PROFILES IN FAITH: Changing the World through Adoption
Charlie and Tonja Ward have a close-knit family and it springs from their upbringing. Tonja’s parents were married for 44 years before her father passed and Charlie’s parents have been married for over 48 years. Charlie has six siblings and Tonja one, and in each of their families they grew up with a strong sense of faith, love, and loyalty. They are now working to create a similar environment for their own children.
They enjoy family meal times, playtimes, training together, devotionals, watching sports, listening to and making music, and just having fun. They believe in working hard at everything they do and that includes playing hard.
That attitude certainly gave form to their individual careers. Tonja graduated from Spelman College and went on to get a law degree from the University of Miami. Since graduation she has run several companies specializing in athletics, fitness and nutrition. She is presently an at-home mom, and working as a freelance health and fitness writer. She will soon be finishing up a certification in communication specializing in health and fitness journalism. Charlie has also excelled in his career. He was the 1993 Heisman Trophy Winner and helped lead Florida State University to their first ever National Championship. Though he excelled in football, basketball and baseball, he made his mark in the NBA, playing for the Knicks, Spurs and the Houston Rockets. Since retiring, he now works as the head football coach for Westbury Christian School. Just last year, Charlie was awarded the John Wooden Keys to Life Award, given for continued excellence and integrity on and off the court.
The Wards have two biological children, Caleb (age 12) and Hope (age 8). They are very blessed as a family, and felt God was calling them to share their love with an orphan. As the Wards researched adoption they were compelled by the sheer size of the needs that existed. They were mentored by close friends, Tony and Lauren Dungy and Mark and Katheryn Richt, who helped them to see that they were uniquely equipped to take on this role. Their children were also excited about the chance to adopt and to have another sibling to love. They especially pursued the opportunity to adopt an African-American son, which is the most overlooked segment of foster and adoptive communities.
In 2010, the Wards adopted Joshua, who was born in 2008. Tonja says that bringing Joshua into their family has been a great joy. They have learned in a deeper way how to be hospitable and welcoming. It has not been without its challenges, but all the obstacles are character building. They’ve learned how to rely on God, grow in their appreciation, and be grateful for daily miracles. She says that Caleb and Hope have learned compassion and in small ways have begun to understand Joshua’s beginnings and have been patient with him as he blended into their family. Charlie and Tonja make it clear that it has helped their own characters as they worked to grow in faith, being slow to speak, quick to listen and self-controlled in the face of family adversity. Their faith increases daily as they see God work in their lives and in the life of their children, Caleb, Hope, and Joshua.
Tonja advises that the desire to adopt should be prayerful, God-led, and not driven by selfish desires. She recommends talking to as many adoptive families as possible, researching the pros and cons, and by faith deciding to make a difference in the life of a needy child.
Charlie and Tonja says they were motivated to love and adopt for a child’s sake, but God has used that child, Joshua, to help refine their own character. The Ward’s say that raising godly children in today’s world may seem overwhelming, but there is so much joy that comes. It may come in buckets or drips, but it’s all good and they count every bit of it as joy!
Editor’s Note: Charlie and Tonja are members of the Greater Houston Church. If you would like to ask them more about their experience with adoption, you can email them:
(Charlie) cward2117@gmail.com and (Tonja) tonjaward@aol.com.
