New Direction in Christ
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! She has been through a lot, and her house parent, Jim Harris, says of Emily:
“I saw a young, very troubled child with no hope, no future, no safety zone, destined to follow the family cycle of dead ends—but she didn't. I personally witnessed this defeated girl rise from her depths to become a strong, victorious, and focused woman because she learned to trust in the spirit of God! ‘Em’ showed us all that we can trust God! Just ask her . . . ”
So that’s exactly what we did! Following is our conversation with Emily:
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE COMING INTO CARE AT ABCH?
Life before coming to care at ABCH was very challenging. When my sister and I lived with my mother, she regularly abused drugs and never had a stable relationship. I was 6 years old when my grandparents got custody of us. Soon after, visitations with my dad stopped, and later my mom. From a young age, I was highly medicated for various mood and behavior disorders, including ADHD. It was never unusual for the police to be called to our house due to the dysfunction in our home. I lived in 12 different homes by the time I made it to the Children’s Home at the age of 16.
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHANGES YOU EXPERIENCED IN THAT TIME?
The biggest change for me was when I became a Christian. I stopped fighting those who were trying to help me. I soon came off all my medication, grew in my faith, and began setting goals. I feel that through my walk with Christ, I have grown not only as a Christian, but also as a person. At times I have had to deal with forgiveness and various obstacles, and like most things, it’s not always easy and takes discipline. It means a lot to me to be able to share the different ways the Lord has been involved in my life and has brought me to where I am today.
THIS PAST YEAR, YOU WERE ABLE TO WORK AS AN INTERN IN OUR BIRMINGHAM OFFICE—WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
I always knew I wanted to give back to ABCH in some way, but had no idea what that looked like. I never imagined how much I would enjoy my time there. For me to work with the Development and Communications teams, as well as those involved with supporting ABCH, truly meant a lot. Being able to personally call donors and thank several of them for their prayers and donations was important to me, so that they could see how they are helping those in care of ABCH.
WHAT IS LIFE LIKE TODAY?
I graduated from the University of Montevallo with a Bachelors of Arts in Marketing in December 2017, and finding a job was something I prayed about a lot. The Lord provided, and I recently moved to Rhode Island to work for APC by Schneider as a Sales Consultant. At times, it can be challenging, and there are several things different here than in Alabama.
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU WERE MOST IMPACTED THROUGH YOUR TIME AT ABCH?
I feel I was most impacted through the stability, unconditional love, and support received from my house parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, from the guidance I received from all who work there, as well as those directly involved (in supporting). When I think back at all the obstacles and successes I’ve had, it’s clear that the Lord has played a huge part in my life and has brought me to where I am today.