Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cheryl Howard.
Hi Dr. Cheryl , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was a child from hard places. When my parents were unable to provide the stability we needed, my siblings and I were raised by my aunt and uncle. I made many mistakes along the way, but the foundation my caregivers gave me helped me turn my life around.
That experience created a passion for helping children and families. My journey began with an in-home daycare, and God continued to lead me through a Christian childcare center, a women and children’s shelter, Early Head Start, CPS, and eventually foster care.
Each experience prepared me for the next and ultimately led to Accompanied by God’s Love (AGL). Today, I have the opportunity to give children from hard places what was once given to me—a safe place, support, love, and an opportunity for a brighter future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was believing that I could actually do what God called me to do. There were times when I questioned whether I had enough resources, knowledge, or support to fulfill the vision.
Over time, I learned that when God gives a vision, He will also provide what is needed to accomplish it. I had to stop focusing on what I lacked and trust Him with what I had. The journey has required faith, perseverance, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when I could not see how everything would work out.
Some of my greatest challenges ultimately strengthened my faith and taught me that provision does not always come before the assignment—sometimes it comes as you walk in obedience.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Accompanied by God’s Love?
Accompanied by God’s Love (AGL) is a faith-based child-placing agency dedicated to serving children and families involved in foster care and adoption. We provide safe, nurturing homes and individualized support for children who have experienced difficult circumstances.
What sets AGL apart is that we don’t focus only on the child in care—we focus on the family as a whole. We are engaged with our foster families, we pray with and for them, support them through challenges, and celebrate their milestones and victories.
We also pray for and support the biological families because we recognize that they are an important part of the child’s story. When families can heal, grow, and safely reunify, children benefit. Our goal is not to replace families, but to support healing, permanency, and the best possible future for each child.
At AGL, we believe that if we provide the paint, the child can recreate the picture. A child’s past is part of their story, but it does not have to define their future. We provide the tools, resources, opportunities, support, and love to help children create a new picture for their lives.
I am most proud that our name reflects who we are: Accompanied by God’s Love. We want every child and family we encounter to know they do not have to walk their journey alone.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Houston is its heart. We are a large and diverse city, but when there is a need, Houstonians have a way of coming together to help. That spirit of generosity extends beyond our city—we believe in helping others whether they are here in Houston, in another state, or even overseas.
What I like least is probably the busyness of the city. The traffic and commute can definitely be challenging! But even with the traffic, Houston is a loving city filled with people who genuinely care about their communities and one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.accompaniedbygodslove.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partnerwithus1
