Group Photo L-R: Former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales; Ken Abraham; Jimmy Wayne;
TN State Representative, Mark White, Lisa Abraham (Photo Credit: Tommy Quinn)
Foster Care Alum, Jimmy Wayne, Delivers Powerful Presentation
During Special Mother’s Day Service at Christ Church Nashville
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and on Mother’s Day, Christ Church Nashville launched a program created to encourage and equip its community, beginning with its congregation, to become foster parents, adoptive parents, or support people who do. The program will be known as “Christ Church Fosters.”
“There is a desperate need for foster parents in Tennessee. Because so many biological parents are struggling with addictions and other emotional, mental, or economic challenges, many children are suffering neglect and abuse. Other children are even aging out of the foster care system into homelessness,” shares Lisa Abraham, co-chair of the Christ Church program, with husband Ken.
“At the urging of our friend and community leader, Jimmy Wayne, our church decided to focus attention and formalize our commitment to foster children by creating this program. We were thrilled to have Jimmy Wayne speak at our Mother’s Day service, which marks the official kick off of our program.
Jimmy Wayne, award-winning recording artist and
New York Times best-selling author of
Walk To Beautiful: Power of Love And A Homeless Kid Who Found The Way (co-written with best-selling author, Ken Abraham) says, “I’m happy to see Christ Church Nashville become involved in the lives of these vulnerable and valuable children who are struggling in foster care. These children don’t have a choice in their circumstances, nor do they have a voice. It’s up to us to help them. It’s our responsibility. I grew up in the system and while my story is their story, mine pales in comparison to that of some of the kids’ out there. We need to step up and help them.”
In December of 2016, Governor Haslam called for Tennessee churches to activate on behalf of children in foster care and those aging out of the foster care system.
“Every child has the right to a loving family,” he said. “Tennessee currently has well over 6,000 children in foster care, through no fault of their own. More than 4,000 incredible foster parents have stepped up to provide a safe and supportive environment to these children. At the same time, we are always looking for more foster families to help us get these children safe, healthy and back on track.”
By establishing “TNFosters,” the state of Tennessee hopes to achieve three goals:
(1) In the next nine months, recruit a minimum of 100 “forever homes” for children eligible for adoption; (2) recruit and license 10 percent more foster homes in 2017 than the number voluntarily closed in 2016,
and (3) to engage at least 5 percent of Tennessee’s churches that will commit to being part of this
faith-based initiative.
About Jimmy Wayne:
Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned award-winning country music artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for children in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “Do You Believe Me Now” — which earned BMI’s prestigious Million-Air Award for receiving one million radio spins in America — and “I Love You This Much.” In 2009, Jimmy toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates.
In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster-care system. In 2012, Jimmy helped get legislative bills passed extending the age of foster care to 21 in California and Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio. In 2014, he released Walk to Beautiful, a three-time New York Times Bestselling memoir, which recently crossed the 100,000 print sales milestone.
Jimmy has performed on the Grand Ole Opry more than 215 times. He lives in Nashville and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of at-risk foster youth by performing, writing books, keynote speaking.
Jimmy's ultimate goal is to build transitional homes for youth who age out of foster care without a place to go. Visit project
http://www.projectmmh.org for ways to get involved in your local community today.
