SAN ANTONIO—The ministry of Baptist Child & Family Services came full circle recently. One of the first residents of Mexican Baptist Orphans’ Home in the San Antonio—a children’s home that grew into an international human services agency—saw her own daughter become an adoptive parent.
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Gloria Hernandez Padilla (second row, far right, in black) was one of the first children at Mexican Baptist Orphans’ Home in San Antonio—the children’s home that grew into Baptist Child & Family Services. (BCFS PHOTOS)
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Gloria Hernandez Padilla arrived at the children’s home in 1944 at age 5 along with her two sisters, ages 6 and 7. Sixty-six years later, her daughter, Belinda Perez, became an adoptive parent through BCFS.
Perez was no stranger to the idea of foster care and adoption. Her mother’s passion for caring for children without a home always had been part of her life.
“My brother and I grew up going to visit the children living at the BCFS campus,” Perez said. “My mom spent 31 years teaching in San Antonio Independent School District and serving at Calvary Mexican Baptist Church, encouraging everyone she came in contact with to go out to the campus and love on the children living there.”
But last year, Perez began to consider building her own family through adoption. One day, she said, it was so clear, as though God was sending her a message to open her heart and home to a child in need.
She and her husband, Robert, met with Child Protective Services, and then turned to BCFS for help in navigating their way through the foster-care and adoption process.
Gloria Hernandez Padilla is all smiles as she sits with her biological daughter, Belinda, and her two newly adopted grandchildren, Kristen and Luke. (BCFS PHOTOS)
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On March 18, they finalized their adoption of 4-year old Kristen and 3-year old Luke. At the courthouse, Padilla and a dozen other family members and friends beamed with joy as mom and dad raised their right hands and swore to always love and care for their new son and daughter. As soon as the judge closed their case, hugs and kisses were given all around.
“You can just feel the love Belinda and Robert have for the children,” said Teresa Berkley, BCFS director of adoptions. “And without a doubt, the feeling is mutual.”
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Kristen smiled and said, “Mommy says we’re going to stay now forever!”
Wrapping her arms around her new grandson and granddaughter, Padilla’s eyes filled with tears.
“We are part of the generations of BCFS, and BCFS is now part of the generations of my family,” she said.
To find out more about BCFS’ foster and adoption services, visit www.bcfs.net.
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