MISSION STATEMENT:
Embraced By Grace, Inc. is an adoption and home study agency dedicated to the glory of God and the promotion of family through the adoption process. We are devoted to the ministry of placing adoptable children into permanent, Godly Christian homes.
Embraced by Grace, Inc. offers services to adoptive parents and birthmothers. Our staff is trained to help your adoption run as smoothly and promptly as possible. Our staff will guide you through every step on this miraculous journey. We are confident that the Sovereign Lord has each adoption already perfected. We look forward to meeting you and beginning this journey.
STAFF:
Bob Picerne — Chief Executive Officer
Gwyn Picerne — President / Fund Development Issue Campaign Manager
Amber Marshall * — Director of Social Services
Lauren Stephens — Writer / Journalist
Emily Head * — Case Manager of Social Services
Cathy Fish — Association Executive
Patti Parks — Community Services Agency President
Meredith Holbert — Family Counselor
Hannah Cobb — Youth Program Developer
* — Personal Testimony
Amber Marshall’s Testimony
When I began college at the University of Georgia in 1998, I was majoring in Business Management and aspiring to have a successful career in the business world. After a year of study and seeking the Lord, He confirmed to me through His Word, much prayer, and Godly counsel that this was not His will for my life. God placed a burden in my heart for those in need, not only in need of temporary items to prolong and improve this earthly life, but those in desperate need of an eternal Savior. I changed my major the next year, and graduated in 2002 with a Master of Social Work. During those years, I served as an intern at the Department of Family and Children’s Services in Georgia and in the Rockdale County Public School System. My experience in these fields was insightful, yet disheartening at best. Serving in these Government run agencies, I was prohibited from speaking the very Truth that would set people free from the bondage of their sin and bring them the only true Hope, Restoration, and Peace in this life, Jesus Christ. God called me to serve with the North American Mission Board for 2 years in Daytona Beach. Then, I served at Riverbend Academy as a third grade teacher for 3 years. Finally, the Lord has led me to use the degree He called me to almost 10 years ago. I am thankful and blessed to be the Director of Social Services for Embraced by Grace, Inc. Embraced by Grace, Inc. is a Christ-centered adoption agency with the glory of God as its goal. It is a joy to prayerfully seek to place adoptive children into Godly homes, where they will learn the fear and love of the Lord. At Embraced by Grace, Inc., I am able to help meet the physical needs of precious children, as well as express to them their greatest need, our Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to serve Him and many dear children and families in this capacity. By God’s strength, may I truly embrace these little ones and their families with the sweet grace of God.
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Emily Head's Testimony
When I was an adolescent, I was sexually abused by my mother’s boyfriend. When I eventually told of the abuse, I went to a child welfare facility to retell my story, and they did not believe me. I was not counseled well, I was given no hope, and I was simply made into a liar. They never continued on the prosecution trail and believe my abuser that he was innocent.
After doing one of the bravest things a 15-year old could have done, I strongly disliked the child welfare system. I wondered how many other children out there had similar experiences like mine. This is what sparked my entrance into Social Work.
The Lord began to work amazingly in my life and brought Godly women who had experienced similar pasts. I learned the Lord’s sovereignty over every portion of my life, including my abuse, and I began to believe that the Lord allowed this in my life so I could one day help children or women who were overcoming their sexual abuse as well. The Lord even gave me the strength and peace to physically face my abuser and verbalize to him that I forgave him.
When I transferred to Florida State University in the Fall of 2001, I became aware of the Social Work program, and I began the departmental work. Even though I believe the Bible is very particular that believers in Christ should be the ones doing the “social work” (caring for orphans, widows, the afficted, etc.), I found the curriculum to be extremely liberal and based on what each client could do for themselves. Christ was never mentioned in my classes, apart from the fact that we should encourage our clients to find their sense of spirituality. Without Christ, we truly are giving them no hope.
From the time I was about 12 years old, I always had an interest in adopting, and I even remember saying to myself back then, that maybe I would just adopt children instead of giving birth biologically. I married my husband in 2004, who was adopted as an infant. He also has had a desire to adopt. We do have one biological daughter with another child on the way. Our desire to adopt has never changed, we plan to adopt in the future.
Upon hearing about a new Christian adoption agency coming to Ormond Beach, Florida, I was given the opportunity to work as a Case Manager. To me, this is my dream job. I cannot imagine any other type of work that could be any better than to find Godly homes for children who are adoptable. I am now entering my final semester of my Masters Degree of Social Work, when my possibilities of what I can do with adoptions will be endless. I believe that the path the Lord gave me as a child is what has shaped my future and how I can assist in the furthering of His kingdom.
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