About

History of Compassionate Care:

Compassionate Care Adoption Agency and Ministry to Unwed Mothers grew out of the work of the Commission on Social Issues. The Commission recommended to the General Board and then was presented by the Board at the 1987 General Association that the Social Issues Commission be instructed to incorporate a General Baptist adoption agency and ministry to unwed mothers as a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Indiana.

The licensing procedure to be incorporated in the state of Indiana continued over the better part of two years. On September 1, 1989, Compassionate Care opened its doors at Howell General Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana and began accepting applications for adoptions. This new ministry served General Baptists and other Christian families in every state through the Compassionate Care office. Mary Lou Howard was selected as the first director and served until 1991. Dr. John Clanton assumed the director’s position a short time later and faithfully directed the ministry of Compassionate Care until his tragic death in 2006.

Compassionate Care has developed over the years since its inception and has changed some of its policies. The emphasis by the turn of the century became more and more of an adoption agency through which adoptive parents were adopting babies internationally. Also, the offices of Compassionate Care were moved to Oakland City University Wilder Center in Oakland City, Indiana. Dr. Darrell W. Hillhouse became the third executive director of Compassionate Care in 2007 and continues to serve in the position today.