Isaiah’s Story

How does a seven-year-old go from feeling scared and anxious, worrying about his mom and the abuse she is taking from his step-father, to feeling peaceful and safe?

How does he go in a few short months from making B’s and C’s and getting notes sent home from school, to making straight A’s?

How does he go from living in a shelter with his mom and sister, to feeling famous?

In short, he comes to the Children’s Home.

When seven-year-old Isaiah came to live at the Children’s Home with his mother and his baby sister, he may not have felt very special. But a few months later, he told his mom, Sarah, that he feels famous.

Isaiah’s mother originally came to UMCH as a job applicant – she had been referred to us for a position as a cook for the Agape Meals (our Sunday night community meal and worship time). She got the job, but she got so much more. She learned about our Family Housing program, and that same month, she, Isaiah and April moved into one of our apartments where they finally had a safe place to call their own. Then Isaiah began attending Jesse’s House, our summer day camp and after-school program.

Sarah came here for a job, but she had no idea how much more she was going to receive. She couldn’t have known the sense of community that awaited her small family, or that her son would feel so loved and accepted that he would actually rather be at one of our Agape Meals on Sunday night than anywhere else.

Sarah speaks with emotion as she talks about Isaiah’s transformation since coming to UMCH. “My son used to have all kinds of notes from school, and he would get B’s and C’s, and some A’s,” she says. “But now he’s getting straight A’s. Jesse’s House had a big role in that. But also, now he sees that I’m peaceful. We’re stable; we’re not anxious anymore. I think the sense of community, that everyone really cares about him, has brought the best out in him.”

Isaiah is not the only one whose life has changed at UMCH. Sarah, who hails from Kenya, was all alone when she left her abusive husband earlier this year. But during her stay at the Children’s Home, she has found time and space to prioritize her goals, as well as a support team of UMCH staff and volunteers (like her wonderful English tutor), who have helped walk her through the various steps toward independence. She just secured a part-time job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Nutrition (her educational background), and has her sights set on a graduate program at Emory in Public Health. By the time you get this letter, she will have taken the GRE (the exam for graduate school entrance) and hopefully will be well on her way to achieving that goal.

There is just one problem in Sarah and Isaiah’s story: Isaiah doesn’t want to leave! When Sarah asks him how he feels about leaving UMCH one day, he always assures her that they don’t have to leave. We’re honored that Isaiah feels so at home here, and we too will be sad when his family has to move on. But we are blessed to have been a small part of Isaiah’s story, as well as Sarah’s and April’s. And we know you feel the same way. If you have donated, volunteered, pray or shared our story with others, then you have played a crucial role in helping Isaiah feel at home, and feel “famous.” Your gifts have helped Sarah get back on her feet and create a new life for herself and her children. You are a significant part of the community that Isaiah, Sarah and so many others like them feel when they come to the Children’s Home.

Will you give a gift this Christmas season that will help the Isaiahs and Sarahs and Aprils out there? Your gift of $55 will help us take care of one child for one day in one of our residential programs. If you can give $385, you can provide care for a child for a week. And a gift of $1,650 can provide for a month of care for a child on our campus.

You can make your gift today to help children like Isaiah. And if you’re struggling with what to give the loved ones on your Christmas list, you can even make your gift in their honor and we’ll mail them a card for you.

However you choose to give this holiday season, please know that we are grateful. And by we, I mean myself and our staff, but mostly I mean Isaiah. After all, he’s the famous one.

Praying God’s blessings on you this Christmas season,

Beverly O. Cochran, Jr.

Administrator, United Methodist Children’s Home

Click here to give today.