Tom Stafford, Bon Voyage - on the road to retirement

By Stella Prather

"I need to meet that man," Tom Stafford said of the guest of honor at a June 8 luncheon at Copeland's Restaurant in Little Rock, Ark.

Humbly alluding to himself, Stafford thanked several friends and coworkers who showed up at the lunch in his honor and shared how Stafford had impacted their lives. Stafford recently retired after nearly 35 years with the Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries (ABCHomes).

"The contributions Tom Stafford has made to the ministry of the Children's Homes and those he served is unmeasurable," said Johnny Biggs, former ABCHomes executive director, during the retirement luncheon."He has a heart of compassion and a desire to help others have a better life."

Referencing Jeremiah 17:8, Biggs told the crowd that Tom is like "A tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes. But its leaves will be green and it will not worry in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit."

"Tom was obedient to God's direction in his life and was planted here to perform the ministry," said Biggs. "His roots ran deep into the soil of northeast Arkansas. He provided shades of comfort, stability and hope and his branches have reached out to those in need."

Stafford is concluding the longest service of any staff member of ABCHomes in recent memory. During his entire ministry with ABCHomes, Stafford served as director of the Jonesboro area office, where he provided an average of 1,000 counseling sessions a year. In addition, he oversaw the ABCHomes ministry at an emergency receiving home in Paragould.

For 19 years, Stafford supervised a group home for boys in Jonesboro until that ministry was transferred to ABCHomes Boys Ranch in Harrison in 1993.

Larry Kelley was a former group home resident. He's now a neighbor and great friend of Stafford.
Speaking at the lunch honoring Stafford, Kelley said, "Tom has been a great friend. I brag on him and this ministry all the time. Since leaving the group home, I've often teased Tom, asking if I could come back."

Kelley credits Tom's "fatherly" influence. Choking back tears, he said, "It was Tom's love and support of me that has helped me in raising my own son who recently completed his first year in college ...Tom, thank you for always listening and encouraging me, and allowing me to see you raise your own children."

Stafford first hired current ABCHomes Executive Director David Perry.

"Tom is as solid and dependable as they come," said Perry. "I have always had the greatest confidence that in every matter he would make wise decisions, take care of matters and put other's needs above his own. He has ministered to countless individuals and families and kept many families and marriages from breaking apart."

Recalling his early years working alongside Stafford, Perry said, Stafford was more than a supervisor. He was also a friend.

"Tom and his wife Cathy loved Lucia and me, and took care of us in so many special ways," recalled Perry. "The appreciation we have for Tom runs deep. We wish them both well in retirement."

Stafford calls his longtime work "a calling from the Lord."

"It has been a wonderful ministry. It has been the right place for me," he said of the ABCHomes ministry to children and families in crisis. "I've never felt led to go any other place or do any other ministry.

"It has been an opportunity to work with adolescents, children and families that are hurting and experiencing emotional pain," hesaid. "It has been very rewarding to work with couples and to see them decide that they really do want to stay together."

"I think counseling is an awesome experience to have with another individual," added Stafford. "When a person tells you their story, you have been given a gift into their lives from themselves."

He challenges ABCHomes staff to continue in their wonderful ministry to children and families. "Remember that we (ABCHomes) are here to serve people," he said. "Every person is a person created in an image of God. They deserve our best."

Outside his work with ABCHomes, Stafford was a chaplain in the Arkansas ArmyNational Guard 75th Engineer Battalion for 28 years. He retired six years ago as a lieutenant colonel.

Stafford's wife Cathy also recently retired as an elementary school media specialist and teacher. Both are long-time members of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. He serves as a deacon and previously worked in the church's Celebrate Recovery ministry. The couple has two adult children.

A native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Stafford came on staff of ABCHomes, then Arkansas Baptist Family and Child care Services, Dec. 1, 1975. Prior to that time, he was director of the Community Mental Health Center in Kennett, Mo. He also was youth minister at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro and pastor of Christianburg Baptist Church of Christianburg, Ky., Smyrna Baptist Church of Deepstep, Ga., and Oak Grove Baptist Church of Pocahontas.

Stafford is a graduate of Arkansas State University of Jonesboro and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He completed an internship in clinical pastoral education at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Ga., and at Central State Hospital in Louisville, Ky.

He has served on the board of directors for Hospice of Jonesboro and was a member of the Jonesboro Uninsured Health Center Board and the Cottage of Hope, a program for developmentally challenged children. He is a member of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

In retirement, the Staffords will remain in Jonesboro, but plan to travel in their new motor home. Their journeys will likely end up in Michigan and Maryland to visit their children. Other trips will be to Orlando to visit Cathy's 91-year-old mother who still lives alone.