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Church Supports Efforts to Build Group Home for Children

Church Supports Efforts to Build Group Home for
Children

February 12, 2010

AHOSKIE – Members of Connarista Baptist Church in Aulander presented representatives from Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) with a $10,000 gift toward the building of a new Ahoskie-based group home for boys and girls. The home will provide residential services to aid children and families in crisis. It is the nonprofit agency’s first group home in the northeastern area of the state.

“Connarista has always been a supporter of Baptist Children’s Homes even though its ministries were away from us,” said John Tayole, Deacon Chair at Connarista. “Once we became aware of BCH’s plans to build a home in our community we knew we needed to be supportive.”

With the support of Connarista pastor Hines Adams, Tayloe and Jeanette Tinkham, Woman’s Missionary Union Director for Connarista, shared the information about BCH’s plans with church members and led supportive efforts.

“Every person in our church has a heart for Baptist Children’s Homes,” Tinkham said. “For many years we’ve supported a cottage of children at BCH’s Kennedy Home (in Kinston). We’re excited to soon have that opportunity right here at home.”

Church members presented the check, the largest donation in the church’s 220 year history, during the worship service on January 24. BCH is currently raising $780,000 to construct and furnish the facility. Tayloe hopes Connarista’s generosity inspires other area churches to give.

“This is a major commitment for our church, and we’ve done it boldly,” Tayloe explained. “As we share our story with other churches we hope they will boldly commit to making this home in our community a reality.”

BCH operates facilities in 18 North Carolina communities. It was determined through studies conducted in the northeastern area of the state that there is a vital need to provide services. The group home will be a part of Britton Ministries in honor of the family who donated the land for the project. Groundbreaking is set for April 25 at 2 p.m.

“Having worked in the school system for many years, I see firsthand the needs of the children in our area,” Tinkham explained.

The Ahoskie community and its Baptist churches have historic ties to BCH’s beginnings in 1885. Connarista Baptist is part of the West Chowan Baptist Association in Ahoskie which is comprised of approximately 60 area Baptist churches. The association, originally a part of the Chowan Association before splitting into two entities, was the first to contribute funding for BCH. The Chowan Association gave $1,500 to help build BCH’s first residential campus in Thomasville.

On November 11, 1885, John Mitchell, Pastor of Ahoskie Baptist Church (now First Baptist), arrived in Thomasville bringing nine-year-old Mary Presson of Hertford County. That day, Presson became the first child admitted into BCH’s care.

“125 years ago, the Ahoskie community and its area churches were vital in helping give birth to Baptist Children’s Homes,” said BCH president Michael C. Blackwell. “It’s exciting and very fitting that this community, led by Connarista Baptist Church’s inspirational efforts, would play such a vital role in establishing this much-needed group home.

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 18 communities across the state.

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