Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Oliphant, Gary Oliphant.
Patty Oliphant is a CASA volunteer in Anderson County. Her husband, Gary, is a former computer analyst for Southwest Airlines and currently an independent builder in Palestine. Patty attended a community leader’s meeting two years ago of non-profits, city leaders, clergy, foster/adoptive parents, and CPS leaders. In this meeting, Tonya Fuller, Region 4 Faith-Based Specialist, identified 50 ways the community could help children in the foster care system/CPS. One of the services was to develop a bed ministry in Anderson County. This bed ministry would build single bed frames, obtain new mattresses, bedding, pillows, etc., and deliver to the children identified in need of these services. If a child goes to a foster home, due to licensing requirements, beds are in place. However, if the child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, they so often go to a kinship home. This could be a grandparent, great-grandparents, older sibling, or a friend of a relative (fictive kinship home). These are typically the homes these beds are delivered to. Usually, these homes have a mattress on the floor, sleeping bags, sofas or the like.
Beds & Bibles build the single beds or bunk beds. The delivery package will be the bed frame, mattress, bedding, pillow, and a small nightstand table. The bed(s) is assembled on site. A bible is also delivered along with some other children’s books.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services refers the cases in which the children are in need. Caseworkers and Tonya Fuller identify and approve the children identified.
There are several donors in place, including Evangelistic Temple, Appliance Sales & Services in Palestine, Ivan Smith Furniture in Palestine, and McCoys Lumber Supply.
In 2018, Beds & Bibles of Anderson County delivered 31 beds. In 2019, 63 beds were delivered.
Has it been a smooth road?
The ministry took off without a problem at first. We were overwhelmed with God’s love and provision to get the beds made and delivered. So many people in the community wanted to join in and give assistance. The first winter, we had some struggles keeping up with the demands with the lack of financial support. We reached out to the Tyler based bed ministry, Grace Embedded, owners, Jeff and Christie Sowell. They had developed a plan for this type of ministry, as well as the construction blueprints for the beds. We had depleted our inventory and with a much larger territory to cover, they had a large inventory that they could share with us. We had several children waiting for beds and they donated 16 beds to our ministry. We were struggling to support the ministry financially and didn’t want to reach out to our church for more than their previous commitment. We prayed for an answer and God came through with this ministry to help the very next day.
We are hoping in 2019 to help Henderson County start up their own bed ministry.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Beds & Bibles of Anderson County story. Tell us more about the business.
When children are removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse, the children are most often moved to a kinship home or a fictive kinship home. Beds & Bibles of Anderson County will build twin beds or bunk beds and deliver to these children at their new homes. We also provide a new mattress, new bedding, pillows, and bibles.
This is God’s ministry and we are proud to follow what He has for each step in this ministry. Every delivery is different. We are honored to meet these caregivers, so often elderly grandparents or great grandparents. It is amazing to see how this family completely surrenders their life to help these children. It is our pleasure to do our part to make this transition for these children just a little easier.
We pray after each bed is delivered with whoever is present and would like to join in prayer with us. Often one of the little ones wants to lead the prayer and we are humbled by the innocent words of gratitude that come from their hearts. So often we drive home in silence or in tears…but always in thanksgiving to where God has brought us.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Honestly, our prayer is that our ministry is not needed. However, we are ready and willing to build and deliver til God brings us home.
Pricing:
- There is no charge for any of our services.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 214/280-3549
- Email: Bedsandbibles@gmail.com
- Facebook: Beds & Bibles of Anderson County
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