Meet Christal Gavin of Columbus, Ga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christal Gavin.

Hi Christal , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in California, but much of my adult life was spent traveling with my husband’s military career. The South quickly became one of our favorite places to be and where we spent most of our time raising our family. In 2016, we moved to Columbus, GA, for his final duty station at Fort Benning. When he retired, we knew this was where we wanted to stay—we loved the community, the area, and the weather, and it felt like home.

Not long after arriving, we became aware of the foster care crisis. Georgia has seen a 60% drop in foster homes since 2021, leaving over 10,000 children in care across the state. In our own Muscogee County, there are more than 500 children in foster care, but fewer than 30 state foster homes are available. Faced with that reality, our family decided to step in and foster.

We became one of the first foster families to live on post, which came with unique challenges and extra steps. I began blogging about our experiences and started a Facebook group to support other military families who were considering fostering. At the same time, our church partnered with Clement Arts, and they wrapped around our family in a powerful way—bringing meals, providing babysitting, and mentoring the six children in our home. They quickly became the extended family we didn’t have nearby, since all our relatives were still in California.

That model of church-based support was one of the main reasons we were able to foster more than 15 children over five years. Inspired, I began helping military families on post form similar support systems for each other. Our foster children also participated in Clement Arts programs, and I fell in love with the organization’s mission to care for vulnerable children through the gospel and the arts.

In 2019, the founder of Clement Arts reached out after hearing about my volunteer work and asked if I would join the team to help local churches launch the Care Community model. I was thrilled to say yes. For the next three years, I served in church engagement and training before being offered the Executive Director position at the end of 2023.

Though my role has shifted, my passion has not—I remain deeply grateful to be part of this meaningful work, walking alongside families and churches as we care for children together.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a completely smooth road. Personally, I’ve had to navigate imposter syndrome, especially when stepping into the role of Executive Director. I believe wholeheartedly in our mission, and I bring experience as a foster parent, advocate, and in early education, but areas like fundraising were new to me.

In these areas, where I have no formal training, it’s easy to feel inadequate. Additionally, our founder, Brad Griffith, who was also a friend, passed away suddenly shortly after I was hired. I deeply wanted to honor his legacy and carry out our mission well. It was in those moments that I had to remind myself that I am not doing this work alone.

I am surrounded by an incredible, capable team, and we have amazing volunteers, church partners, and community supporters. All of these people are equally passionate about the work we do, and it’s their dedication that makes the real difference. I’ve learned to lean into the strengths of others, to delegate wisely, and to trust that the collective effort of our network will carry the mission forward. Ultimately, the work we do only happens because of this incredible team and community, and that gives me confidence that things will always be okay.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Clement Arts exists to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable, foster, and adoptive families through gospel-centered care and creative experiences. At our core, we believe that every child and family is valuable and deserves to be seen, supported, and encouraged. We focus on meeting vulnerable families where they are—before, during, and after foster care—and helping them build stability, reduce trauma, and feel empowered.

What makes Clement Arts unique is that we don’t separate care and creativity—they work hand-in-hand. On one side, we equip local churches to lead the care response for families through Family Advocacy Ministries. Volunteers provide practical, consistent support—meals, mentoring, tangible items, advocacy, and parenting classes—so families don’t have to navigate the challenges of caring for vulnerable children alone. We also provide trauma-informed care training to our volunteers to ensure that all support is sensitive, safe, and effective.

On the other side, our Clement Arts Studio offers arts education to over 400 students each year. Our programs—including ballet, culinary arts, visual arts, and martial arts—are open to the public while also serving a significant percentage of vulnerable students, including foster youth. Families choose to attend classes not only because of our high-quality, gospel-centered instruction, but also because they know their tuition helps support vulnerable children and families in our community. Our programs help kids develop confidence, explore creativity, and process experiences in a safe, joyful environment. We see the arts not just as something fun to do, but as a way to heal, build identity, and reflect God’s creativity in their lives.

By combining church-led care with arts education, we create a network of support that strengthens families, builds community, and gives children the tools and encouragement they need to thrive. It’s all grounded in what we call the Clement Creed: Because God made me, I am valuable. I am beautiful. Because He made me a maker, I can bring value. I can add beauty.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I’m passionate about caring for vulnerable children—especially those impacted by or at risk of entering foster care—and that passion is at the heart of Clement Arts’ mission. I believe we have both a biblical and a social responsibility to care for these children. Not everyone is called to be a foster or adoptive parent, but I feel that all are called to care in some way, and there are many ways to get involved.

The arts remind us that creativity can be part of everything we do—including how we serve others. For example, some of our volunteers prepare meals to stock our studio freezer, supporting foster families who are juggling big emotions and busy schedules. Others provide tangible items like diapers, car seats, and food to low-income families who, because of poverty, are at risk of their children entering foster care. We even have volunteers who share their time teaching life skills and artistic skills, whether through sewing, mixed media, or pottery classes.

It’s incredible to see the many different, creative ways people engage in caring for vulnerable children. That variety of involvement is part of what makes this work so meaningful, and it’s why I’m so passionate about what we do—because every act of care, big or small, helps a child or family feel seen, valued, and supported.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clement-arts.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clement_arts/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clementartsga/

Image Credits
Marina Gomez Photography