Jane Gravis was the chipper co-worker with the Texas drawl who helped keep our section of Prison Fellowship running smoothly. Then one day she made a glancing reference to her orphanage.  Many of our colleagues here support a variety of Christian charities, so I first imagined that she and her husband, Ron, were helping an international relief organization with some donations.

But it soon became clear that Jane really did have an orphanage of her own, one she never planned until she felt a tug from God to help some of the children of Kenya. Orphans there are oftentimes the victims of serious abuse at an early age, so Jane would be embarking on a complex and sometimes harrowing adventure.

But God provided for her as she grew more confident in her calling. Just when she needed help, whether financially, logistically, or emotionally, another person was sent to help what became Into Abba’s Arms, a Christian orphanage in the heart of Africa.

You’ll hear Jane talk about one of her children there, an engaging young man named Nelson, now 16. But when Nelson first came into Jane’s care, he was a child who had seen more than any young boy should have to endure. Thanks to Into Abba’s Arms, Nelson is not only brimming with life but is a leader to the other children who have come after him. Moreover, he has inherited the giving heart of his “Mama Jane,” using all of his own savings to help others in Kenya.

Jane Gravis is a perfect example of a person whom God surprised by tapping her for more than she could have dreamed.  All that was required was humility, joy, and a willingness to follow where God led.

For more information or to make a donation to Jane’s orphanage, please visit the Into Abba's Arms website.  To listen to the full interview click here

“Discourse,” an occasional podcast on BreakPoint, applies a Christian worldview lens to a broad range of issues related to contemporary culture. Stephen Reed, a Centurion in the class of 2008, is a former talk radio host and serves as grants and foundations specialist for PFM. If you see any cultural issues out there you would like to see us address in a future podcast, e-mail Stephen at: stephen_reed@pfm.org.