Randy Davis
Amy Hood unexpectedly stepped out of this life on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, to be with the Lord. She was only 57.
In nearly 50 years of ministry, I’ve seen few men as shaken to the core as my friend Pat. Amy meant everything to him. They had been married for nearly four decades. Fortunately, God has brought significant healing to Pat’s life, and he continues to provide passionate pastoral leadership to LifePoint Church in Smyrna.
I visited Pat in the months following Amy’s passing. During one of those visits, I spoke with him about establishing the Amy Hood Adoption Endowment to honor his sweet wife and meet a profound need in our state. It seemed a natural fit and reflected Amy’s heart for children without forever homes.
Her journey began as she and Pat became empty nesters. Their biological children were becoming adults when Amy approached Pat about adopting. It was a surprise to him, but once God affirmed that dream in Pat’s heart, the Hoods adopted three children from three different continents. Pat and Amy were strong advocates for adoption and lived out that passion.
Amy’s love for children and her commitment to adoption now continues through the Amy Hood Adoption Endowment.
The vision of the endowment is to financially assist families from Tennessee Baptist churches navigate the expensive process of adoption by providing grants from proceeds earned through the endowment’s investments.
Our goal is to raise $1 million as seed money. From an initial gift of $500 just 36 months ago, the Amy Hood Adoption Endowment has grown to over $632,000. Thank you to the churches and individuals who have so generously contributed to help us reach this point.
My personal hope is that we will surpass $1 million by the end of 2026. That figure provides a significant foundation for grants that can make adoption more accessible. But why is this so imperative?
In Tennessee, approximately 9,000 children are currently in the government’s foster care system. The need continues to grow as more children require loving, godly homes. The size of the need can feel overwhelming, so let me offer a more personal perspective.
There are currently 27 children in Wilson County, some of them siblings, who need homes. Are there 27 families among the 32 TBC churches in Wilson County who could meet that need?
Pat and Amy Hood, gather with their children and grandchildren prior to her death in October 2022. – B&R file photo
This example is true for every one of Tennessee’s 95 counties. With 3,200 Tennessee Baptist churches, you can see how quickly we could serve these children and literally change the trajectory of their lives. The church must rally and reclaim the responsibility of caring for “the orphan.”
Many of you share my dream: that if a family in any Tennessee Baptist church wants to adopt a child, the entire cost of the adoption process will be covered. We’re not there yet, but we’re making progress. A review team guiding the grant process has approved grants for seven families adopting eight children so far. Without a doubt, I believe Amy would be overjoyed that eight children now belong to loving, Christian families because of what Tennessee Baptists have invested.
Would you pray about helping us reach the $1 million threshold? Visit AmyHood.org for more information or to give.
However, confronting the adoption crisis in our state does not end with the Amy Hood Adoption Endowment.
Because Tennessee Baptists give through the Cooperative Program, a portion of that giving supports Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes (TBCH), with locations in Millington, Brentwood, and Chattanooga. Hundreds of children are cared for through the residential ministry of TBCH. For more than a decade, that ministry has also helped certify families to become eligible to receive foster children.
Foster care and adoption can feel overwhelming, but TBCH can help you and your church bridge the gap between desire and action. More information is available at tennesseechildren.org.
Let’s not forget that adoption is God’s idea. Every one of us who has given our lives to Christ did so because God the Father adopted us into His heavenly family. I’m thankful for my spiritual adoption day.
It is a joy to be with you on this journey. B&R
