Tell the Story: A New Home

Anyone who has adopted a child understands the beautiful picture of what God did for us by adopting us as his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ.  
“He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1:5
Like many in our FCC fam, Anni Hollenbeck, from our Greeneville campus, had the opportunity to show the love of God in this amazing way when she adopted Tristan, a beautiful 3-year-old girl.

When Anni first began her journey, it was with the intention of fostering a Deaf Teenager since she was teaching at the TN School for the Deaf in Knoxville. It made logical sense for her to foster Deaf children because she could communicate with sign language, but God had other plans. She heard that a deaf baby needed placement, but being single and having big, rambunctious dogs and goats on her farm, she didn’t think her circumstances were the best for a baby. Her first reaction was not to accept the placement of a baby, but her spiritual gift is service, and her heart was to help where she could, and her friend twisted her arm and convinced her to give it a chance. That same friend bought half of the baby aisle at Walmart on her way to Anni’s house that night!

The previous foster home and the social workers believed this baby to be deaf because she only grunted to communicate and would not respond when her name was called.  The first night that Tristan was in the house, Anni noticed that Tris turned her head when the cat made a sound. An audiogram the following week showed her hearing to be entirely in the normal range. Sadly, at 15 moths old, she had been so neglected that she didn’t know what communication was!

It didn’t take long, before they realized God had worked out His plan and brought Anni and Tristan together. After more than 2 years of court appointments and meetings, Annie was finally able to adopt Tristan. As of Apr 8, 2022, she is now Tristan Faith Hollenbeck!

Not long ago, they bought 7 acres in Bulls Gap and Anni started teaching at Holston Home here in Greeneville.  So often in the Bible, we see the analogy of God making us his children through adoption. He takes those who have no belonging and makes us his beloved children.  Anni, what a lovely picture of God’s love that you displayed when you gave Tristan a loving, Christian home and we pray you continue showing her Jesus loves her by telling her the story. We are so glad to have both of you as part of our FCC Family.
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”
Psalm 68:5-6
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