June 2014 - Baptist Children`s Homes of NC

[ “It all depends on your attitude.” – Blackwell }
[ “I began to try and put forth the effort..” – Thomas }
Charity &Children
127/5
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6/14
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And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina
Couple honored with Baptist Heritage Award. (page 3) Summer Appeal (page 5) Graduates recognized. (page 7)
Rangers commit
to lead others
___________________________________________________
By Jim Edminson, Editor
T
he Rangers muster taking their places on
three logs. This is the oldest group of
campers at Cameron Boys Camp – ages range
from 14 to 17. The 902-acre wooded camp in
Moore County has seen hundreds of boys like
these come through the program.
“Alright, let’s talk about where you guys think
we are as a group,” Chief Tyler says. Chiefs are
counselors who live with the campers at their
campsites serving as mentors and teachers.
There’s a buzz before one voice rises above
the others: “We want to be the leader group.”
In unison, the others nod in agreement. The
The Rangers are taking the responsibility of being the oldest group at Cameron Boys Camp seriously. The group
has taken on the challenge to lead the other campers in the Frontiersmen and Trailblazer groups by setting an example
of how to succeed. Cameron Boys Camp helps boys and their families overcome personal and family struggles.
group aspires to set the example for all the other
campers in the Frontiersmen and Trailblazer
groups. It’s a bold statement considering
where these boys have been over the last
months. There had been no camaraderie.
HOPE
They were all “doing their own thing.”
The boys began talking about how
things changed in January and how they
have a new focus – a focus on each other
and helping each other succeed.
“When you begin your day ready to help
each other out,” Wes says, “the day is better. You
begin your day with a humble spirit and you feel
more energized.”
Wes is one of the Rangers who has stepped
up to lead his group. “You’ve got to be ready
to move when others are still standing around.
Somebody has to say, ‘Come on, let’s get this
done’ or ‘Hey, how can we fix this?’”
The group begins to talk about how they
have all changed their focus away from themselves and, instead, are focusing on each other
as a group.
struggle out here if
HOPE changes all “You’ll
you are worrying about is
lives and dispels
yourself,” Wes says. “We are
darkness.
out here to help ourselves,
but the only way we can truly
help ourselves is to begin helping each other.”
Wes’s fellow Ranger and friend Thomas says
attitude is everything. “You’ve got to wake up
and be ready to get into the day. When you
realize the other guys are depending on you,
it’s a good place.”
“You all have grown a lot,” Chief Josh says,
“You came back in January ready to commit to
Camp. You’re more flexible and you are paying
(Story continues on page 6.)
[ MY THOUGHTS }
Seize the opportunity through
persistence, timing and attitude
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
By Michael C. Blackwell, President/CEO
I
t has been 31 years since I left the pastorate
to become a child care executive. I speak in
many different kinds of churches – about 900
since 1983. Today, clergy face a happy, scary,
exhilarating, depressing, encouraging, and frightening time. But more than anything else, clergy
face a time of opportunity.
Ask yourself two questions: What has brought
me as clergy or laity to this point in life and what
will it take for me to continue?
I believe the world is divided into winners and
losers and the ultimate question becomes which
do you want to be? I have never met a clergy
person who wants to be a loser. He/she may
often feel lonely and depressed, but down deep,
clergy are called to serve and they want
to serve well – we all want to succeed.
But sometimes we get derailed.
I have three words to consider for
both clergy and laity: persistence,
timing and attitude.
First, persistence. One of my
heroes is Winston Churchill. He
was the greatest war leader Great
Britain ever had. During the
dark days of World War II
when Adolph Hitler’s
Nazi forces were virtually
destroying London, it was
Churchill who kept the
peoples’ hopes alive by
determination, inspiration
and rhetoric. Churchill was
made for the war.
In the early 1960s after Winston Churchill had
already turned 90, he made a final commencement address. It may be the most dramatic
commencement address ever. Churchill, by this
time an overweight, bent and aged man shuffled
slowly to the microphone. He raised that big
head of his and said to his enraptured audience:
“Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.”
With that the old man turned and ambled back to
his seat. The crowd sat stunned in silence before
giving him a thunderous standing ovation.
Never give up.
Persistence has been a key to your success
and persistence will be a key in the future.
Persistence has brought you to this point
but this is only the beginning.
As clergy and laity, I suggest you
need to do three things: be totally,
absolutely dedicated; be convinced
that what you do is in God’s will;
and believe in yourself more than
anything else. Persistence is the stuff
of which winners are made.
My second word is timing.
A winner knows what to do and
then does it. A winner knows and
understands that life is a challenge,
that church work isn’t easy. But he
also knows that life is an adventure, that the journey
is worthwhile.
Saint Francis of
Assisi offers the best
prayer on timing:
“God grant me the
serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change
the things I can and the wisdom
to know the difference.”
A winner knows how to seize
opportunities. The brass ring
comes around only a few times.
Reach out and grab it. Life without
risk is a life of sheer boredom. Losers look back with regrets in their
yearbook of life and say “why” while winners
always look ahead and ask “why not?”
Too many church members have stopped
growing. They go to their graves with their
music still inside them, with their poetry yet to
be written. Between the City of Reality and the
City of Dreams, many people exit at the Town of
Compromise and lead lives boring, dull and frustrating. Successful clergy continue to help people
dream dreams and see visions.
A Bible story illustrates my point. Many of
Jesus’ disciples were fishermen. In His day all
good fishermen knew you
fished only off the left side
of the boat. One night the
men fished all night and caught
nothing. Jesus told them to fish
off the right side of the boat.
They did and their boats began
to sink because there were so
many fish in them. Success in
life is much closer than we
realize. With the disciples it was
just a boat’s width away. Don’t
stop too soon on the way to your
dreams. Don’t stop at the Town
of Compromise.
My third word is attitude.
It’s trite but true, a winner takes
a lemon and makes lemonade
out of it. A winner comes
to the end of his rope, ties
a knot and hangs on. A
winner keeps his integrity.
A winner keeps her purpose, her direction. The
question isn’t whether you
accept life. The question is how you accept it.
The Chinese word for crisis is comprised of
two characters. The first represents danger and
the second opportunity. When Chinese see the
word, they interpret it both ways: danger and
opportunity. That’s
the way life is. If
you view life as
an opportunity
for fulfillment
and service
then it will
become a
self-fulfilling prophesy. If you view life as filled
with danger, that will become the measure by
which you live. It all depends on
your attitude.
Michael C. Blackwell leads the ministry with vigor
and enthusiasm. He has served as president of Baptist
Children’s Homes since 1983 and has a record-setting
30-year tenure.
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 ( [email protected] ); 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 for
friends and supporters of Baptist Children’s Homes and is printed at Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC. It is mailed by Excalibur, WinstonSalem, NC. Circulation: 62,000 seven times a year, 30,000 four times a year. Periodicals postage paid at Thomasville, NC, and at additional
mailing offices. For free subscription, or to be removed from the mailing list or make address correction or change, write circulation
manager Karen Fincher (using the above address), email her at [email protected] or call her at 336-474-1209. Subscribe online at
www.bchfamily.org/contact/index/charityandchildren . POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Charity & Children, P.O. Box 338,
Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.
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More stories at www.bchfamily.org
[ BAPTIST HERITAGE AWARD }
Couple honored
for compassion
_________________________________________________________
B
aptist Children’s Homes honored Ted B.
and Peggy Lanier at the recent 14th annual
North Carolina Baptist Heritage Awards. The
event held at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro is co-sponsored by
the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
and the North Carolina Baptist Foundation.
The couple, who are active members of First
Baptist Church in Sanford, were presented the
award by BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell at the awards ceremony on April 8.
“Wherever there is a need, especially needs of
children and those with developmental disabilities, Ted and Peggy give generously with a compassionate and gentle spirit,” Blackwell said.
He said the couple volunteer as well as give to
not only make a difference in the lives of BCH’s
children, but to help make their community and
North Carolina “a safer, more secure and welcoming environment.”
Currently, Ted Lanier serves as vice-chair of
BCH’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Board’s
finance committee utilizing his rich business experience. Blackwell described him as “exuberant”
and “unselfish.” He said Lanier’s “probing questions” and “enthusiastic advocacy” for those
BCH serves makes him a valuable trustee.
Photo courtesy of NC Baptist Foundation; Dan Roberts Photography, Lillington, NC
President/CEO Michael C. Blackwell presented BCH’s 2014 North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award to Ted B. and Peggy
Lanier during a luncheon held at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro on April 8. The couple are
members of First Baptist Church in Sanford. Ted Lanier currently serves as vice-chair of BCH’s Board of Trustees.
Blackwell said Peggy Lanier’s devotion to her
husband is evident “as she joins him in many of
his philanthropic acts.” The Laniers place a high
priority on family and will perpetuating their
spirit of compassion to their two children and
four grandchildren – who Blackwell said “light
up their lives.”
The North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award
recognizes individuals and couples who represent
exemplary service and giving to the 12 organizations associated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Each entity chooses
its recipient and presents the honoree during
a special luncheon held to honor the recipient.
Blackwell said that BCH will continue to
thrive with the help of friends like the Laniers.
Community support for BCH shines brightly at BBQ festival
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T
he bright colors of vintage cars,
arrows launching from their
bows, the sound of live music, and
the smokey smell of sizzling barbecue – each of these elements are a
part of what makes the “Cookin’ for
the Kids” Barbecue Festival special.
The event on May 10 at Broyhill
Home in Clyde brought people
together for a time of food and fun
to benefit the children who live there.
“The spirit of God was in everything that took place,” said Linda Morgan, BCH
Statewide Director, Child/Residential Services.
“Even with the rainy
conditions, God shined
through and the crowd
came.”
The barbecue festival
is a very unique event
for Baptist Children’s
Homes as it is completely volunteer driven.
Area churches, businesses and other groups
provide all the labor
and overhead. The proceeds generated by the
event are presented to
Morgan on behalf of Broyhill Home.
“In every way, the
barbecue festival displays
the love and support the
churches and the community have for BCH,” said
Morgan. “It’s a blessing to
see all of these people come
together to give back to
children in need.”
The 2014 “Cookin’ for the Kids” Barbecue Festival on May 10 brought churches
and community together for children at Broyhill Home in Clyde. Above, participants
take aim as a part of the festival’s 3D Bow Shoot. The course is touted as one of the
best in the state. Left, cook teams began preparing their special barbecue recipes the
evening before the event with many cooking throughout the night. Middle, children
of all ages not only came for a day of fun, but also volunteered to help.
____________________________________________________________________
Hope in Style is August 9. Ticket and sponsor info at www.hopeinstyle.org
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[ WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS }
Will you make a difference
for one child today?
_______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
By Brenda B. Gray, Executive Vice President, Development & Communications
I
slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting
the car in front of me. The car had abruptly
come to a complete standstill. The door flew
open and the young woman suddenly exited the
car. She ran around to the front, bent over and
disappeared.
Had she hit something?
Was something wrong with her car?
Was something blocking her way?
She stood up holding a large box turtle. She
quickly took the reptile to the other side of the
road, carried it across the ditch, and carefully
placed it in the woods. She dashed back to the
car, got in, closed the door, and was on her way.
She cared enough to stop her car, get out and
rescue the turtle. Now you might say, “That was
foolish! It is dangerous to stop traffic just to save
a turtle.” You could say, “There are thousands
of turtles. One more or less is not going to make
a difference.”
It made a difference to that one. One person in
the world cared enough to assure its safety. It was
important to save one.
As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded
of another story: An old man was strolling along
a beach one day. In the distance, he saw a young
boy and girl reach down, pick something up, and
throw it back into the sea. Drawing nearer, he
saw that the sand was littered with thousands of
small stranded sand dollars. The children were
patiently picking them up, one at a time, and
returning them to safety below the water.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Saving sand
dollars,” replied the children as they continued.
The man, somewhat jaded by life experiences,
thought the children’s actions were futile. “But
the beach is littered with dying sand dollars. What
possible difference can you make by doing this?”
The young girl bent
over, picked up another,
and threw it with all her
might. With a plop the
sand dollar sank safely
below the water. Then,
turning to the old man,
she said with all the wisdom
of a child: “I made a difference for that one.”
What do both of these stories
have in common? There was one who
cared enough to help.
If children are going to cross the dangerous
roads and intersections in their lives, they will do
it the same way the turtle did – with someone’s
help. If children are going to survive the trauma
of life’s storms, they will do it the same way the
sand dollars did – with the help of someone who
decided to make a difference for that one child.
Like the turtle and the sand dollars, the children and families who come to Baptist Children’s
Homes (BCH) are seeking a safe place to start
over. They come to BCH having experienced
the harsh realities of trauma, poverty, abuse,
abandonment, and discouragement. These
experiences make it difficult to trust again.
These experiences cause them to lose hope.
All children deserve to feel safe and secure.
They deserve to become all God desires for
them. When I ask BCH children what they like
most, they respond by telling me they feel safe.
Remember the response of the girl who was
working diligently to save the sand dollars? She
told the man, “I made a difference for that one.”
Who is your “sand dollar?” Our children need
you. Will you make a difference for one child
today?
Last year, BCH ministered to nearly 10,000
August 1 - 3
Mills Home Homecoming
Mills Home in Thomasville
August 9 – Hope in Style:
Greensboro Country Club
in Greensboro
Sept. 4 – Western Area Conference:
Broyhill Home in Clyde
Sept. 6 – FOC Workday:
Camp Duncan in Aberdeen
Oct. 18 – UNITE:
Mills Home in Thomasville
Sept. 9 – Founders Day:
Camp Duncan in Aberdeen
Nov. 6 – Super Senior Fest:
Kennedy Home in Kinston
Sept. 13 – FOC Workday:
Cameron Boys Camp in Cameron
Kennedy Home in Kinston
Oak Ranch in Broadway
Nov. 16-23 – Week of Prayer:
Your prayers mean so much!
Sept. 20 – FOC Workday:
Odum Home in Pembroke
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.
VBS
YOUR
Be a Part of BCH’s Events www.bchfamily.org/events
July 5 & 6
Kennedy Home Centennial
Kennedy Home in Kinston
children,
families
and individuals
who were
in need of
help. There
are many ways
you can help:
 Pray for BCH’s
children and staff members every day.
 Decide to volunteer.
 Give to help provide a safe place for a child.
 Consider a gift of real estate or other
appreciated asset.
 Donate your used automobile. We are
always in need of used vehicles.
 Participate in our Friends of Children
events.
 Conduct a food drive or clothing drive
 Become a bed sponsor.
 Lead your church and family in making
a gift to BCH.
 Invite a speaker to your church.
 Include BCH in your Will.
For more information on how you can make
a difference for a lifetime, call me at 336-6894442. It is my prayer that the light of Christ
shining through us will flood the darkness of the
lives of the children and families entrusted to us
and change them forever. Will you make this
your prayer and commit to make
a difference?
CAN HELP BCH!
CONTACT:
Alan Williams at 336.474.1277
(FOC = Friends of Children)
Video, activity sheet, Mile of Pennies guide at:
www.bchkids.org
____________________________________________________________________
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Leave a legacy. Vist www.bchfamily.org/plannedgiving
[ 2014 SUMMER APPEAL }
Give a child
an unforgettable
summer.
Your gift helps to provide
boys and girls the care
they need while providing
a summer full of memories.
The needs of the children in BCH’s
care not only remain great during
the hot summer months, but the
cost of care increases. As a summer
sponsor, you provide for children’s
daily needs while helping to enrich
their lives by making positive,
summer activities and joyous
memories possible.
Choose a summer
sponsor package below
and make your gift today.
I want to help provide children a summer of memories!
 Sunshine sponsor for $5,000.00
 Sizzle sponsor for $2,500.00
 Splash sponsor for $1,250.00
 Super sponsor for $500.00
 Sensation sponsor for $250.00
 Smiles sponsor for $50.00
 $ __________________ Other Amount
Name __________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________
Phone __________________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________________________
Credit Card Option:  Visa  Mastercard Name on card: ____________________________________________________________________________
Card #: ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Signature: ____________________________________________________
Must have Credit Card Expiration Date: ____________
Three-digit security code (on card back): ___ ___ ___
 Send information on how to prepare a Will.
 I have included BCH in my estate plans.
 Send me BCH’s email newsletter
or sign-up by texting BCHFAMILY to 22828
Mail this coupon using the enclosed postage-free envelope, and thank you!
____________________________________________________________________
To give immediately, visit www.bchfamily.org/givenow
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[ CAMERON BOYS CAMP }
Camp life shared
at Founders Day
_____________________________________________________________________
F
riends of Cameron Boys Camp from around North
Carolina trekked to the woods to spend the day with
their beloved campers at this year’s Founders Day on May 6.
Each year, Camp staff members, campers and chiefs anticipate showing off what the wilderness camping program is all
about. Tours of campsites led by the boys feature information
about daily life including tales of building tents, river canoeing
and hiking trips, and the preparation of delicious meals
cooked on wood-burning stoves.
Just as the campers at Founders Day are eager
to tell what life is like living at Cameron Boys
Camp, guests who attend the annual event are
eager to hear about all the boys’ experiences.
More than 100 North Carolina Baptists and
other friends began their day at camp with
a tour of one of the campsites: Frontiersmen,
Trailblazers and Rangers. As many as ten boys
live at each campsite with three chiefs. Each
campsite consists of eight tents where the
boys sleep, cook, and do crafts and their studies – Camp is a licensed, non-public school.
Founders Day is held in the spring each year.
Rangers Wes and Thomas help lead other campers to success
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Story continued from page 1.)
them out. Special planned times are taken
attention to the needs of each other. You’re
in the day to discuss anything on the boys’
doing great.”
minds. And when the need arises, the group
will spontaneously stop what they are doing
Placing a priority on the group is key to the
to deal with anything that may come up in
boys reaching their goals. Everyday the campers
the group or that an individual camper
do things together. Each activity is hands-on.
may
be feeling.
The group plans and builds the tents at their
campsite. They add the numbers to budget and
Wes has been at Camp for 11 months.
plan meals they eat as a group. Trips down rivers Anger issues and bad relationships pulled
and hikes along long
him down. “I would
trails are researched,
get mad and just lash
planned and budgeted
out. I would rather
together. Fishing, playfight than talk about
ing games and performthings. Now, I’m
ing skits and singing are
learning ways to cool
all done as a group.
off. I’m learning how I can
talk
things out with my
Learning to be a
chiefs
and the other guys.”
group does more than
build camaraderie; it
Wes’s mom is thankful
fosters trust.
for the changes. Where the
two spent most of the time
“We can be ourselves
at odds, Wes can share
around each other,”
Above,
Ranger
Thomas
listens
to
former
camper
his
thoughts and needs.
Thomas says. “You don’t
Allan
Jernigan
tell
of
his
experience
18
years
ago.
“I’m listening now. Before,
have to put on a front.
Right, Wes and Chief Josh at Founders Day.
I had shut my mom and
We are all in this toeveryone else out. I’m regether. You have to trust each other to begin
specting
her
–
learning
to respect authority goes
to deal with your own issues. These guys are my
a
long
way.”
best friends.”
Fifteen-year-old Wes says he has grown in his
Part of working on big problems is getting
relationship with God. “It was hard for me to see
God in my life before coming to Camp, but now
I can see God making Himself known to me in
my life. I’m learning that God is real. It’s cool.”
Sixteen-yearold Thomas
will be going
home near
the end of
summer. He
is looking
forward to
playing football again in
the fall.
Thomas was facing some serious legal problems. Bad decisions had put him with a bad
crowd and in a bad place.
“It wasn’t easy at first,” Thomas says, “I
wanted to go home and I refused to commit to
making Camp work. But one day things seemed
to snap into place. I realized that Camp was
going to be what I made of it. I began to try
and put forth the effort. It’s made all the
difference.”
Thomas, like Wes, is helping the Rangers to
meet their goal to become the lead group. “I’ve
seen it work. I’ve been here and I can help others
who are struggling to go for it.”
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Learn about the residential camp at www.cameronboyscamp.org
[ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS }
BCH celebrates
graduates
_________________________________________________________
BCH RESIDENTS
Tabitha Ammons graduates
from Central Haywood High
School in Clyde on June 13.
A resident of Broyhill Home
in Clyde, Tabitha will attend
Haywood Community College this fall and plans to later
transfer to
Ammons
a four-year
university.
Kimani Hamilton is a resident of Broyhill Home in
Clyde. He graduates from
Tuscola High School in Waynesville on June 11. Kimani
begins classes at Haywood
Hamilton
Community College this fall.
STAFF MEMBERS’ CHILDREN AND FAMILY
Jakkia Anderson graduated
on May ?? with a degree in
business administration with a
concentration in marketing.
She attended North Carolina
Central University in
Durham. Jakkia plans to work
a year and then pursue a masters of healthcare administration. Her
Anderson
father is
Thomas Anderson, senior
child care worker at Odum
Home in Pembroke.
Seth Beeson graduated on
May 18 from Davidson College in Davidson. He received
his bachelor of science degree
in biology. Beeson plans to atBeeson
tend medical school next year.
He is the son of Melanie Beeson, call center specialist for North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry
(NCBAM).
Jenny Edminson graduated
on May 7 with a Masters of
Social Work. Her degree was
awarded through The Joint
Master of Social Work Program; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University and University of
North Carolina at GreensEdminson
boro. She is the daughter of
Jim Edminson, editor of Charity & Children
and NCBAM team member.
Kathryn Fincher graduates on June 14 from
Ledford Senior High School
in Thomasville. She is the
daughter of Karen Fincher,
administrative assistant/receptionist for the Development
and Communication department. Kathryn begins courses
this fall at Davidson County
Community College in Lexington.
Fincher
Hailey
Garner is the daughter of
BCH’s Family Care director
Lynn Garner. Haley graduates
on June 7 from South Davidson High School in Denton.
She has been accepted to
East Carolina University in
Greenville where she will
Garner
pursue a bachelor of science
degree in nursing.
Amanda Thomas Heaston
graduated on May 8 with a
Dental Assisting II degree
from Guildford Technical
Community College in
Jamestown. She will pursue
her career as a dental assistant.
Amanda’s
Heaston
mother is
Gaye Thomas, an office professional for the Developmental Disabilities Ministry in
Thomasville.
Charles “Ches” Franklin
McDowell IV received a Juris
Doctorate from the Norman
Adrian Wiggins School of Law
C. McDowell
at Campbell University in Raleigh. Ches graduated on May 9. He will be working for Judge
David M, Warren of the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court. Ches is the son of Martha McDowell, south central regional
director for NCBAM.
William Luke McDowell
graduates from North Davidson High School in Lexington
on June 14. Luke plans to attend the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. He is
the youngest son of
L. McDowell
NCBAM’s Martha McDowell.
Ashton Laurel Saunders
graduates on June 12 from
Pisgah High School in Canton. She is the daughter of
Adam and Sian Saunders, Senior Child Care Workers at
Broyhill Home in Clyde. Ashton will attend Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA
to pursue a degree in marketSaunders
ing.
Courtney Shore graduates
June 14 from North Davidson
High School in Lexington.
She is the daughter of Jennifer
Shore, NCBAM’s elder care
coordinator and will attend
Gardner-Webb University in
the fall majoring in education
with plans to teach high
Shore
school history.
BCH STAFF MEMBERS
Paulina Burch graduated summa cum laude
from the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro on
May 9. She received a bachelor of social work degree as
well as the Outstanding Senior Award. Paulina is attending the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill working towards a master of social
work degree. She served as
Burch
care call center specialist for
NCBAM and is a former resident of Mills Home
in Thomasville.
____________________________________________________________________
Register for Kennedy Home’s Centennial – www.bchfamily.org/kennedy100
6/14 – Charity + Children – 127/5
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[ WHEELCHAIR RAMP BUILD }
Second
Rampin’ Up!
aids frail aging
_________________________________________________________
By Jim Edminson, Editor
T
his year’s Rampin’ Up! was nothing like
the inaugural event two years prior. On the
eve of this April 26 biennial wheelchair rampbuilding event, multiple tornadoes touched down
in eastern North Carolina. Early assessments of
the destruction confirmed a total of seven tornadoes had left widespread damage during the Friday storm. Some winds reached 125 mph. Within
hours after the storm, North Carolina Baptist
Men disaster relief teams were activated to help
with clearing debris – many of these teams were
set to be at the homes of ramp recipients early
Saturday morning. But what appeared to be a deterrent to many receiving needed ramps has
turned out to be an exhibition of the commitment of North Carolina Baptists and NC Baptist
Men to be the hands and feet of Jesus serving the
frail aging and their neighbors statewide.
Rampin’ Up! is produced by North Carolina
Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM) and NC Baptist Men in conjunction with NC Operation Inasmuch. The first Rampin’ Up! in 2012 resulted in
more than 300 wheelchair ramps built. This year
as NCBAM began to publicize the event, the
ministry was inundated
with requests for
needed wheelchair
ramps – more than
400 requests have been
received since January
1. NCBAM Call Center specialists tackled
the arduous task of
processing each of the
requests. It can take
two days to four weeks
from receiving an initial
request to do research,
find funds and put building teams into
place. The man hours added up quickly
as NC Baptist Men and NCBAM worked
toward the Rampin’ Up! event.
Requests for wheelchair ramps continued to come in after an April 25 news report by
High Point’s Fox 8 urged people needing help to
call before May 3. The next morning 29 phone
messages left by people who had seen the report
were waiting for NCBAM’s Call Center staff.
North Carolina Baptists build more wheelchair
ramps than any other religious or nonprofit
group in the state. Since its inception in 2009,
NCBAM has coordinated the build of nearly
2,000 ramps. That’s just a portion of all the
ramps built statewide because not all Baptist
ramp projects are coordinated through NCBAM.
A new wheelchair ramp affords 83-year-old Marthenia Fearrington greater peace of mind. The congestive heart patient
has fallen from the steps leading into her home and feared coming in and out. Members of Hillsong Baptist Church in
Chapel Hill came to her aid as part of NCBAM’s second Rampin’ Up! The group built her ramp on April 25 in conjunction
with NC Operation Inasmuch. NCBAM has coordinated the building of nearly 2,000 wheelchair ramps since 2009.
Some are coordinated by NC Baptist Men and
others by local churches. Almost every week,
somewhere in North Carolina, a Baptist rampbuilding team is constructing a wheelchair.
The large number of wheelchair ramp requests
and the April 25 storm left a distinctive imprint
on this year’s Rampin’ Up! What was to be a one
to two weekend event is
spreading over multiple
weeks and many Saturdays. The teams involved
are determined to meet
the needs. Those who
have helped with disaster
relief have rescheduled
their builds and are now
adding new builds
to accommodate the
needs. The total calls
attributed to the Fox
8 story resulted in 35
new wheelchair ramp
requests the week
before the May 3
deadline.
NCBAM’s director, Sandy Gregory, explains the connection
between wheelchair ramps and NCBAM: “The
mission of NCBAM is to help aging adults keep
their independence. Wheelchair ramps are often
the piece of the puzzle that allows them to do
just that – to remain independent and safely
living in their homes.”
For Marthenia Fearrington of Chapel Hill, her
new ramp built by members of Hillsong Baptist
Church brings greater independence. The 83
year old says being able to safely go outside her
house is not only a necessity, but offers her
greater peace of mind. “It’s been difficult getting
me in and out of my home. I’ve had to wait for
help because I couldn’t do it on my own. I’ve
fallen several times and it can make you scared.”
The congestive heart patient can no longer
plant flowers in the beds she tended for nearly
38 years. But she says having more opportunities
to just sit outside and enjoy the sunshine on
warm days will bring her much joy.
“I appreciate getting my wheelchair ramp,”
Fearrington says. “I appreciate NCBAM and
everyone who built it. I thank them and I thank
God for sending them to help me.”
____________________________________________________________________
8
6/14 – Charity + Children – 127/5
Learn about the aging adult ministry at www.ncbam.org
[ MILLS HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }
Homecoming set for August 1, 2 & 3 –
Registration form and information mailing soon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By Lib Smathers Johnson, 5612 Bledsoe Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 (336) 299-7412 [email protected]
H
omecoming is August 1, 2, 3!
Calling all alumni! Great
news! We are happy to announce that
Jim Hamby will have the concession
stand operating on Saturday so that
folks do not have to leave campus to
eat lunch. Danny and Jane Brown are
cooking again for the Friday and Saturday evening meals! Deee-licious!
You’re gonna’ love the Sunday morning speakers! Pete and Joe Knight! So
what can you do? You can be there!
And Jim Rochelle says, “Bring nice
items for the Silent Auction as well as
the yard sale.” Clem Martinez Pridemore says, “Be sure you are in the
choir on Sunday.” And President Pete
Knight says, “Be on the lookout for
your annual Homecoming letter in
June. It will give other details of
Homecoming weekend including the
schedule of events for the weekend,
the pre-registration form, and the information sheet for the alumni column. You will want to be there for
our country weekend.”
On Facebook, Sheryl McLendon
Mohn shared this news, “My parents,
Parker and Frances McLendon, moved
into a retirement community last October, partly due to Mom’s declining
health.” April 18 was their 65th wedding anniversary and Sheryl was hoping that many alumni would send
them cards. It is never too late to
send a card for such a great occasion.
Their address is 214 Boyce Sink
Court, Thomasville, NC 27360. “I
thank you from the bottom of my
heart for your kindness – you are my
family! Scrub Orphan Love, Sheryl.”
Stan Hoyle wrote back, “Thanks for
the update Sheryl, I will be praying
for your Mom and Dad! He was an
awesome scouting mentor and
friend!”
A couple of “big items,” but brief
ones: Congratulations to Nick Pappas
who introduced his new wife Linda
on Facebook. They married on April
16, 2014. I think they plan to be at
Homecoming. I also heard from
grandpa Bob Mayton. He was very
happy to tell me about the birth of
granddaughter Emily Rebecca Mayton on born March 13 – she is doing
great. And he was happy to announce
that their daughter Elizabeth and her
husband Derek are expecting a baby
in August.
Allyson Sugg is still interested in
hearing anything at all regarding Virginia Ray. Virginia and her sister Mary
Jo Ray were taken in by Allyson’s aunt
and uncle (Harrells) in Thomasville
back in the 1950s. Contact Allyson
(and me) if you know of her whereabouts. [[email protected]]
Many folks were saddened to hear
that our dear friend Dean Lunsford
died on April 12, 2014. Dean came
to MH in 1943 and graduated in
1958. He was active in basketball,
football, church choir, and almost
every activity on the MH campus. He
always returned for Homecoming
and is well remembered for his big
bear hugs. A National Guard veteran,
he retired as a solid waste management sales representative. Two of his
sisters also lived at MH. One sister
and three daughters survive as well as
seven grandchildren, and one great
grandchild. One daughter and sisters
Alice and Avalee preceded him in
death.
Because Gene Staton took the time
to give us a great update, Dennis
Webster was able to reconnect with
him to reminisce about life at MH.
They had a great conversation they
both enjoyed immensely. I hope
other folks will take a cue from Gene
and share some information with us.
I received the news from Mary Cormack around April 23 that her father
David Proctor had died on April 11.
(910-625-5943). He had been at
Moosehaven Retirement Center in
Orange Park, Florida near Jacksonville for around eight years. He
yearned to return for Homecomings
during that time, but was unable to
do so. Mary and her brother appreciated the fact that they were able to
spend the last two weeks of his life
with him. He was buried May 2 at
Forest Lawn East in Matthews, NC.
David was at MH from 1933-1942,
but he finished high school at the
Union Mills Home. David often
shared stories of his life at MH with
his children. Mary remembers his
fond references to Miss Sallie and
friend Conley Thompson. Mary asks
that memorials be made to the
Mitchell Museum. Please make
checks payable to Mitchell Museum,
Mills Home Alumni Association, c/o
Flora Hicks Patton, 6428 Sisk Carter
Rd., Rockwell, NC, 28138.
Thurston Bowman was recently
awarded membership in the “The
Order of the Long Leaf Pine,” one of
North Carolina’s most prestigious
awards. To quote the news article,
“Thurston Bowman seemed to always have a knack for doing the right
thing, and often did so behind the
scenes.
Bowman’s
place
in
Thomasville history, his integrity, is
defined by the difference he made in
the lives of others, and more often
than not when no one was watching.” Alumni and former BCH workers know him for his work for MH
and BCH, but he was involved in
many important facets of Thomasville
life. Take the YMCA, for instance:
“His impact on the YMCA was so
profound that the Board of Directors
in 2005 created the Thurston Bowman Distinguished Service Award, an
annual honor the board presents.”
With all the civic work he did, Mr.
Bowman’s biggest influence was felt
in the lives of the children. He was
treasurer of BCH from 1961-1988,
superintendent of MH Sunday
School many years, and also served
on the Alumni Council many years.
MH alumnus and successful businessman, Clifton Lambreth, says “Bowman was someone he and other
children could always count on. He
has been a true servant leader who
understands the power of love, and
he’s been a catalyst for a lot of wonderful things that happened in
Thomasville.” Send congratulations
to Thurston at 12 Lodge St.
Thomasville, NC, 27360.
Jim Hamby led a crew of Jimmy
Rochelle, Keith Campbell and Gary
Mills (husband of Kaye Trantham),
lately in repairing the gazebo at God’s
Acre. The Alumni voted last Homecoming to take this on as a project
and we’re thrilled it is almost finished.
The last photos I saw on Facebook
showed the shingles being nailed to
the roof and pictures of people sitting
on the benches eating a lunch that
Jeanie Helms Cooper had brought to
the workers. The people on Facebook
have done a very good job cheering
on this crew of orphans, and we are
sure that this crew and folks who
came to watch daily had a lot of orphan fun getting the work done.
The last work done on the Ocean
Wave at the Mitchell Museum was
around 1983 when my husband Bob
Johnson brought it to our home in
Greensboro for repairs. It was a fun
thing to do but a pretty hard job as
well. Of course, once we returned it,
it was used quite a bit more by the
boys who lived in the Biggs Cottage –
enough that they caused a couple of
rods to break and bolts to come
loose. After a few years, the insurance
company required that the Ocean
Wave be permanently “harnessed” so
that it could not rotate and bump.
That and its increasing disrepair were
very disappointing. When we found
out that Mark Pridgen, the son of
Martha Hunt and Ed Pridgen, is a very
experienced welder, we hired him to
repair the Ocean Wave. We certainly
picked the right fellow. He was able
to locate other parts to make the repairs, weld the broken parts, and
paint the Ocean Wave. In our day, it
was always a fun group toy, but Mark
has made it into a thing of beauty –
even staining and sealing the wood.
Sadly, however, Mark was down to
the last hour of his work with a few
more bolts to fasten the wood back
to the framework, when the nearly
100 year old pole gave way and tilted
enough that the Ocean Wave crashed
to the ground. He was so disheartened after all that hard work! So was
I. (I sat and cried). But, of course, all
is not lost. Mark & Bob will add a
new pole strong enough to hold up
this much revered swing and then it
will be permanently attached to
Mother Earth again. Harry and Angie
Walls have promised to be there to
help lift the huge swing back onto it
chief support. Photos in the C.F. Bailey history books show that the
Ocean Waves was on campus as early
as 1926.
Lib Johnson was a resident of Mills
Home from 1946 to 1957. Johnson
began writing the Mills Home alumni
column in 1992.
____________________________________________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/millshomealumni
6/14 – Charity + Children – 127/5
9
[ AROUND THE STATE }
Every day at churches and BCH facilities “around the state,”
residents, staff members and North Carolina Baptists are making news. In Charity & Children and through BCH's social media posts, friends
can connect daily, weekly and monthly to learn about all of BCH's happenings.
Broyhill Home’s children by bringing each
of them decorative gift baskets.
___________________________________________
Guatemala Orphanage
______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay connected online at www.bchfamily.org and on Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, and Vimeo. Also follow NCBAM (www.ncbam.org) and BCH's
Developmental Disabilities Ministry (www.hereismyhome.org).
___________________________________________
Camp Duncan
The girls and chiefs at Camp Duncan in Aberdeen left in early April for a two-week river
trip. The Pioneers group began their journey
by canoeing the Lumber River in North Carolina. Their 138-mile trip ended in the Pee
Dee River which flows between North and
South Carolina. Trips are an important part
of the residential wilderness ministry providing the girls an educational experience while
teaching them the importance of teamwork.
Learn more at www.campduncanNC.org
___________________________________________
Care House
First Baptist Church in Savannah, MO
organized a “Moon Walk and 5K Glow Run”
on May 3. This is the home church of
Anthony and Darcy Moon, missionaries
at the Good Shepherd Children’s Homes in
Xela, Guatemala. The event raised support
for the Moon family who now live full-time
at the new orphanage. Learn more at
www.bchfamily.org/guatemala
___________________________________________
Family Care
___________________________________________
Odum Home
Baptist Children’s Homes trustee Pam Annas
helped organize a pancake breakfast in her
hometown of Lenoir to raise support for the
ministry. Residents of Care House, BCH’s
home in Lenoir for single, teen mothers and
their babies, greeted guests as they arrived.
The breakfast raised nearly $1,200.
___________________________________________
Church Support
Vernelle Holt (left) and daughter Laura Powell (right) present BCH director of communications Blake Ragsdale with $2,200 from
Albion Baptist Church in Mt. Airy. The church
are longtime BCH supporters.
You can meet the daily needs of
BCH’s boys and girls by sharing
your time, talents and resources.
You can help in these ways:
___________________________________
Food Roundup: It’s not too late to
help for 2014! Your church, business
or organization can provide the food
boys and girls in care need.
Call 336-474-1277 and visit
www.bchfamily.org/foodroundup
Bed Sponsor Program: Become
a bed sponsor and have a plaque with
your name mounted on a child’s bed.
Your name reminds a child that you
are praying. Call 336-474-1277 or
www.bchfamily.org/bedsponsor.
Mile of Pennies: Help by collecting
a “Mile of Pennies.” When it comes to
providing care for hundreds of children, it takes everyone working together – one penny added to another
penny and then another penny. Continue to multiply the pennies and just
imagine how far you can go in making
a real difference! Call 336-4741209.
In April, RAs and leaders from Old Lea Bethel
Church in Leasburg traveled to Mills Home
in Thomasville to deliver Easter baskets and
ice cream to the mothers and children in
BCH’s Family Care residential program.
Family Care provides group homes for single
mothers and their children. The goal is to
help mothers connect with the resources
they need so they can provide for their
children once they transition back into
an independent living environment.
___________________________________________
Children Helping Children
Recently, members of First Baptist in Fairmont hosted a pizza party and provided gift
bags to each child at Odum Home In Pembroke. They also shared a time of devotion.
___________________________________________
Broyhill Home
Friends from Piney Grove United Methodist
Church in Canton celebrated Easter with
www.bchfamily.org/getinvolved
Friends of Children Workdays:
The perfect one-day missions outreach. Projects for all ages! Statewide
BCH workdays available throughout
May and September.
Call 336-474-1209.
___________________________________________
Broyhill Home
Kimani's dreams are coming true. The Broyhill Home resident, who has been in care
since 2007, received scholarship funds from
the Haywood County Schools Foundation to
attend college beginning this fall. When the
high school senior received the news, he
said, “Thank you, Baptist Children's Homes,
for not giving up on me.”
Get Involved
Madi Sutton, second to left, and her family
pose for a photo with BCH’s Lewis Smith,
left, at the Broyhill Home Barbecue Festival
on May 10. Madi, who attends First Baptist
Church in East Flat Rock, grew 510 lbs. of
produce last year. She donated $255 in earnings from produce sales to help BCH’s boys
and girls. She also shared the food with
needy families in her community. Madi is
already making plans to plant a new garden.
Walk for Change: Perfect for your
church or community organization –
walkers recruit financial sponsors to
give a cash gift for walking a certain
distance. Set your goal, secure your
sponsors, designate a safe route,
and have fun! Call 336-474-1209.
Recycle Projects: Collect empty
printer cartridges (laser, inkjet and
fax cartridges). Deliver items to any
BCH facility or use prepaid shipping
labels to send items to recycler. Millions of cartridges are thrown away
each year. Begin collecting and help
this year-round program earn money
for children. You can recycle cell
phones, too. Call 336-474-1209.
Bike for Change: Bike for Change
is a fun and dynamic way for children
to help "change" the lives of children.
By pedaling bicycles, children raise
support and awareness for BCH’s
boys and girls. It is a great service
project for schools, churches, and
other children’s groups. It also
teaches children the importance of
participating in missions outreach. To
learn more, visit www.bikefor
change.org. Download a planning
guide and other resources. Contact
Bike for Change coordinator Jay
Westmoreland at bikeforchange@
bchfamily.org for more ideas.
____________________________________________________________________
10
6/14 – Charity + Children – 127/5
Discover ways you can help BCH at www.bchfamily.org/getinvolved
[ KENNEDY HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }
Only weeks until KH Centennial Celebration –
Still time to make plans to attend
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By John Thompson, 2500 Simpson Street, Apt. 102, Windsor Place, Jacksonville, N.C. 28546
K
ennedy Home Centennial is
upon us! I hope many of you
have made motel reservations to stay
Saturday night in Kinston so you can
take part in all the special activities for
the 100th anniversary celebration.
Don’t forget, we march down the
avenue at 10:00 a.m. on July 5. Let’s
make it a great big parade! If you are
unable to march, you can ride in a
golf cart. How about that? Many activities are planned for that whole
day. Everyone should have received
their letter by now telling all about
the activities for July 5 and 6. Remember, we do not have Sunday
School this year. We want everyone
to meet at the church about ten minutes to ten on Sunday morning because at 10:00 a.m. our very special
program will begin with “The Second Addition.” One of our very own,
Keith Williams (70s) is the lead singer
of this group. You won’t want to miss
a single note. Great things are
planned for the worship service, too.
I want to pack the choir loft. Please
note: we will have a practice on Saturday afternoon and one on Sunday
morning about 9:30 a.m. Try to be
in the sanctuary early so you are on
time for practice.
A note from Donna Duty: “There
will be a Sock Hop and Dress Contest for Alumni on Saturday night of
Homecoming – July 5th. The fun begins at 6:30 in the gym! If you would
like to participate in the dress contest,
contestants should wear attire from
the era in which they lived at
Kennedy Home (1950s, 60s, 70s,
80s, etc.). Dress should be modest
and family friendly. Prizes will be
awarded for the best dressed from
each era.”
Reminder: There is a special writing contest held in conjunction with
the Centennial Celebration. Alumni
are being invited to share how their
life has been changed because of
Kennedy Home. Share in 250 words
or less how your experience at BCH’s
“star in the east” shaped your life.
Send it to [email protected] or
send to BCH, P.O. Box 338,
Thomasville, NC 27361 by June 16.
A brief word from Robert Barbour
(1975-76), “Mr. Thompson, I remember that we went camping in
your backyard. We also went camping
back in the woods on the farm. A lot
of people seemed to forget about the
1976 birthday of our nation when I
was there. I was a shepherd in a
Christmas play we had at the school.
I stayed sick a lot at KH. I missed out
on a lot at KH. That year we went to
the beach, I came down with the
mumps. Not much is said about
Canady Cottage. We need some information about the cottage and the
people there. I was there only a short
time, but I miss everyone.”
Here is more from Debbie McCormick Caulder’s (72-74) letter that
I included in my last column: (Debbie was a staff child at Bunker Cottage. Her parents were Pat and Mack
McCormick. The letter picks up on a
sad note – the death of her father.)
“Dad had a massive heart attack
and died early morning on October
21, 1994, at his home in LaGrange.
Mother had prepared his breakfast
and he asked her to get him a pair of
socks because his feet were cold. She
heard a thump and when she walked
back to the living room, he was dead.
“If you lived in Bunker Cottage
between 1972-1990, you also remember my mother Pat McCormick.
Mom loved the kids and would take
pictures of them. When Mom died
on December 20, 2005, I gave her
KH albums to Doug Jones and he put
some of those pictures in the Alumni
Room in the old locker. Mom enjoyed spending time in the kitchen
baking cookies, making white-powdered doughnuts, cakes, or anything
that the kids wanted. Oh yes, and
chocolate toast for breakfast! That is
right. Chocolate toast for the kids to
fill up on early in the morning and
then send them off to school with all
that chocolate inside them to sit and
be quiet. She was the best of the
best – a wonderful mother.
“We had a rule that I still follow
today. The food was always on the
counter and we would pick up our
plate and fill it up with what we
wanted to eat. If you put the food on
your plate, the rule was that you eat
what you take out. One day at lunch,
(252)671-3515
Dad announced that we were having
liver cooked in gravy with mashed
potatoes. He told everybody to try
just a little piece to see if they liked it.
Well after saying grace, Louis Jones
was at the front of the line and he
took out a large piece. It looked just
like country style steak. Well, Louis
spit and sputtered when he tasted the
liver. He got up to throw it in the
trash can, but Dad stopped him and
asked the other kids, “Did I tell you
what this meat was?” And of course,
all the kids stated “yes.” Louis had to
eat that liver that night for supper,
snack, and again the next day for
breakfast until it was gone. Louis, if
you’re reading this do you like to eat
liver today?
“There are so many good memories of KH. I was welcomed into the
KH family on the very first day that
we arrived. I’m getting old, but I will
try to remember some of the Bunker
family. The four Rochelle kids – one
named was Becky Rochelle – were always fun to be around. They kept
things interesting and fun. Becky was
a good friend and close sister to me
while I was at KH along with Joyce
Harrell and Steve (71-76). You can’t
forget James and Donnie Peele. They
were a lot of help to mom especially
helping in the kitchen. I think she let
them scrap the cake and cookie
bowls. Louis and his older sister
Becky Jones were the youngest. Benji
Honeycutt (74-79) would always call
mom on Mother’s Day and she was
so proud to be invited to his church
when he became a deacon. She enjoyed hearing from my brother
Lenwood ‘Mac’ McCormick and sister
Mary Lynn Rivenbark, but when one
of her KH kids remembered her, it
was truly special. She would receive
cards and phone calls from her KH
kids and that meant more than words
could ever say. When someone sent
pictures of their children to her each
year, she felt like she was awarded a
special prize and would share them
like a proud grandmother. Those pictures did not go into a box with a lid,
no, they were displayed in her home.
“When mother died I found a note
from Michelle Hemby (97-07) that
read, ‘Happy Birthday Ms. Pat.
[email protected]
You’re not worth a penny (a penny
was attached to the notebook paper)
you’re worth a lot more, Love
Michelle.’ I shared that note with
Michelle and we both laughed and
cried. Michelle has told me on numerous occasions how much she appreciated my parents now that she is
a mom. But she always adds that they
were tough. When mom died, I tried
to make sure that I gave a pair of her
earrings to the girls that I saw that
lived in Bunker Cottage.
“Jeff and Susie Hughes (78-83)
were also in Bunker. Jeff drew a pencil sketch of a vase for mom and we
still have that picture today. Susie
joined the Peace Corp and they were
so proud of her. Carl Bissette got so
mad his senior year when Dad told
him that he had to pay 25 cents for a
glass of milk – this is after he drank 2
full glasses of mile at snack time. Dad
told him that when he left Kennedy
Home he would not be able to drink
all the milk he wanted because he
would have to pay for it. Carl did not
know then, but Dad kept all of the
quarters and gave them back to him
when he graduated from high
school.”
Thanks, Debbie. If someone’s
years did not appear, it is because the
dates are not in the directory. Contact us, and the years will be added.
I’m counting on many, many of
you to sing in the choir on Sunday
morning of Homecoming. Remember, we do not have Sunday School
this year but have choir practice at
9:30 a.m. The church service begins
at 10:00 a.m. with Keith Williams
and his group. Everyone try to be in
church by 9:45 a.m. Use your telephone or computer and contact
everyone about the 100th anniversary. Let’s make this the best ever!
Always remember, Becky and I
love each and every one of you. If
you ever need to talk to me about
anything, give me a call at 252-6713515. Blessings!
John Thompson was the choir
director at Kennedy Home from
1972-1977. Today, he enjoys a very
active retirement.
____________________________________________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kennedyhomealumni
6/14 – Charity + Children – 127/5
11
[ HOMEWORD }
And with baby, it makes three – grandchildren!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By Jim Edminson, Editor
T
elling the good news of the pending arrival of
a new baby can be done in a variety of ways.
And depending on who is receiving the news will
greatly determine the way that news is shared.
As a father, I learned four times that Kathy and
I would have a new baby. The messages were tender and lovingly delivered with Kathy’s probing
eyes anticipating my reaction. And each time the
news, joyfully delivered, was joyfully received.
At BabyZone’s blog-driven website, editors
posed the question, “How did you announce
your pregnancy?” Readers responded and then the
editors chose the top most interesting and creative
ways readers delivered the big news.
One first-time mom told her husband to hold
out his hand and then placed a dried pea in his
palm. She then said, “Want to hear something
amazing? This is how small your baby is right
now.” A moment of confusion on Dad’s face
quickly turned to tears.
A dad-to-be was given a Father’s Day card in
November that was signed “Mommy and Baby.”
Another future mom waited to Halloween to
share the news to friends and family. Her costume
was a box decorated to look like an oven. When
someone opened the oven door which was placed
strategically at her tummy, one would read on
a tee shirt she wore underneath – “Bunn.”
Living five states away, son Kyle and daughterin-law Susan took the opportunity when they knew
we would all be together to call. “Dad, is everyone
there with you?” Kyle asked as we talked on the
Can we help?
BCH offers services for
children and families. Need
help, 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
phone. I placed him on speaker so everyone could hear. “Susan and I have big
news – we are going to have a baby!”
The couple had the assistance of grandson
Stuart when the young family announced to us
that Roger was on the way. Kyle simply texted
a photo of two-year-old Stuart holding a sign
that read, “I’m the big brother.”
Amie called just minutes after I arrived home
from work. It was mid week, so it was strange to
hear her ask if we would be open to a short visit.
Mark had been off from work, they had spent the
day out, and now they wanted to stop by our
house. “Sure,” I replied. “Do y’all want to stay
for dinner?”
Dinner? What was I thinking? I didn’t even
know what Kathy and I were planning for dinner.
Well, I thought, I could always improvise and take
everyone out to eat.
Kathy arrived home and I greeted her at the
door with the news. Like football players in a huddle, we called the play, nodded to each other, and
then broke to our assignments tidying, straightening and starting dinner preparations.
Amie and son-in-law Mark celebrated their second anniversary this year. We see them most weeks,
but usually on the weekend. Unlike Kyle and his
family who live a thousand miles away, they live
in a town only a 30-minute drive from our home.
There were greetings with hugs and kisses at the
door before Amie and Mark took a seat on the sofa
and began to tell us about their day – shopping
3.Eastern Area Family Services
Brian Baltzell, Dir.
252.522.0811
3.Odum Home
Kathy Locklear, Res. Campus Mgr.
252.230.5709
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 Care
Lynn Garner, Dir.
336.474.1240
7.Weekday Education
Linda Russo, Dir.
336.474.1201
8.Dev. Disabilities Ministry
Peggy Pennington, Dir.
336.474.1261
9.NC Baptist Aging Ministry
Sandy Gregory, Dir.
336-474-1221
Ideas or suggestions, contact: Keith Henry, COO at 336-474-1215
finds including Amie’s excitement about a new
purse she had purchased and descriptions of the
restaurant where they ate lunch.
At a pause, Kathy and I were about to
adjourn everyone for dinner, when Amie looked
at Mark and then said,
“There’s one more
thing. We made another stop this afternoon and have
something for
both of you.”
Amie reached
into her handbag,
brought out
a small framed picture, and handed it to Kathy. The frame
was inscribed: “Sneak Peek – it is truly amazing
how someone so small, could inspire a love so
grand.” The framed picture was a sonogram of our
new grandchild. We were thrilled.
Last week, Amie and Mark visited agan. Once
again they sat on the sofa, but this time we knew
the purpose. “Well?” we asked in unison.
“It’s a girl!” We all rejoiced.
Scripture reminds us that children are a gift
from the Lord, a reward. And although raising
children comes with its bumps along the way, it
is God’s desire for the children in our lives to
be an incomparable blessing.
Edminson is editor of
Charity & Children and
writes “Homeword” to inspire and encourage families
in the midst 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 of Under One Roof: Life’s lessons
learned at home. Proceeds from this first edition benefit the children and
families served by BCH.
REVIEW: This book inspires me to higher ideals for my family. I will recommend that a copy be purchased for our church library. I did not want to
put it down when I started reading it. Thank you, Jim, for this wonderful
“family” book. – Brenda Emmons
We participate in these areas:
CFC #33241
Research Triangle Area CFC
Cape Fear Area CFC
Camp Lejeune/Onslow
County/New River CFC
Southeastern North Carolina
(includes Fort Bragg)
Greater North Carolina CFC
Cherry Point CFC
Rowan/Iredell County CFC
CFC Central Carolinas
CFC of Western NC
South Hampton Roads CFC
(Camden, Chowan, Currituck,
Dare, Gates, Hertford,
Pasquotank, and Perquimans
Counties and Albemarle and
Elizabeth City)
Calling All State Employees!
#3641
Choose BCH as your charity in the
State Employees Combined Campaign.
SECC code is 3641. Encourage others to
as well and better the lives of children
and families in North Carolina.
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More Homeword at www.bchfamily.org/news/stories