Immeasurably More
CCC's Andrea Shields Sees a Longtime Dream for a Boys Home Come to Fruition
By Allen Allnoch
Some dreams take longer than others to come true. When God is behind one, though, it tends to bear out the apostle Paul’s characterization of “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
Andrea Shields' dream goes back more than 25 years, to a time when she was working as a counselor and activity director for a boys and girls home in Hawaii.
“It was like a family,” says Shields, a long-time CCC member and the wife of Executive Pastor Derrick Shields. “It didn’t have that institution feel.”
Shields moved on from that job, but a vision was birthed to open a children’s home herself one day.
Now the dream has become reality. Andrea and partners Sheryl and Willie Hargrove, along with a small army of volunteers, have spent the past year developing Southern Living Academy, a 15-bed foster home for boys ages 12-18.
They are awaiting inspection of the south Columbus facility – which formerly served as an assisted living home – and the state childcare license that will enable them to receive boys from DFACS for placement in the home.
“God gave me a vision for a home,” Andrea says. “It didn’t really look this. For years, I said, ‘Ok, when is this going to happen?’
"Once I returned to Columbus from Hawaii, I applied at several larger group homes but wasn't hired, so I renewed my real estate license and continued in that field. I really enjoy selling and marketing real estate but my dream has always been to provide a safe and healthy environment for youth to grow who didn't have the opportunity."
Meanwhile God was working out His plan.
Andrea got to know the Hargroves when they were running the assisted living facility. Her mother was a resident for two years and Andrea spent much time there with her.
The home closed and the Hargroves eventually approached Andrea about putting it on the market. But they also tossed around the idea of turning it into a boys home. A triple homicide involving three youths in early 2016, followed by several more local murders, prompted Andrea and Sheryl to move on the idea.
“God placed it on both our hearts that we needed to do something,” she says.
The home will occupy a unique niche in Muscogee County by providing long-term housing for local boys. Most local foster and adoption care homes here don’t house children from the area because they are considered a flight risk – that is, it would be too easy to return to wherever they were before. Muscogee is considered one of the highest counties in need of foster care and adoption services.
“Hopefully this will be a place they don’t want to run from,” Andrea says. “We want to make them feel accepted, to know that somebody really cares for them, and to know that their life has a purpose.”
Preparing the house for occupation has been a community effort. Numerous supporters have contributed everything from money to furniture to hands-on labor. Each bedroom was “adopted” and given a themed paint scheme and decor. Many helped during CCC’s 2016 Church Has Left the Building initiative.
Six of the rooms will accommodate two boys each, while a single-occupancy “Leadership Room” will go to the boy who exemplifies the best leadership qualities. Several rooms have sports themes and memorabilia. The back porch has been converted into a game room with an air hockey table.
Key staff members have been identified and will be officially hired once the childcare license is granted. The home will offer a broad range of services to enrich the boys’ experience – everything from life skills classes to field trips to athletic training and reading programs. Volunteers will be needed for those endeavors.
That’s why Andrea calls it a community project. “A community has been involved in it right from the beginning,” she says.
And clearly, it bears a divine stamp. “It has God’s hand all over it,” Andrea adds. “Really, it’s fallen into place without my help. It’s almost still like a dream, because I spent so many years wondering how it was going to happen. I kind of just pinch myself every day.”
Some dreams take longer than others to come true. When God is behind one, though, it tends to bear out the apostle Paul’s characterization of “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
Andrea Shields' dream goes back more than 25 years, to a time when she was working as a counselor and activity director for a boys and girls home in Hawaii.
“It was like a family,” says Shields, a long-time CCC member and the wife of Executive Pastor Derrick Shields. “It didn’t have that institution feel.”
Shields moved on from that job, but a vision was birthed to open a children’s home herself one day.
Now the dream has become reality. Andrea and partners Sheryl and Willie Hargrove, along with a small army of volunteers, have spent the past year developing Southern Living Academy, a 15-bed foster home for boys ages 12-18.
They are awaiting inspection of the south Columbus facility – which formerly served as an assisted living home – and the state childcare license that will enable them to receive boys from DFACS for placement in the home.
“God gave me a vision for a home,” Andrea says. “It didn’t really look this. For years, I said, ‘Ok, when is this going to happen?’
"Once I returned to Columbus from Hawaii, I applied at several larger group homes but wasn't hired, so I renewed my real estate license and continued in that field. I really enjoy selling and marketing real estate but my dream has always been to provide a safe and healthy environment for youth to grow who didn't have the opportunity."
Meanwhile God was working out His plan.
Andrea got to know the Hargroves when they were running the assisted living facility. Her mother was a resident for two years and Andrea spent much time there with her.
The home closed and the Hargroves eventually approached Andrea about putting it on the market. But they also tossed around the idea of turning it into a boys home. A triple homicide involving three youths in early 2016, followed by several more local murders, prompted Andrea and Sheryl to move on the idea.
“God placed it on both our hearts that we needed to do something,” she says.
The home will occupy a unique niche in Muscogee County by providing long-term housing for local boys. Most local foster and adoption care homes here don’t house children from the area because they are considered a flight risk – that is, it would be too easy to return to wherever they were before. Muscogee is considered one of the highest counties in need of foster care and adoption services.
“Hopefully this will be a place they don’t want to run from,” Andrea says. “We want to make them feel accepted, to know that somebody really cares for them, and to know that their life has a purpose.”
Preparing the house for occupation has been a community effort. Numerous supporters have contributed everything from money to furniture to hands-on labor. Each bedroom was “adopted” and given a themed paint scheme and decor. Many helped during CCC’s 2016 Church Has Left the Building initiative.
Six of the rooms will accommodate two boys each, while a single-occupancy “Leadership Room” will go to the boy who exemplifies the best leadership qualities. Several rooms have sports themes and memorabilia. The back porch has been converted into a game room with an air hockey table.
Key staff members have been identified and will be officially hired once the childcare license is granted. The home will offer a broad range of services to enrich the boys’ experience – everything from life skills classes to field trips to athletic training and reading programs. Volunteers will be needed for those endeavors.
That’s why Andrea calls it a community project. “A community has been involved in it right from the beginning,” she says.
And clearly, it bears a divine stamp. “It has God’s hand all over it,” Andrea adds. “Really, it’s fallen into place without my help. It’s almost still like a dream, because I spent so many years wondering how it was going to happen. I kind of just pinch myself every day.”
Interested in supporting Southern Living Academy through financial donation or as a volunteer?
Contact Andrea Shields: 706-536-2889, southernlivingacademy@gmail.com.
Contact Andrea Shields: 706-536-2889, southernlivingacademy@gmail.com.
