In Memory of Beth Ratliff Venable

Beth's Life Gives Life!

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) and her husband boasts of and praises her saying "Many women have done virtuously, nobly, and well (with strength of character that is steadfast in goodness) but you excel them all. Proverbs 31:28-29.

Beth Venable loved the Lord, loved her husband, and loved her 4 children with all her heart. She had a passion for orphans, which led to the adoption of their son from Ethiopia in 2011. Due to complications from an unexpected brain surgery, Beth went home to be with the Lord on August 24, 2012. Beth's loving kindness was an inspiration to many. Her husband, Michael, asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Ordinary Hero on Beth's behalf. He wants to see her life lived on through the countless number of orphans who can be saved because of the life that Beth lived here on earth.

After a trip to Ethiopia in October of 2012, Michael decided that he wanted the Beth Venable Memorial Fund to help launch the Ordinary Hero Life Center in Ethiopia. This Life Center offers a warm and inviting place for adoptive families to stay during the adoption process while in Ethiopia, giving them their first night free of charge and a loving place for them to bond with their new child for the first time. The Life Center also houses all of the OH Mission teams along with guests and teams from other organizations and church groups throughout the year as they serve children in need. This Life Center continues to be a blessing to our teams and adoptive families as they show love and support to children in need while serving in Ethiopia. 

We thank you for your continued support of the Beth Venable Memorial Fund! We count on your support to keep the Life Center and other projects through the Beth Venable Fund running strong. This memorial page will continue to stay open for all who feel led to give.

Michael has now moved the goal to $100,000! Let's help him reach that goal during the month of August which approaches the two year mark of Beth's death. Please consider selecting the monthly option to allow your gift to be stretched further throughout the year. 

Be sure to watch the Ordinary Hero Life Center video to see a glimpse of Beth's story and see the lives that she is touching through the Life Center in Ethiopia! It truly is amazing! 

  CLICK HERE to see the exciting development of Korah Beth Coffee in Ethiopia, as we watch Beth's Legacy continue to bless those she was so passionate about. 

We want to say congratulations to Michael on his marriage to Sarah this past year! Sarah has been a blessing to this family. She traveled to Ethiopia with Michael this summer and gained the same passion and committment to keeping Beth's legacy alive in Ethiopia, while seeing first hand the lives that are being changed.