People call her “Momma T.”

And it is a badge that Theresa Biggs wears with honor. She is the founder of Exodus Chattanooga, a non-profit that provides hope, healing and housing to the most vulnerable in the community. What do families experiencing homelessness have to do with the nickname “Momma T”? Well, that is where Theresa’s story begins. 

The first chapter of Theresa’s life began during childhood in a violent, abusive home in rural Georgia. Theresa’s parents divorced when she was ten, but her new stepfather was an extremely abusive alcoholic. Despite their mother’s hard work to provide for Theresa and her siblings, they were placed in an orphanage when Theresa was twelve years old. After spending a year in the orphanage, the children were returned to the same abusive household. Theresa’s battle with addiction began at the tender age of thirteen when she began using drugs and alcohol in order to cope with the trauma and the pain. 

Theresa’s next chapter was a long saga filled with addiction, abusive relationships, three different treatments programs, and three abortions. She was unwed and pregnant with her son, Lee, in 1983 when she surrendered her life to Jesus. Although Theresa attended church regularly, she still struggled with the pain and addiction of her traumatic past.  In 1985, she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Ashley, but suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse from her daughter’s father. Theresa fled after only seven months of marriage. As a single mother of two small children, she waited tables in Waffle House where she nurtured and fed anyone who happened to cross her path. Soon, coworkers and strangers alike began to call her “Mother Theresa,” a name later shortened to “Momma T.”

Theresa worked many odd jobs over the years to support her children. After a divine encounter in 1992, she met and married her second husband who pointed her to a successful career in property management.  Theresa continued to struggle with addiction for the next twelve years. In 2002, she and her husband moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. However, Theresa’s second marriage failed a year later due to her addiction.  In 2003, she met Jim Biggs - the man who would become the love of her life and ministry partner.

Theresa began working for the Chattanooga Housing Authority in 2004.  It was while working as the Housing Navigator, which was grant-funded by the Maclellan Foundation, that Momma T realized the tremendous needs of the community’s most vulnerable individuals. Her work through the Chattanooga Housing Authority and her strong partnerships with multiple community service providers helped to remove many barriers to housing. Together, they successfully housed hundreds of homeless families and individuals. Each chapter of Momma T’s story was leading her down the path she had been destined to take. 

In April 2014, the narrative changed again. It was on Easter Sunday, while preparing for church, that Momma T heard the Lord’s call to “Go out and bring them in.” Along with a handful of faithful volunteers and her five grandchildren in tow, she traveled to 11th Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and they opened their car doors and invited “Whosoever will, come on, let’s go.” They offered friendship, food, and a ride to the church service. That day, Momma T birthed a ministry that would become known as Exodus Ministries. 

For more than five years every Sunday, Momma T and company bused more than sixty people from homeless shelters and the inner city to attend church services and enjoy a hot meal with fellowship at Abba’s House in Hixson, TN. Exodus Ministries began providing a faith-based, holistic approach to address the physical, mental, and spiritual root causes of brokenness. Services provided included housing, mentoring, transportation, referrals to drug and alcohol recovery programs, job placement, and weekly Celebrate Recovery meetings. 

On September 27, 2017, Momma T and Jim were ordained as ministers by Pastor Ron Phillips and Pastor Ronnie Phillip’s Jr. at Abba’s House in Hixson, TN, which was a promise fulfilled by the Lord. On January 1, 2020, Momma T took a leap of faith and resigned her full-time position at the Chattanooga Housing Authority to pursue her calling as Executive Director of Exodus Chattanooga.  Exodus now partners with women’s recovery programs to provide a 12-month, Christ-centered, supportive recovery program for women who are ready for the “Next Steps.”

Momma T’s passion for Abba Father’s heart and her compassion for the broken has stirred the hearts of others to join her. Today, she also travels and speaks at conferences, corporations and churches, inspiring others to help her reach the least of these with the life-changing power of the gospel. The story doesn’t end here.

You can be the hands and feet of Jesus by joining Momma T and Exodus Chattanooga in the next phase of outreach. To learn more about ways to partner click here.