Amber was a “church bus kid.” She remem-bers dressing herself in the best clothes

she had – a pull-over shirt, jeans and sneakers.The finishing touch every Sunday was always abeautiful smile. She stood at the curb and waitedfor the old, yellow school bus the neighborhoodchurch used for their bus ministry. Going tochurch was a highlight of her week. She lovedbeing with the other children. She loved theBible stories. It was a respite from her home life.

Amber is all grown up now, and is a singlemom. Her five-year-old daughter Isabella flitsfrom room to room. The couple has found a safeplace at Moody Home near Franklin.

“When I first walked into Moody Home, I thought wow!” Amber remembers. “We hadour own rooms. It was so clean and no smell ofcigarettes. The house is so big.”

Amber learned she was pregnant near the endof her junior year of high school. “I was scared. I didn’t know what I would do.”

It was more hopeful when her mom andbrother rallied and the A-B student continuedher education. She had Isabella only months before she graduated with honors.

Amber began attending a community-basedadolescent parentingprogram and the teacherbecame an advocate forthe new mom.

“I didn’t have anything else to keep mefrom attending,” she says. “Some of the girlsnever showed up, but it was helpful. I learnedfirst aid and infant CPR. They taught me thingsthat helped Isabella.”

The teacher felt the time had come for Amberto move on and she referred Amber to Baptist

Children’s Homes’ (BCH) Family Care program.After a few phone calls and completing the written application, Amber had a very positive interview. “I accepted as soon as they offered mea place at Moody Home.”

Amber’s hometown is not big, but majorshopping malls and attractions are only a shortdrive away. So, the Family Care home nearFranklin seemed remote. “I thought we werelost,” Amber laughs. “I had been to touristspots in the mountains, but I’d never been off the main highways.”Amber says her first days were hectic as she

was connected to services that could help her and Isabella. Signing up at the community college also became a priority for her.

“I wanted a different life from what I hadknown,” she says. “I want more for Isabella and

I knew getting an education was the way to makethings happen.”

Amber is on schedule to get her associate degree next May. She plans on entering WesternCarolina University to further her education andbecome a teacher. She works part time and hasbought a car. On New Year’s Day, she becameengaged.

“I remember those days when I was a ‘buskid,’” she says. “Even though there have beentimes when I couldn’t see or feel God in my life,I now know He has always been there. God wasimportant to me as a kid and He is important to me today.”

Amber has turned to God and has been saved. She is making plans to be baptized. Shesays, “I had no future. There was no future forIsabella. Now, we have hope and a future.”

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

Still time to give child something to remember! - (page 5) BCH honors graduates’ accomplishments (page 7)

6/15_________________ 128/5_________________

Amber and her five-year-old daughter Isabella live at Moody Home near Franklin. Amber attends the community college,is active in church, and is now engaged. But the greatest highlight of the last two years is that Amber has been saved and

is planning to be baptized. Amber says she and her daughter have hope and a future now.

Young momhopes for child___________________________________________________

By Jim Edminson, Editor

[ “Laughter boosts our immune system.” – Blackwell }[ “Invite Jesus in, look Him in the eyes, and visit.” – Edminson }

H O P E HOPE changes lives and dispels

darkness.

Will Rogers said, “When I die, I want to die like

my grandfather who died peacefullyin his sleep. Not screaming like allthe passengers in his car.” Laughterslices the tension at many meetingsor in difficult relationships. It’s hard to be mad at someone you’relaughing with. Who can be pessimistic when you can find something to laugh about and see the humor in things?

If for no other reason, we need to laugh because it literally is goodfor us. Laughter boosts our immunesystem.

You may know the story of psychologist Norman Cousins. He once got very sick, which whileawful, put him on his back with lots of time to read. In his readinghe learned a lot about how negativeemotions damage the body and spirit and he determined to fight the negative emotions that seemed to well up in him due to his circumstances.

So, he hired a nurse to read himfunny stories. He watched MarxBrothers movies. He looked forlaughs and found that laughter relieved pain and helped him sleep.

Ultimately he wrote about his experience in The Anatomy of an Illness, which was met with muchskepticism, even derision by hiscardigan-clad colleagues. But, finally,in 1989, the Journal of the AmericanMedical Association acknowledgedthat laughter therapy could help im-prove the quality of life for patientswith chronic illness. Laughter had animmediate symptom-relieving effectwith the ability to strengthen the

human immune system. Mark Twain said this about

laughter: “The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that’s laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentmentsslip away and a sunny spirit takestheir place.”

Dr. Michael Miller, in his bookwith Catherine Knepper Heal YourHeart, said one of his favorite moments as a physician is when he tells patients the one thing they absolutely must do to insure a successful recovery is to “go home and laugh until they cry.”

A big reason for this instructionis that unresolved stress directly con-tributes to heart disease. Anger andhostility lead to stress and laughter is an antidote to harmful emotions.

“Deep laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which activatereceptors in our blood vessels’ linings that signal the production of nitric oxide,” he wrote. “Thispowerful chemical causes blood vessel dilation, increases blood flow,reduces vascular inflammation andbuilding up cholesterol plaque anddecreases platelet stickiness whichlowers the risk of blood clots.”

So he said to “laugh hysterically.”During a study in which he had people watch clips of both a warmovie and a comedy, he found that participants’ blood vessels were narrowing by up to 50 percent during the stressful war segments,while vessel dilation in people whowatched a funny clip increased 22percent. The vascular benefit of 15 minutes of laughter, he said, was the same as 15 to 30 minutes

at the gym. Laughter doesn’t take the place

of conventional treatment, but itsure is a good adjunctive therapy. It’s natural as sunshine and comeswith no negative side effects.

Speaking of side effects, what doyou think of those drug commercialson television that take twice as long to list potential negative consequences as they do to describethe medicine’s benefits? I laugh outloud as the voice-over drones onabout the potential of the drug tocause harm as to heal you. Print ads in Reader’s Digest add a page or two of warnings for each page themanufacturer buys to convince youof what you might gain from ingest-ing their new concoction.

Take this pill to alleviate the common cold, the TV ad intones.Then listen to the announcer warnyou about possible side effects suchas unsightly rash on the left cheekbone, fever leading to either chatter-ing chills or night sweats, unusualtongue swelling which can limit yourability to laugh and which can onlybe relieved by a large scoop of Benand Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream,or, in rare cases, binge watching of old episodes of “Matlock” or “I Love Lucy.”

Reader’s Digest doesn’t call laugh-ter “the best medicine” for nothing.The iconic monthly magazine ofbrief stories, observations, anecdotesand humor will pay you if they use a funny story that you send them.They know good jokes attract read-ers because people want to laugh.Even if we can’t describe why laugh-ter is good for us, we know it is be-cause we feel better when we do it.

I enjoy my work as president/CEOof Baptist Children’sHomes. This column is the beginning of a series that will appear for severalmonths based on

laughter.

Mark Twain said, “The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.”

Read and laugh with me in the joy of sharing hope . . .changing lives.

Humoresque Part 1By Michael C. Blackwell, President/CEO

Charity & Children – Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, Inc., 204 Idol St., PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338. Michael C. Blackwell, publisher; Jim 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 for friends and supporters of Baptist Children’s Homes. It is printed at Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC and 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 additional mailing offices. For free subscription or to be removed from the mailing list or make address correction orchange, use the above address and write to Attn: Circulation Manager, send an email to address@bchfamily.org or call at 336-474-1209. Subscribe online at www.bchfamily.org/charityandchildren. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Charity & Children, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.

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

Vision: sharing hope . . . changing lives

Mission: To provide the highest quality

of Christian services to children, adults

and families in a caring culture of

measurable excellence

____________________________________________________________________

2 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5

Most boys who come to Cameron BoysCamp plan to return to their families.

While they are living at Camp, they go home tocelebrate the holidays with family and regularlyvisit. David’s circumstances are different. He visits with his foster mom April.

“Miss April is great,” David says. “She’s niceand is helping me with lots of things. Her dadWoody and I are buddies. We pick on each otherand cut up lots.”

David is in the custody of Chatham CountyDepartment of SocialServices. He is freefor adoption and islonging to be a partof a family. His so-

cial worker MeaganAlbert says, “David is super sweet.”

Not knowing his father and his mom surren-dering custody and moving away has made Davidfeel insecure and unsure about his future.

“I need to be accepted by a family,” David says. “I need to be loved withoutme being judged because of where I’ve come. I want a family to adopt me andgive me a new start – a newbeginning.”

Thirteen-year-old Davidhas been at Camp since lastfall. Cameron Boys Campwas a place where he felt he could work on his prob-lems – especially his anger. He had been bulliedin school and needed a safe place.

Cameron Boys Camp is located on 902wooded acres near Southern Pines. Camp is a wilderness camping program designed to provide boys an opportunity to work out problems through a highly-structured alternative education program.

Living at Camp provides the freedom of beingoutdoors and the structure of small groups withconstant, caring supervision. Boys live in groupsof ten with counselors called “Chiefs.” With the help of their peers and Chiefs, campers learndiscipline, positive behavior patterns, andself-worth.

“When I first came to Camp,” David says, “I didn’t know how to open up. But the longer I was here, the more I began to talk things outabout my life. The Chiefs encourage us to getour problems out and begin dealing with them.”

April says she notices the difference. WhenDavid visits, the duo work together on the things

he learns at Camp. David says, “I’m working atbeing more patient and practicing kindness.”

The seventh grader loves chemistry. He has enjoyed Camp’son-site education program and hasbenefited from theone-on-one support.

But despite hissuccesses, David stilllongs for more.

“Camp is a won-derful, wonderfulplace,” David says.“but it’s not a home.Yes, we are like family

in many ways, but I’ll leave one day. When the other boys leave, they go to their families. I want a family and a home, too.”

The Chatham County adoption services webpage reads: “Adoption is a means of provid-ing permanent placement for children who can

never return to their family home. Adoptivehomes are carefully assessed and, when approved,they must comply with state policy and legal pro-cedures for adoption. Adoptive homes providelove, hope, and permanence to children who arelegally freed for adoption.” It goes on to state:“Each child deserves a ‘forever’ family.”

“We are looking for a ‘forever’ family that bestmeets David’s needs,” social worker Albert says.“Someone who clicks with David and he clickswith them.”

For more information, call Meagan Albert at919-545-8583 or email her at meagan.albert@chathamnc.org .

Thirteen-year-old David is finding success at Cameron Boys Camp. Now looking at graduating from the program, David desires to have a family and a home of his own. He dreams of a family who will love him and give him a new start.

David is free for adoption through the Chatham County Department of Social Services.

[ CAMERON BOYS CAMP }

David seeksadoptive family___________________________________________________

By Jim Edminson, Editor

Learn more about Camp at www.cameronboyscamp.org

L O V E Perfect LOVEcasts out fear.

B C H C A P I T A L C A M P A I G N

A caring couple is offering to match the first $1 million pledged to BCH’s campaign througha planned gift. PLUS, THERE IS A BONUS$100,000 CHALLENGE!NC-based business AFTERDISASTER has made an additional 4:1 challenge. The company will give$1 for every $4 donated making it possible to raisean additional $500,000!

T H E C A M PA I G N ’ S T H R E E G O A L S :

Renovate facilities: Raise $3,900,000 for much-needed building and property repairs

Provide immediate financial stability: Raise much-needed operating funds

Create long-term sustainability: Increase endowment

Please give! Contact Brenda Gray at 336-689-4442 or email bbgray@bchfamily.org

____________________________________________________________________

6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 3

The months of May and June are marked by lots of graduations – preschool, primary

school, high school, and university. Graduationsare times for families and friends to celebrate accomplishments and for well-wishers to congrat-ulate their graduates.

We are experiencing the joy of graduation atBaptist Children’s Homes (BCH) as well. OurMay college graduates have their diplomas inhand. In a few weeks, the little ones in BCH’sWeekday Education program will march withcaps and gowns and our high school graduatescelebrate their time in the limelight in mid-June.

The pictures of our high school and collegegraduates (see page 7) are much like the smilingpictures of graduates anywhere – but some ofthese graduates you know. You’ve met them personally when they visited your church or whenyou came to Friends of Children’s Day or readabout them in Charity & Children. They arelives you have greatly impacted. Through yourlove and care, you have helped bring them tothis milestone.

Children who turn to us for care are diverse.

They come from many locationsfrom around theState and they allhave unique sto-ries. There is muchthat makes themdifferent, but theyall have one thing in common – each child has overcomedaunting obstacles to experience success.Our graduates havereached this time in their lives by never giving up.

Paulina Burch experienced familytrauma, dealt with feelings of abandonment, and stared down self-doubt to be successful. In May, she receivedher Masters of Social Work from the Universityof North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is nowhelping children and families deal with thetrauma in their lives. She shares with young people how God had a plan for her life and thatthey can know God’s plan for their own lives.

Travis Martin still suffers from traumatic stress syndrome because of the trauma and neglect he experienced as a child. Travis has overcome many obstacles and achieved so much.He is an example of what can happen when youlearn to surrender each day to God. This month,Travis graduates from high school and plans toattend Liberty University and someday return to Cameron Boys Camp to help other boys.

Paulina and Travis are graduates who celebrateovercoming obstacles and reaching milestones.Some of you know what I am talking about. Youhave overcome serious obstacles in your life toachieve success. You know how important it is to be able to overcome adversity. You know whatit means to have someone who cares and helpsyou along the way.

In the Old Testament, we read of a dream, of obstacles and of the One who came to help.Scripture tells the story of the exodus of God’speople from Egypt and their journey to thePromised Land. The Israelites left with such hopeand high expectations for the future. But whenthey faced obstacles, they were also given help.Chased by the Egyptians, God provided a wayacross the Red Sea. Wandering for 40 years, Godprovided manna from heaven, healing from thebites of venomous serpents, and victory overtheir enemies. After much struggle and many ob-stacles, God helped them reach their new home.

Would it not be great to know that those

graduating would never have to face anothertrial, obstacle or difficulty in the future? Sure, but it’s unlikely. What I do know is that God is good and sufficient to meet all their needs. I know that where there is difficulty, God willmake a way for each one of them.

God used you when you responded to childrenin need. Many of you volunteer at one of our facilities located statewide and help in a variety of ways. Many of you give of financial resourcesthrough contributions or through your will andestate planning. Many of you regularly rememberus in your prayers. And many of you have givenus the opportunity to come and share with yourchurches.

Every time you do that, you are a part ofGod’s way of helping children in our care over-come obstacles and be successful.

In a few moments, turn to page 7 and look at the graduates’ faces. Spend a moment in prayer for each one. Pray that they might find the promise God has for them. Pray that when facingobstacles and difficulties, God will give themsomeone who believes in them and makes it possible for them to overcome. Pray that theywill again celebrate reaching milestones and successes. Give God thanks for being a part ofthese young lives and being a part of them expe-riencing God’s love in real and meaningful ways.

It is springtime, a time of hope, a time of new beginnings, and a time to celebrate goalsreached! Thank you for being there for our graduates and making this day possible for them!

We are so proud of them and sothankful to you!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 }

Graduates overcomeobstacles to reach success_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

July 3 - 5 – Kennedy Homecoming:Kennedy Home in Kinston

July 31 - Aug. 2 – Mills Homecoming:Mills Home in Thomasville

Aug. 8 – Hope in Style: Greensboro CountryClub – visit www.hopeinstyle.org

Sept. 10 – Western Area Conference:Broyhill Home in Clyde

Sept. 12 – Friends of Children Workday:Cameron Boys Camp, Oak Ranch in Broadway & Kennedy Home in Kinston

Sept. 19 – Friends of Children Workday:Camp Duncan in Aberdeen & Odum Homein Pembroke

Sept. 22 – Founders Day: Camp Duncan in Aberdeen

October 17 – UNITE Youth Event: MillsHome – visit www.standupunite.com

Nov. 15-22 – BCH Week of Prayer: Your prayers mean so much!For more information, call Alan Williams at 1-800-476-3669, ext. 1277.

____________________________________________________________________

4 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5

2015 Eventswww.bchfamily.org/events

Make your summer gift immediately at www.bchfamily.org/summer

Name __________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________

Phone __________________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________________

Credit Card Option: Visa Mastercard Name on card: __________________________________________________________________________________

Card #: ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Signature: ___________________________________________________________

Summer Sunshine sponsor for $5,000.00 Summer Sizzle sponsor for $2,500.00 Summer Splash sponsor for $1,250.00 Super Summer sponsor for $500.00

Summer Sensation sponsor for $250.00 Summer Smiles sponsor for $50.00 $ ______ _________________ Other Amount

Must have Credit Card Expiration Date: ____________ Contact me with information on how to prepare a Christian Will. Three-digit security code (on card back): ___ ___ ___ I have included Baptist Children’s Homes in my estate plans.

Check to sign-up for BCH’s email newsletter or sign-up by texting BCHFAMILY to 22828

It will be the first time a child steps barefoot onto the beach and sees the beauty of the ocean. It will be the first time a child cheers loudly from the bleachers at a local baseball game. It will be the first time a child rides a ferris wheel or tastes a funnel cake. It will be the first time a child attends Vacation Bible School and learns about God’s unfailing love.It will be the first time a child can enjoy simply being a child.

Will you help make a child’s summer something to remember? Will you be a summer sponsorfor our boys and girls? Through your investment, not only are you meeting the day-to-day needs ofchildren, but you are replacing memories of past heartaches with new memories like eating hot dogs ata cookout, playing games with visiting church groups, and being with houseparents and other boys andgirls at the beach.

Thank you for helping to restore the joys of childhood. Thank you for showing the children you love them.

Summer is a timeof firsts for many of our boys and girls.

[ S U M M E R A P P E A L }

Mail to: BCHP.O. Box 338Thomasville, NC27361

To give immediately, visitwww.bchfamily.org/summer

I want childrento have a summerto remember!

Become a Summer Sponsor

Your gift will make

it an unforgettable

Summer!

____________________________________________________________________

6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 5

The annual “Cookin’ for the Kids” BroyhillHome Barbecue Festival brought together

some of Western North Carolina’s best cookteams, gospel groups and community friends tosupport Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) boysand girls. Approximately 300 participants cameto BCH’s campus in Clyde on Friday, May 8, for the beginning of the 3-D bow shoot. OnSaturday, May 9, more than 1,000 guests sam-pled original barbecue recipes while admiringthe classic vehicles at the car show. The festival is organized by Ninevah Baptist Church in Waynesville with the support of area churchesand vendors.

Top right, Ted Inman slathers ribs and chicken with histeam’s original barbecue sauce. Teams compete in bestribs, best barbecue and best chicken categories. One teamis crowned the festival’s grand champion. Middle left,guests sample the different recipes. Middle center, BaptistState Convention of NC executive director-treasurer Mil-ton Hollifield, Jr. and wife Gloria visit with BCH friendMadi. Middle right, volunteers prepare the barbecue forserving. Bottom left, The classic car show also includestrucks, tractors and motorcycles. Bottom right, last year,the “Divine Swine” received awards in all three categories.

Be a part of BCH’s statewide events, visit www.bchfamily.org/events

[ BROYHILL BARBECUE FESTIVAL }

Record attendance at church-led event –Support grows for BCH’s Western NC homes______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5

Learn more about a career with BCH at www.bchfamily.org/careers____________________________________________________________________

6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 7

BCH RESIDENTSPaulina Burch graduated

on May 9 with a Masters of Social Work from the University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill. She is a former resident of MillsHome in Thomasville. Paulina is employed by DavidsonCounty Department of SocialService where she serves as the Foster Care

Licensing and Placement Social Worker.

Stacey Cheston received her Registered Nurses degreefrom Craven Community Col-lege in New Bern on May 15.She is a resident of the FamilyCare program at KennedyHome in Kinston where shelives with her two children.

Moeisha Jones is a resident of Mills Home inThomasville. She graduatesfrom Thomasville HighSchool in Thomasville onJune 13. This summer,Moeisha plans to participate

in the AcademicSuccessProgram at Western Carolina Universityin Cullowhee. She will beginher freshman year at the university in the fall.

Travis Martin graduates

on June 4 from Lee Christian School in Sanford.The former Cameron Boys Camp resident will at-tend Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA begin-ning this fall. He plans on studying psychology.

STAFF MEMBERS’ CHILDREN AND FAMILY

Hannah Cantu graduatedon May 9 with an AssociatesDegree in Nursing from Ran-dolph Community College inAsheboro. She is the daughterof Lynn Garner, director ofFamily Care. Hannah plans to begin work at a Triad area

hospital.Mary Newcomb is the

daughter of Jim Edminson,editor of Charity & Chil-dren. Mary graduates on August 1 from Gardner-WebbUniversity in Boiling Springs.She is earning her undergrad-uate degree in social sciencewith a focus in global studies.

Mary is considering attending seminary. Spencer Saunders graduated

on May 9 from Regent Uni-versity in Virginia Beach, VA.Spencer received a Bachelor ofScience in Mathematics. Shebegins graduate school thisfall at the University of SouthCarolina in Columbia to studyfor a PhD in Mathematics.Spencer is the daughter ofAdam and Sian Saunders, child care workers at Broyhill Home in Clyde.

Alexis Snipes graduatesfrom South Davidson HighSchool in Denton on June 15.She is the daughter of Shawnand Samantha Snipes, childcare workers at Mills Home in Thomasville. Alexis plans to attend Davidson CountyCommunity College in Lex-ington and then apply to thenursing program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

BCH STAFF MEMBERSJessica Rackley, Lead Teacher at the Fleshman-PrattEducation Center in Thomasville, graduated fromDavidson County CommunityCollege in Lexington on May16. She received her AssociatesDegree in Early ChildhoodEducation. Jessica teaches tod-dlers attending BCH’s WeekdayEducation program.

JodiSteed re-ceived her Associates Degree in EarlyChildhood Education on May16 from Davidson CountyCommunity College in Lex-ington. Jodi serves in theWeekday Education businessoffice as Assistant Director.

[ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS }

Graduates recognized for accomplishments –BCH commends priority on education______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Burch

Jones

Martin

Cheston

Cantu

Saunders

Steed

NewcombRackley

Snipes

The North Carolina Child Care Commissioncommended Baptist Children’s Homes’

Weekday Education program through a resolu-tion commemorating the program’s 50th anniversary on May 11. The resolution wasdrafted by Commissioner Rev. C.F. McDowell,III. McDowell served as BCH’s Executive VicePresident, Special Ministries and was on stafffrom 1997 to 2008.

“During my tenure of service, I witnessedfirsthand BCH’s priority of and commitment to providing quality child care to the childrenand families of the Thomasville area,” McDow-ell told the group. “During these 50 years, it hassought to be a leader in Davidson County in thefield of child care and a model for churches

across North Carolina who provide this service.”Following McDowell’s presentation to

adopt the resolution, Commissioner Sue Creechstated, “I have been a Baptist since I was 14months old. I know this place. I have been to this place, and I second the motion.”

The non-binding resolution was adopted by the Commission as an expression of congrat-ulations and appreciation.

“It is always humbling to be recognized bythose beyond our Baptist world for our culture of excellence,” BCH president/CEO Michael C.Blackwell said. “It is even more affirming to berecognized by such a distinguished group. Wedeeply appreciate the Commission’s and Rev. McDowell’s high regards of this vital ministry.”

Weekday Education honored by group_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

8 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5

Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH)and staff members have recently

been recognized for successes – BCH’s“culture of excellence” is showing!

1. Baptist Children’s Homes has been reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation until June 30, 2019.The international, independent, non-profit, human services accreditation organization reviewed hundreds ofself-study documents and representa-tives spent four days on site conduct-ing peer reviews. Almost every staffmember was involved in reaccredita-tion. The leadership team consists of:Wendy Weatherman, Linda Morgan,Nancy McNeill, and Bond Kiser.2. BCH president Michael C. Black-well was named the 2015 Baptist Her-itage Award recipient by members ofTrinity Baptist Church in Raleigh. Thecommemorative plaquereceived by Blackwellreads in part: “Thankyou, Michael, for givingyour voice and your lifefor the ‘least of these.’”The church also made acontribution of $2,500to BCH in his honor.3. Kathy Locklear,Odum Home’s residential campusmanager, acceptedthe University of NorthCarolina at Pembroke’s (UNCP)

“Community Partner of the YearAward” on behalf of BCH at a recent awards luncheon. UNCPstudents regularly volunteer at thePembroke residential facility.4. The North Carolina Association on Aging awarded their LeadershipExcellence Award to NCBAM directorSandy Gregory at their annual meetingin Wilmington. The award honors recipients for the quality of leadershipand organizational management theyprovide their organizations.5. NCBAM’s Carol Layton received two awards from theBaptist Communicators Associ-ation’s annual awards compe-tition. Layton tied for firstplace in the feature writingcategory and placed secondplace in the promotional andadvertising copy category.

[ HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS }

BCH's stars are shining!___________________________________________________________________________________

North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry(NCBAM) hosted the inaugural AAIM event onMay 7 in Thomasville. Aging Adults InnovatingMinistry is a network of church staff and layleaders with the ongoing mission to promote,equip and strengthen aging adult (senior adult)ministries across the state.

Dubbed the “AAIM Roundup,” the confer-ence provided a fast-paced day of informationand inspiration to more than 70 senior adultleaders. Michael C. Blackwell, president/CEO ofBaptist Children’s Homes and NCBAM founder,said, “It was a great kick-off for the AAIM net-work. AAIM will be an innovative and much-needed resource for aging adult ministries inNorth Carolina.”

AAIM leaders were announced at the event.Stan Heiser, associate senior pastor at PritchardMemorial Baptist Church, will serve as chair;Norma Melton of Buncombe Baptist Associationwill serve as vice-chair; Barbara Blood, senior

adult leader at First Baptist Church Mt. Airy, willserve as secretary.

Regional team leaders include Glenn Daven-port, chaplain for Cleveland Regional MedicalCenter and Shelby Police Department (west re-gion); Christa Warise, minister of senior adults atCollege Park Baptist Winston-Salem (central re-gion); and Phyllis Crane, senior adult minister atFirst Baptist Church Clayton (east region).

Regional leaders will hold additional 2015AAIM gatherings as follows: Central region, September 15 in Thomasville; East region, September 15 in Clayton; and West region, September 22 in Asheville. The second statewideAAIM Roundup is slated for May 5, 2016 inThomasville. Call 1.877.506.2226 for more information.

NCBAM director Sandy C. Gregory said.“NCBAM is prepared; we have a plan. God is atthe heart of ministry to (and with) the aging andNorth Carolina Baptists are ready. We got this!”

First AAIM Roundup declared a success_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1

2

3

4

5

Anote from Jeanie Helms Cooper:“I am inviting everyone to

Homecoming 2015. Our theme thisyear is ‘God Bless America’ and wewill again have home cooked mealson Friday and Saturday prepared byDanny and Jane Helms Brown. Thosedinner hours give us the time to fellowship with each other while enjoying a delicious meal. And don’tforget the auction! Bring your dona-tions to the gym as soon as you arrive.And we have a really special treat forSaturday night. “Letters FromHome” – a fantastic singing/dancinggroup who will dazzle you with theirdancing, prompt wonderful memorieswith their voices, charm you with theirpersonalities, and touch your heartswith their patriotism. This group willbe our guests following the businessmeeting on Saturday evening. It is entertainment second to none!

“At the Sunday service, the currentyoungsters of BCH will touch youwith their testimonies and songs. Yes,we have more in store for you, still in the planning stage, but we promiseit will be a weekend you will long remember – so be there!”

Bennie Phillips posted this messageto the Harry Wall’s Mills Home (MH)Facebook page: “Many of the alumniwill remember Helen and ThurstonBowman who served as BCH treas-urer for quite a number of years. Heis now a patient at Abbots Creek Careand Rehabilitation Center, 877 HillEverhart Rd., Lexington, NC, 27295.Mrs. Helen Bowman is still in theirhome in Thomasville at 12 Lodge Dr.,Thomasville, NC 27360. I’m sureboth these folks would appreciatecards and letters.”

Pat Baucam recently had to make a delivery to Thomasville and waslucky enough to meet MH directorRegina Keener on campus. Somehow,he got onto Facebook and shared in-formation with us. He wrote: “I planon attending Homecoming in August.I moved to Texas in ‘69 where I grad-uated from high school and went onto college. In 1979, I was able to gointo business for myself and later wentinto a partnership in the medicalequipment business. In 2000,

I bought out my partners and havebeen in business on my own. Sincethen, God has blessed me so much.”

In other comments, he said he andthree brothers Fisher, Parks, andBeecher were at MH from August ‘67until June ‘69. “My best friend wasMichael Ray Dills and we two werealso good friends with the Osbornebrothers. Our House parents wereO’Dell and Sudie Rankin and our sub-stitute house parent was Ms. Wilson. I don’t remember much about ‘Sach’except that he seemed to be in chargeof everything.’

With further questioning fromalumni, Pat wrote: “I’m a scuba diverand a pilot in training. I’ve flown upside down and swam with sharks sonot much overwhelms me. I nevermeet a stranger – just part of my natural charm. I have a beautiful,wonderful daughter Alli, an Englishteacher, who is married to youth min-ister Chris. They have two kids, Rylie5, and Lucas 2. They moved back toWaco last June from Staten Island,NY. As for me, I am a single fellowagain.”

Harry Walls recently won first placein the three sports events (discusthrow, Shot-put and softball throw) atthe Senior Games in DavidsonCounty. A MH alumnus, James Byrd,was right behind him in second placein the discus throw. Harry recalls thathe taught James how to throw discuswhen they were at MH. Harry alsowon a first place ribbon for the secondyear in writing. It was for his work“October Daze,” this time in the Silver Arts Poetry category.

I was saddened by the news fromMelanie Myers that Waverly Barbour,her great uncle and MH alumnus ofthe class of 1937, died on March 27.He was a brother to her grandmother,the late Lucille Barbour Mcmillan,’36.Waverly was a WWII Veteran of theUS Navy – serving from 1943-1945.He was retired from Pan Am Airlinesafter 36 years of service. He was mar-ried to his sweetheart Taki for 54 years. I also just learned about the death of J.D. Dennis who served aseditor of Charity & Children from1971-1973.

Ethel Kesler, 86, of Virginia Beach,

VA, died on Friday, April 17 at theMedical University of South Carolinain Charleston, SC. Her funeral serv-ices were held graveside Saturday,April 25, at 2 p.m. at God’s Acre on the Mills Home Campus inThomasville. Ethel attended R.J.Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem and UNCG. She completed herMaster’s Degree in physical educationand taught at several institutions including Oregon State Universityand the University of Maryland. Shehad a lifelong interest in sports. Memorials may be made to the BaptistChildren’s Homes at P.O. Box 338,Thomasville, NC 27361.

There was a big work day held recently at Mills Home and churchesand individuals came from far andwide to help with spring cleaning.Seen at the cemetery working diligently were Janice Lewis Doherty,Kaye Trantham Mills, Estie Culler,Charles Tanner, and Joe Knight. On theother side of the campus, Flora HicksPatton was working at the MitchellMuseum.

BCH president Michael Blackwellexpressed his appreciation for all thebeautification done by the AlumniCouncil on campus and especially thework done at God’s Acre. In a note toCouncil president Estie Culler, hewrote: “Thank you for all that theAlumni Association does to enhancethis beautiful campus which is so dearto all of our hearts. . . With the funeralof Esther Kesler and the rain that wehave had, the recent gift of gravel forthe cemetery path meant so much.Not only did it make the ground morecomfortable to those at the funeral, itbeautified God’s Acre for the future.”

Alumni seem always to yearn to reconnect with alumni from theiryouth. I recently wrote in this columnabout the Ray family of the 1950s –Willie Jesse, Virginia, and Mary Jo. Vir-ginia’s daughter Jerri Ellington, sawmy note in C&C and called me. Wehad a good time talking about thefamily. She informed me that Virginiadied around 2002 and Mary Jo diedquite a few years back in California.She thinks Willie lives in Denton, NC.

Several of us noticed a note on Facebook asking if anyone knew

Virginia Danford who was at MH inthe 1940s. We learned that Virginia,who left MH around 1949, had mar-ried a Goddard and reared her familyin Thomasville. I really regretted thatwe could not have reunited her withsome of her little Mitchell Housefriends from the ‘40s. But at least wehave met Virginia’s son Garland God-dard and his wife and daughter,Heather. And we’ve been able to seemany pictures of those three veryhandsome members from her family.

It is great when Curtis Snipes makesit back to Homecoming. He came toMH in 1979 and graduated fromTHS in 1987. He joined the US Navyin 1988 and stayed in until 2000. Heserved in Desert Storm and had manymore tours over in the Middle East.Our address book lists his address as808 Douglas St., Greensboro, NC27406. His phone number is919.270.7298. When he lived inPittsboro, he worked for Heating andA/C Company in Sanford. In recall-ing life at MH, he remembers hishouseparents the Andersons and theIngles. He also remembers Mr. Bruinwas his coach for basketball and soft-ball. Here’s hoping Curtis can make itback for Homecoming this year. Nowthe father of three youngsters, Curtissaid that seeing the kids he grew up made his last Homecoming veryenjoyable.

An update sheet from James Sebas-tian says he lives at 2119 Shalimar Dr.Charlotte, NC 28216. His email isjamessebastian@aol.com and phonenumber is 704.394.3459. He and hissister Betty Cline came to MH in 1960 from Statesville and he left in1965. Retired from the Estes ExpressLines, he is the father of two adult offspring and grandfather to six.

Someone once said, “When all is said and done, an orphanage (chil-dren’s home) is but a substitute home,never quite the real thing.” And I say,“Shhhhhhhhhh! Don’t tell that to thethousands of orphanage alumni that

I know.” See you athome in August!

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____________________________________________________________________

6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 9

[ MILLS HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }

A full slate of activities planned for Homecoming! Alumni recall orphan brothers and sisters_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________________________

10 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 Discover ways you can help BCH at www.bchfamily.org/getinvolved

___________________________________________Friends Rally for Food Roundup

At the beginning of the year, North CarolinaBaptists were asked to provide more than700,000 meals and snacks for Baptist Chil-dren’s Homes’ (BCH) residents through theannual “Food Roundup.” Friends from acrossthe state, including the children fromProspect Baptist Church in Mooresville(pictured above), overwhelmingly respondedby collecting tons of non-perishable food,paper products, supplies, and gift cards. Afew of the many “Food Roundup” partici-pants are highlighted here. Thanks to allwho help to feed BCH’s residents for anentire year, and most importantly, show-ing them the love of Christ through theseincredible efforts.___________________________________________

Friends from Blake Farms in North Wilkes-boro deliver supplies to Mills Home.___________________________________________

Members of Mike Creek Baptist Church inBakersville present gift cards to BCH’s LindaMorgan at Broyhill Home.

___________________________________________

This is the first year youth from Life Com-munity Church in Jamestown participatedin the Food Roundup. They used the church’sbus to deliver their 2,000 lbs.-collection.___________________________________________

Three churches, Calvary Way BaptistChurch in Pembroke, Hillside BaptistChurch in Hope Mills, and First BaptistChurch of Rowland, brought their collec-tions to Odum Home on May 5.___________________________________________

BCH’s Tabitha Ward, left, recently appearedon the Fox 8 WGHP morning show withDavidson County Community Collegestudents promoted the food drive. The Principles of Marketing class created a pro-motional campaign to collect toilet paper.

___________________________________________

Charlotte and Wilmington franchises of TwoMen and a Truck donate trucks and labor topick-up and deliver many of the collections.___________________________________________

Caldwell Association collected an entirewall of food and supplies.___________________________________________

Surry Association director of missions BillyBlakely and wife Pat deliver supplies.___________________________________________

Representatives from Polk Association pres-ent gift cards to BCH’s Lewis Smith, right.___________________________________________

Children from Oak Grove Baptist Church inLumberton deliver to Odum Home.

[ 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).

Get Involvedwww.bchfamily.org/getinvolved

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

Food Roundup: This is a great opportunity for churches, businessesand organizations to help provide thefood needs of the boys and girls incare. Call 336-474-1277.

Friends of Children Workdays:The perfect one-day missions out-reach. Projects for all ages! StatewideBCH workdays available in May andSeptember. See 2015 dates on pg. 6Call 336-474-1209.

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. Visit www.bikeforchange.org forresources. Contact Bike for Changecoordinator Jay Westmoreland atbikeforchange@bchfamily.org

Sharing Hope...Changing LivesCapital Campaign: The campaign isabout securing BCH’s future so thatchildren and families who come intocare at the ministry’s 19 statewide lo-cations can count on having the safehome and care they need. ContactBrenda Gray at 336-689-4442. Visitwww.bchfamily.org/campaign

Homecoming is a great time atKennedy Home. Have you

made your motel reservations so youcan take in all the activities at thisyear’s Homecoming? We begin at9:00 a.m. on July 4, Saturday morn-ing, with Alumni Breakfast at GoldenCorral in Kinston. Our secretary BillySmithwick has made a reservation for us to have a special space to be together and eat. This is always a great time of remembering thingsof the past while we enjoy good fellowship. Homecoming registrationbegins later that day in the gym at11:00 a.m. At 5:00 p.m., there is a great supper in the Alumni Roomlocated in the old food locker. Dinnerwill be followed by a business meet-ing in the gym and then we’ll dancethe night away. You will have all Saturday afternoon to sit around inthe gym or the picnic area and visitwith old friends. Take your familyaround campus and tell them aboutall the things that went on when youwere at Kennedy Home.

We want to pack the choir loft onSunday morning! This year we will besinging patriotic songs that we allknow real well. Come on and join thechoir right after Sunday School. Wewill sing through a few songs towarm up our voices. Help me packthe choir loft just like we did last yearfor the 100th anniversary.

The month of August is sure to bean exciting time as Becky Thompsonand I celebrate our 50th wedding an-niversary on Saturday, August 22 –that also happens to be Becky’s 71stbirthday. (Mercy, we have beenaround a long time.)

Becky became my girlfriend in the7th grade and we were girlfriend-boyfriend until I got my graduationpapers from Eastern Carolina Univer-sity in 1965. It was the goal to getmarried after I got my degree, had ahouse to live in, and had a full-timejob. All this came about the summerafter graduation – a public schoolteaching position and part-time min-ister of music position at First Baptistin Washington – and so, Becky and

I tied the knot and we’ve been together for 50 years. What a greattime!

The Lord has blessed us with twogreat boys, their lovely wives and fourwonderful grandchildren. Becky hashad a rough time with her health, butshe still plays the organ at churchwhen she is able. I have retired threetimes and now play the piano inchurch and serve as the Minister ofSenior Adults – I have a ball!

Recently, I wrote asking you toshare some things about your married life. Thanks to those whodid. Here is a note from Kevin Lacy:“Congratulations on number 50 foryou and Becky. Your email made methink about my marriage. My wifeGina and I have been married 20years in August. We met at McDon-alds in Ketchikan, Alaska in May,2008. We were married in August ofthe same year. I remember living atKH and thinking I was in love a fewtimes but that was nothing like whenyou meet the ‘real thing.’ When Godintroduces you to ‘the one,’ every-thing seems to have led you to thattime and place.

“The previous summer, I workedat the same McDonalds. I was visitingmy mother and her husband betweenmy freshman and sophomore years incollege. The following year I was notplanning to go back. I was planningto work a local summer job to helpgive me some experience relevant towhat I was studying. I remembertelling my mother if I went to Alaska,I didn’t think I would come back toNC. She convinced me to come.

“I flew in after final exams and satnext to a pretty little Filipino lady atMcDonalds who I fall in love witheveryday. We got married and did notreturn to NC until several years later.Being married at 19 years old andhaving a family at 21 was a very chal-lenging road. But seeing how itturned out – it’s been worth it. Ofcourse, I hope Gina feels the sameway. But I got the better deal. She isstill beautiful and I look like a wornout shoe.” Kevin Lacy (1979-1984)

Sally Koblinsky writes: “Hi John,

Are you sure you want all of thescoop? Well, here goes. Tom (Ski) andI met on a February blind date – onlynot with each other – but with eachother’s friends. Our first date was inJune. We dated for about one and a half months and got married onJuly 18.

“We had a church wedding –actually ‘military’ church wedding –at the chapel on McGuire Air ForceBase in Wrightstown, New Jersey. APresbyterian minister officiated. Wehave two children, a granddaughterand four granddogs.

“During the course of our mar-riage, we have moved 17 times andare in our last home – hopefully. Wehave been married for 51 years thisJuly and live at 7617 Short MountainRoad in Woodbury, TN 37190.

“We have had an interesting lifewith God overseeing all of the placesand things we have done. We areblessed to have been called to theKennedy Memorial Baptist Chil-dren’s Home in the 70s and pray forthe work and workers there. God istruly good and awesome as He leadsus daily.” – Because of His EternalLove, Sally

Read what Michael Grimsleywrites: “Just checking in. Hopeeveryone is doing ok. Hey John, I got one for you. My sister-in-law introduced me to my wife. She wasworking the deli at Food Lion inWashington. We went on a few datesand I got to meet the in-laws. In1998, I decided I would propose.One weekend while visiting the in-laws, I asked her dad if he wouldgive me permission to marry hisdaughter. He said you can if youwant, but if it doesn’t work out don’tblame him. She accepted. We set a date but things worked against us.

“She got a job as a correction officer in Virginia. She was stayingthere all week and coming home onthe weekends. I was working inWashington as an electrician. We hadto set another date.

“I met the preacher of hermother’s church in Gatesville. My future mother-in-law and future wife

wanted us to marry in the church hermother attended. Well, I said ok. So I asked the preacher if he wouldperform the ceremony. He agreedand we set another date.

“My sister owned a bridal store inGreenville and she set us up with thetuxes and wedding gown.

“We made plans to have a pig pick-ing after the wedding. The weddingdate arrives and Hurricane Floydthreatens NC. It was 1999. We de-cided to go ahead with the wedding.Saturday morning comes and it’sraining cats and dogs – we got 12inches of rain.

“The wedding went nice but thechurch leaked. All my family wasthere and friends. We go out thechurch and wade through the water.It was up to the bottom of the cardoors. Some folks headed home andthe rest went to the in-law’s houseback in the woods up a dirt road.When we get to the driveway, it’sunder water.

“Well, everything turned out ok.The wedding cake melted in the humidity, but the pig turned outwonderful. We had about fifty peopleshow up – all from out of town.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say isthat it doesn’t matter how bad thestorm is – the Lord will bring youthrough it.”

I have more notes about weddingsand will use them later. Please sendme a few more for the next column.It’s fun to hear from you.

Dont forget! Make plans now toattend Homecoming 2015 – you’llbe glad you did. Kennedy Home di-rector Brian Baltzell will be our guestspeaker. If you have not met him, youare in for a great treat! He is doing agreat job. You can really tell that heloves his work and Kennedy Home.

Blessing to you and to all those you hold dear.Love – JT

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

[ KENNEDY HOME ALUMNI COLUMN }

Time to make plans to attend Homecoming –Alumni reminisce about married life_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By John Thompson, 2324 Country Club Road, Jacksonville, NC 28546 (252)671-3515 jthompson117@ec.rr.com

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

6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5 11

More Homeword at www.bchfamily.org/charityandchildren____________________________________________________________________

12 6/15 – Charity + Children – 128/5

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)

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

The knotty wood floors creak as people take their places in metal folding chairs.

The floor’s unfinished tongue-and-groove woodplanks move freely after years of couples swayingwhile they danced to the likes of Merle andLoretta. The old honky-tonk’s double doors are swung open wide allowing what breeze thereis to provide some relief while the shut screendoors keep the mosquitos at bay. The cinder-block constructed former dance hall sits a fewyards off the rural State road that leads into thesmall community of Elmer, Louisiana. The fadedletters on the rusted sign outside read “112Hall” – named for its location on Highway 112.

My friends and I spend our days hauling bales of hay from freshly mowed fields to the immense barn at Rodney’s uncle’s dairy farm. We are rising seniors, and the work providesmuch needed summer monies. We shower, dressat Johnny’s house, and then grab burgers andfries at the Snack Shack that sits catty-cornerfrom New Hope Baptist Church in Calcasieu –our home church.

We arrive at the 112 Hall just as the pianomusic begins wafting through the open windowsonto the gravel parking lot. But instead of beingmoved to tears by “your cheatin’ heart” and“some broken hearts never mend,” we are ush-ered quickly inside by “there’s wonderful pow’rin the blood” and “at the cross, at the crosswhere I first saw the light.”

The itinerant evangelist for the weekend waitsimpatiently and then springs to the pulpit whenintroduced. Leaning closely at times and thengrabbing the microphone, pulling the cord, andmoving from one side to the other, he preachesfor 45 minutes without seemingly taking abreath. What coolness enjoyed by the piddlingbreezes is now gone. The music and clapping,the fervent preaching, and the crowd rising for the altar call, has heated up the room and every-ones’ hearts, too.

What mayappear to anoutsider as a corporateoutpouring is in truth a time when worship-pers retreat, closing them-selves off into rooms tucked awayin their hearts where they meet the Savior.

Growing up as a young child inFirst Baptist Church of Ocean Springs,Mississippi and First Baptist, Laredo,Texas provided other experiences. Biblememorization drills; Sunday afternoon choirpractices concluding with snacks of ham and tunasalad sandwiches accompanied by cherry Kool Aid; Training Union classes; Royal Ambassadors’patches sewn to blue vests as I advanced in my studies and service; dressed in black slacks, a white shirt, and sporting a red bow tie, sittingwith Mom and Dad as trays of grape juice andsmall cracker-like wafers are passed from pew topew – all were times when the church nurturedme as we gathered together beneath gleamingwhite steeples.

And it was in the solitude of an eight-year-old’s heart, as the piano played and the congre-gation sang the first, second and last verses of “I Surrender All” that I heard the call to come, repent and receive saving grace.

As a teen, I became lax and my sister wasforced to conjole me to attend church with her on Sunday mornings. I grudgingly sat withher. We would rise and sing familiar songs and I would bow my head at the appropriate times –all while being distracted by the things importantin a high school freshman’s mind.

As the sermon began, the congregation sat in silence. The preacher’s voice grew distant andin my mind’s eye appeared an ancient weighingscale. I was asked to place all my dreams onto

one side. On the other side, Jesus stepped and said, “Jim, surrender all.” In the midst of a crowded sanctuary, I whispered, “Yes, I surrender. Use me, Lord.”

Scripture teaches us not to forsake the gathering together – to read scripture, to lift ourvoices in praise, and to encourage one another.As we worship and focus our attention, we traveltogether on a worn path that leads us to Jesus –to the foot of the cross where there is plenty of room and all are welcome. But as we kneel, in that moment, each one kneels alone.

Is it time for you to get away and be alonewith Jesus? Is it time to slip away into a closet or an office or a prayer corner in the living room? You could even be in the midst of a crowd whenyou hear the knock on your heart’s door. InviteJesus in, look Him in the eyes, and visit. TellHim what’s on your heart. Feel the peace of His presence. In the solitude of a moment, renew your love for the One who loves

you so. Selah.

[ H O M E W O R D }

The softest whisper of the Spirit,heard clearly – even in a crowd_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 is available for preaching and speaking engagements. Email him atwjedminson@bchfamily. org or call 1-800-476-3669,ext. 1217 to schedule a date.