An Open Door Adoption Agency raises funds for endowment

Apr. 21—THOMASVILLE — Thursday evening the Planting Seeds of Hope for their Future event was hosted at Glen Arven Country Club in support of open future endowment for the An Open Door Adoption Agency.

Introduced by Chairman Bill Blackburn, Julie Bryan Moran, an American journalist and sportscaster, hosted the event and spoke about the story of how the endowment first began and how Jane Gilbert and her husband, Walter, were led to begin their work with the Open Future Endowment.

"I just want you to know that God, in the details, talked to Jane, led her through many, many, many situations, guiding her every step of the way," she said. "That's why we're here tonight and the details of Jane and Walter are just amazing and they just have a heart for foster children, orphans, and they want to put them in Christian homes."

Talking about the work that the agency does, Moran said that she was grateful for all of the attendees

"If needed, Open Door will pay all expenses to educate Christian families and help fund and facilitate the adoption," she said. "We're just here tonight to support that effort and I'm here to support Jane and Walter and thank you all for coming."

Alongside Moran, Marlesa Ball Greiner, an inspirational speaker and singer that has performed for U.S. Presidents, sang Christian songs during the event, including "Amazing Grace."

After dinner, with Pastor Paul Ballard giving the blessing, Stephen Kendrick, the producer and co-writer for movies such as "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof," came up to speak about his experience in the ministry and how God called him to make movies and eventually adopt a child of his own.

"So I began to look at scripture and what does God think about the orphan, what is in his heart according to his word," Kendrick said. "Deuteronomy says the Lord, your God, is a God of Gods, he executes judgement for the orphan, for the widow, shows love for them. Psalm 10, God helps and defends the orphan, He's the helper."

Just as we adopt these orphans to give them a new life, Kendrick said, God adopts us as His own children through our faith, as a shepherd that extends His protection to all sheep.

In a letter to the audience, Walter Gilbert said that he was indebted to the Moran and Greiner for their willingness to bring their talent back to Thomasville.

"We are indebted to Julie Bryan Moran, our hostess for the evening, and Marlesa Ball Greiner, our vocalist, whom we first knew as teenagers in our church youth group which Jane and I led years ago," he said. "Now they are accomplished professionals, recognized nationally for their talents, yet willing to come back and share and evening with you and with us, to explore the opportunity we have together to make a difference in the world."

He also shared his thanks to Kendrick for taking the time to share his own personal experience with adoption and showcasing the beauty of it through his recent movie, "Lifemark."

"We are also thankful to Stephen Kendrick of Kendrick Brothers Movies for sharing his time and personal experience in adopting a precious child into his own family through our agency," Walter Gilbert said. "His most recent movie, "Lifemark," specifically depicts the beauty of adoption both in the life of an unplanned pregnancy and in the life of the family that opened their hearts to this child."

Through their efforts, combined with with the efforts of volunteers, the Open Future Endowment has accumulated a total of $738,000 toward its initial goal of $900,000.

At the end of the event, Moran once again thanked the attending guests for coming to their presentation, welcoming Greiner to conclude the night with another musical performance.