From left, Tommy and Judy Bonds, Lisa and Kevin Bonds, Carter, 10, and Kayla, 14, stand in the living room the decorated home in Powder Springs. Lisa and Kevin are the founders of Engraved Orphan Ministry.
The tour features the west Cobb homes of Gen. and Mrs. Tommy Bonds and Mr. and Mrs. Tim Aycock.
The mission of EOM is to bring the word of God to orphans around the world. The ministry supports local children’s homes and partners with organizations overseas providing services such as Bible education, transitional housing for children who “age out” of orphanages, hosting opportunities, and ministry to foster children.
The ministry focuses on children who have been abandoned by choice or circumstance. “We’re trying to meet their needs physically, but we’re also trying to meet that spiritual void in their heart that they’re not worthy,” said Lisa Bonds, who founded the ministry with her husband Kevin in spring 2010. The home of Kevin’s parents is on tour.
The Bonds, who have been married 20 years, have two adopted children. “We’ve been hosting orphans since our second year of marriage,” she said.
Through their hosting experience, the Bonds developed a heart for these children. Lisa traveled to Russia, Estonia and Ukraine where she visited orphanages. The couple hosted children from Ukraine and St. Petersburg numerous times.
“God has placed in our path over the years kids that are not adoptable for some reason. I feel like that God gave me a love in my heart for those kids who aren’t adoptable and are left behind,” she said.
While visiting the Ukraine, Bonds witnessed 60 ninth-grade children discharged from their orphanage because they exceeded the eligible age. “We just happened to arrive when they were leaving,” she said.
Bonds said that children who are not adopted end up in government-run trade schools that are in awful conditions with little or no supervision. She said 70 percent of the girls end up in prostitution or sex trafficking, and the boys end up in crime.
“They can’t make it,” she said. “(The government) just doesn’t give them much to survive on.”
In response to what she experienced, Bonds was inspired by Bible scripture, Isaiah 49:15-16 where God says, “I will not forget you. See, I have you engraved in the palms of my hands.”
“I just thought (the verse) was a beautiful picture for orphans — that he’s not going to forget them,” the Woodstock resident said. “I always felt like He was going to call me out to do something different, but I just didn’t know what it was. This past, year it’s all fallen into place. I know (Engraved Orphan Ministry) is working.”
Gen. and Mrs. Tommy Bonds’ home is at 755 Casteel Road in Powder Springs. Parking will available at Still Elementary. Santa will be at their home on Dec. 11. The Aycock home is at 4410 Sylvia Drive in Marietta.
To purchase tickets for the home tour, visit www.engraved.org or www.engravedblog.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 and younger. For information, search for Engraved Orphan Ministry on Facebook or call +1(770)5005091.
