Clement Arts helps families with adoption process

Allison Maguire and her husband, Kris, were halfway through an 18-month adoption process when the Columbus couple received a surprising phone call.

A representative of Clement Arts called to ask if the Maguires would allow the nonprofit organization to be part of their adoption by raising funds for the family.

"We were amazed that this sweet group of people would want to help us simply because they shared God's heart for orphans and wanted to be the hands and feet of God by showing us love in a way that made a difference in our little girl's life and our family's," Allison said.

She said while the organization was kind to raise funds, a bigger blessing was the way people selflessly gave up time, talents and money to bless a family they barely knew.

"Clement Arts is dear to our hearts," she said.

Established in 2012, Clement Arts provides ongoing opportunities for the community to financially support families who are in the process of adoption. Money is raised through shows, dancing and art classes taught at its headquarters in the former Porter Memorial Church on 40th Street in Columbus.

One example of these fundraisers is a show to be held Feb. 27 at St. Mark United Methodist Church, featuring Dove Award winning singer Ellie Holcomb, author Jonathan Rogers and visual artist Gina Hurry.

Clement Arts is the brainchild of Brad Griffith, a TSYS programmer. "Celebrating the Gospel Through Arts and Orphan Care" is the organization's motto.

Griffith said the word clement means merciful, that God cares deeply for the orphan so the music and art become a platform for the "merciful call to orphan care."

"We want to raise awareness not just for the need to adopt, but also for people to get involved in foster care," said Griffith, who serves as president of the organization. "There is a shortage of foster care parents."

Griffith is a musician who has performed professionally. While working on a recording project, he decided to use profits from the sales of an album to aid a friend pursuing an adoption.

The friend decided not to adopt, but Griffith thought it would be a good idea to help others.

"The average cost of an adoption is $30,000," he said. "Adoption can be daunting. People are in shock about how much is demanded. Having someone to give support is a big deal for families."

Griffith grew up in Smiths Station, Ala., where he and his wife, Katie, live. They have two teenage children and as foster parents care for a baby.

Faith plays a big part for the Griffith family.

"I am a Christian," Brad said. "We are not saying each family needs to adopt, but God wants us to help those who can't speak for themselves. Our organization exists to give people a chance to help."

No one church is connected to Clement Arts.

"We get support from different places," Griffith said.

Local families who receive aid are chosen by a board of directors. Some people adopt because they can't have children.

"Some just feel a calling to help kids in orphanages," Griffith said.

He said Clement Arts instructors get paid but are people who "have a heart for the ministry."

There is no fee for foster children.

Allison called Clement Arts' work "very cool."

The Maguires have been married eight years. Kris teaches math at Hardaway High School and Allison is a stay-at-home mom. They have two biological children, Kate and Annie. They adopted their daughter, Ellie, from China in April 2013. Ellie was 15 months old then.

"To say we were humbled by the love of so many people would be an understatement -- we were completely blown away," Allison said. "Clement Arts will forever be part of our family and a piece of our daughter's story."

Asked why the family adopted, she said it goes back to her youth.

"When I was very young, around 5 years old, I remember watching a commercial for an organization that allowed people to sponsor children in other countries who didn't have families and didn't have enough to eat," Allison said. "I looked at their little faces and wondered why they couldn't come and live with us and be part of our family. We had plenty to eat and I wished I could share my room and all of my toys with them. It wasn't God's plan for my parents to adopt back then, but as I grew older, God matured that desire and I knew I would adopt one day. When I met my husband and told him of my desire, he was very open to it. As we prayed through it in the years following, we began to understand God's heart for orphans, and the bigger picture of the Gospel, how God adopts His children into His family and gives us the same privileges as his son, Jesus."

And Clement Arts made everything easier for them.

For information about the organization, visit www.clement-arts.org.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Clement Arts helps families with adoption process ."