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What is behind this transformation? Who had a vision of a happy place where girls could live securely and become mature, godly women? Her name is Lois Coleman, an 81-year-old bundle of energy and grace.

Lois Coleman was born into a warm and loving family. Her father was a minister and Lois was brought up with strong values. Her parents demonstrated the highest standards of love, diligence, innovation, discipline, respect, godliness and excellence in all things. Her strong family roots gave her a solid foundation from which she developed a burning desire to serve inner-city children and to give them the kind of love she received as a child.

Lois knew she wanted to help young people excel morally and academically. So she mounted a basketball hoop in her backyard and held cookouts for the children and teenagers in her neighborhood. The children soon began calling her “Mama Lois.” She later formed a club, called the Cultivators Club, to teach girls grace and manners.

Then at the age of 47, Mama Lois had a life-changing spiritual experience while employed at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Two years later, in 1972, Mama Lois joined the Campus Crusade for Christ International. After going to California for training, she returned to Birmingham to minister on high school campuses as Field Staff. Focusing on evangelism and discipleship, Mama Lois also ministered in inner-city Atlanta, Chicago, Africa, Bermuda, and Florida.

Returning to Birmingham, Mama Lois worked with the Wales Goebel Ministry for over nine years. As a result, the Cultivators Club grew from being just a club to girls actually coming to live in her home. These girls were taught the same values she had been taught as a child. Not only did she work with these girls, but also worked with various agencies to send scores of inner-city children to camps each summer. It wasn’t long, however, before Mama Lois realized that there were more girls needing assistance than bedrooms in her home. She had a vision.

At Grace House, Mama Lois, the staff and the volunteers strive to help each girl reach her full potential in a loving, nurturing environment. Educational, social, physical, emotional and spiritual needs are addressed. In addition, children of the community are served through a weekly Bible Study on Saturday mornings, which serves over thirty students. It is because of Mama Lois’ influence that many success stories of girls have been told over the years.

Mama Lois’ vision grew - she had a new dream: to build Grace Village, a complex of houses, facilities and staff to affectionately help large numbers of children grow into adulthood. In 1998, an Executive Director, Trina Banks Session, was hired to direct the growing needs of administration and fund-raising. Mama Lois’ new position as Founder and Chairman Emeritus enabled her to engage in extensive public speaking and fund-raising. These personnel changes resulted in the launching of a Capital Campaign in 1999 to raise funds to build more group homes and a community clubhouse. On June 1, 2001, this dream became reality with the groundbreaking for Grace Village! Two group homes were built and a Ribbon-Cutting and Dedication Ceremony was held November 10, 2002. In July 2003, Vivian L. “Penny” Southward joined Grace House Ministries, Inc. as its new Executive Director and has transitioned Grace House to now serving 18 girls. What began as a dream in one woman’s humble home is now Grace Village, poised to make a difference in the lives of many young women and children in the 21st century.

Grace House Ministries, Inc.
4923 Farrell Avenue
P. O. Box 547
Fairfield, Alabama 35064
(205) 786-4663
grahouse@bellsouth.net