Corrine Moore – Glorifying God as a single mother

Transformations – Corrine Moore

By Naomi Wallace

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:11

“Servant, grateful, gentle mother, strong and passionate” are common words that describe one of our amazing sisters in the South Sound Church of Christ, Corrine Moore. She is a single mom with a 13-year old son, named Roger. Although the statistics of single parent homes in the United States are disheartening, Corrine doesn’t identify or allow the numbers to label who she is as a single mom. According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005, which was released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2007, there are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States today. Of the 13.6 million single parents, 84% of them are custodial mothers. Of these mothers, 79% are employed, and 56% of them raise one child. Many of these single parents do not choose to be single, but due to their life circumstances they end up raising their children alone.

When Corrine looks back on her past, she remembers being challenged in her life at an early age; starting with witnessing her mother and father separate and choose which child each should get. She was decided to stay with her mom, and her twin brother with her father. Soon after she graduated high school, she left home and met Roger’s dad. At the time, she believed him to be her knight and shining armor, but after living with him her dream became her nightmare of abuse, loud arguments, and suffering from a low self-esteem and self-worth. It wasn’t until she gave birth to Roger that she sought help from the Lord. And a year later, He answered her prayers in providing a spiritual friendship with Jeanette Kemp who worked with her during the night shift at Tacoma Lutheran Nursing Home.

Corrine immediately soaked up the church fellowship, sermons, answered prayers, high accountability, and the multiculturalism among the members. She was baptized on August 2^nd, 1998. Ever since then, she has constantly served the church and those around her because of her gratitude towards God for “saving” her life. She is most certainly thankful that God’s family became her own family since there was a familial absence from her relatives. A few names she mentioned that she is fond of were: the Shockley’s, Markieta Marks, Lisa Rucks, and the women who studied with her; Jeanette Kemp and Debra Jones.  With their friendship and accountability, she believes is a better mom, friend, and sister in Christ because of them.

Markieta Marks, one of her dearest friends, says this of Corrine’s life and faith: “When I first met Corrine, she didn’t have the desire to dream.  She is a dreamer now.  The things I admire about Corrine is her commitment to God and receiving input from people in all walks of life about her life and raising her son.  She never gives the excuse of people not understanding, but values their knowledge.  Whatever she accomplishes, an answered prayer or even encouraging news, she gives all the credit to God, not desiring any of the credit, and shares it with anyone willing to listen.  Her life is an open book, a quality that carries her closely with her relationship with God and her friends.  Through her ups and downs, she stays committed to her faith and encouraging others.  She has been an incredible example to her teen son, who has turned out to be a child that many would love to have as their own!”

Although being a single mom is challenging, Corrine is very positive about her experience. God’s generosity has led her to believe with all her heart that she has been provided for and taken care of throughout the years. Since the day he was born, she has prayed that Roger would have the best life possible and not to be a statistic of a fatherless child or be limited of a natural family structure. She hopes that one day Roger will also choose to love God and to build a deep and personal relationship with Him.

Corrine is an amazing mom and sister in Christ. Her son, Roger will says it best, “My mom is very supportive. When I tell her anything, like what I want to do in my life, she has always supported me and doesn’t tell me what I can and can’t do. She is also fun! We cook together, and she always helps me when I cook something and shows me the right way to do things. I hope that my mom gets a great job and succeeds in her career; the massage field.” You are right, Roger. You do have a fantastic mom!

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