Helping Hands: 2007

Challenge Gift Matches Donations Dollar for Dollar!

December 19, 2007

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!

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First Baptist Charlotte Organizes Fifth Bike for Change

December 19, 2007

RAs and GAs from First Baptist Church in Charlotte participated in its fifth annual “Bike for Change” on October 20 benefiting BCH’s boys and girls. The children collected a total of $12,200. The annual event is coordinated by church RA director and former BCH trustee Jay Westmoreland and GA director Sonia Livingston.

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Arden First Baptist Hosts Cookout

December 19, 2007

Members of Arden First Baptist Church recently hosted a cookout for BCH’s boys and girls in the west. Church members and new pastor Jeffrey Hudson prepared a steak dinner for children and staff members.

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Sandy Plains Baptist Presents Gift

December 19, 2007

Rev. Dave Hawes, Minister to Youth and Children at Sandy Plains Baptist Church in Shelby, presents a check to BCH’s institutional director for communications Jim Edminson at the annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention in Greensboro. The gift will help BCH’s children.

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Glenola Baptist Church VBS Helps BCH

November 28, 2007

Glenola Baptist Church in Archdale collected a $705 missions’ offering during its summer VBS. Glenola VBS co-director Janice Hammett and church children presented the check to BCH’s Keith Henry.

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Support The 2007 Offering

September 24, 2007

Click here to visit the 2007 Offering page. Watch this year's video, "Shelton's Story." Learn how you and your church can help Baptist Children's Homes meet this year's $1,400,000 offering goal.

The 2007 offering theme, “Love + Give = Hope,” is inspired by the love shown to every boy and girl entrusted to Baptist Children’s Home’s (BCH) care through the support of North Carolina Baptist churches and friends who care deeply for hurting children.

Love... “But the greatest of these is love...” (1 Corinthians 13:13b) Individuals desire to make a child’s life better. Men and women come to “Friends of Children” workdays to build and paint and plant beautiful flowers by a child’s cottage. This year, they “prayer walked” our campuses interceding for the children and staff.

Give... “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35b) For 122 years, people have dug deep to give sacrificially. This ministry is rooted in their hearts as demonstrated by individuals and churches stepping up year after year to meet BCH’s financial challenges.

Hope...“For we are saved by hope…” (Romans 8:24a) The generosity of BCH supporters reminds children that hope abounds and that they are loved – no matter what!

You do the math.
It just adds up!
Lives are changed when you act!

The Week of Prayer - November 11-18

Set aside this week to pray for Baptist Children’s Homes and use this guide as you pray.

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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Watch 2007 Video, "Shelton's Story"

September 23, 2007

The 2007 video entitled "Shelton's Story" is available to watch and download online. The new video tells how Shelton, a resident of Broyhill Home, has discovered a life of hope and endless possibilities through the love shown by child care workers Will and Betty Porter and the support of NC Baptists and other friends.

Click here to see "Shelton's Story".

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Fishing Tourney Reels In Support

August 29, 2007

Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) residents Andrew and Chris help with a 65 pound Wahoo fish caught during the 2007 Triumph Owners Fishing Tournament in Southport on July 27 and 28. The tournament raised $2,200 for BCH’s Cameron Boys Camp. The unique wilderness camping program near Southern Pines is helping Andrew, Chris, and other boys and their families overcome challenges and repair their relationships. Blackbarry Marine in Southport hosted the tournament which was sponsored by Triumph Boats dealers of the Carolinas.

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Children From Peninsula Baptist Donate Books

August 29, 2007

Members and children from Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville delivered 3,300 books for the Mills Home campus library. Josh Benfield, the church’s Minister to Preschool and Children, challenged children during Vacation Bible School to bring in as many books as possible to teach them about service and missions while helping Mills Home residents.

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Your Gift Prepares Children To Go Back To School

July 26, 2007

A letter from Baptist Children's Homes president Michael C. Blackwell:

Cody loves school.

The problem has always been that he never stayed at the same school long enough to settle into a routine. The support he needed at home was not there. He never finished homework assignments. His grades suffered.

Tattered and worn clothes and shoes caught the attention of the other children and Cody was the focus of many jokes. Soon it was easier to stay home than to go and face the ridicule. He missed so many days that he failed repeatedly, and when Cody was thirteen years old he was several grades behind.

All this heartache ended when Cody came to Baptist Children’s Homes!

At Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH), he found that he could have clean, good clothes. His feet stay dry and warm in his new shoes. He finds a nutritious breakfast every morning set out for him at the table. He can concentrate now that his tummy isn’t always making odd noises.

The pain he felt in his stomach is gone. He isn’t ashamed. He can now be the student that he often admired – the student that beamed when papers were returned graded and when report cards were sent home.

Report cards were always something Cody dreaded. It was just another reminder of the shame that he felt. That all fell behind him as only a bad memory the day he brought home his first report card. He slid the card out of the envelope and cautiously looked. His eyes opened wide because at the top was an A+, but not just one. When he opened the report card totally, he counted three As and two Bs.

It would have taken rocks tied around his ankles to keep him from floating away. Cody loves school!

Now it’s that time again. We are making plans to prepare North Carolina’s largest family for another school year. Each year, we help the many children in our care with their education needs – clothes (pants, skirts, dresses, shirts, under garments, socks, belts and handbags), shoes (dress, athletic and play), jackets and coats, school supplies, athletic and lab fees, instrument rentals and band fees, and book bags. As you can imagine, the cost is enormous!

Like Cody, I am pleased when I make the grade I know I can. Even as the president of Baptist Children's Homes, I like coming through with an occasional A+. Do you share that desire? You have the opportunity to show these children, children you do not even know but truly love, just how important an A+ really is. Your generous gift will bless a child.

In advance, I thank you for your help now. Your gift puts you at the head of the class . . . A+!

Sincerely,
Michael C. Blackwell President

P.S. The cost of sending so many boys and girls adds up quickly. Buying hundreds of pairs of jeans alone can reach into the thousands of dollars. Jacob, a resident at Mills Home, helped to calculate just how much is needed – well above two hundred thousand dollars! Your gift is needed now.

Click here to give an immediate online gift.

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NC Baptists Step Up for Food Roundup

July 25, 2007

Joel and Jean Hall arrive at Mills Home in Thomasville parking their vehicle next to the small unloading area at the campus food locker. Joel opens the vehicle door revealing many boxes and bags of food and paper products collected for Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) annual “Food Roundup” by members of Sedgefield Baptist Church, the couple’s home church in Greensboro.

“There are a lot of things going on for our church to be involved in,” Hall said as he and his wife unloaded the items. “But there are things such as this that when you mention it to our church, we all get together to help.”

Together, members of Sedgefield Baptist Church and churches from all across North Carolina collected thousands of needed items for this year’s food drive. This is the fourth statewide collection for BCH. Every year, churches step up their efforts to ensure that BCH’s boys and girls have their daily needs met. This year is no exception. Totals from the Food Roundup have exceeded $230,000 in food items, gift cards and other supplies.

Baptist associations play a key role in helping with the collection process. Many association offices serve as collection points. Church members bring items to their association office where volunteers sort and organize the items.

“In our association, once you make a need known to these folks, especially when it comes to providing food and similar items, they give very liberally,” said Sandy Run Association director of missions Jim Diehl. Diehl started promoting the Food Roundup in February through the association’s newsletter and weekly pastors’ conference.

“In the churches, the pastors, missions leaders, and the brotherhood all got behind the Food Roundup. North Carolina Baptists are setting the example for providing for our Children’s Homes,” Diehl said.

Collections are transported to BCH locations by volunteers including Two Men and A Truck (with locations in Wilmington, Greensboro, and Charlotte), Elmore Furniture Company in Dunn, Hardee’s Furniture in Rocky Mount, Critcher Bros. Produce in Deep Gap, Union Transfer in Arden, and Jennings Builders Supply in locations across western NC.

A number of churches donated gift cards. Polk Baptist Association gave nearly $10,000 in shopping cards and New Hope Baptist Church in Robinsville gave $4,000 in Food Lion cards.

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Golf Tournament Benefits BCH

June 28, 2007

The John Paul Linville Memorial Golf Tournament was held for the third year on Wednesday, May 23 at the Olde Homplace Golf Club in Wallburg. The tournament raised $5,000 for Baptist Children’s Homes.

Bob Wilkingson and FBC Kernersville’s Baptist Men spearhead the tournament. Sponsors including Chick-fil-A, Bank of North Carolina, Biscuitville, Kellogg’s, Allstate Insurance, and Winston Cup Museum pledged their support. Teams comprised of four golfers with a cost of $50 per player. NASCAR drivers Kyle Petty and Kevin Harvick participated in the afternoon tee-off. Plans for next years’s tournament are already underway.

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Hillcrest Baptist Church Donates Sewing Machine

June 28, 2007

Hillcrest Baptist Church recently donated a sewing machine to Odum Home residents.

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Operation In- As-Much Helps Lenoir Area

May 25, 2007

A group of youth from Friendship Baptist Church in Lenoir recently visited Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) Lenoir Area Family Services as a part of “Operation In-As-Much.” Led by church youth director Gwyn Wilson, the group comes every year to perform outdoor work projects at both Noel Home and Care House.

This year, the youth distributed fresh mulch at both facilities and helped clean up the grounds. They raked leaves, pulled weeds from the flower beds, and planted new flowers. They also cleaned around the fence line at Noel Home.

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Woodsmen of the World Donate Flags

May 25, 2007

Woodmen of the World presented Odum Home with the American flag for all campus classrooms and the main flag pole. Woodmen have supported Odum Home and BCH around the state for many years.

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Holly Springs Build Birdhouses for BCH

April 23, 2007

Every year, members of Holly Springs Baptist Church in Franklin raise proceeds for BCH through their birdhouse silent auction. Members build the houses and display them at the church taking bids. All the funds from the auction benefit BCH’s boys and girls.

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Church Member Donates Quilts

April 23, 2007

An anonymous member of Dudley Shoals Baptist Church in Granite Falls recently made two quilts for the babies living with their mothers at Care House in Lenoir. BCH’s Lenoir Area residents attend services at the church.

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Children Show Love On Valentine's Day

March 23, 2007

Youth from Fellowship Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, led by church member Taya Baldwin, created Valentine bugs for every child living at Mills Home in Thomasville. The colorful insects created from construction paper, pipe cleaners and a roll of candy contained a special Valentine’s message for each resident.

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Children Raise "A Mile of Pennies"

February 23, 2007

Children at Phoenix Baptist Church in Warrensville recently raised “A Mile of Pennies.” An actual mile of pennies laid edge to edge is comprised of 84,480 coins. The longtime promotion is a fun way for individuals of all ages to support BCH’s ministry. The money raised by Phoenix Baptist will help meet the daily needs of boys and girls.

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Royal Rangers Help Kennedy Home

February 23, 2007

The Royal Rangers from Free Gospel Church in Snow Hill gave a $100 gift to help residents at Kennedy Home. The group uses Kennedy Home’s “skeeter hut” for camping out while assisting with campus projects.

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Church Raises 4 1/2 Miles of Pennies

January 24, 2007

Pine Grove Baptist Church in Franklin, guided by the leadership of pastor Greg Rogers, annually collects "A Mile of Pennies" for BCH's boys and girls. This past year, Pine Grove collected a church record 4 1/2 miles and presented Baptist Children's Homes director of development, western area Lewis Smith with a $4,000 check. Church member Debbie Keener organizes the Mile of Pennies campaign at Pine Grove.

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Albion Baptist Exceeds Goal

January 24, 2007

Albion Baptist Church in Mount Airy collected a $2,171 Thanksgiving Offering exceeding their $1,500 goal. Vernell Holt, BCH representative for the Surry County Association, and her daughter Laura Powell presented the check to BCH’s Wyatt Stewart.

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Pat Gibbs Gives Holiday Gifts To Mills Home Girls

January 02, 2007

Girls at Mills Home received jewelry and make-up holiday gifts courtesy of an event sponsored by Pat Gibbs, the wife of Washington Redskins football coach Joe Gibbs.

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Chestnut Dale's "Heritage Day" Helps BCH

January 02, 2007

Chestnut Dale Baptist Church in Squirrel Creek recently held “Heritage Day” which helps Baptist Children's Homes. The church celebrates its mountain heritage and members make and sell homemade apple butter, fresh ground corn meal, and other items at an old general store. A portion of the proceeds from the annual event are given to Baptist Chidren’s Homes.

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Woodmen of the World Hosts Christmas Parties

January 02, 2007

The Woodmen of the World organization annually hosts Christmas parties at Baptist Children's Homes' Broyhill Home in Clyde and Odum Home in Pembroke. Organization members cater a meal for children and staff at Odum Home, organize games, and bring gifts for the residents.

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