Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) Trustees gathered from around the state at Mills Home in Thomasville on January 19. Trustee chair Jay Westmoreland from Charlotte presided as the group welcomed nine new Trustees. Six of the new Trustees are serving for the first time.
The new Trustees are: Carl Anderson, Lea Bethel Baptist in Prospect Hill; Lenuel Chamberlain, Bethel Baptist in Yadkinville; Jim Dyer, Christ Baptist in Raleigh; Abe Elmore, Westfield Baptist in Dunn; Marcia Heckman, Cross Pointe in Concord; Ronnie Holman, Baton Baptist in Hudson; Gail King, First Baptist Reidsville; Wendy Peters, Calvary in Winston-Salem; Steve Shreve, Pleasant Garden Baptist in Greensboro.
Trustees were presented an exemplary audit report and heard from the ministry’s investment consultants. BCH’s chief operating officer Keith Henry shared with Trustees the efforts staff members take to enhance performance and pursue excellence through improving processes and maintaining good risk management practices.
He told Trustees that the ministry was operating at 100% residential capacity.
Henry also reported on the work at BCH’s Xela, Guatemala affiliate The Good Shepherd Children’s Home. He told the group that the number of children in care has reached 17. He stated that the Home is fully staffed including a director with qualified individuals from the area. The Home continues to host volunteer groups from North Carolina. Henry and executive vice president, development and communications Brenda Gray are traveling to the Home with four Trustees and other friends the week of Easter.
Trustees heard a presentation on BCH’s new program – Fancy Finds.
Fancy Finds sells gently-used items — items with potential for repurposing and ones that have been artfully restored. The upscale retail shop will open in 2016.
Fancy Finds also offers personalized DIY classes and consignment and estate sale services.
One hundred percent of the proceeds goes to benefit the children, aging adults and families BCH serves.
BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell addressed the Trustees and thanked them for their support of the BCH capital campaign.
“What you do speaks volumes,” Blackwell said. “You let our children know you care and that they are worthy of love.”
He also thanked the trustees for empowering BCH’s staff to do the ministry. “The passion of our staff is unparalleled. They love and respect you and they know you love and respect them.”