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CBN.com – Charlie Hedgcoth: Most people hold fond memories of a special pet they had growing up. Usually, those memories include a beloved dog or cat. Maybe even both.
Chuck Holton [reporting]: Charlie Hedgcoth’s childhood was different. You might say his pets were a little more high maintenance. Charlie's mother Jama grew up loving animals. That passion led her to start an animal rescue on a farm in Laneville, Georgia.
Charlie: God birthed a dream inside of her of being able to help children and the animals together.
Chuck [reporting]: Thus, the idea for Noah’s Ark was born. Since that time, Noah’s Ark has rescued lots and lots of animals Noah’s Ark today has over 1200 rescued animals. But that’s not all. Generous donations from across the globe have enabled them to take in scores of foster children in the last 15 years.
Charlie: A lot of times people think animals are disposable. But in our society today, they also think children are disposable. Here at Noah’s Ark we’ve learned that hurting children and hurting animals can really bond together and heal each other. An animal shows the unconditional love that we’re taught to show in the Bible.
Chuck [reporting]: This theory is born out every day on the grounds of Noah’s Ark. Twenty-four foster kids, most of them from inner city Atlanta, currently live, learn, and work at the farm. One of those kids is Chad, who has lived at Noah’s Ark for the last 10 years.
Chad: Being here basically restored my faith in people. If somebody you don’t know can look out for you or think enough of you, then how much more can someone who created you. I could have been in jail. I could have been lying in the gutter dead. But the opportunity’s there. I can actually make something of myself.
Chuck: How does learning to take care of the animals change those kids?
Charlie: Like these emus, they have to be cared for because they’re not in their natural environment and neither are the kids. They come in and they realize, “Wow, I’m not thinking about me. It’s not about me. It’s about the baby bird I’m helping raise. Or it’s about the baby deer that I’m helping with.” It becomes about something else besides them. You show them a better life and through Jesus Christ they are able to learn that they don’t have to live in abuse. Through the love of Jesus and through unconditional love that the animals show, it’s amazing what kids just learn.
For more information, visit www.noahs-ark.org.
Also, read a testimony from one of Noah's Ark miracle children.
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