Atlanta Christian Home and Jimmy Carter

By Rev. Dr. Suzanne Webb, Former NBA Trustee

In the early 1970s, I worked at the Atlanta Christian Home while I was at Candler School of Theology. The governor of Georgia—Jimmy Carter—came to the home almost every week. He would ask his driver(s) to stay outside, and he would just walk in and sit down with the kids for dinner. There was no spectacular entrance or applause. He just sat down and ate with the children and talked with them. It was an incredible joy!

At the General Assembly—ok, it may have been the Regional Assembly…you guys know my memory lapse!—I got to introduce Governor Carter to a group assembled around the NBA. He pointed his finger (which I had never seen him do before) and told the Disciples that they did not know what an incredible ministry was happening at that home. And then he asked them to support not only the home but NBA. I was thrilled!

And then he invited three of the children to Washington for his inauguration…and they went!

So, Jimmy Carter was/perhaps still is an incredible supporter of what we are doing.  Another interesting part of this story is that when I shared all of this with my parents (die-hard Republicans!) they actually both voted for Jimmy Carter!

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