Current Events: 2008

Challenge Gift Matches Your Gift Dollar for Dollar!

November 26, 2008

In the face of tough economic challenges, boys and girls at Baptist Children's Homes need your help more than ever. From now until the end of the year, your gift to Baptist Children's Homes will be matched dollar for dollar up to the Challenge Gift total. BCH must match the Challenge Gift total by January 2008. ACT NOW! Click here to give online.

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BCH President Featured on Fox 8 WGHP News

November 19, 2008

Baptist Children's Homes president Michael C. Blackwell was featured on the Fox 8 WGHP news on November 18. Veteran news anchor Neill McNeill visited BCH's Mills Home in Thomasville and interviewed Blackwell for “Newsmakers,” an in-depth feature McNeill regularly produces.

McNeill conducted an extensive interview with Blackwell regarding his 25 years of leadership at Baptist Children’s Homes, his insights on the state of children and families, and his days before becoming BCH President.

Click on the Fox 8 website to watch the video in its entirety plus the bonus web-only video with additional interview footage.

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Support the 2008 Offering

September 22, 2008

Click here to visit the 2008 Offering page. Watch this year's video, "A Loving Touch." Learn how you and your church can help Baptist Children's Homes meet this year's $1,410,000 offering goal.

The 2008 offering theme, A Loving Touch is inspired by God's great love for children. Mark 10:13-16: “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

The Week of Prayer - November 16 - 23

Set aside a week to pray for Baptist Children’s Homes and use this guide as you pray. The official week of prayer for BCH is November 16 - 23.

We covet your prayers. We seek heavenly guidance and inspiration in all that we do. As you pray this week, remember you are a part of “helping hurting children…healing broken families.”

Sunday. Pray for all children and families in North Carolina.

Monday. Pray for all the hundreds of children and families to whom we offer hope each year.

Tuesday. Pray for all the dedicated child care workers, residential care givers, and Chiefs who give of themselves around the clock to care for our boys and girls.

Wednesday. Pray for our social workers who guide, encourage and challenge our children and families to be all that God intends.

Thursday. Pray for those who live at all of BCH’s homes for developmentally disabled adults.

Friday. Pray for the new Oak Ranch ministry and BCH’s new equine therapy program.

Saturday. Pray for BCH president Michael C. Blackwell as he leads the institution boldly into the future.

Sunday. Pray that you will be sensitive to the hurting children around you

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September Events Provide Church Opportunities

September 05, 2008

Friends of Children Fall Workdays
Events are held at Kennedy Home in Kinston, Odum Home in Pembroke, Mills Home in Thomasville and Oak Ranch in Sanford. These are special opportunitities for individuals to see and participate in the ministry. From cleaning, painting to planting, participants help with special projects, tour cottages and campsites, and have lunch with children and staff members. Registration is required.

Friends of Children also kicks-off this year's Thanksgiving Offering emphasis. Be among the first to see this year's new video, "A Loving Touch."

Schedule:
8:30 am to 9 am - Arrival, Registration, and Project Assignments
Noon - Lunch (BCH's treat) and Thanksgiving Offering Kick-Off
1:30 pm - Optional Tours

Friends of Children dates are:

Mills Home in Thomasville
THE SEPTEMBER 6 WORKDAY IS CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

Oak Ranch in Sanford
Saturday, September 13

Kennedy Home in Kinston
Saturday, September 20

Odum Home in Pembroke
Saturday, September 20

For more information on these events or future events, call 1-800-476-3669, ext. 1277.

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BCH President Celebrating 25 Years at the Helm

July 07, 2008

The following feature story about Baptist Children's Homes president Michael C. Blackwell appeared on the front page of the June 26 edition of the Lexington newspaper, The Dispatch.

BCH President Celebrating 25 Years at the Helm
By Jill Doss-Raines

THOMASVILLE - As the only child of Clitus and Viola Blackwell, Dr. Michael C. Blackwell never knew anything but love from his parents.

It's kind of ironic that this only child grew up to become the "father" of the largest family in the state - the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina - whose focus is helping to heal children and broken families.

Now nearly 25 years after he first became president of Baptist Children's Homes, Blackwell, 66, doesn't see retirement in his near future. There is still work that needs to be done to help the state's families and children, and it is work he said he is passionate about completing.

In May, Blackwell announced BCH's intentions to begin a girls' wilderness camp in Aberdeen, modeled on the successful Cameron Boys Camp. There are also plans to build group homes in Ahoskie and Edenton and to begin a statewide crisis hotline. In addition, he also wants to build two homes for adults with developmental disabilities in Raleigh and has already begun planning a huge celebration for BCH's 125th anniversary in 2010.

"I don't even want to think about retirement," he said recently while sitting in his office in the McFarland Building on the Thomasville Mills Home campus. "My saying is I don't think about it because then I have to think about it."

When Blackwell came to BCH on July 1, 1983, the organization had eight or nine locations across the state. Today, there are 16 locations, which includes six residential campuses. BCH has more than 350 full-time employees and an $18 million annual budget. In 2007, the organization served more than 1,500 children and 1,400 families.

Blackwell is able to garner the public's support for his passion of helping children and families through his astute speaking skills, writings and plain ol' trustworthiness, said those who know him well. His alumni and current children residents also play an important role in fundraising, offering testimonials at churches across the state. Blackwell said that he always wants to be trustworthy to everyone he comes in contact with as a representative of BCH from the children and staff to the donors and legions of Baptist churches that are the organization's primary form of support.

"Anytime I can be with the children, donors or supporters, I love it," he said. "I love to tell the story."

Jennie Counts, who retired as vice president executive administration in September after working with Blackwell for 19 years, said he has not only powerful public speaking and writing skills he uses to help benefit BCH but also a true concern for the groups and individuals he comes in contact with every day.

"He has a gift, and he honors that gift," she said. "He doesn't use it in a selfish way."

BCH has grown and continued to stay ahead of the changing needs of North Carolina's children and families because Blackwell is a visionary, she added.

"Had he not been with BCH, I am not sure the agency would have moved from only child care to the field of family services," she said. "That was a quite a move."

Before Baptist Children's Homes

While Blackwell has been at the helm of BCH for nearly 25 years, his first career was not with the organization or other nonprofits. After graduating from Frank L. Ashley High School in Gastonia, Blackwell headed off to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was a glorious time for his parents who had seen so much potential in their only son and had pushed him to use all his gifts.

Their expectations might have crushed some children trying to live up to such a high standard, but thankfully the Blackwells' only child was a natural-born attention seeker who liked being out front.

"I was the only egg in their basket so to speak," he said. "All their hopes capsulated in me."

He hit campus in the 1960s ready to be a newsman. He covered the college administration and civil rights protests and marches for the campus newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, and as a correspondent for the Charlotte Observer and the now-defunct Raleigh Times.

"I enjoyed being a reporter," he said. "I say all my education doesn't necessarily show on my transcript."

He worked three years in the news business after college but felt a tug toward the ministry, which he answered. Blackwell earned his Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest. He ministered at churches in Beaufort, Garner, Carthage and Richmond, Va., before coming to BCH. He married his wife, Catherine Kanipe, in 1967. They have two children and two granddaughters.

Coming to BCH

"One day my telephone rang, and I was told my name was being considered for a position here (BCH)," he said. "I didn't apply and didn't even know the position was open. It was just a natural progression of my calling."

When Blackwell arrived, BCH, like many children's homes, was in a transitional phase and needed a leader to move the organization into a broader role of helping not only children but their families.

"At some point, we realized we were going to have to deal with the whole family," he said. "Every child who came here wanted to go back to their parents."

Social workers began not only working with the children but the parents. They set goals, attended counseling and worked to be reunited. BCH is the largest children's home network in the Southeast and the N.C. Baptists' oldest and largest institution, having been organized in 1885.

"I think the fact that we still have an organization that is vibrant and vital is remarkable and says a lot," he said. "... We've had a lot of change."

Sterling Wall, a longtime trustee who is the fourth generation of his family to serve a support role with BCH, has known Blackwell for 25 years. He stressed that Blackwell is always looking for ways to keep BCH and its needs in the spotlight.

"He is totally devoted to helping hurting children," he said. "That is his crown as far as I am concerned. He is also devoted to healing hurting families. He has brought a lot of new programs to Baptist Children's Homes. I hope he can stay another 25 years. He has done a mammoth job."

Visit The Dispatch's website at www.the-dispatch.com

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Become a "Sweet Dreams" Bed Sponsor

May 28, 2008

Sweet dreams is a wish for every child, but some of the children who come to Baptist Children’s Homes have never experienced a restful night. Their nights have been filled with fear and scary sounds, shivers and dampness, nightmares and long hours lying awake in the darkness.

At Baptist Children’s Homes, children find rest. Every evening they sit at dinner tables and enjoy good, nutritious meals. They bathe and dress in clean bed clothes. They fall asleep in warm, comfortable beds.

Christian men and women wrap their arms around children with a loving touch. They help them feel safe and encourage them to trust in a loving God who will keep them for all eternity.

Introducing a new giving oppor-tunity – become a “Sweet Dreams” Bed Sponsor! You can become an inaugural 2008 Bed Sponsor for a gift of only $120.00. Or sponsor a room with two beds for $240.00. Sponsor all the beds in a cottage for $1,200.00. This inaugural sponsorship is for the remainder of this year. In January 2009, you will have the first opportunity to renew your sponsorship for the year with a one-time gift of $300.00 a bed or a pledge of $25.00 per month per bed.

One thousand bed sponsors are needed during this inaugural offer.

Your sponsorship entitles you to have your name engraved on a plaque and the plaque mounted on a child’s bed for this introductory time period. Each night, your name can serve as a reminder to a boy that you are remembering him as he slips away to “sweet dreams.”

Your bed sponsor gift entitles your plaque to be a reminder until 2009. If you choose to continue to be a “Sweet Dreams” Bed Sponsor, your gift next year will assure that your plaque remains as a reminder to a child of your love and care for an additional 12 months. Gifts can be made in honor or memory of a special person.

Each plaque is a minimum 3 inches wide and 1.25 inches deep. Names are engraved. Imagine a child tucked into her bed and as she slips away to slumber every night your gift reminds her that you love her. She will be set for an evening of “sweet dreams.” Make your gift now! This inaugural offer is good only until July 18.

To become a "Sweet Dreams" Bed Sponsor, contact Brenda Gray at 336-474-1230 or bbgray@bchfamily.org

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BCH Announces Wilderness Camp For Girls

May 20, 2008

Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) announced on Tuesday that it will expand services in the Moore County area by opening a wilderness camp to help girls and their families. Michael C. Blackwell, President of the 122-year-old statewide nonprofit institution, made the announcement on Tuesday, May 20, at BCH’s Cameron Boys Camp. Blackwell was presented a $250,000 grant for the new camp from the Gay T. and Haskell A. Duncan Charitable Foundation, Inc., a private foundation located in Southern Pines.

“For years we’ve anticipated creating a complement to the specialized services offered at our highly successful wilderness boys camp,” says BCH president Michael C. Blackwell. “A camp for girls has long been my personal vision. That vision has been bolstered by the support and desire of our North Carolina Baptist constituents who wish to see the lives of girls impacted and irrevocably changed in the same way hundreds of boys and their families have found hope and healing at Cameron Boys Camp. The creation of a girls camp will truly be the fulfillment of a long-held dream.”

BCH has helped boys and their families at Cameron Boys Camp since 1980. Located on 902 forested acres, Camp serves school-aged boys. Boys live outside year round in a highly structured, wilderness environment. Three staff members called Chiefs supervise each group of ten boys. The goal is to help boys and their families overcome the challenges and obstacles in their lives and reunify the household.

With the expansion, this same unique wilderness camping service will now be available for girls.

“A girls camp has always been a priority, and we’ve been close to making it a reality a couple of times throughout the years, but the timing was never quite right,” Blackwell explains. “Now, the gracious commitment of the Duncan Foundation is helping make this dream a reality.”

Haskell Duncan and his wife Gay were longtime BCH supporters who shared the childcare institution’s vision for wilderness camping to help girls. They attended First Baptist Church in Southern Pines and had a special affinity for Cameron Boys Camp. Haskell served one term on BCH’s Board of Trustees.

Haskell created the Gay T. and Haskell A. Duncan Charitable Foundation to one day ensure his assets went towards accomplishing his personal vision for helping others. Upon his death in April 2005, fellow church members Wayne Jordan and Mark Vaughn, and BCH Treasurer/CFO Sam Barefoot became the foundation’s President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Vice President respectively. One of the foundation’s main intents was to allow BCH to use the Duncan’s 576 acre residential property and its facilities in Aberdeen for a girls camp.

“Haskell was an ardent supporter of BCH and Cameron Boys Camp during his life, and he always envisioned his property being used for a similar camp to help girls,” says Jordan. “The foundation board is extremely pleased to bring Haskell’s vision for his property to fruition.”

The foundation’s initial $250,000 grant goes towards start-up costs for the new camp. The foundation has extended a fund-raising challenge where it will contribute an additional $250,000 when BCH raises $500,000 in funding.

“Raising this money is crucial,” Blackwell says. “Being able to utilize this property meets a major need, but covering start-up costs and the ability to take care of monthly expenses is paramount to the camp’s success. I encourage everyone with a heart for children to help.”

BCH will lease the property from the foundation. The institution will utilize the property’s existing facilities, including the Duncan home and two duplexes, for administrative offices, staff quarters, and other camp needs. Like Cameron Boys Camp, residential campsites for the different girls groups will be created within the wooded areas. BCH will employ qualified female counselors to serve as Chiefs for the girls.

Potential residents for the camp will come from a variety of sources. Children can be referred by the Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, the public school system, churches, and individuals. In fact, anyone who sees a need in their community can make a call of referral to BCH. The camp will serve girls in the Moore County area, but because of the unique nature of the wilderness camping service, BCH will accept girls from across the state.

BCH’s Paul Daley, Director of Cameron Boys Camp, is excited about beginning a similar camp for girls.

“We’ve been excited about a potential girls camp for years,” Daley says. “We’re looking forward to getting it going and growing this camp to help girls in the same way we have boys.”

A timetable for opening the camp is currently being established. Much of it depends on the pace of fund-raising efforts.

“It’s taken us nearly 20 years to reach this point so we are more than ready,” Blackwell says. “The girls camp gives us another dynamic and creative option to help families overcome the tremendous challenges they face.”

Since 1885, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has helped children and families. BCH began with one campus, Mills Home in Thomasville, but now provides services in 16 communities across the state.

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BCH Staff Member Rides The West for Boys and Girls

April 16, 2008

Baptist Children’s Homes' Lewis Smith has pledged to “Ride the West” with a goal to raise $50,000 to help boys and girls in the care of Baptist Children's Homes. Beginning June 23, Smith will start an ambitious journey peddling his bicycle nearly 400 miles across 19 western North Carolina counties during series of six stages.

Lewis, who works in western North Carolina to raise support for Baptist Children's Homes, kicks-off “Ride the West” on June 23, 2008, leaving from the Ashe Baptist Association office in West Jefferson. Stage 1 entails traveling 70 miles the next four days through Ashe, Watauga, Avery, and Mitchell Counties. Each stage takes Lewis by the churches, associations and businesses he works closely with that faithfully support BCH.

“As I ride through these counties I will take every opportunity to speak to business and civic groups, and churches and Vacation Bible Schools along the way,” Lewis says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to remind our close friends about the impact of BCH’s ministry to children in crisis.”

“Ride the West” culminates at BCH’s Western Area Conference. Lewis will complete the last leg of the ride peddling his bike to BCH’s Broyhill Home in Clyde on September 4th for the area’s annual event.

You can be a "Ride the West" sponor and make a difference in the lives of children at Baptist Children's Homes:

Major Sponsor - Sponsor all six stages of the ride for $1,200
Stage Sponsor - Sponsor one stae of the ride for $200
Mile for a Child Sponsor - Make a contribution of your choice

Contact Lewis Smith at 828-421-9300 to become a sponsor.

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Ride the West Map and Stages

April 15, 2008

"Ride the West" is an ambitious journey. Baptist Children's Homes' Lewis Smith will bike nearly 400 miles across 19 western North Carolina counties in a series of six stages. His goal is raise $50,000 to help boys and girls living at Baptist Children's Homes.

Ride the West Stages
Stage 1 – June 23 - 27 Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell Counties 70 Miles

Stage 2 – July 7 - 11 Yancey, Madison, Buncombe Counties 50 Miles

Stage 3 – July 21 - 25 McDowell, Rutherford, Polk Counties 70 Miles

Stage 4 – August 4 - 8 Transylvania, Henderson Counties 40 Miles Stage 5 – August 18 - 22 Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Swain Counties 100 Miles

Stage 6 – September 1 - 4 Macon, Jackson, Haywood Counties 55 Miles

You can be a "Ride the West" sponor and make a difference in the lives of children at Baptist Children's Homes:

Major Sponsor - Sponsor all six stages of the ride for $1,200
Stage Sponsor - Sponsor one stae of the ride for $200
Mile for a Child Sponsor - Make a contribution of your choice

Contact Lewis Smith at 828-421-9300 to become a sponsor.

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Free 2008 BCHKids Booklet Available for Pre-Order

April 13, 2008

BCHKids enriches children's lives while helping them learn about Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina. BCHKids is five cartoon friends featuring Andy - a child who lives at BCH. Through their adventures, the friends learn Biblical lessons while teaching children how they can make a difference in the life of another child. BCHKids is perfect for Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday School classes.

The 2008 booklet is "Andy Takes the Reins." At Oak Ranch, Andy meets a new four-legged friend who helps him overcome his fears as he learns an important biblical truth.

Visit www.bchkids.org to order the 2008 booklet.

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Support This Year's Food Roundup

January 30, 2008

Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) boys and girls know whenever they sit down for a meal, the delicious food that fills their plates was lovingly provided by North Carolina Baptists. The annual “Food Roundup” has successfully united churches, businesses, and other friends to collect much needed food and supplies for BCH residents.

For this year's Food Roundup in April, the need to fill children’s plates is greater than ever before.

Changes to BCH’s food program is making it even more important for churches to step-up their efforts for the Food Roundup. BCH is losing $150,000 that is normally designated for purchasing food for its young residents.

This year's food drive will once again offer an opportunity for churches, businesses and organizations to help provide for the needs of BCH's boys and girls in care throughout North Carolina.

Help make this the best Roundup yet! Help meet this year's goal to collect at least $350,000 in food and supplies. Be the hands that help fill children's plates.

Click on www.bchfamily.org/support/foodroundup to download this year's needed items list plus a variety of advertisements you can use in your newsletter or church bulletin to promote this year's food drive. These lists will also be published in upcoming editions of Charity & Children.

For more information about how you, your church or organization can be a part of Food Roundup, contact Alan Williams at 1-800-476-3669 ext. 1277.

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Spring Dates to Remember!

January 15, 2008

Friends of Children Spring Workday
Kennedy Home in Kinston and Cameron Boys Camp
Saturday, May 3 – 8:30am Registration
These are special opportunities for individuals to see and participate in the ministry. From painting to planting, participants help with special projects, tour campuses, and have lunch with children and staff members.

Founders Day
Tuesday, May 20 at Cameron Boys Camp
Campers serve as your personal guides as you tour the campsites and learn how BCH helps boys through this unique wilderness camping program. Lunch is served.

Friends of Children Spring Workday
At Mills Home in Thomasville
Saturday, May 24 – 8:30am Registration
Information Coming Soon.

Friends of Children Spring Workday
At Odum Home in Pembroke
Saturday, May 31 – 8:30am Registration
A special opportunities for individuals to see and participate in the ministry. From painting to planting, participants help with special projects, tour campuses, and have lunch with children and staff members.

For more information on these events or future events, call 1-800-476-3669, ext. 1277.

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