Dr. Rhonda Littleton, a 1990 Southern Wesleyan University psychology graduate, is being honored for her work to ensure that more children are adopted into a loving home.
Littleton’s work in establishing “A Home for Me” will be recognized in Washington by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) during their awards ceremony Sept. 11. She is being recognized by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) for efforts to develop “quality relationships” with agencies that serve South Carolina’s vulnerable children.
A few years ago, Littleton, who is minister of children at Simpsonville First Baptist Church, noticed families in the congregation who were adopting children or becoming foster parents, and has worked to organize and multiply that ministry.
“I grew up in a family where my parents were foster parents. I was a biological child but they had about 12 foster children,” said Littleton.
A Home for Me is an organization devoted to the needs of foster children, foster parents, biological parents or children who may be at risk of entering foster care. Nearly 75 children have come into foster homes and 15 have been adopted because of the organization.
A biblical principle behind A Home for Me is found in James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Littleton has seen lives literally saved through the ministry.
“We had an international adoption where a couple was going to abort their baby but came here to have the baby and lived with me several months,” she said.
A Home for Me partners with several local agencies including the Department of Social Services, the Bair Foundation, Foster Great Ideas and Christian organizations that include Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and Pendleton Place.
Littleton said of her honor, “It is quite overwhelming personally but it’s an honor for the church because of the impact the church and A Home for Me has had.”
“We really feel that being a light in the community is where God called us,” Littleton said of her team.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ.