The First Baptist Church in Waldoboro held their first annual Run 4 Hope road race on Saturday, to bring awareness of the need for adoption of children. The church recently started a new ministry, called Hope 1:27, after the Bible verse James 1:27, that urges the care of orphans and widows.
A couple of families in the church have adopted children including Tayler and Adam Philbrook, who adopted a son Abram from China; and Melissa and Zach Brown, of Nobleboro, who adopted a son from Virginia.
The First Baptist Church decided to hold the race to bring awareness of orphans and adoption to their church and community. Both foreign and domestic children, and children in the state’s foster care system are in need of forever homes, Philbrook said.
“We’re not making any money. We are doing this to bring awareness of the need. We kept it low in cost to be fun. In the future we hope to make it an annual thing and have a sponsorship run. We want to bring awareness to the orphans. We’re just getting our feet wet. We’ll just wait and see what God wants us to do. He keeps opening doors,” Tayler Philbrook said.
About 40 people took part in the 5K walk/run. The church plans to make it a yearly event, and hope to attract families touched by adoption.
Melissa and Zach Brown, of Nobleboro, have been married for six years. A couple of months ago they brought home their first son, Tyson, now three and a half months. The Browns spent three weeks in Virginia before they could bring him home. The whole process took exactly a year,” Melissa said of adopting their baby through the Gladney Center in Texas.
“He is amazing. I don’t think we could have made a better one. He fit right in. He is so happy and is such a good baby. He just started giggling and that’s just the best thing in the world,” Melissa said.
“We do want to thank all helpers and also Cole Care Massage Therapy and Natures View Therapy for donating prizes to the top male and female finishers,” Tayler Philbrook said.
The Philbrooks “encourage people that are interested in adopting or simply want to talk about orphan care to call us or email us. We are hoping to develop our ministry. Hope 1:27 into a mission that will respond to the global orphan crises and by doing so glorify God,” Tayler Philbrook added.
Tayler and Adam Philbrook can be reached at 594-4154, or by email at tnice7@hotmail.com.
Participating in the one mile fun run were 1. Hayden Campbell, 6:20; 2. Ryan Richardson, 7:23; 3. Isabel Danforth, 8:05; 4. Oakley Oliver, 8:51; 5. Ben Richardson, 9:03; 6. Josiah Basner, 7. Ava Philbrook, 8. Barrett Campbell, 9. Maddie Oliver. Also participating were Breeya Myrick, Josiah Danforth, Emma Philbrook, Jillian Basner, Christopher Harris and Hope Munro.
