Building a place to call home, and a solid foundation for the future

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This Mother’s Day Georgia Baptists will be receiving a special offering for our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. Dr. Kenny Thompson is leading this outstanding ministry and doing a wonderful work. I want you to be aware of how God is using this ministry to touch great needs in Georgia.

In 2016, 1,274 individuals were served through this ministry and specialized programs. This number represents an increase in clients, but also an increase in accompanying operating costs.

Now, let me ask you to imagine for a moment, if you will, the heavy responsibility of ministering to the 1,274 children and family members at a total operating cost of $15,201,736 while having received total revenue and support in the amount of $14,091,302. This represents a remarkable shortfall of $1,110,634. As anyone can see, this is a challenging circumstance at best and at worst is unworkable.

Sadly, in recent years the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries has seen a steady decline in their funding from charitable gifts. It has therefore become more difficult for them to provide their many remarkable ministries to the children and their family members. In a recent statement, the Children’s Home said:

“The children and families we serve today often come to us with very few possessions. Instead, they come with heavy emotional and physical scars. Many arrive defiant, traumatized, and angry at the world and everyone in it. And who can blame them? How would any of us feel if we had been forced to live on the streets, a homeless shelter, in the back of an old car, or in just another failed placement through the system?

“Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes isn’t just our name; it’s who we are. We are a place where healing and hope can be found. A place where the knowledge of our living Savior can be found. A Place to Call Home. We realize that even though we may only be a temporary 'Home' for some of our residents, we have the awesome responsibility of helping them build a solid foundation for their future.”

One of the ministries provided by the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries is the Family Care Program. It has grown tremendously and those mothers and children who come under this ministry care come with no funding to help defray the cost, so this program is completely funded with charitable dollars. The Family Care Program is a huge need being fulfilled through our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries.

Remarkably, the Children’s Homes staff has provided 78,635 days of care. It has expended 83.5 percent of all of its resources on ministry to children and their families. You may be shocked to learn that only 17.8 percent of their support comes from churches and 7.9 percent comes from individuals.

I want to encourage you as we approach Mother’s Day to make a personal commitment to generosity on behalf of our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. Let us give the largest offering we have ever given for this necessary ministry. Children and families are being impacted by the Gospel through beloved Georgia Baptist leaders who are making a difference in these precious lives under their care.

I believe we can do better than we have ever done before as we give generously this Mother’s Day to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home Day Offering.

culture, family, Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes, Mother's Day