Mission Makers
The Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) welcomed Perryn Carroll as their new executive director in the fall of 2022. While this was a new position for her, Carroll is no stranger to the Birmingham-based ministry founded in 1944 to share God’s life-changing love with others by serving the homeless.
Carroll has served with JHM in some capacity- including as a volunteer and board member- for more than 25 years. “[Former Mission director] Tony Cooper asked if I would join the board in the 1990s… and I was able to serve alongside Mrs. Jessie Hale,” Carroll says. Jessie Hale Downs founded the ministry with her husband Jimmie Hale. When her husband died eight months later, she continued to lead the Mission for 36 years. Carroll adds, “I often tell people I never knew Mother Teresa, but I feel like I knew Birmingham’s Mother Teresa in Mrs. Jessie.”
Carroll stepped into the role of temporary executive director when the JHM board of directors began to search for a new executive director. After a full search, Carroll was named executive director and believes this is God’s calling on her life. She credits her husband for giving her the freedom to dedicate as much time as needed to the nonprofit. Carroll and her husband Mike are both lawyers and founded a family-run law office together- Carroll & Carroll, P.C. “At some point, I just realized this [JHM] is where I need to be,” Carroll says. She believes this is God’s plan for her life and she is excited to dedicate more time to JHM. “I had to have my roller skates on and hit the ground running,” she adds.
While taking care of the homeless in Central Ala. is the heart of JHM, there are many other services. JHM believes in the saying “don’t only give someone a fish but teach them how to fish.” From research and hands-on experience, the JHM team learned that substance addiction is at the root of more than 90% of homelessness. Carroll explains this fact is why the JHM Royal Pines Recovery Center opened and also why JHM implements the Active Recovery program in all of their outreaches including Jessie’s Place for women. “We want to address the underlying factors that cause homelessness so that we can lead our clients to a lasting transformation in their lives and generations to follow,” Carroll explains, adding, “I am humbled and excited to be named to lead an amazing Mission team that works to transform adults directly affected by homelessness, addiction, or unhealthy living, into those who lead purposeful, self-sufficient, and productive lives for the glory of God.” To learn more about Carroll and JHM, visit www.jimmiehalemission.com.
-Melissa Armstrong
