Abilene's Unsung Heroes, Part I

The content of this pantheon of literary skill reached the eyes of influential people...and I was tasked to write about unsung Abilene heroes for a special insert of the Abilene Reporter News. Unfortunately, my work fell victim to the editor's knife, and my essay was left as kindling for the fire.

However...embracing a "glass is half full" attitude (a rarity for me), I look upon this not as a defeat...but as four blog entries!!! So both of you may now sit back, relax and "enjoy" the first installment.
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Her job title is Case Manager, but Charlene Walker defines her role with Christian Homes of Abilene a bit differently. “I’m an advocate and a champion for birth mothers.”

Known to everyone as “Squeaky,” Walker has spent the last 20 years with Christian Homes of Abilene working with mothers and fathers who have decided to put their babies up for adoption. Some call it a job. For Walker it’s her passion. And it’s her ministry.

“Squeaky believes in the ministry of Christian Homes. And she’s an example of how you make a difference in someone’s life,” said Margaret Ballew, Director of Public Relations for Christian Homes of Abilene.

Walker’s ministry began almost thirty years ago after completing both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Psychology at Abilene Christian University. After graduating, she worked with mentally challenged youth at the Abilene State School for more than two years. She then spent another six years in a similar role at the Skyview Learning Center in Stamford.

When Walker learned of an opportunity at Christian Homes of Abilene, she quickly jumped at the opportunity. “I’ve always been in ministry, and I wanted to use my skills AND my degree to work with the whole family, not just the kids.”

Walker estimates she has witnessed at least 750 births in her years at Christian Homes. She loves the opportunity to witness new life, but she is also humbled by the sacrifice these mothers make.

“It’s the Hannah story all over again,” Walker says, comparing the sacrifice these mothers make to the Old Testament story of Hannah and Samuel. “These mothers demonstrate the love of God to me over and over. They have chosen to give life. And not just that, but they have chosen to separate themselves from their child in order to improve the life of their baby.”

Walker spends most of her days on-call for Christian Homes. When she isn’t working one of her cases, she finds other ways to serve the community. Walked is active in both the Colonial Ministry and the Emmaus Project, ministries of her congregation, Highland Church of Christ.

But her greatest passion is the hundreds of birth mothers that she has worked with over the years, many of whom came to her in desperate circumstances. “Nothing gives me more joy than to see one of these moms make a change in her life.”

But Walker says she isn’t interested in analyzing her clients’ past. “My responsibility is to love these ladies the way God loved me. And to let them know that every day is a new day. Their baby isn’t a mistake – God made that baby for a reason.”