Meet the Women at NAOBC – Kimber Graves
On Mondays, we’ll take time to meet the women of NAOBC. Five questions followed by how you can connect with the NAOBC women on social media. Today’s interview is with Kimber Graves.
Q: Tell us about yourself
A: I have been married to Scott for 30 years. We live on the “other side” of the river in Sellersburg, Indiana (Hoosiers really aren’t that bad, I promise!). We have 3 children, one lovely daughter-in-law, and an amazing grandbaby. Our son, Ethan, is a graduate of SBTS and is an associate pastor at a church in Coltsneck, New Jersey. He lives there with his wife, Nicole, and their six-month-old, Marcus. Our daughter, Anna, is a sophomore at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, where she is majoring in math and actuarial science, and plays on the tennis team. Our youngest, Emma, is a senior in high school and is planning to attend Cedarville University next year. Though I spent many years as an at-home mom, I currently have two part-time jobs. I am the doctoral style reader at SBTS, which just means I read all dissertations and theses for formatting and style compliance. I also work as a Care Manager for a ministry called Chosen, which helps children heal from trauma by strengthening families. I have worked for 17 years with adoptive, foster, and kinship families and it is one of my greatest earthly passions!
Q: Tell us about your time at NAOBC
A: We have been members at NAOBC since 2018, and we are a part of Jeff Elieff’s BFG (our class sports the letters “AC” in front of our room number, but I am in denial that those letters stand for “advanced couples”!) I served on the Missions Team until last year, when Covid forced us to restructure our outings due to a family member’s health issues.
Q: What is a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I don’t have a hometown because my Dad spent his career in the Army. When I was a 17-year-old senior in high school, I had lived in 14 different places. I married an Army man, so we also spent the early years of our marriage traveling the globe. I have lived in Thailand, Germany, and all over the US. I am happy to say that the southern Indiana/Louisville area has been more of a home base for me than anywhere else.
Q: What woman has made the most impact in your life?
A: My Mom (Julia McMahan) has made the most significant impact in my life. She has been a godly example, a fierce advocate, and my biggest cheerleader. It doesn’t hurt that she makes some mean cheese grits, chicken and dumplings, and chocolate pie! It is a gift to call her friend in adulthood.
Q: What is something the Lord has taught you in the last year?
A: The last year has been filled with so many emotions – fear about the health of loved ones who are at-risk, sadness for my daughter who missed the rites of passage from her senior year, concern for the other daughter living in a virtual educational world, and anxiety about my first grandbaby growing up in a country and world that is unraveling at the seams. In every emotion I have encountered, God has given me daily doses of His character: peace that only He can offer, hope in what we can’t see (when all that we do see looks desperate), and love through the generosity and kindness of other believers. Truly, nothing else matters apart from following Christ!
You can follow Kimber on Instagram @graveskimber
