It has been my prayer since beginning this little blog that God would take what I write here and use it for His glory. He has been so faithful to bring readers here day after day, and it is exciting and humbling to see how He uses the words I write in the lives of His children, many of whom I’ve never met. I’m always amazed at how He connects His children to each other in the craziest ways that only He could orchestrate. Such is the case with our new partnership…
I am so happy to announce a new partnership between The Hill Hangout and aTeam Ministries.
aTeam Ministries is an organization started by our friends Jan and Andy Thrower. Because of their son Anderson’s journey with pediatric leukemia, Andy and Jan became aware that in addition to medical expenses, many pediatric cancer families have significant travel and lodging expenses. They were blessed to live in Birmingham, where Children’s Hospital located. However, there are families all over Alabama who travel from out of town to Birmingham for their child’s treatment, and they must foot the bill for hotels, gas, food, and more. I don’t have to tell you that hotel stays add up quickly, especially when some children are in the hospital for weeks and even months. And besides expenses, there are many situations in which pediatric cancer families find themselves that are best understood by people who have walked that road. Andy and Jan set out to minister to those families.
In 2009, they founded aTeam Ministries with the sole purpose of providing spiritual, emotional, and financial support to families within the pediatric cancer community. It is their desire to breathe life into 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which ourselves are comforted by God.”
aTeam’s provides spiritual support by meeting every Monday morning to pray for the children and families going through the cancer journey. They invite anyone to join them at their office in Homewood to pray with them. aTeam provides emotional support through programs like Personal Care Bags, Guess Who Is Coming To See You, Warm and Fuzzies Program, and Day at the Game. These programs provide much needed light during a very dark journey. Patients and their families are given the chance to forget about cancer for a little while and have a time of regular childhood FUN. aTeam provides financial support in two ways. The How Can We Help? financial grant program provides professional financial counseling for planning prolonged medical expenses and extends grants to families in critical financial need. The Home Away From Home program provides a place to stay for families experiencing extended stays away from home. This program seeks to offer hospitality and comfort by providing the practical necessities like free extended lodging in Birmingham, meals and snacks, and help with transportation expenses.
As part of the Home Away From Home program, we will be partnering with aTeam Ministries to open their SECOND apartment in which pediatric cancer families can stay while their children are receiving treatment. Shades Mountain Baptist Church has generously offered to pay the rent on the new apartment for three years. Because of the generosity of several supporters, aTeam has a very good start on furnishing the new apartment. The goal of The Hill Hangout is to leverage our relationship with corporate and individual sponsors to provide interior decorating services, as well as providing the remaining items needed to provide a beautiful, comfortable space for these families. Since we are called to follow Matthew 25:37-40, we will approach this project as if we are providing it for Jesus Himself.
If you would like to be part of serving pediatric cancer families in this way, please let me know. I would love to have you join us on this project.
Look for more posts coming soon. We will keep you updated as we progress through the project. We have already experienced the generosity of so many individuals and corporations who are making this dream a reality.
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