History of One by One

One by One Ministries was developed in Texas in the mid-1990's as part of a major family strategy formed by people of faith in San Antonio, Texas.

Out of this planning, a mandate evolved for ministering to families, and especially mentoring of expectant and new Moms. It would be the top priority for many churches in the San Antonio metroplex. To meet this mandate, One by One Ministries, Inc. (One by One) was officially incorporated in 1998 and obtained IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2003.

The original co-founders included Dr. Harold Hime with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board; Evelyn Herbert, retired educator and graphic artist; Linda Hibner, Program Director and Camille Simmons, Executive Director. Together, they provided essential leadership through the early development of a pilot program in San Antonio, TX as well as the development of curriculum to be used in the ministry.

One by One's program, curriculum, and ministry delivery were carefully researched and developed alongside the San Antonio ministry pilot from 1995 through 2004 and, on a smaller scale, in Dallas. An evaluation plan utilizing widely-used home-visit software produced a database which tracks every Mentor/Mom match. The original evaluation system was designed by medical and community service professionals and was then reviewed/revised in 2008/2009 by the Baylor University School of Social Work, Waco, Texas. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Nursing and volunteers from the Urban Child Institute of Memphis TN also partnered with One by One in Memphis to review and improve One by One's evaluation processes. In 2020 professional nurse educators from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing reviewed and updated our curriculum for relevance and current standards/trends in maternal and newborn health.

In 2008, the Memphis, TN Ministry region was added with critical funding and support by several major North American donors. A collaboration (Powerlines Hickory Hill Southeast Memphis) was formed to implement One by One's mentoring ministries through local churches in specific neighborhoods identified by government and medical research as having the greatest need. Through this collaboration, One by One is now partnering with highly respected Memphis-based service organizations such as Agape Child and Family Services, the Church Health Center, & Families Matter, the ARISE Initiative and the Early Success Coalition Network to provide church recruitment, mentors, and family support networks, involving churches throughout the city in active ministry in neighborhoods of need.

2011 saw the ministry begin to form in Dallas and North Texas area. Ministry support was provided with local funding for staffing, training and recruitment of collaborative churches and family referral agencies. The community of faith was responsive and provided both volunteers and financial support to an essential ministry seen as critical to the rising rates of single and teen pregnancies across the nation, and especially in Texas. Pregnancy care centers and other community health agencies stepped up to provide referrals to One by One. The headquarters offices were relocated from San Antonio, TX to Memphis, TN in late 2014 to better serve the ministry. With the retirement of the remaining founding directors (Simmons/Hibner) that year, the ministry looked to new leadership and an opportunity to build on the years of investment provided by the founders. With a growing ministry in Dallas, One by One was selected to be the fourteenth collaborative partner of Serve West Dallas, a backbone non-profit agency serving the needs of the under-resourced community of West Dallas. This premiere collaborative association is a national model that demonstrates the clear advantages of multiple agencies working together to provide "wrap-around" services needed by under-resourced families. Today, One by One is strategically positioned to extend the reach of the Gospel and the need for parental nurturing during early childhood development to other urban areas across the country.

One by One's past has been clearly marked with God’s intervention and direction. From the beginnings in Texas to more recent ministry development in Tennessee, Texas and Mississippi, One by One is fulfilling their God-given mission...

Improving the lives of babies and their families and impacting the future of our world...One Generation at a time!