Candace Hawkins, Secretary
Founder and Director of Liberty Consultants (working with children with special needs) and is now embracing being a full time mom.
Candy Hawkins, nicknamed “Chocolate” by the orphans, fell in love with them during her two visits to India in 2005 and 2006. “I saw God’s power in India. I witnessed the healing of a newborn who hadn’t stopped crying or slept for six weeks until we prayed over her. She stopped crying in my arms! Her mother came to know Christ!” The trips have permanently impacted her spiritual walk. She says, “God’s power is available in America [just as it is in India] – we just need to claim it!.” She has served as secretary of the ministry since its beginning.
EXPERIENCE
Candace became inspired to start her own ministry after seeing the great potential in special needs children who had been marginally treated and written off. She earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a pre-med focus before pursuing postgraduate certification in Neurodevelopment. In 1996, she founded Liberty4Kids with a great vision for ministering to special needs children and adults and their caregivers. The work has grown to serve families throughout the Northeast as well as several Midwestern states. During Candace’s 2005 trip to India, she was able to conduct developmental training with the teachers at the orphanage. They learned many basic terms, and were left with a greater awareness of learning disabilities, and a collection of activities to do with their students to enhance neurologically efficient function. She also worked with some of the orphans who were struggling developmentally.
Twenty years ago Candy began a children’s Bible study in complement to her mother’s Bible study for women. As her youngest sister Alexa grew up, she partnered in the teaching. In the last ten years Candy has also taught Bible studies to teenage girls and young adult women as well as teaching Primary Children’s Church at her home church. The challenge of sharing His Word with children and young ladies has been very rewarding and a blessing when given the chance to teach in India.
Candy’s love of children and her tender compassion have been a great asset on the board, while her organizational skills and business experience have provided yet another unique facet to the board’s collection of talents.
FAMILY
Candace and her husband, Nathan, welcomed their first child, Elyssa Ruth, into their lives in August of 2008. The family lives in Unionville, Connecticut.
For more information on the Liberty Consultants, visit www.liberty4kids.com