping children
cope with separation and loss, positive
Kevin, Laura and Anastasia—An International Love Story
Once upon a time there was a baby girl
born in a Russian prison. Her name was
Anastasia. With her birth mother, Anastasia
spent the first three years of her life virtu-
ally in solitary confinement. Upon her
mother’s release, she was abandoned at a
Russian orphanage. At age 6, Ana came to
the United States through adoption by a
New Jersey family who were unprepared
for the challenges of raising a child dealing
with attachment issues and cultural
changes. After 3 months, the New Jersey
family told Ana she was going to a tempo-
rary “camp” when in reality she was sent to
a permanent residential facility. Anastasia
February 22, 2008
discipline, anger management, and spe-
cific interventions to promote attach-
ment. Furthermore, the groups provide
parents an opportunity not only to gain
insight and support from trained staff but
also to learn from the experiences of
their peers. Simply being part of a group
of parents who truly understand the chal-
lenges they face is therapeutic for the
participants.
Counseling services are another impor-
tant part of our Older Child Adoption
Program. Individual and family counsel-
ing is offered to children and their fami-
lies who need intensive therapy to build
attachment. Fees for this service are based
on a sliding scale in an effort to make the
services available to all who are in need.
Typically the adults are seen for an
intake/assessment interview. During that
interview it will be determined whether
the child will be seen individually or with
the parents. Play therapy is the primary
intervention used with young children.
The staff at Miriam’s Promise is
always committed to providing the best
services to all clients, but especially to the
most vulnerable of our clients, the older
adopted child. Although we are a non-
profit agency and resources are limited,
no effort is spared to ensure that staff is
well trained and capable of delivering the
highest quality services possible.
was abandoned for a second time.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Laura, a
Tennessee couple who wanted to adopt,
met Ana at the residential facility.
Immediately captivated by the child,
Kevin and Laura opened their hearts and
began the process of bringing Anastasia to
Tennessee and adopting her. Anastasia is
now eight years old and continues to
adjust to her new family. Through
Miriam’s Promise, Kevin and Laura
received adoption assistance funding and
now participate in ongoing therapy to aid
in attachment and adjustment for the entire
family.
February 22, 2008 TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER 5A

Adoptive Parents Story Meet Miriam’s Promise

They were only given 48 hours to prepare for Continued from front page
their son’s homecoming. A birthmother had cho- Tennessee and Miriam’s Promise became
sen them as adoptive parents for her two day old an independent not-for-profit agency.
son and wanted to meet them as soon as possible. Inspired by the biblical story of
They met her for the first time at her apartment Moses’ sister Miriam, Miriam’s Promise
and were introduced to their son that was cradled provides a safe place for women who
in her arms. She did not hesitate as she talked must make difficult decisions about the
over how she’d been so uncomfortable with her future of their children. The story from
decision to place in an independent/private adop- Exodus 2:1–10 is one of hope and inspi-
tion that she’d called her counselor and asked to ration. The new pharaoh of Egypt became
see families waiting to adopt through Miriam’s alarmed at the growing number of
Promise. She met them on Sunday and Monday Israelites in his country and was worried
afternoon, they brought their son home. The trust that they might side with Egypt’s ene-
and respect they had for her helped bridge the mies. He ordered the Hebrew midwives
fear and sadness she felt as she looked for a fam- to kill all the baby boys they delivered.
ily to love her child as she did. This is how they The midwives, however, feared God and
describe their experience today: did not follow the pharaoh’s orders. The
I don’t just think of our son’s birthmother as pharaoh then commanded all his people,
just a “birthmother”. She is so much more than “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews
that. She is a very brave woman who made the you shall throw into the Nile.” Facing the
ultimate sacrifice for her son. Her family turned infanticide of all male children of the
against her during the time she needed them the most. She stood firm and went through Hebrew slaves in Egypt, Moses’ mother,
probably one of the toughest times in her life by herself. They did not support her in the an Israelite woman, made a plan to save
decision she made and still do not have anything to do with her 5 years later. She was the life of her son. Placing him in a bas-
dealt a “bad hand” in life, but tries to make the best out of life that she knows how. ket, she hid him in the Nile and sent his
I do know that she still hurts and I wish I could do something to make the pain go sister Miriam to watch and see what hap-
away, but all I can do is pray and ask God to bless her life in a special way since she pened. The pharaoh’s daughter discov-
blessed our family with our precious son. She gave me hope in life when I thought there ered him along the river and decided to
was no hope and the joy that comes from hearing the words “momma” and the sounds adopt him as her own son. Miriam
of “pitter patter” feet dancing around the house. She allowed me to experience an stepped forward and offered their moth-
unconditional love that you can only experience with a child. I am so thankful that God er’s services as a wet nurse for the baby.
put her in our lives. She doesn’t call much or come by to visit, but Sam knows who she And so, through a birthmother’s loving
is because he prays for her every night. choice, a sister’s brave advocacy, and an
I want to close with a blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his adoptive mother’s acceptance, this tiny
face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you baby, a child of God, grew to become the
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 leader of his people. Like Miriam, the
agency provides a safe place for women
who must make difficult decisions about
Therapeutic Supplies Needed the future of their children.
For women experiencing unplanned
Anastasia was adopted from Russia after spending the first three years of her life pregnancies, Miriam’s Promise provides
with her birth mother in virtual isolation in prison. She was abandoned upon her moth- counseling. As a safe, non-threatening,
er’s release, adopted, and then placed in a residential facility by an adoptive family friendly place to go, Miriam’s Promise is a
that could not handle her special needs. Many older children like Anastasia have expe- haven for women suffering the emotional,
rienced tremendous grief and loss, abuse and neglect. Miriam’s Promise has set up a health and long-term issues that accompa-
room specifically for therapy with these children. This room provides a safe place for ny many unplanned pregnancies. Staff
children to work on grief, anger, sadness, loss, attachment and preparation for adop- members are trained to help with all major
tion. Many therapeutic supplies such as books, art supplies, puppets, and therapeutic decisions, provide referrals and assistance
games are needed to effectively work with these children. Please consider making a for basic healthcare and nutrition, and cre-
donation for therapeutic supplies to help children like Anastasia get the most out of ate safe living environments always with
their therapy. For more information, contact Miriam’s Promise at 615-292-3500. the well-being of the unborn child and
mother as the foremost goal. Many hours
are spent in consultation with each moth-
Transracial Adoptions er-to-be about their futures and their wants
and desires for their children. For those
Many of the adoptive placements made by who choose to parent, the agency sets
Miriam’s Promise are transracial in nature. This practical goals for housing and other
means the adoptive parents are adopting a child of a necessities, working with the client
race different from their own. These placements throughout the pregnancy and maintains a
offer unique challenges to the families involved. It is relationship after the birth. For those who
essential that families acknowledge that they will be choose adoption for their child, Miriam’s
a minority family after placement. Miriam’s
Promise is committed to providing the education
and preparation needed to make these adoptions
successful. We recognize that it is critical that fami-
The Best—Prison Ministry Program
lies begin to make the necessary lifestyle changes Continued from front page
before the child is placed rather than waiting until a quences of the judicial system, but are
crisis occurs after placement. A primary goal of tran- also ill-prepared to manage the stress of
sracial groups at Miriam’s Promise is for individuals incarceration, pregnancy and re-entry all
to evaluate their strengths and limitations as transra- at the same time.” Accordingly, the class-
cially-adopting parents. Some of the issues that are es cover topics such as responsible deci-
addressed include: demographics of the neighbor- sion making, family planning and life
hood, racial makeup of the schools, church, and skills. When clients are released from jail,
social groups the child will be immersed in, extend- Miriam’s Promise continues to offer par-
ed family acceptance, opportunities for same-race enting or post-adoption support services.
mentors, and for opportunities for interacting with “It is vital,” says Lee Ann, “that these
other multi-racial families. Additionally, transracial women establish a support system in their
training groups are designed to provide ongoing Gracie, a transracial adoption, community. We hope that ongoing sup-
support and education for the families involved. enjoys the annual Miriam’s port and follow-up by Miriam’s Promise
There is no participation fee for this service. Promise Fall Picnic can assure a safe and healthy lifestyle for
Adoptive mom Claudia feeds Tank, her
son. Miriam’s Promise was involved in this
transracial adoption.
Promise provides counseling services,
open adoptions where the birth mother
chooses and is involved with the adoptive
parents, or a closed adoption plan.
Adoption services at Miriam’s Promise
center on the creation of families. The
agency provides screening and counseling
for prospective parents, known as “waiting
families.” In domestic infant adoptions,
expectant mothers are able to learn about
the different waiting families and make
specific choices for the placement of their
child. Many lasting, loving relationships
are formed as mothers and adoptive par-
ents bond over the shared love of a child.
Miriam’s Promise also provides interna-
tional adoption services for waiting fami-
lies, and has placed children of all ages
from several countries. All adoptive par-
ents receive counseling, home study edu-
cation and training on adoption issues, and
on-going support after the placement is
made. Post-adoption services for families
include on-going counseling, attachment
therapy, and family support groups.
Miriam’s Promise extends the promise
of hope and healing to birth parents, preg-
nancy clients, adoptive families, and chil-
dren, fulfilling our belief as United
Methodists that the family is a crucial ele-
ment in the nurturing of children, and that
children are a gift from God, to be wel-
comed and received.
both Mom and baby.”
In the future, Lee Ann would like to
see Expecting the Best expanded to
include incarcerated women in other
counties. She also has a vision for estab-
lishing a volunteer mentoring program.
“By establishing a presence in the prison
system, Miriam’s Promise can offer its
services to an often neglected group of
women and hopefully equip them for a
fresh start. I also believe that establishing
a one-on-one volunteer mentoring pro-
gram could make all the difference as
these women leave the prison system and
re-enter society.”
8A TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER
Training and How You Can Help Miriam’s Promise
Education are Keys
to Successful Adoption
As the world of adop-
tion continues to evolve
and change, Miriam’s
Promise strives to fully
prepare families for
the challenges of
adoptive parenting.
Preparation and edu-
cation have long
been a component in
the programs offered by
this agency. The domestic
infant adoption program
requires that prospective parents par-
ticipate in six weeks of classes that explore issues such
as infertility, needs of adopted children and open rela-
tionships with birth parents. Ongoing bi-monthly support
groups are offered to those in this program as they wait
for the placement of a child. In addition, a seminar is
conducted annually for extended family members of par-
ents waiting for a child.
Similar training and education is required in the
agency’s international program. Couples and individuals
who are adopting children from other countries partici-
pate in a twelve-hour course designed to prepare them
for the needs of a child whose world will change when
they join their family and become a United States citizen.
Recently, as the needs of Miriam’s Promise families
have become evident, specialized seminars have been
developed and support groups facilitated for families of
children with attachment issues. Attachment issues are
common in children who have been traumatized and
neglected. The parents of the se children are taught tools
to help the children learn to trust adult figures and
depend on them for their needs.
The agency helps to facilitate other support groups
that serve its clients as well as others in the community.
These support groups include one for birth parents, one
for families who adopt transracially and one for single
international adoptive parents. In response to the numer-
ous events, seminars, support groups and trainings,
Miriam’s Promise has designated a new staff position to
coordinate these efforts.
The pregnancy counseling program of Miriam’s
Promise has also evolved in its approach to education
and training. The Elizabeth Project, a mentoring program
for pregnant young women, strives to encourage a
healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. From that base, a
new program, Expecting the Best, has been developed.
This program serves women in the Davidson County Jail
who are pregnant and greatly in need of education,
preparation and support regarding their pregnancy and
their role as a new mother.
The staff of Miriam’s Promise recognizes that all
parents can benefit from the training and educational
services the agency provides no matter the circum-
stances of their home and the level of their income. The
goal is to see children thriving and happy in their “for-
ever” families.
Eric and Lisa are adoptive parents who have participated
in the special ministry of Miriam’s Promise.
February 22, 2008
Biggest Needs:
Children’s games at the annual Miriam’s Promise
 Kroger and Wal-Mart gift
cards, Gas cards,
Fall Picnic. Special thanks to Girl Scout Troop #417
for providing games and activities at the picnic.
($5, $10, $25) for our
birthmothers
 Diapers and wipes—Newborn
to size 4
 Certificates to Book stores
(i.e., Barnes & Noble) to
order educational material
 Disposable cameras
Infant Needs:
 Crib Sheets/Blankets
 Baby formula/bottles or gift
cards to purchase as needed
 Baby toiletries
 Baby clothing—size Premie
to 24 months
Miriam’s Promise continues to be blessed with many ice to Miriam’s Promise. Recently, a group of Girl
wonderful volunteers who give their time, talents, and Scouts from a Franklin church refurbished the chil-
gifts to the agency. Many United Methodist congrega- dren’s area in our office with a new television and toys
tions designate Communion offerings and special col- and provided games and activities at our annual picnic.
lections for the work of Miriam’s Promise in Middle Many churches make winter hats and scarves for our
Tennessee. A monetary donation of any amount would clients, and several United Methodists volunteer in our
assist in purchasing necessary tools for our work with offices regularly.
children. Miriam’s Promise is always in need of the following
Many United Methodists offer the gift of their serv- items. Please call 615-292-3500 with questions.
Golf and Walk Challenge for Miriam’s Promise
Thanks to the generosity and dedication of all the friends and supporters
of Miriam’s Promise, the 8th annual Golf and Walk Challenge held
September 24, 2007, raised $121,587 in pledges to benefit the programs and
services of the agency!
Fun and friendly competition was on the agenda as 119 golfers and 42
walkers converged on Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin, Tennessee, to
support the work of Miriam’s Promise. The 4.2 mile walk challenge was a
new feature for the event and the dedicated walkers raised over $19,700 in
pledges! Walk event chair Nikki Hightower is already planning to make the
walk challenge an even bigger part of this annual event.
The golf scramble event attracted over 30 teams, each pledging an aver-
age of $4,000 in sponsor donations for Miriam’s Promise. Golfers enjoyed
free clinics, lunch from the grill and plenty of fellowship and friendly com-
petition. Prizes were awarded for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and
best team score. Many thanks to our tireless volunteer event co-chairs Mary
Cooper and B.J. Brack, Jr. for all their hard work.
The 2008 Golf and Walk Challenge for Miriam’s Promise will be held
September 29 at Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin, Tennessee. For L to R—Mary Cooper, Michael Williams,
information on participating as a walker, golfer, or sponsor, please contact and Betty Alexander volunteer at the
Miriam’s Promise at 615-292-3500. 2007 Golf and Walk Challenge
Pregnancy Counseling Pregnancy Counseling Profile
Continued from front page Marcy was without even the basic resources a single woman needs to
visits and her baby’s birth. They celebrated feel cared for and self-sufficient.
together when Mary and her child were bap- She was living in a half-way house
tized. in a very unsafe neighborhood
Tina and Mary are just two of the many because it was the first place with
expectant mothers who contact Miriam’s an opening and she’d just been
Promise each year. Pregnancy clients come released from prison. She called
from all walks of life. Some are mature Miriam’s Promise looking for sup-
adults with careers, and others are pre-teens. port and guidance, Marcy was six
Every client has a different set of circum- months pregnant. She was fairly
stances, but all share the crisis of an sure adoption would be the best
unplanned pregnancy and uncertain future way to ensure her child a bright
for themselves and their child. The pregnan- and secure future, but there were Marcy’s son Davy celebrates an
cy counseling program addresses emotional, more pressing concerns to important first birthday with his
health, financial and lifestyle issues. address before she could emo- adoptive family.
Counselors and clients tackle the everyday tionally commit to an adoption plan. Over the course of a month, Miriam’s
issues of pregnancy and parenting, including Promise helped her find safe housing, provided her transportation to her
pre-natal care, living conditions, employ- pre-natal appointments, gave her assistance with groceries, maternity
ment, family support and goals. Through clothes and peace of mind. Peace of mind that no matter what her decision,
careful examination and reflection, and with adoption or parenting, there was a caring, compassionate and non-judg-
the help of Miriam’s Promise, crisis pregnan- mental place she could turn to for even the most basic of human needs
cy clients can make mature life decisions for could be met.
themselves and their child.