The Face of Kindness

Alba Mladenoff is the face of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. Anyone entering the Rollins Circle entrance is always greeted with a smile and an offering of assistance. Whether it is a book she is holding for you or a phone number she has retrieved, Alba is the one who takes care of all of us daily.

Alba came to us on January 20, 2003 from another church in our area. A recruiter who brought Alba to Peachtree Road was confident Alba was the perfect fit for our congregation. Twenty-one years later and we know Alba was and is still the “perfect fit”.

Alba knows most of our “homeless” visitors by name, estimating that there are over 1000 on file. She keeps their information handy, aiding the staff on how best to meet their needs.

Most importantly, Alba shows them kindness and respect. They, in turn, call her “Friend” and confide in her, telling her their ups and downs. Alba listens, laughs, and cries with them and even offers up a hug when needed.

The opportunity to work as the receptionist with the ministerial staff has been a great blessing to Alba. Often she looks up and says, “Thank you Lord” as she witnesses kindness shown on a daily basis.

Several years ago a young outreach client entered the church, tired and crying, wanting to go home to Miami. Carolyn Stephens, an associate pastor at the time came downstairs to offer help. After some conversation and a hot breakfast, she was given a bus ticket and a Marta card to get to the train station.

But wait….there’s more!

As breakfast was finishing up, Chef Bob came into the office area with a wonderful assortment of goodies from the previous night’s event. Thinking the traveler could use a meal later in the day, quick-thinking Alba, with the help of Diane Scanlan, knew right where to go to get baggies. As they were packing the food, Wayne Bennett came by and said he’d be right back, returning with several bottles of water.

This is the type of kindness shown daily around the church. This kindness is not an isolated incident. Lending a hand with simple acts of care and compassion is often right before our eyes.

We must have eyes to see.