By Lindsey Williams
Writing Specialist
The Christian Action Commission (CAC) hosted their 23rd annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast on February 4 at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, welcoming Mississippi’s senators and representatives with a hardy meal and a well-deserved break during their busy time in session.
The House Band from the Mississippi House of Representatives led a time of worship with folksy hymns and praise songs, followed by Shawn Parker, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, who prayed over the legislators.
This year, Sean Milner, Executive Director of the Baptist Children’s Village and Family Ministries, served as guest speaker at the invitation of Kenny Digby, CAC Executive Director-Treasurer.
Digby introduced Milner as “a man of character who is respected at the Capitol as the former vice chairman of the Ethics Commission.”
At two years old, Milner, his mother, and his four siblings were abandoned by his father, a habitual criminal, on a park bench in Sacramento, California. His oldest brother was only six years old; his youngest, born just five days prior. Through churches, charity, and begging, his mother collected enough money to sustain her family and take them back to her hometown of Port Gibson. From then on, she struggled with alcoholism. At five years old, Milner became a resident at the Baptist Children’s Village.
As a child, Milner did not consider himself an orphan, knowing that his parents were still alive. As he came to understand, however, the word for “orphan” as used in Scripture does not mean a child whose parents are dead. Instead, the word means “someone without a protector or a guide, without a person from whom an identity would pass down, without someone to give instruction.”
“Orphans are very near and dear to God’s heart,” said Milner. “It is evidenced in the Bible how close they are to His heart by the number of statutes and laws He wrote about orphans in His commands to His people.
“The Hebrew word for ‘fatherless’ was used 42 times in the Old Testament. Sixteen of those times, God uses that word to tell His people how they are to treat orphans. Four of those times, God warns what He will do if you mistreat orphans. Nine times, God describes the poor treatment of orphans as ungodly acts. Four times, God describes Himself as the orphan’s protector.”
To the legislators, Milner affirmed, “As I think of our orphans here in Mississippi — those without someone to step in and do the work that God ordained the family to do — that describes the children and the families that you work with and pass laws to protect.”
The Baptist Children’s Village and Family Ministries does not receive any money from the state of Mississippi in exchange for the services it provides; it raises 100% of the money that is spent on the children. Milner explained that they are able to do so because of legislation passed in support of its endeavors.
“You passed the Children’s Promise Act, the Eligible Transitional Home Organization Act, the Pregnancy Resource Charitable Organization Act,” said Milner. “You created and you support the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. We are in partnership with you and we are so grateful for you because of your ministry to us.”
“As orphans, we are the benefactors of your obedience to God,” continued Milner. “We are not victims. We are not success stories. We’re just people that were in need of a little help. What we do with your help is our responsibility, not yours. Your success is measured by one thing: your obedience to God and His commands to provide for, to protect, and to care for orphans. I thank God that we have lawmakers who are obedient to His command.”
Rep. Lance Varner serves the 62nd District and is in his third year in office. Having attended every Legislative Prayer Breakfast during his tenure, Varner commented on this year’s presentation, “I thought the speaker was incredible. My parents ‘adopted’ two kids through Christmas time to give them a Christmas, and that’s when we really started paying attention to the Baptist Children’s Village. I’m a Baptist minister myself; I was at First Baptist Florence for 15 years, and have always given to the Baptist Children’s Village, but I had never heard (Milner’s) story and his heart until today. He is an incredible guy.”
Serving his first term, Sen. Lane Taylor from the 18th District succeeded senator Jenifer Branning after her election to the Mississippi Supreme Court. He commended, “I had heard about the Baptist Children’s Village along the way, but today was very informative. I am working on a bill protecting foster children’s money once they leave CPS (Child Protective Services), so I enjoyed this morning.
“The House Band and the food were really good. Overall, when you get through deadline day and when you wake up the next morning to go back on the floor, gathering with a group of guys and believers like this raises your spirits up. We got to hear good songs, a good word, good prayer, and then be ready to head back over there to the Capitol.”
Milner’s wife, Elizabeth, attended the event with him and shared how his own legal experience has opened doors. “Sean practiced law for 25 years,” said Elizabeth. “Men like him can do so much good because they can navigate so many things. He uses that knowledge in many ways, even in writing legislation nationally. He goes to Washington, D.C., all the time. Every bit of that is so valuable.”
“It means a lot to me that on Tuesday mornings a Bible study and a prayer time happens over in the Capitol,” said Digby to the legislators. “It means the world what you do for all of us and that you will be down here sacrificing time away from your families and your home until the end of March. We appreciate what you all do.”
Comments are closed.