Autumn's story of Hope through Foster Care and Adoption
Autumn Millett and Chris Johnson share how the family came together in one of the most unexpected ways.
GUEST
Autumn Millett: After experiencing a difficult childhood characterized by homelessness, poverty, abuse, and involvement with the foster care system, Autumn Millett was adopted into her forever family at the age of 17. It was there that she found her identity in a personal relationship with Christ. She is now a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute and Stetson University and is married to her sweetheart, Corey.
Chris Johnson joined Lifeline in March 2020 and serves as the National Director of Church Partnerships. He previously served as a pastor for 24 years and as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives. Chris has also served as a consultant and has been a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences, churches, and community gatherings, sharing his family’s story and challenging others to answer the gospel call to care for vulnerable children and families. He was born and raised in metro Atlanta, GA and currently lives in Birmingham. Chris attended Regent University and studied Educational Leadership and also Trinity Baptist College, where he studied Church Ministries. He has an amazing wife named Alicia and they have 10 children (3 biological and 7 adopted from foster care). They have also served as foster parents to more than 40 children.
Watch Autumn's 60 Minute Interview. Learn more about her story.
RESOURCES
As you settle into this Thanksgiving break, you may want to make good use of our Resources Page. We have hundreds of helpful articles, activity ideas, and other materials there. Topics covered include: adoption, attachment, siblings, medical needs, children’s behavioral challenges, birth parents, how to address grief and trauma, and more. Visit www.lifelinechild.org/resources or see our show notes for more details.
Interested in learning more about adoption? For those seeking to adopt, we have recently produced a free eBook to help you financially prepare for the journey. Filled with tips, resources, contact information for grant organizations, and more.
Autumn Millett: After experiencing a difficult childhood characterized by homelessness, poverty, abuse, and involvement with the foster care system, Autumn Millett was adopted into her forever family at the age of 17. It was there that she found her identity in a personal relationship with Christ. She is now a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute and Stetson University and is married to her sweetheart, Corey.
Chris Johnson joined Lifeline in March 2020 and serves as the National Director of Church Partnerships. He previously served as a pastor for 24 years and as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives. Chris has also served as a consultant and has been a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences, churches, and community gatherings, sharing his family’s story and challenging others to answer the gospel call to care for vulnerable children and families. He was born and raised in metro Atlanta, GA and currently lives in Birmingham. Chris attended Regent University and studied Educational Leadership and also Trinity Baptist College, where he studied Church Ministries. He has an amazing wife named Alicia and they have 10 children (3 biological and 7 adopted from foster care). They have also served as foster parents to more than 40 children.
Watch Autumn's 60 Minute Interview. Learn more about her story.
RESOURCES
As you settle into this Thanksgiving break, you may want to make good use of our Resources Page. We have hundreds of helpful articles, activity ideas, and other materials there. Topics covered include: adoption, attachment, siblings, medical needs, children’s behavioral challenges, birth parents, how to address grief and trauma, and more. Visit www.lifelinechild.org/resources or see our show notes for more details.
Interested in learning more about adoption? For those seeking to adopt, we have recently produced a free eBook to help you financially prepare for the journey. Filled with tips, resources, contact information for grant organizations, and more.
HOST
Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.
LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples.
Creators and Guests
Host
Herbie Newell
Herbie Newell serves as the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, holds an MBA in Accounting from Samford University and brings years of experience from his work as an independent auditor at WAKM Companies, LLC. Serving as Lifeline's Executive Director since 2003, Herbie has significantly expanded international outreach, obtained licensure in 17 states, and led the establishment of the foster care arm. A passionate advocate, he co-founded (un)adopted in 2009, focusing on equipping orphaned children with life skills for community transformation. Herbie, also the author of "Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-birth to Pro-Life," emphasizes that being pro-life extends beyond opposing abortion, urging a broader ethic that includes fighting for racial equality and embracing every individual with the love of Christ. Herbie and his wife, Ashley, reside in Birmingham, Alabama, and are the parents to three children.
Host
Rick Morton
As Senior Vice President of Engagement, Rick Morton shepherds the ministry’s outreach to individual, church, and organizational ministry partners as well as the ministry’s commitment to publishing resources that aid families and churches in discipling orphans and vulnerable children. Prior to Lifeline, Rick served for 15 years as a college and seminary professor, and he also served local churches in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He is an accomplished writer and sought after speaker. Most notably, Rick is the co-author of the popular Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-centered Adoption and Orphan Care and the author of KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology. Rick and his lovely wife Denise have been married for over 32 years, and they have 3 children, all of whom joined their family through international adoption. God has continued to grow their family, and he now enjoys the role of “Doc” to his precious granddaughter!