It’s been a year and a half since Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) has hosted church groups and volunteers at its statewide locations. That time is drawing to an end as the easing of pandemic restrictions is opening up opportunities for missions days and events to return this fall.
“This has been long anticipated by our children, special needs adults, families, and staff,” said BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell. “They are not used to being unable to see and interact with our church volunteers and friends who support, encourage and pray for them. It will be a welcome return!”
As COVID-19 took center stage in 2020, BCH canceled its calendar of events. That lull stretched into 2021 until Blackwell and his leadership team knew events could safely return.
“We know our churches have been anxious to be back in their communities to minister and serve,” Blackwell recognized. “We want to be on their calendars quickly providing ways to engage with our ministries.
“They will notice that not only are many of their favorite events returning, but there are also brand-new and exciting ways to be involved.”
Some of the new events are due to BCH’s acquisition of Christian Adoption Services (CAS) headquartered in Indian Trail and operating offices throughout North and South Carolina. The ability to offer domestic and international adoption services, as well as a budding ministry to birth mothers, complements BCH’s services.
“God has opened new doors even in the midst of COVID-19,” Blackwell said. “We cannot wait for NC Baptists to be a part of Christian Adoption Services’ efforts to connect vulnerable children with caring families. We have several CAS events on the calendar.”
A golf tournament in Charlotte, a benefit banquet in Nashville, NC, and an online auction are ways to be involved with CAS this fall. Another milestone event is a fundraiser to help establish a home to minister to birth mothers.
Mills Home is having a new benefit on October 2 called “Hope Harvest”––an evening event featuring Christian bands and barbecue underneath the trees at BCH’s flagship location. Tours, a silent auction, and shopping at Fancy Finds, BCH’s resale store, round out the event.
Finally, another milestone event is the groundbreaking on September 11 for River Hill Refuge in Shelby. The new project is part of the growing Foster Care ministry and entails the building of three foster family homes. Each home will have BCH recruited Christian foster parents who care for as many as five children at one time.
September
11th - River Hill Refuge Groundbreaking and Community Celebration | Shelby, NC | Info Coming Soon
12th-16th - Online Silent Auction for Christian Adoption Services | Info to come at christianadopt.org
13th - Charlotte Golf Challenge for Christian Adoption Services | Cedar Wood Country Club Charlotte | Register at christianadopt.org/events
18th - Founder's Day at Camp Duncan | Aberdeen, NC | RSVP at 336.474.1209 | Meet the girls and hear their testimonies. Tour their campsites and enjoy a free lunch.
18th - Friends of Children Saturday: One-day missions for all ages | Register at www.bchfamily.org/foc
Cameron Boys Camp, Cameron
Kennedy Home, Kinston
Odum Home, Pembroke
25th - Friends of Children Saturday | Register at bchfamily.org/foc
Mills Home, Thomasville
October
2nd - Hope Harvest: Barbecue Dinner and Live Music for Mills Home | God's Canopy on Blackwell Blvd Mills Home, Thomasville NC | More info: bchnc.org/harvestbch
9th - Friends of Children Saturday | Register at bchfamily.org/foc
Camp Duncan, Aberdeen
November
4th - Benefit Banquet for Christian Adoption Services | Rose Hill Estate Nashville, NC | Register at christianadopt.org/events
6th - The Emmanuel Home Walk | Mills Home Thomasville, NC | Celebratory event raising funds for a new home for birth mothers. More info coming soon.
14th-21st - Week of Prayer | Daily prayer and resources for your church to collect an Annual Offering at bchoffering.org (2021 Offering website coming soon)