Charity&ChildrenAnd now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina

Schedule an Annual Offering speaker for your church now. (page 5) Third Hope in Style a success! (page 7)

9/14_________________ 127/8_________________

[ “Good moral values are not out of style.” – Blackwell }

[ “We were poor and had very little.” – Medlin }

Like a kettle building steam over an open flame, 17-year-old Jeremiah was at

a boiling point the day he ran away.“I had a lot of stuff built up inside and

I snapped,” he remembers. “My mom and I had a really bad argument and I was like ‘I’m leaving.’”

Jeremiah is the first to admit that he was skirting some bad situations. He says he wasmaking some “wrong choices” and he began tohave fears about his future.

After being away for nearly a month, he wentto live with his father. Although there was lesstension living with his dad, the change didn’talter his behavior.

“One day when I came home, there was a deputy sherriff ’s car in front of the house,” he says. “He had suspicions and just told me if I didn’t want to end up in the backseat of his car, I’d better straighten up.”

Jeremiah knew his choices were about to catchup to him. And even though his life was becom-ing a mess, he had a dream for his future. “If I kept doing what I wasdoing, I wouldn’t be able todo what I was hoping to do.”

Jeremiah’s mom and dadknew about Baptist Children’sHomes (BCH) and they con-tacted Mills Home in Thomasville. The relation-ship between him and his parents was stillstrained, but they all agreed that calling BCHwould move them in a more positive direction.The decision was made for Jeremiah to live at Kennedy Home in Kinston – far away from the distractions in his community.

“I rode on to campus that first day andthought ‘It’s all flat,’” he recalls. “It’s all hills at

home!” Having lived in the Triad almost all hislife, the flat agricultural surroundings of easternNorth Carolina were very different. “But it wasgood. I was ready to do what I needed to do

for my future.”Jeremiah had been involved in high

school ROTC and had reached the rankof lieutenant colonel. He wanted to pur-sue a possible career in the military, andnow he felt free to focus on his dream.

“I’m planning this fall to join the Army Re-serves,” the rising high school senior explains.“I’m on track to graduate early in January andthen I’ll go to Basic Training.”

Two years of junior college and then an under-graduate degree in criminal justice from EasternCarolina University round out his plan.

Now, as Jeremiah ponders the days ahead, hesees this new beginning as a wonderful opportu-

nity. “My goals are my plans right now. It’s myfuture and it’s important I stay on track.”

Everything about living at Kennedy Home ishelping Jeremiah. He has started practicing withhis new high school’s cross country track team,he is benefitting from the daily cottage devo-tions, and he recently received the green light to begin looking for a part-time job.

“I’m the oldest in my cottage,” Jeremiah says.“I have the opportunity to be a role model to theother guys. I tell them that we are only going toget out what we put in – you have to want to behelped.”

Jeremiah feels his relationship with God hasbeen rocky, but he is hopeful. He says that beingaround the Christian staff and houseparents atKennedy Home is helping. “They live out theirfaith every day. I see Christ in many ways. God isreally evident here.”

H O P E HOPE changes lives and dispels

darkness.

Rising senior Jeremiah is looking forward to the school year despite the necessity of attending a new school. The 17-year-old Kennedy Home resident has lived on campus a short time, but he has already benefitted from

the Christian staff and houseparents. He is planning to join the Army Reserves and graduate early.

Jeremiah’s focusis on the future_________________________________________________________

By Jim Edminson, Editor

____________________________________________________________________

2 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

Charity & Children – Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, Inc., 204 Idol St., P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338. Michael C. Blackwell, publisher; W. James Edminson, editor (wjedminson@bchfamily.org); J. Blake Ragsdale, managing editor (jbragsdale@bchfamily.org); Marcia Housand, Account Clerk. Charity & Children (ISSN 0009-1723-09 USPS 100-460) is published 11 times a year forfriends and supporters of Baptist Children’s Homes and is printed at Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC. It is mailed by Excalibur, Winston-Salem, NC. Circulation: 62,000 seven times a year, 30,000 four times a year. Periodicals postage paid at Thomasville, NC, and at additionalmailing offices. For free subscription, or to be removed from the mailing list or make address correction or change, write circulationmanager Karen Fincher (using the above address), email her at kfincher@bchfamily.org or call her at 336-474-1209. Subscribe online atwww.bchfamily.org/contact/index/charityandchildren. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Charity & Children, P.O. Box 338,Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.

Sharing Hope...Changing Lives at www.bchfamily.org/involved/campaign

Some 129 years ago, a number of caring andcompassionate Baptists in North Carolina

saw the need for residential care for children with-out homes or adults to provide for them. JohnHaymes Mills birthed the idea of an orphanage tocare for these children and on November 11,1885, Mary Presson entered Mills Home with hermother who was the first matron of the home.

At this time of the year, I always reflect onwhat must have been going on in the mind ofJohn Mills for him to defy the convention of theday and persist in establishing what was to be-come the Baptist Children’s Homes of NorthCarolina.

The needs of society have changed as well asthe needs of children and families. The orphanageevolved into an organization that works to restorefamilies, where possible, and to deal with issues ofabuse, neglect and abandonment. I am gratefulfor the persistence and sense of timing of JohnMills. Today we carry out our mission of “sharinghope. . .changing lives” by serving nearly 10,000people in all programs.

In my next two columns, I want to re-visitsome of the qualities that make a family strongand able to withstand the pressures of a new andemerging culture in which we all live. These prin-ciples are timeless and can be adapted to any unitcalled “family,” whether it is a family in a cottageat Baptist Children’s Homes, a traditional family,a family with a single mom or dad and his or herchildren, grandparents as the head of the familyunit, or any other combination of “family.”

Here are my first six suggestions for keepingour families strong and alive:

1. Share your personal problems and ideas.Everyone wants to feel that he or she has a hear-ing. We want to know that our significant group(our family) is interested in what we have to sayand open to offering solutions to problems thatwe all face. A woman married 20-plus years toldme that her husband was just beginning to openlyshare his feelings with her. The woman had beenyearning for such intimacy and sees her husband’s

new sense of openness as revitalizingtheir marriage. It is true for childrenalso. They want to share as well as beshared with.

2. Divide responsibilities accordingto age, interest and capability. Ifmother does everything for the child,especially those things the child shouldbe doing for himself, he will have a rudeawakening when Mom is no longeraround. Every member of the familywants and needs buy-in to not only the rewardsand pleasures of being part of a family as well asthe responsibilities of the family. The more invest-ment children, and adults, have in the family, thestronger the family will be.

3. Instill moral behavior in all family mem-bers and hold them accountable for high moralstandards. In many ways, family rules have beenabandoned. Everything goes: infidelity as naturalas the daily paper; divorce upon demand; drunk-enness as common as weeds along the highway;teenagers with alcohol and drug problems. Moralvalues are both caught and taught. Good moralvalues are not out of style. Set a good exampleand ask others to follow your lead because some-one is watching you and will act the way they seeyou act, especially your children.

4. Find times to be together as a family. Thismay mean giving up a special school activity toget away for the weekend. Don’t let added workresponsibilities infringe on precious family time.No one will make the time for you. You must dothat yourself. Learn to say “no” to those thingsthat don’t really matter. I suggest that familymembers calendar their times together just asthey would any other activity. For example, Fridaynight is the night to order pizza and play a gametogether, or Saturday afternoon is the designatedtime for a family outing.

5. Establish your family on a strong religiousfoundation. In my work, I see a lot of hurt, brokenness and despair. I see adults whose moralcompasses have gone haywire and won’t stopspinning; I see victims of betrayal and desertion,

whose emotional lives are damaged beyond repair.Often, I have seen an inadequate religious base.This one principle will do more to solidify yourfamily than anything else I can imagine. Regularchurch activities provide wholesome fellowship,food and fun for the family and a strong connec-tion with the Creator who sustains us in the mostdifficult of times.

6. Respect the individuality of each familymember, including the right to privacy and inde-pendent thinking. Parents shouldn’t want theirchildren to be clones of themselves. Neithershould they take offense when their childrendon’t want to be with them, preferring instead tobe with their friends. Parents shouldn’t try to getall of their own emotional and spiritual needs metthrough their children. Long after the childrenhave left home, the husband and wife will have a relationship that will continue to need love andnurture. First of all, get to know the individualityof each member of your family – their likes, dis-likes, interests, fears and dreams. When you trulyknow someone, it is easier to respect him or her –even a family member.

There is no magic ingredient that will make a family strong. It takes every member workingtogether and seeking the mind of Christ to makea family the grandest creation in God’s beautiful

world. I will have six more sugges-tions in my October column.

Michael C. Blackwell leads the ministry with vigor and enthusiasm. He has served as president of BaptistChildren’s Homes since 1983 and has a record-setting31-year tenure.

[ MY THOUGHTS }

Building a strong family takeseveryone working together___________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________

By Michael C. Blackwell, President/CEO

BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell congratulates residents after the third annual Hope in Style fashion show heldAugust 9 at the Greensboro Country Club. The opportunity wasperfect for some of the children to get their pictures with Black-

well. He is pictured with Katie of Mills Home.

Tales remembered and shared of days gone by are heard as MillsHome alumni reminisce at this year’s Homecoming. The once

children who ran and played, milked cows and first learned aboutJesus are transfixed by their shared love and memories. Former resi-dents from across the years, current children in care, and former and

current staff members united as one family for thetwo day event on August 2-3.

“We are family,” BCH president/CEO MichaelC. Blackwell said at the close of the HomecomingSunday worship service. “There is a tender bondbetween us, fostered in this place and tempered bythe Spirit of God.”

Blackwell spoke to alumni and current residents,saying they were “brothers and sisters.” He encour-aged the children living at Mills Home today to

look into the eyes of those who have grown up at Mills Home in yearspast and see “the love they have for you.”

“God brought you here,” Blackwell said as his voice broke withemotion. “This place we call home is here to serve children.”

Above, brothers Pete and JoeKnight were the speakers on Sun-day during the Homecoming wor-ship service. Below are Billie JoBustle Silva (70-80), Tim Arm-strong (74-76), Barbara Bustle Ca-nipe (70-78), Mike Armstrong(74-77), and Larry Kelley (69-81).

[ MILLS HOME HOMECOMING }

Alumni return homefor yearly reunion__________________________________________________________________________________

More stories at www.bchfamily.org/stories

Kevin Lynch (77-82)

Top, Marilyn Heath (56-64) with grandchildren Brandon Sul-livan and Naiobe Patterson. Middle, Nathan Dawson withwife Evelyn Kornegay Dawson (42-53) and Shirley ToppingMaxwell. Bottom, Charles Lambeth (66-78) with wife Sueand daughters Savannah and Sierra.

____________________________________________________________________

9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8 3

Above, members of the Class of 56 in front of Mills HomeBaptist Church: left back row, Steve Carver, Leonard Korne-gay, and Coyt Eller; left front row, Ann CovingtonTurbeville,Betty Mull Carney, Carolyn McCarson Tharrington, andGrace Panther Willis. Right, BCH president/CEO Michael C.Blackwell receives a check for children’s school supplies fromZell Harkey (42-54) and Duane Blake. The check was a giftfrom Harkey’s church, Norwood FBC.

Former BCH staff member Loretta Martin withLib Smathers Johnson (46-57). Johnson was rec-ognized for her service as the Mills Home C&Ccolumnist for 22 yrs, The Mitchell Committeechair for 30 yrs, and for serving on the AlumniCouncil for 42 yrs.

Butterflies are absolutely beautiful and exquisite creatures. If you look closely, you

will also realize they are complex. They have sixjointed legs, three body parts, a set of antennae,compound eyes, and an exoskeleton. The butter-fly’s body is covered by tiny sensory hairs and are accomplished fliers. They have two pairs oflarge wings beautifully covered with many multi-colored iridescent scales in rows that overlap. All of these elements make thebutterfly beautiful.

I could sit forhours by a butterflybush watching themlight ever so quietlyon the flowers andleaves. I celebratetheir beauty and theiruniqueness – each onedifferent and each onespecial. As I watch thebutterflies surrounding the butterfly bush,I am reminded that each one did not startout as this beautiful creature. These beau-tiful butterflies were once caterpillarswhich then changed into a cocoonedchrysalis and then into a butterfly. Thesebeautiful creatures have gone through a completemetamorphosis.

The chrysalis experiences transformation.Through these stages it has to struggle just tosurvive. Maya Angelou said it this way, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely

admit the changes it hasgone through toachieve thatbeauty.”

Our chil-dren come tous from verydifficult situa-tions. Many have

struggled sohard just to sur-vive. Like the but-terfly, they have livedwith a cocoon aroundthem – afraid to let anyone infor fear that the world around themwould engulf them and threaten to

destroy them. Like thechrysalis they hidefrom the elementsthat will causethem harm. Theyare faced with theoption of flight orfight. Faced withthese two options,they create a shieldof protection aroundthem, the cocoon,

to shield them from the pain within theiryoung lives.

Some children hold onto their cocoonsat first until they begin to shed some oftheir fear, their loneliness, their pain, and

their distrust. As theyexperience uncondi-tional love, theybegin the sheddingof their cocoon. Asthey are introducedto the transforminglove of Jesus Christ, theircocoon falls away. They become new creatures. Likethe butterfly, they becomeabsolutely beautiful exquisitecreatures. Like the butterfly,each one different – eachone special.

What if the chrysalis didnot change, did not developin the cocoon, or changeinto a butterfly. What if itjust dried up and died? Whatif our children were left todefend themselves, unable toprovide a cocoon like BaptistChildren’s Homes – a place

to be loved and protected –

a place that helpsthem to transform into

what God intends for them. What if you and other people like you had not

given over the many years to make this ministrypossible? What if? I shudder to think about thewhat ifs.

Imagine the children who would not have accepted Christ into their hearts. Imagine thechildren who would not have grown into success-ful adults making a difference in their familiesand their communities. There are many morechildren to come that will need the opportunity

to develop into beautiful childrenof God – eachone differentand each onespecial.

Will youchange their“what if no onecared” into “whatif I decide to makea difference in the life of a child.”Will you give

to change their “what ifs?” For more information on how you can help

transformation take place in the lives of childrenwho so desperately need you, call me at 1-800-476-3669, extension 1230.EDITOR’S NOTE: Several of our children recentlyparticipated in a “butterfly” art class at Mills Homein Thomasville. These are some of their paintings –each one is unique and beautiful – as unique and

beautiful as the children who paintedthem.Brenda Gray’s passion is children. She serves BCH as the executive vice president, development & communications. Gray directs all fund-raising/friend-raising activities for the state-wide services.

Leave a legacy. Vist www.bchfamily.org/plannedgiving

[ WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS }

Like butterflies, hurt children cantransform into things of beauty____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By Brenda B. Gray, Executive Vice President, Development & Communications

Calendar of Events______________________________________________________________________

Sept. 4 – Western Area Conference:Broyhill Home in Clyde

Sept. 6 – FOC Workday:Camp Duncan in Aberdeen

Sept. 9 – Founders Day:Camp Duncan in Aberdeen

Sept. 13 – FOC Workday:Cameron Boys Camp in CameronKennedy Home in KinstonOak Ranch in Broadway

Sept. 20 – FOC Workday:Odum Home in Pembroke

Oct. 18 – UNITE:Mills Home in Thomasville

Nov. 6 – Super Senior Fest:Kennedy Home in Kinston

NEW: Nov. 10 at 7:15 pm BCH presentation at BaptistState Convention AnnualMeeting Featuring more than200 residents and staffNov. 16-23 – Week of Prayer: Your prayers mean so much!

CONTACT: Alan Williams at336.474.1277 or learn more atwww.bchfamily.org/events

(FOC = Friends of Children)

____________________________________________________________________

4 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

_________

To give immediately, visit www.bchfamily.org/givenow____________________________________________________________________

9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8 5

[ 2 0 1 4 A N N U A L O F F E R N G }

Teams of volunteers and individuals repre-senting North Carolina Baptist churches

have made the journey to Baptist Children’sHome’s (BCH) international affiliate GoodShepherd Children’s Home in Xela, Guatemala.Each visit has left a shining imprint of the commitment to and love for the children whowill be served.

Needed repairs, building additions, bright,fresh paint, children’s beds built, cubbies filledwith new hand-sewn dresses, baby bottles andsuppliers stacked on shelves – all provided by caring North Carolina Baptists.

“It’s been amazing,” BCH chief operating officer Keith Henry said. “Everyone has done a phenomenal job. Although there remain areaswhere we need help around the grounds, we are ready for kids.”

Henry recently returned from a key meeting

with Guatemalan officials. Governmentofficials are thrilled andaffirmed all those in-volved. However, therehave been bureaucraticdelays in getting thefinal licensure.

“We need all ourfriends to pray,” Henrysaid. “It remains a hur-dle. Other children’shomes operate withouta license, but we willnot do that. We wantGood Shepherd to bethe finest example of quality care. Everything wehave done thus far serves as a model for otherswho may also come to care for the many needychildren in Guatemala.”

There are two significantbuilding projects needing attention. One is the children’splayground. The other is a perimeter masonry wall thatneeds to be constructed. Thewall is approximately 3,000 feetlong and will take 7-10 teams to construct over time.

Start-up funds for the first year, $95,000, are needed. A $10,000 challenge is in effect until Sept. 30. Every dollar will be matched dollar fordollar up to the $10,000. Any-one interested in giving or vol-

unteering with a work project can contact BrendaGray at bbgray@bchfamily.org or 336.474.1230.

“God is blessing our efforts,” Henry says. “Weare thankful and grateful for all our partners.”

Keith Henry holds a child in Xela, Guatemala. Continued support is needed as the opening of

the facility draws near.

Learn about the new orphanage at www.bchfamily.org/guatemala____________________________________________________________________

6 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

The four new headstones 79-year-old DanMedlin placed at the graves of his daddy,

mother, sister Rica, and brother Higgins glis-tened in the sun. They were the last of the 20-plus family graves to be properly marked.

“I feel that being the last of the family, I needed to do it or it would probably never happen,” Medlin says. “There were 14 of us kids, and after mom died things were tough for daddy to keep up with us and provide for us all financially. Eventually the four youngest of us came to Kennedy Home in 1943.”

Then seven-year-old Medlin remembers the Sunday morning he left home. He and hissiblings had been in the field picking cottonwhen a car pulled upto their homeplace.

“I had no ideawhere I was going,”he recalls. “Therewere already threeother children whohad been picked upbefore us in the car.”

Medlin, his twinsister Ann, and sistersBobbie and Jessiewere sent in differentdirections upon arriving on the Kinston campus.

“We were poor and had very little,” Medlinsays. “I remember standing in front of MissDaughty that first day with nothing in my hands,no suitcase or anything, and her asking me,

‘Where are yourclothes?’ And I told her, ‘I gotthem on.’”

Medlin experi-enced many firstsquickly. “I got myfirst whipping bytwo boys my firstday. I was givenmy own bed andclothes to wear.And that next Sunday was thefirst time I hadever attended church – I’ve gone to church

ever since.”Medlin says that he has

always thought of KennedyHome as more of a religiousplace for children than an orphanage. “Most of us whenI was growing up were therebecause of hard times andeconomics.”

The children all workedand had duties on campus.They attended school and did homework.

After struggling early with his studies when helived with his father, Medlin was soon making thehonor roll at Kennedy Home. In high school, heplayed basketball, baseball and football.

“I met Cookie (Joyce Cooks) at Kennedy

Home,” Medlin says, referring to his first wife.“She came in 1949. We married after highschool, had two children and lived happily for 54 years until her death.”

Right after graduating high school, then 19-years-old Medlin went to work for DuPont in Kinston. A career later, he retired as a Senior Research Specialist and helped pioneer the development of high speed photography. That one contribution alone impacts every area ofmanufacturing and the medical industry today.

Medlin is remarried to Geraldine. He is an active alumni member and recently agreed to bethe Baptist Children’s Home representative forNeusse Baptist Association. He and Geraldine attend Sandy Bottom Baptist Church in Kinston.

“Kennedy Home was a wonderful place to beas a child,” Medlin says. “It was my home fromthe first day and remains my home today.”

Alum Dan Medlin attributes Kennedy Home for “pushing” him to be all he could be and for providing the great foundation he has built his life upon. Medlin says he came to know Christ

at Kennedy Home and credits his childhood experience for the lifelong love of the church.

[ ALUMNI FEATURE }

Medlin finds lifelong home at Kennedy_________________________________________________________________________________

By Jim Edminson, Editor

Dan and Geraldine Medlin

Guatemalan children’s home needs prayer, ready to serve children ___________________________________________________________________ __________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bchfamily

Eight-year-old Thomas’ eyes grow wide as he peers curiously through the window of

the Greensboro Country Club. “I’ve never beento a country club before!”

He and his fellow Mills Home residents waitto go inside for the third annual Hope in Style,Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) children’sfashion show and silent auction.

Hope in Style took place on August 9 in frontof a packed room filled with friends and support-ers. Lead sponsors Smart Choice and Belk, bothin High Point, made it possible for 47 residentsto participate. Belk donated a $150 back-to-school outfit for each child.

“Hope in Style, and the opportunity to shop for new clothes, means so much to our residents,” said BCH’s Karen Slate, theevent’s organizer. Volunteers Monica Vaughanand Deborah Sainsting served as co-chairs.

“There are times children come into our care with only the clothes they are wearing.”

Aided by volunteers, the boys and girls wereable to shop for their own clothing in preparationfor Hope in Style’s pinna-cle moment – walking therunway.

“I’m a little nervous,but it’s great because it’ssomething new I get totry,” Mills Home resident Angel said prior to theevent. “It makes me feel special.”

Dressed in their new outfits, each child modeled his or her new clothes on the runwayfor attendees. Event emcee Wanda Starke, thelongtime news anchor from WXII Channel 12stationed in Winston-Salem, and Laura Dan-clovic, Manager of Belk in High Point, intro-duced the children as they stepped in front of the crowd and shared details about their outfits.

“It was cool that Igot to wear my newclothes, my shoes andmy new ball cap. Mycap is my favorite,”Thomas shared. “Itmade me feel goodseeing all the peoplelooking at me when I was up there.”

Hope in Style is not only affirming toBCH’s boys and girls, but it raises much-neededfunding to care for their daily needs. A large por-tion of the proceeds are generated by communitysponsors, but another key source of supportcomes from the event’s silent auction.

“It’s an amazingpart of Hope in Stylebecause it offerspeople a way to sup-

port the eventby either mak-ing an in-kindgift for the auc-tion or biddingon one of themany items,”

Slate explained.More than 150

items were donatedthis year. The auc-tion opened at 9a.m. – an hour before the program started, to give shoppers time to bid.

Former Mills Home resident Paulina Burch received a standing ovation asshe shared with the audiencethe success she is experiencingbecause of her time in care.She recently received herbachelor’s degree in socialwork and is currently enrolledin a master’s program at theUniversity of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill.

“My goal is to give hope to others the same way BaptistChildren’s Homes gave hope

to me,” Paulina shared.Hope in Style also featured accomplished pi-

anist and Mills Home church pastor Dr. RandyStewart and keynote speaker Sharon Decker, theNorth Carolina Secretary of Commerce.

Decker’s friendship with BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwelldates back to childhood. Her father,Hoyle Allred, was pastor of Flint-Groves Baptist Church in Gastoniawhere a teenage Blackwell and his parents were members.

“It’s been such an honor to be a part of this special day. It’s beengreat fun,” Decker said. “Thank Godfor Baptist Children’s Homes.”EDITOR’S NOTE: To view a special Hope in Stylevideo featuring Keontae,scan the QR code or clickon www.bit.do/hope14.

[ 2014 HOPE IN STYLE }

Children shineat Hope in Style_________________________________________________________

By J. Blake Ragsdale, Managing Editor

Above, volunteer Stephanie Frazier helps Thomas, an eight-year-old from Mills Home in Thomasville, shop for his Hope in Style fashion show outfit at Belk in High Point. Below left, Baptist Children’s Homes president/CEO Michael C. Black-well shares a congratulatory hug with two Mills Home children after the event. Below right, Jacob, Kadarius and Keontae

walk the runway during the event. Note: See the QR code below to view a short Hope in Style video of Keontae.

G I V EGIVE to

make an eternal difference.

____________________________________________________________________

9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8 7

Residents of Baptist Children’s Homes(BCH) and youth from surrounding

churches came together last year for Unite, a first-year event focused on evangelism, musicand fellowship. Excitement is now building forUnite 2014, which takes place on Saturday, Oc-tober 18 at BCH’s Mills Home in Thomasville.

Much of the enthusiasm for the free event centers on this year’s featured speaker JonathanEvans, chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys and former NFL player.

“Our children are our future, and it’s impor-tant for God’s people to step in with His power

to help guide them and familiestowards Christ,” Evans says.“We need to encourage themto move from where they are towhere God desires them to be.”

Evans is the son of Dr. TonyEvans, renowned evangelicalleader from Dallas, TX. In addi-tion to his duties as chaplain,the former fullback speaks at

numerous events and is passionate about mentor-ing youth in his home church. Evans will havethe opportunity to bring that passion to middleand high school-aged youth attending Unite.

“Hope is critical for young people. If you losehope you’ve lost a lot,” Evans explains. “Provid-ing them hope through God’s word and throughJesus Christ is the most important thing theycould experience at Unite.”

Unite’s mission is to bring youth, churchesand the community together for the cause ofChrist. “It’s not about sameness of person, butsameness of purpose,” Evans explains. “God makesHimself evident through unity. The bible talksabout the oneness of the body of Christ and the importance of every piece of the body.”

Evans is not the only new participant at this year’s event. Joining him is Flame of God, a North Carolina-based Christian rap artist,singer; author Roberta Brunck, a former BCHresident; and Liberty University’s S.O.A.R.Dunk, an acrobatic basketball team.

Awestruck, the contemporary worship bandfrom Awestruck Church in Gibsonville, is return-ing to this year’s Unite. The group became in-volved with BCH when singer/songwriter TylerRicketts, who serves as Worship Pastor forAwestruck Church, reached out to the Children’sHomes in 2013.

“Awestruck’s desire to use their talents to impact the lives of BCH’s boys and girls madeUnite possible,” says BCH’s Tabitha Ward whocoordinates the event. “They’ve been a sparkplugthat has allowed us to bring so many others

together to share God’s love with our residentsand youth in the community.”

Unite begins at 12:30 p.m. with free food, inflatable games and other activities. A dodgeballtourney for groups that have pre-registered also begins at 12:30. S.O.A.R. Dunk performs at2:45. The food area and all other activities end at 3:00 for the start of the main program.

Despite rainy conditions, 900 youth and adults attended Unite last year. At the end of the event, 51 middle school and high school students, including a number of BCH’s boys andgirls, made decisions for Christ. Ward is hopefulfor even greater results this year. The planningteam, which has been meeting since early 2014,is encouraging churches and their youth to pray

and invite others to the event.“We want to challenge youth who will be

attending to boldly pray every day for at least one unchurched friend and invite them toUnite,” Ward says. “There’s nothing more incredible than seeing God work in the hearts of children to forever change their lives.”

Unite is a free event. To register for the event,the dodgeball tournament (space is limited to 16teams), or to volunteer, visit www.standupunite.com. For more information, contact TabithaWard at tward@bchfamily.org or 336-313-9512.EDITOR’S NOTE: To Due to a scheduling conflict,Christian rap artist HumbleTip will not be performing at this year’s Unite.

[ UNITE 2014 }

Unite set forOctober 18________________________________________________________

By J. Blake Ragsdale, Managing Editor

Unite is set to return to Baptist Children’s Homes’ Mills Home campus in Thomasville on Saturday, October 18. The free event is a day of evangelism, music and fun focused on middle and high school age youth. Above, Awestruck from

Gibsonville leads a time of music and worship at last year’s event. They return to Unite this year. Left, Unite’s featuredspeaker is Jonathan Evans, chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys and son of renowned evangelical leader Dr. Tony Evans.

Learn more about 2014 UNITE at www.StandUpUnite.com____________________________________________________________________

8 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

Evans

Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.at Kinston Home in Kinston, NCFeaturing gospel quartet The Rick Webb Family,BCH president Michael C. Blackwell, and the Baptist Foundation’s Tom Denton. Lunch will be served. Call to register: 336-474-1209

FEATURING

The Rick Webb Family Tour historic Cedar Dell

If you did not attend Homecoming2014, you really missed a great

event. With the Alumni Councilusing a theme to set a scene eachyear, it seems we have a bit more vi-vacity added to the hugging and rem-iniscing. Most of us come in regularclothes but it is fun to see all the cos-tumes, too. Lots of people share theirphotos on Facebook and the MHwebsite, making it clear we have greatfun and wonderful camaraderie.

Outgoing President Pete Knightsends his heartfelt appreciation to allthe folks who worked so hard tomake this a successful event. BaptistChildren’s Homes, current councilmembers, their spouses and friends,and Mills Home personnel (ReginaKeener, Gary Mills, Jimmy Rochelle,Susan Meeks Wood, Lisa Carter Lan-caster, Noah Ridge, Jacob Correll,Kevin Kiser, Larry Morris, LowellHoover, Andy Snovak, Andrea Walker,Dana Hartman, Jeanie Helms Cooper,Diane Stewart, Teresa Murphy, JudyKnight, Parks & Sharon DeHart Stiles,Linda Taylor, Don Ramsey, Faye RidgeYarborough, Faye Meredith Davis,Keith Campbell, Evelyn Kirby Burns,Lib Johnson, Rusty Bunker, JaniceLewis Doherty, Michael Clay, MarkPridgen, Nancy Walker, Brenda Gray,Brenda Ferguson, Paulina Burch, andseveral MH residents). Most of thesehard workers did several jobs, but I’mnaming each person only one time toconserve space. Others to be namedbelow.

Pete Knight did a wonderful job asour alumni president and we arehappy that he will continue on thecouncil as a volunteer. On Friday andSaturday evenings, President Pete,1st VP Estie Culler, Secretary KayeTrantham Mills, Treasurer FloraHicks Patton and other councilmembers all decked out in fantasticwestern costume and gear and wel-comed Homecomers into a westernsetting inside the gym. They did notwaste any time throwing people in jailwhere they had to remain until somepitying friends bailed them out. (Ofcourse, the bail money went into theAlumni Association coffers.) Otheralumni managed to make it to theSilent Auction table to put in bids on

some of the great items alumni do-nated. Others checked out the yardsale tables and bought some choiceitems to take home (for their yardsales). Both Friday and Saturdayevenings, alumni were again treatedto the delicious cooking of JaneHelms Brown and her husbandDanny. Others helping prepare thefood were Linda Rochelle, KeithCampbell, Sana & Eric Quigley, EricQuigley Sr., Ally Thomas, MichaelCooper, and Evelyn Kirby Burns. Thetables were decorated so perfectlyboth evenings, following throughperfectly on the theme.

Elsewhere on campus, folks werehappy to see Jim Hamby opening theconcession stand on Saturday so thatthey did not have to leave the campusfor food. Teenagers mostly joined theline dancing on Saturday afternoonlearning two new dances they wereable to use at the dance on Saturdaynight. Again the DJ was Jerry Carrand he picked all the right tunes toinspire the best body gyrations & toetapping. Everyone had fun.

For the Sunday morning worshipservice, Pete and Joe Knight servedalong with Carolyn McCarson Thar-rington as speakers for the Sundaymorning worship service. Carolynspoke first giving a wonderful testi-mony to what Mills Home meant toher. Joe and Pete did a tag team sortof presentation with touches ofhumor thrown in – still a testimonyto what BCH did for them. Theywere a perfect threesome for the oc-casion. The service was enhanced bymusical accompaniment from Randyand Diane Stewart, an alumni choirsinging one of the all time MillsHome favorites – “My God and I” –and Clem and Teresa Martinezsinging a lovely duet. It was a servicejam packed with scripture, prayer,singing, and testimony but it movedsmoothly with Estie Culler presidingfor Pete and it closed in a very timelymanner with Dr. Blackwell giving usa warm and fuzzy feeling with hiswords of inspiration and down homewelcome.

I sincerely hope our people do un-derstand that the Alumni Council,with family and friends and otheralumni, perform a great service for us

at Homecoming. They make the planand execute it with such dedication,time, much of their own money, andjust plain hard work. After you havehad a weekend of fun and cama-raderie with old friends and you headfor home, they remain on campuscleaning up the mess and storing thetables and supplies at the Mitchell be-fore they can even think about rest-ing. Please remember to thank thosepeople (named above) when you seethem in person, on Facebook or onthe MH website.

In Memoriam: Most of these dearfolks died between August 2013 andAugust 2014. Earlier death dates arelisted for a few people. Cathy Cox, 64-68 (died 2008), Mary Frances An-thony Campbell, 58-61 (died 2012),Linda Abernathy Neal, 1960s (scruborphan); David Maurice Amberson, 51-58; Jeffrey Hunter Armstrong, 74-82;John Brinegar Stalls, 36-44; HoraceBroome, 42-51; Pat Burgess Caruso,54-67; Billy Newell Burleson, 35-51;Steve Edwards, 60-69; Jewel ChanceEubanks, 41-49; Joe Cunningham, 41-49; Diane Darnell Heldt, 58-65; San-dra Dobbins, unknown time at MH;Steve Edwards; Harold Jack Ford 34-47; Frances Frye, 49-56; Paulette Grif-fin, 59-78; Charles A. “Jessie” James,33-43; Sam Jarrell, 43-51; DeanLunsford, 43-58; Charles Mathis, 59-60; Marvin and Marie Murphree, 64-68; Hazel Owen Kitchen McCall,30-43; Richard “Dick” Perdue, 36-41;Dawn Price, 42-46; David GrahamProctor, 33-42; Raney Troutman, 37-41; Julia Welborn Breedlove Fink, 46-53; Dorothy Whitt McKissick, 30-44;Richard “Dick” Whittington, 41-48;Freddie Wood, 48-54.

I was very sorry to hear from thedaughters of Henrietta Everett Adamsthat Henrietta suffered a strokeMarch 23. She is recovering at ClappsNursing Home. Please send get wellcards to Henrietta at 500 MountainTop Drive, Asheboro, NC, 27203.

Mary Frances Anthony Campbelldied December 2, 2012 at her homein Morganton. The Mills Homerecords indicate she came into thecare in 1958 and left Mills Home in1961. Siblings who came to MH withher were William Lewis, Ray Gregg,and Vivian Louise. She was a member

of Morganton Seventh-Day AdventistChurch. Family who survive MaryFrances are a daughter, four brothersincluding the two named above, anda sister, Vivian Louis Taylor, sevengrandchildren and four great-grand-children. She was preceded in deathby her husband John Wayne Camp-bell.

Ivan Hoppes is back in touch withhis many Mills Home friends throughFacebook. That is where I learnedthat he “went on vacation” to LosAngeles in 1963 at Christmas timewith his father and never returned toMH. He said, “Moving fromThomasville to L.A. was a real grow-ing up lesson. The school advancedme up a grade because NC schoolswere ahead of L.A. schools. The kidsthere found my hillbilly accent a bitstrange – lol.” The years rolled on andIvan married Karen, a lady who al-ready had children and then theyadded a son. Sadly, they lost that son,a fact that is always on his heart buthe loved being a father to her childrenand later grandfather to the childrenwho came along. He said, “We nowrent our home in Saratoga Springs,UT and are full-time RVers since2012. We really love this adventureespecially since Karen has seen verylittle of the USA. We loved the GulfCoast, spent spring in Port AransasTX, and this winter in Eureka, CA –another coastal city. I love the fishingand the beaches. My RV address is181 Rainbow Dr. #8108, LivingstonTX, 77399.”

Ken Wallin was signing and sellingcopies of his new western novel,McKensie Fights at Homecoming. Itis a great read. If interested, contactKen at 704-392-8267 or kenwallin@gmail.com.

We congratulate Harry Walls aswinner of the Oscar Award this year!And we rejoice that the Mills HomeBaptist Church chimes are ringingloud and clearly now. The Alumni As-sociation voted at Homecoming to

join BCH in purchasingnew chimes.

Lib Johnson was a resident of MillsHome from 1946 to 1957. Johnsonbegan writing the Mills Home alumnicolumn in 1992.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/millshomealumni____________________________________________________________________

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[ MILLS HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }

Heartfelt gratitude shared with all those who made Homecoming 2014 a success!_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By Lib Smathers Johnson (336) 299-7412 libsjohnson@triad.rr.com

____________________________________________________________________

10 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

___________________________________________Church Raises 25th Mile of Pennies

Fred Williams, member of First BaptistChurch in Plymouth, was recently honoredby pastor Jimmy Hagwood and BCH presi-dent/CEO Michael C. Blackwell. Williams is a longtime advocate for BCH and organizesthe churches ongoing “Mile of Pennies” efforts. The church celebrated its 25th mileof pennies by presenting Williams a plaqueduring Sunday morning worship in the pres-ence of his fellow church members and residents and staff from Kennedy Home.Blackwell made a personal presentation toWilliams, presenting him with a commemo-rative Kennedy Home centennial anniver-sary lapel pin. Learn how your church’spennies can make a difference at www.bch-family.org/getinvolved___________________________________________Hope in Style

Mills Home residents Ciara and Erica showoff their new athletic shows at the Hope in Style event on August 9. Shoes were donated by Fleet Feet Sports of Winston-Salem. Employees from the High Point andGreensboro stores set up the Fleet Feet tent and fitted the children with shoes themorning of the event.___________________________________________Church SupportPine Valley Baptist Church in Wilmingtonsupports BCH’s boys and girls multiple ways.BCH’s Danny Hawkins received a $1,000 donation from interim pastor Melvin Hall.The church also collected food and schoolsupplies for the residents. The church’s“Quilt Stitches Group” just completed its100th quilt. The quilts are shared with

residents at BCH’s locations throughout thestate. In addition, Crawford Anderson, whoattends the church, raised $365 for BCH.Anderson, middle, presented his donation toformer Cameron Boys Camp resident TravisMartin, left, and Hawkins, right.___________________________________________Children Helping Children

Lydia, Laura, Carrie, and Eva Grace fromFranklin decided to help the boys and girls atBroyhill Home in Clyde by selling lemonade,cookies and hair bows. The money theyraised helped purchase school supplies forBroyhill Home residents.___________________________________________Alumni

For his high school project, John Schustercollected pictures, lamps and other items tobe used in BCH’s residential cottages acrossthe state. Schuster is the grandson ofalumna Carolyn Tharrington who lived atMills Home in Thomasville from 1943 -

1956. Pictured, from left to right, are Thar-rington, BCH’s Karen Slate, and Schuster. ___________________________________________Broyhill Home

Pastor Jack Midkiff of High Praises Church in Maryville, TN presented Broyhill Homeresident Kimani with a new scooter at thechurch’s worship service on July 20. Thechurch gave the scooter to Kimani as a highschool graduation gift. Kimani uses hisscooter to make the one-mile trip fromBroyhill Home to Haywood Community College where he attends.___________________________________________Mills Home Homecoming

As a part of Homecoming at Mills Home,Mills Home Alumni Association president“Sheriff” Pete Knight, left, and Mills Homeresidential services supervisor “Deputy”Rusty Bunker,right, are arresting folks for a great cause – the Alumni Association israising funds to benefit Mills Home and itsresidents. Mills Home resident Candice,mid-dle, wanted to be handcuffed just for fun.___________________________________________Developmental Disabilities Ministry

The men from Stegall Home in Marshvilleattended the annual Happiness Retreat inAugust at Camp Caraway in Asheboro. Theyhad a great time learning more about Jesus.

[ AROUND THE STATE }

Every day at churches and BCH facilities “around the state,” residents, staff members and North Carolina Baptists are mak-

ing news. In Charity & Children and through BCH's social media posts, friendscan connect daily, weekly and monthly to learn about all of BCH's happenings.______________________________________________________________________________________

Stay connected online at www.bchfamily.org and on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, and Vimeo. Also follow NCBAM (www.ncbam.org) and BCH'sDevelopmental Disabilities Ministry (www.hereismyhome.org).

You can meet the daily needs ofBCH’s boys and girls by sharingyour time, talents and resources.You can help in these ways:___________________________________

Friends of Children Workdays:The perfect one-day missions out-reach. Projects for all ages! StatewideBCH workdays available throughoutMay and September.Call 336-474-1209.

Bed Sponsor Program: Become a bed sponsor and have a plaque withyour name mounted on a child’s bed.Your name reminds a child that youare praying. Call 336-474-1277 orwww.bchfamily.org/bedsponsor.

Mile of Pennies: Help by collecting a “Mile of Pennies.” When it comes toproviding care for hundreds of chil-dren, it takes everyone working to-gether – one penny added to anotherpenny and then another penny. Con-tinue to multiply the pennies and justimagine how far you can go in makinga real difference! Call 336-474-1209.

Walk for Change: Perfect for yourchurch or community organization –walkers recruit financial sponsors togive a cash gift for walking a certaindistance. Set your goal, secure yoursponsors, designate a safe route, and have fun! Call 336-474-1209.

Recycle Projects: Collect emptyprinter cartridges (laser, inkjet andfax cartridges). Deliver items to anyBCH facility or use prepaid shippinglabels to send items to recycler. Mil-lions of cartridges are thrown awayeach year. Begin collecting and helpthis year-round program earn moneyfor children. You can recycle cellphones, too. Call 336-474-1209.

Bike for Change: Bike for Change is a fun and dynamic way for childrento help "change" the lives of children.By pedaling bicycles, children raisesupport and awareness for BCH’sboys and girls. It is a great serviceproject for schools, churches, andother children’s groups. It alsoteaches children the importance ofparticipating in missions outreach. To learn more, visit www.bikeforchange.org. Download a planningguide and other resources. ContactBike for Change coordinator JayWestmoreland at bikeforchange@bchfamily.org for more ideas.

Volunteer at Unite on October 18:The event at Mills Home inThomasville needs 150 volunteers.Unite is a day of worship, evangelismand fun for middle and high schoolage youth. Volunteer online atwww.standupunite.com

Get Involved

Discover ways you can help BCH at www.bchfamily.org/getinvolved

www.bchfamily.org/getinvolved

With sadness, I’m printing anote from David Morrow, son

of Rev. Bill Morrow, concerning the re-cent death of his father.

“Dear Friends, my dear Dad, BillMorrow, passed away this morning.Dad worked as resident director atKennedy Home from 1980 until 1989.He then moved to Thomasville andworked in the development departmentuntil January of 2000. Kennedy Homeyears were some of the best years of hislife. Thanks to all who prayed for hishealing, and will continue to pray forour family’s grief. Thanks also to allwho served with Dad and all who ap-preciated his efforts in ‘helping hurtingchildren and healing broken families.’”David Morrow

I was recently looking at items onFacebook and found that there was aconversation going on about chocolatetoast. So I thought, why not ask thealumni to write me and tell me aboutsome of their favorite food while livingat Kennedy Home. Thanks to all whosent me some articles to use.

Dan Russ, a former staff child, wroteto say he loved it when I would takehim down the road to a place calledSkins to eat hot dogs. That was a greatplace to go to eat off campus and thosetwo places on the left side of the roadgoing into LaGrange are still open afterall these years. Mrs. Betty Beacham, aformer houseparent now living inFlorida, responded right back sayingshe loved to eat those hot dogs, too.She said that reading about it made hermouth water. A hot dog with chili inFlorida is dog, bun, pickle relish, mus-tard, onions, and catsup. What theymiss out on not having chili! She statedthat Ken, the owner, made many a hotdog for the Beacham family. Alice Rus-sum wrote to say, “My favorite food atKennedy Home was the yeast rolls wegot at Sunday lunch and I love mesome sweet tea. Sundays were alwayssomething to look forward to – spe-cially after singing in the choir. Thatmade a girl hunger and thirst for somesweet tea and rolls.” Robert Lee Bicklewrote to say his favorite food atKennedy Home was “FOOD.” “Ournutritionist was great at cooking every-

thing. I had completely forgotten aboutthe chocolate toast until I read about iton the Facebook posting. I could say Iwas disappointed our cook nevercooked liver and onions though, but, itmost likely would have gone untouchedby many unless she hid what it was andmasked the taste of it, like I do some-times. I really wish I could have been atthe 100th celebration but I was havingtrouble with my back.” Bobby, I believeit says in Hezikiah 2:10 that we are notsupposed to eat liver or gizzards – ha!Delano Wilkerson Winstead wrote tosay: Ice tea on Sundays! When I wentthere I was a nine-years-old and used todrinking what I wanted when I wantedto, but the day I arrived at the BiggsCottage all little girls had to drink milkat every meal except Sunday lunch. Tothis day, I hate milk. But I sure used tolove ice tea at Sunday lunch! My nick-name was Laney.” There we go with“on Sunday again.” I still wonder whythey couldn’t have tea during the week.Donna Duty (She was known to manyof us at the “milk lady” because shetook milk to the houses.) sent a wordor two about food. “I really learned tolike so many foods once I came to liveat Kennedy Home. We really had itmade down there with a big farm pro-viding us delicious fresh vegetables, ourown milk cows and dairy, pigs, and beefcows! We were always well fed andsurely never went to bed hungry. If youdid, then it was your own fault for noteating what was put before you! WhenI first started thinking about what myfavorite foods were while living on thecampus, it was hard at first to narrow itdown. Everything was homemade andseasoned so well. I remember home-made apple butter and thought this wasso delicious. To this day when I eatapple butter, my thoughts go back toKH. And homemade orange mar-malade – yummy! Learned to lovescrambled eggs with ground up sausagemixed in it. On Saturdays Ms. O’Hara,our dietician in the Pollock Cottage,would make delicious hamburgers andhomemade french fries – which all usgirls devoured after working so hard onour Saturday chores! I was introducedto bread pudding while living in theBrokenhurst Cottage made by RaeBrock and Annie Mae Moore. I still love

bread pudding to thisday – and with lemonsauce on top! I rememberone time while I lived inthe Brokenhurst, KH gota big shipment ofcanned biscuits So, weate and ate and atecanned biscuits until Mrs. Mooredecided that she would get creativewith them and made us homemadedonuts rolled in powdered sugar. Someof those with a tall glass of milk.” SallyKoblinsky (72-79), a former housepar-ent, had this to say. “Hi John, I see youwant articles about food at KH. We hadso many great cooks there that it is hardto pick just a few. I remember when themen would put together a fish stew thatwas so good – and hard to copy. To thisday I have wanted that dish for myselfbut have failed in copying it. Then ofcourse there was the pit barbecue pig –oh how mouth watering that was andall the fixin’s. On weekdays at BiggsCottage, we would have cereal and ofcourse the famous “chocolate toast,”however on Saturday’s Mr. Tom Koblin-sky would make eggs to order – scram-bled, sunny-side-up, over easy, etc.Nothing too hard. He loved being ableto give our girls and boys what theywanted once in a while. Now Mrs. DotGurganus was a great cook and wouldmake some of the best pies and poundcakes – fit for a queen and king. Andlet’s not forget about all the great veg-etables to order with the best flavor thatwould melt in your mouth. I remembera squash casserole that was so great thatI make it myself to this day, and at thetime I did not care for yellow squash. Ithank the Children’s Home for lettingus work with wonderful people such asthese. May God bless them all whereverthey are.”

Donna Duty sent me a recipe forchocolate toast that Debbie Cauldergave her. Here it is: 6 tablespoonscocoa, 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup cannedmilk, 1 stick butter, 1 tablespoon lightcorn syrup, 2 tsp. vanilla. Add all butvanilla and boil 3 minutes and stir, addvanilla, Serve over toast while hot.

Garden duty: I remember so wellwhen Becky and I talked to Rev. RogerWilliams about coming to KH that hesaid we can’t pay you what you are

making at First Baptist ofWashington, but we have a 25-acre gar-den. I have always loved working in thegarden. So when we arrived, I went outand bought a new freezer so we couldhave vegetables in the winter and allyear long. We love fresh vegetables.Here is a little note from PriscillaWoodard Herring. “Until I went to KH,I had never picked butter beans. Ms.Lou Pearl Simmons rounded up all usgirls and headed us to the garden oneevening to pick butter beans! Then shetold us that no one could do anythingthat evening until they were all shelledand Ms. O’Hara had them ready to putin the freezer. We girls sat in the TVroom for hours shelling the butterbeans! Ha, well, we thought we weresmart. We would shell three and throwthree away. We got in the biggest trou-ble over that! Everyone of the butterbeans got shelled, she made us go thruthe hulls and shell the ones we hadthrown away. She was a smart woman!We would think we were pulling some-thing over on her, but in reality she wasputting it over on us! I greatly admiredher and will always thank the GoodLord for her being my first house par-ent.”

Becky and I loved Mrs. Lou Pearl. Shewelcomed us to KH with open arms. Shewas always sending me delicious food formy family to enjoy.

Well, that’s about all for now. I havea great note from Priscilla WoodardHerring and Donna Duty about whatthis past Homecoming meant to them.I will include them in my next column.Why don’t you write to me about what

the 100th anniversarymeant to you. We wouldlove to hear from you.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kennedyhomealumni

John Thompson was the choir director at Kennedy Home from1972-1977. Today, he enjoys a veryactive retirement.

____________________________________________________________________

9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8 11

[ KENNEDY HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }

Chocolate toast spurs memoriesof good food at Kennedy Home_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By John Thompson, 2500 Simpson Street, Apt. 102, Windsor Place, Jacksonville, N.C. 28546 (252)671-3515 jthompson117@ec.rr.com

BCH’s Capital Campaign

Alum Alice Sisk Russum and husband Johngive to Campaign – The Russums have given$3,000 to Baptist Children’s Homes’ Capital Cam-paign. The gift is part of the KH alumni $12,000challenge gift. Please give to help meet the chal-lenge. Alumni are at the halfway mark!

More Homeword at www.bchfamily.org/news/stories

Calling All State Employees!Choose BCH as your charity in theState Employees Combined Campaign.SECC code is 3641. Encourage others toas well and better the lives of childrenand families in North Carolina.# 3 6 4 1

We participate in these areas:C F C # 3 3 2 4 1

Research Triangle Area CFCCape Fear Area CFCCamp Lejeune/OnslowCounty/New River CFCSoutheastern North Carolina (includes Fort Bragg)

Greater North Carolina CFCCherry Point CFCRowan/Iredell County CFCCFC Central CarolinasCFC of Western NC

South Hampton Roads CFC(Camden, Chowan, Currituck,Dare, Gates, Hertford,Pasquotank, and PerquimansCounties and Albemarle andElizabeth City)

____________________________________________________________________

12 9/14 – Charity + Children – 127/8

Can we help?BCH offers services for children and families. Needhelp, call 1.800.476.3669.

1.Western Area Family Services Linda Morgan, Lead Dir. 828.627.9254

2.Central Area Family Services Regina Keener, Dir. 336.474.1200

3.Eastern Area Family Services Brian Baltzell, Dir. 252.522.0811

3.Odum Home Kathy Locklear, Res. Campus Mgr.910-521-3433

4.Cameron Boys Camp Stephen Ashton, Dir. 910.245.4034

5.Camp Duncan for Girls Paul Daley, Dir. 910.944.3077

6.Oak Ranch/Family CareLynn Garner, Dir. 336.474.1240

7.Weekday EducationLinda Russo, Dir. 336.474.1201

8.Dev. Disabilities Ministry Peggy Pennington, Dir. 336.474.1261

9.NC Baptist Aging MinistrySandy Gregory, Dir. 336-474-1221

Ideas or suggestions, contact: Keith Henry, COO at 336-474-1215

It’s all too familiar.

Lunch at a localeatery. Sitting in a booth with red-fakeleather upholstery.The hum of a busi-ness crowd in thebackground. It is likedeja vu, but sitting across from me is a different young man.

I got the call a few weeks prior atwork. Alan asked if we could meet –no rush – maybe sometime in thenext couple of weeks. I told him thatwould be no problem and suggestedlunch.

Alan, a college student with plansto enter the ministry, was being con-sidered for his first youth minister’sjob. The process with the prospectivechurch was going well and he washopeful. I spent the first part of our time together lending unsolicitedpersonal wisdom about the ups and downs of youth ministry while we waitedfor our order.

Lunch came and weboth took our first bites.Alan continued talkingand made little headway on the plate of food sitting in front of him. I proceeded unfettered by any of thepressures that were becoming evidentin Alan’s facial expressions.

“Mr. Edminson?” Alan gushes.I pause, lower my fork, and reach

for my water. He watches as I take a sip.

“I have something I would like toask you,” he says with a determined

tone. “I would like to ask you for Mary’s hand in

marriage.”My youngest daughter Mary and

Alan met at college and have beendating for eight months. They wereboth a part of a Christian organiza-tion on campus. Mary was Alan’sgroup leader.

Hearing Alan’s question, I lean forward. Not blinking he says, “I loveMary. I would like to ask her to marryme.”

Two and a half years prior, I satacross from Mark when he got my attention in mid-bite of a taco. Markhad asked to meet, and I suggestedlunch at a local Mexican restaurantthat he and my daughter Amie frequented.

Just as assertive, andequally as nervous asAlan, Mark asked forpermission to proposeto Amie.

Although the customstill exists, it’s not as common foryoung men to ask fathers for theirblessings before proposing to daugh-ters. But the day was – only a fewgenerations ago – when it was expected for young men to ask for his beloved’s “hand in marriage.”Class, status, dowries, and other financial arrangements demanded.

Today, matters of the heart trump all that and a father, even though he

may be concerned about the youngman’s ability to help provide for hisdaughter, listens for the words, “Ilove your daughter.”

Although biblically there are accounts of requests for proposalsbeing accompanied by quantities oflivestock, dry goods and perhaps evencurrency, today it is far more impor-tant to measure the young man by his ability to love a daughter like Jesus loves the church.

Will the future groom give himselffor his bride? Will he be the man Goddesires him to be in all his life? Will he place your daughter’s needs abovehis own – nourishing her spiritually,mentally and physically? Will his lovebe long-suffering and uncompromis-ing? Will he love her as much as hedoes now many years in the future?

Maybe it is these questions an-swered affirmatively that brings thetrue riches into our daughter’s lives?It’s certainly what this father desires.

Just as I had affirmed Mark and his desire to ask Amie to marry him, I affirmed Alan in his quest forMary’s “hand in marriage.”

A few days later, Mary announcedthat she and Alan would marry. I

smiled at the news.

[ H O M E W O R D }

Matters of the hearttake precedence___________________________________________________________________________

By Jim Edminson, Editor

Edminson is editor of Charity & Children and writes “Homeword” to inspire and encourage families in themidst of full lives and hectic schedules.He has recently published his first book Under One Roof. Email him at

wjedminson@bchfamily. org or call 1.800.476.3669,ext. 1217 for information on how you can get your copy.Proceeds benefit the children and families served by BCH.

M O R E MORE inspiration in

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all year long. You readstories of how children’slives are transformed andhow the ministry touches

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Charity&ChildrenS i n c e 1 8 8 7

E very issue is a letter

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RESTAURANT