Help support a place of hope for Georgia's children

Posted

As we approach Mother’s Day I want to ask you to give an especially generous offering this year to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries’ annual Mother’s Day Offering. Few ministries touch the heart like this one which has such a great and godly impact on the broken and shattered lives of children that enter through the doors of our Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.

Their lives have been marked by abuse, neglect and abandonment. They have been broken through substance abuse in the home. They have been crushed as victims of human trafficking. They have been deeply and emotionally scarred as a result of domestic violence. There is plenty of evidence in Scripture that when you break the heart of a child you are breaking the very heart of God. The wonderful truth is that broken hearts can be mended through Christian love and ministry to these children.

thinkstockphotos.com thinkstockphotos.com

On any given day there are approximately 8,000 children in the foster care system in Georgia. About 200 incidences of child abuse and neglect are reported daily in our state. One out of every three children living on the streets will become the victims of human trafficking within 48 hours of running away from home. One in 15 children are exposed to domestic violence every year.

Last year 1,068 children came to our Children’s Homes in need of emotional and spiritual healing. Hearts were restored and lives were rebuilt, but there is much to be done and many lives yet unknown to us will enter under the care of this ministry in the course of this next year.

The new president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries is Dr. Kenny Thompson. Kenny has served over 20 years in this ministry and has had a marvelous impact on the lives of many children and families. After Dr. James Harper retired there was a wonderfully natural transition to the experienced leadership of Dr. Kenny Thompson.

I have had numerous opportunities to be with Dr. Thompson. He is a marvelous follower of Christ who is deeply devoted to our ministry to children and families. I want to encourage you to remember him in your prayers and all those who serve along with him.

There are also opportunities for you to volunteer your service which would be a wonderful gift for our Children’s Homes staff. In a recent brochure about this ministry, Dr. Thompson and his staff have made this statement, “Our children’s needs are serious; their suffering is real; our mission is clear.”

Aren’t you thankful to have such a dedicated staff with hearts and minds trained upon the Lord, hearts full of love for children whose lives have been crushed and a vast measure of experience at mending broken hearts?

I want to encourage you to give a generous gift this Mother’s Day for our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. Your gift will do immeasurable good not only to provide for specific needs, but to be a great gift of encouragement to the faithful staff of workers who serve the children and families under our care. May God bless you greatly for your faithfulness in giving.

abuse, children, Children's Home, Mother's Day, restoration