We have been serving St. Vincent's hospital in Birmingham since September. Nicole has done a wonderful job of recruiting volunteers but we do need more. We have an area for everyone to serve! Just a few areas you could serve are making bags, collecting donations, fundraising, and sending notes of encouragement to our families. We are also in need of people who can monogram our burp cloths. We have the burp cloths and patterns, we just need volunteers to monogram. If you or anyone you know in the Birmingham area would like to volunteer to help with Footprints' Birmingham chapter please contact Nicole Collier at birminghamfootprints@hotmail.com The Birmingham Parents magazine recently wrote an article on Footprints to see it please click HERE and turn to page 30. It is a great article! Also on this Sunday night on ABC 33/40 will be airing a story on their MATTERS OF FAITH segment about the Footprints Ministry. We are so excited about these opportunites the Lord has blessed us with in the Birmingham area. We are praying that the Lord will continue to bless us with many more volunteers in Birmingham! Nicole Collier is heading up our Birmingham chapter of Footprints. Nicole has been a great blessing to this ministry. I asked Nicole to be our guest blogger today to share what's been going on in Birmingham:
One week ago today I received the first call from our Birmingham Parent magazine article.
7 days and 5 new volunteers later, here we are. When we were contacted about writing a piece on Footprints I was not expecting to have this much of an outpour of support from the community.
It has been exciting and at times heart breaking to hear so many people from the community want to participate with Footprints. Where does the heart break come from- hearing their stories of their own heartache through NICU. Here is the best thing; the Lord led each one to us. We started in September with 50 bags for St. Vincent’s. 3 months and 100 bags later we are starting to gain momentum; going full speed ahead.
I am looking forward to the coming months as we start preparing the bags here in Birmingham. I also look forward to our first fundraiser event that we hope to have in the first quarter of next year.
I want to take a brief moment here and thank Kim. Without her listening to the Lord and His call, I would not be able to be a part of this wonderful ministry.
Nicole Collier
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16
Thursday, December 4, 2008
BIRMINGHAM-HELP WANTED
Friday, November 28, 2008
Give Thanks to the Lord!
I hope you each had a very Happy Thanksgiving! There are so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! This ministry is so thankful for each of you who support, pray and volunteer for Footprints! It is impossible to express in words the gratitude we have for each of you!
The Lord continues to bless us more and more everyday. We are so thankful to Him who has enable this ministry to reach people at one of their darkest moments. We are thankful to Him for opening doors at hospitals all over the state of Alabama. We are so thankful to Him who has continuously provided the funds to keep this ministry running during the worst economic times we've ever seen. We are thankful to Him for every doctor and nurse in the NICU. We are so thankful to Him for every precious angel in the NICU. We are so thankful to Him who works miracles in the lives of these tiny babies. We are so thankful to Him for creating the miracle of Life! Thank You Lord for all you've done! To God Be the Glory!
I want this to be a post that everyone participates in. If you have ever had a child in the NICU, please post a comment in our comments section. Please include the following "I am thankful to Him who blessed ____________(child's name) with a NICU journey" Please also include any other information you feel led to share, child's year of birth and if your family has been touched by the Footprints Ministry. I know some of you are probably looking at that statement thinking "How can we be thankful for being in the NICU" but as you reflect I'm sure you see the awesome things the Lord did through that incredibly difficult time. I know this post will be a great inspiration to our parents who are currently in the NICU this Thanksgiving! We are praying for each of you every day!
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Below is a video from one of our recent services at Heritage Baptist Church. I thought it was very appropriate for Footprints. I know when we were in the NICU there were several times we questioned our circumstances. Please take time to watch this and understand why we all face suffering.
Please click here to view video
"But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:20-21
Monday, November 17, 2008
Amazing Quotes from Amazing People
We recently gathered quotes for our brochures LWT Communications made for us! Unfortunately, we couldn't use every quote that was submitted because there wasn't enough space in our brochure. I did not want these quotes to go unpublished so I am sharing them with you today. Each of these people have been amazing supporters of Footprints! These supporters are parents, nurses and doctors who have really stepped out there and made this ministry into what it is today! To each of you, I was so deeply touched by your heartfelt words as I know everyone who reads them will be as well.
"The Footprints Ministry is the "welcome wagon" of God's grace in the Neonatal Unit at Baptist South. It is available to all, expected by none and totally unconditional. I count it a privilege to be a small part of such a dedicated group. The gift bag provides tangible proof that someone knows just how a new mom of a NICU baby feels and opens the door for ministry to continue." Dana Gallahair RN
"There are very few times in life more challenging then when a parent is faced with a critically ill child. It is during this incredibly vulnerable time that a ministry like Footprints is able to come in and be the hands and feet of Christ to encourage, pray for and grieve with those who are suffering. What a great way to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ!"
Dr. Matthew E. Phillips
“The Footprints Ministry has touched the lives of so many of the families whose children I care for. We are so blessed to have you!”
Dr. Bart Cook, Pediatric Cardiologist
"I had always pictured the perfect pregnancy and the perfect labor and delivery. After I was diagnosed with Pre-Eclampsia and had to C-section deliver my twin daughters at only 27 weeks pregnant, it seemed that some of my dreams had been shattered. Knowing my precious daughters would spend 2 months in the NICU was almost more than I could bare... until Footprints reached out to me and let me know that I was not alone. Reading Footprints families' testimonies on the Footprints Ministries blog gave me hope. Receiving Footprints handwritten notes of encouragement gave me strength. Meeting other Footprints families gave me a community. Hope, strength, and community are all such incredible tools that God uses through Footprints to shape our faith in Christ and to pass His love to others."
Laura Mielke, mother of premature twins Harper and Lily, Montgomery, AL
“I was there when this ministry was born in the hearts and minds of Kim and Glenn. I saw God place this vision in their hearts because of their personal journey with their son John Parker. Because John Parker was in the Nicu, this couple saw a need to minister to others who are hurting as they walk through their personal story. I saw Kim and Glenn stand before our church and commit to spend their lives for the Kingdom of God . They share Christ with those who are afraid, whose future is uncertain, and who feel isolated and helpless. I know, because seventeen years ago my wife Tammie and I looked at our little baby named Logan in the Nicu at Baptist Hospital in Jackson Mississippi. Footprints Ministry was not there for us, but I rejoice that it is there for couples in Montgomery and Beyond.”
Dr. David Grumbach, Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church
“Our little Peyton was a gift from God "fearfully, wonderfully made". Footprints helped ease our "fears" through their prayers, support, and care.”
Jeff and Beth Barranco, parents of premature baby Peyton, Montgomery, AL
"When our daughter was in the NICU at Baptist South our life was distilled to its essence - family, friends and God. Everything else was stripped away and was not missed. Through the prayer card in our welcome basket Footprints Ministry brought to us an extended network of family and friends in God we have never met, likely never will, but whose support will never be forgotten. We emerged from the NICU with a perfect little girl. Life has resumed its normal pace of day to day triumphs and struggles. The only thing missing is that clarity about the priorities of life. Footprints Ministry has never forgotten its priorities and shares this clarity with every new family that enters the NICU. It is a remarkable ministry ran by inspired people. "
David and Tyler Colgan, parents of premature baby Caroline, Atlanta, Georgia
"Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees." Job 4:4
Friday, November 14, 2008
Girls in Action!
Last Wednesday we had a wonderful time stuffing bags with the GA group from Thorington Road Baptist Church. These girls were in 1st through 6th grade. They stuffed 75 bags! We truly enjoyed being there and seeing these girls make Footprints bags. I was also a GA so it brought back many memories. It was through GA's that I commited my life to Christ. The GA program is an incredible program for young girls to learn about mission work. The GA's pledge is "As a GA, I will do my best to live a missions lifestyle that honors God by learning about missions, praying for missions, giving to missions, doing missions, and participating in the work of the church." These sweet girls at Thorington Road definitely lived up to their pledge in learning about missions, praying for missions, giving to missions and doing missions. After we made the bags the girls prayed over the bags and prayed for the families that would be receiving them. There is nothing sweeter than hearing a child pray! The Footprints Ministry thanks the Thorington Road GA's for all of your hard work!!! We look forward to having you involved with Footprints again very soon!
Below is the GA Bible Verse:
"Give thanks to the Lord. Worship him. Tell the nations what he has done. Announce how honored he is"
Isaiah 12:4
Monday, November 10, 2008
On Our Way to Becoming a Non-Profit!
Last week we mailed off our 501(c)3 paperwork to the IRS! This is a HUGE accomplishment! Erin White did all of our paperwork for us for FREE! We are so grateful for all of her hard work and countless hours she spent completing this for us! The Lord always blesses us with the right people to accomplish the many tasks of this ministry. Thank you so much Erin!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Gracious Grace Pointe!
A few weeks ago, we stuffed footprints bags with Grace Pointe youth group. We had a great time! I love going to different churches and having them participate in this amazing ministry! I also enjoy seeing children participate in ministry work! What a great lesson to teach young people! I still remember ministry projects I did at church as a youth. These projects can leave lasting impressions on the lives participating and also the lives that receive these bags. Grace Pointe has been such a big supporter of Footprints! Thank you so much to Christy Cronier for coordinating this bag stuffing and also to the youth minister, Keith for allowing us to share this ministry with the Grace Pointe Youth! A big thank you to each of the youth who participated, many lives will be touched by your generous hearts. Below is a letter I received today from a parent who received one of the bags your group made.
Dear Footprints Ministry,
Christy stuffing bags!
