Leading With Prayer - Azalea

Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries is thrilled to celebrate Azalea for graduating this year from Pike County High School! Azalea likes going to school to see her friends and teachers, and her favorite subject is reading, which is something she thoroughly enjoys outside of school as well.

Following graduation, Azalea wants to pursue opportunities where she can work with animals, namely dogs and cats, and even train them. She also wants to help lead the children and youth at her church through Bible studies and teaching them about Christ, just as so many others have done for her.

Before coming to our Ascend program, Azalea admits she didn’t know much about God. She entered the foster system when she was 10-years-old and was frequently moved from one placement to another. “I’ve been in a lot of homes,” Azalea shares.

After nearly four years of striving for a place of stability, Azalea came to the Children’s Home. While she initially had a lot of frustration and hurt built up inside her that came out as anger, the close friendships Azalea developed with other residents helped her in better processing her feelings.

At the same time, through our incredible staff and church volunteers at the Meansville campus, Azalea learned about the Lord, and loved attending the daily Bible studies and devotions. She even began leading everyone in prayer during these gatherings.

“The sweetest memory which we will cherish forever is listening to this sweet girl pray,” Sharon Wallace, Director of Services for Meansville, shares of Azalea. “When she prays, her voice comes as music to our ears and goes straight to Heaven.”

Azalea was in our care for over four years until she was placed with her grandparents, where she now enjoys playing with their two dogs, dressing up and wearing her favorite jewelry, listening to contemporary Christian music, watching her favorite movie Tangled, and reading from the Nancy Drew series. While her sweet, girly self has always been there, Azalea realizes the impact being at the Children’s Home has had on her. “The staff at Georgia Baptist, they helped me with the hard times,” she says. “They love me there a lot.”

Join us in praying for Azalea, that her faith will continue to grow stronger and that God will present her with opportunities to live out her passions while also sharing the love and truth of Jesus.

Congratulations for graduating high school, Azalea! We’re proud of you and are thrilled to see the impact you make in other people’s lives going forward!