Twenty Years of Shepherding a Special Flock
Written by Jean Davis
From the Archives: Summer 2014
Ms. Jean Davis has a story to tell, and she is quick to remind her audience that it is God’s story, not her own. She admits to being slow to hear when God sent a preacher her way, informing her that God sent him with a message for her. That message was slow to resonate with Jean’s heart - God had anointed her to be the director of what is now known as Ebenezer Children’s Home.
It was over twenty years ago… Jean was comfortably employed in the finance business while often dreaming of being a missionary. Her idea of mission work was serving on foreign soil, and of course, would occur much later in her future. Little did she know that God had other plans for His calling on her life. A local preacher came to her place of employment and invited her to join the effort to forge a children’s home in Wilkes County. Jean says that she was oblivious to the fact that such a place was needed. Her answer was no. He continued to stop by her place of employment on a regular basis with the same message, and was adamant that God had told him that Jean was to be the Director of Ebenezer’s Children Home. Her answer was always no. He was persistent, and visited her place of employment so often that her boss questioned her about the reason the gentlemen kept coming to see her. Her boss reminded her that her job was to make loans. Jean shared her boss’s concerns with the preacher, “Sir, I’m sorry; I wish you the best, but you’ve got to just move on.” It was then that they reached a compromise. He invited her to a public meeting in January 1994, at which a representative from the Child Protection Services of the Department of Social Services of Wilkes County would be speaking on the subject of abused and neglected children. She promised him that she would attend the meeting, pray for the endeavor, and offer financial support. Jean was astonished when the factual information was shared regarding the incidents of abuse and neglect in Wilkes County and the impact this left with affected children and their families. After hearing these facts, Jean drove home and prayed this prayer, “God, I have seen the need in our county and the harvest is plentiful. Would you please help those men find someone to help them get this home started, because children should not have to suffer like this.” Then the Lord replied to her prayer, “I am going to give you the desire of your heart, which has always been to be a missionary. I’m going to give you your mission field in your back yard. Don’t walk away from it!” Of course there were tears (lots and lots of tears) by the time she arrived home. Amidst her tears she told her husband, “I have to accept the invitation to help these men do this! I have got to call that preacher and tell him that I will help get it opened up. I don’t know how or when, but I will do it.” Jean called the preacher, and he informed her that a board would be established on February 14, 1994. The founding board consisted of six men and Jean. With her on board, the founding members of Ebenezer’s began to project an opening date. Officials were hoping for three years. Jean knew in her heart that children were suffering, so she boldly responded, “God usually takes nine months to birth a baby, so this home will be birthed this year.” The official promised the board that it would not happen, but as Jean so appropriately put it, “God owns it all and He can do anything He chooses.” The official then asked, “Do you have a lot of money?” Jean’s answer, “We have five dollars.” He continued to prepare Jean that without money and a place, her goal would not be reached. The home opened its doors to their first child September 26, 1994. And so it was, and so it is 20 years later.
Jean describes the establishment of Ebenezer Children’s Home as leaps of faith, promises fulfilled, and lives being touched. She recalls one day in the early months of establishing Ebenezer’s when there were three potatoes to feed five kids. Jean did not resort to Facebook or the Internet, nor did she text anyone. She simply got down on her knees and prayed, “God, thank you for our supper tonight. We are going to be thankful for everything you give us and for whatever you send in.” Before the day was over, God sent three different people to Ebenezer’s with potatoes, over 70 bushels of potatoes in all! Jean acknowledges that there are many things that the home lacks from time to time, but in 20 years, the potato barrel has never been empty. One reason is that churches go above and beyond in supporting Ebenezer’s. For example, a church plants a garden every spring, of nothing but potatoes. When the harvest is ready, the children and staff spend a day digging and picking up potatoes to stock their potato barrel.
One of Jean’s most cherished material possessions is her rocking chair. It was the first item of furniture donated to the home. She shares the story of a young child who came to the home with a long history of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. The child would act out to the point of self-mutilating, and finally, God gave Jean a solution: to embrace that child and rock her until the flashbacks subsided. Not surprisingly, the plan worked! Each time the child began to experience a meltdown, she would come to Jean and ask to go to the rocking chair. The plan was so effective that the staff was informed of it, and it allowed the child to receive healing from her family at Ebenezer’s. This child’s name is now engraved on the back of Ms. Jean’s rocking chair, and it is a permanent fixture in her office. It continues to be a place of healing for many children who reside at the home.
For another little girl, a hairbrush was the instrument that comforted through her healing. This little girl inquired about why she would be staying at the home, and what these people had to do with her. Ms. Jean told the little girl that her job was to do things for the little girl that her mommy would do, like brushing her hair. Stunned, the little girl looked at Ms. Jean to tell her that her Mommy had never brushed her hair, or anything of the sort. So this little girl began the process of healing, with Ms. Jean’s caring and loving hands gently brushing her hair over and over and over.
Jeremiah 29:11 offers the best promise of all and can be found everywhere on the campus of Ebenezer’s. The verse is framed and hanging on walls, scripted in concrete, and embroidered on pillowcases. Every child at Ebenezer is given one’s own Jeremiah 29:11 pillowcase and years later, God’s promise remains. What a comfort to lie down at night with this verse resting underneath the dreams of children!
Ms. Jean can share many, many stories that involve the hand of God at work. Numerous lives have been touched through Ebenezer’s, not only the residents of, but also the staff, and the many, many churches who are involved with supporting the home.
Ebenezer’s goal is to assist children in finding their forever family. Some children are temporary residents; Ebenezer provides a temporary foster home until the family is deemed capable of caring for their children again. For many children, Ebenezer is their home until their forever family comes to adopt them. Jean is quite proud of the adoption services that Ebenezer provides. And for a few special children, Ebenezer is their forever family. The home has served more than 300 children, and many of them return periodically to express their appreciation to the family who offered unconditional love, but more importantly, the message of Christ.
