Posted by: Jill @ 10:14 am
In our From the President feature, our President & CEO, Steve Hubbard, shares his insight and experience.
The United Methodist Children’s Home has embarked on a new beginning! While embracing our rich tradition, the agency is planning for the future – evolving to continue giving the best possible care to all God’s children.
Within the next year, UMCH will apply for national accreditation and place an emphasis on accountability and empirical evidence. UMCH will improve with technology, utilizing a web-based system that will allow us to better document case management and report our results to our staff and supporters.
As we move forward, our Board of Directors approved a new Mission Statement that would succinctly reflect our work within a mission-driven, Christian environment. The Vision and Values better state how dedicated staff will serve all God’s children.
Below are the renewed mission, vision and values of the United Methodist Children’s Home.
To follow the example of Christ by embracing all God’s children…
One child, one family at a time
Vision
Safe Sanctuary
Life Changing
Values
Dedication
Empathy
Integrity
Unconditional Love
Everything we do, and every decision we make for the future of the children entrusted to our care will be driven by our Mission, our Vision and our Values. Please continue to pray for this vital ministry, and join us in our Mission!
Steve Hubbard
President & CEO
Our Esteemed Judges - Pictured from left to right are Congressman Jo Bonner, Miss Florida 2007 Kylie Williams, Bishop Will Willimon and artist Rick Rush. They participated as judges in the 2008 Children’s Calendar Art Contest, hosted by the United Methodist Children’s Home.
Click here to see our judges’ comments below.
Click here to see the winners’ art below.
Click here to see a photo gallery of all the 2008 calendar art with more comments from our celebrity judges.
Four regional celebrities have cast their votes for the winners of the 2008 Children’s Calendar Art Contest of the United Methodist Children’s Home. Bishop Will Willimon of the United Methodist Church’s North Alabama Conference returns as judge. He is joined this year by three new judges. Congressman Jo Bonner of Alabama, Miss Florida 2007 Kylie Williams and artist Rick Rush participated.
“So many people tell us how much they love this calendar,” said Patrick McCurry, the agency’s Public Relations Supervisor. “The kids always really do such a great job,” he added. Artists are all from Children’s Home programs.
McCurry said the involvement of these well-known people makes the calendar that much more special. Each celebrity votes for his or her favorite pieces from the calendar. The selections are given a value based on the judge’s preference, and the total scores determine the top three winners.
All children receive a cash prize for having their art included in the calendar. Children’s Home staff picks an entry for the calendar’s cover, and that artist receives an award separate from the celebrity judging.
Josh, 15, had several pieces in the 2008 calendar. His March crayon drawing of a cross on a hill, surrounded by the hands of God, won first place. He also drew the bird that was chosen for the cover.
A tie for second place split the combined second and third place awards between Jessica and Justin, both 15. Jessica’s April portrayed the earth in front of a rainbow-colored background with the words, “United Methodist Children’s Home,” and, “With our caring hearts and helping hands together we can make the world a better place one child at a time.”
Justin’s November portrayed a fighter jet in flight with the words, “Make the Lord your wingman and you will win your battles.”
All of the art from the 2008 Children’s Art Calendar can be seen online with comments from the judges at www.umch.net/calendar.
The ministry’s 2009 Children’s Art Calendar will mail in late September. It goes to churches and those who have recently donated directly to the Children’s Home.
As supplies last, anyone can order a calendar, free of charge. People should contact the Public Relations and Development Office toll-free at 877-729-8624 or e-mail orders@umch.net.
“Our supply of 2008 Calendars was depleted several months back,” said McCurry. He said that the children are doing the art “as we speak” for next year’s calendar. “I know it will be a beautiful piece,” he added.
Read the comments of our Celebrity Judges below!
 Kylie Williams, Miss Florida 2007 - “These children did a fantastic job and should be applauded for putting so much thought into their efforts. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this. Thank you for honoring me with your incredible works of art! Congratulations to you all for such an amazing job well done! Remember, the right path is not always the easiest, but if chosen, you will be rewarded in the end. I speak from personal experience. Keep up the great work and May God Bless!”
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Below are pictures of the winning pieces.
 Josh, 15 - March 2008 - First Place  Jessica, 15 - April, 2008 - Second Place (tied)  Justin, 15 - November 2008 - Second Place (tied) |
Posted by: Jill @ 1:23 pm
“Chaplain’s Corner” is a regular feature written by the Children’s Home chaplain, Rev. LuAnne Wages-Smith
If you have a few minutes, I have a survey I would like for you to take.
Don’t you just hate conversations or phone calls that begin that way? Well, if you do have a few minutes I would like for you to think about a few things with me, and maybe even answer a few questions.
Think back over your life. Ok, how many times have you moved? If I asked you to envision your childhood bedroom would you have a lot to choose from or just one to remember? As a child did you ever live with anyone who was not a family member?
When you think back over your childhood would you say you knew you were loved? At Christmas time were you ever afraid Santa couldn’t find you? And one more—when you saw pictures of Jesus with the children, were you the one in his lap or the one at the back of the crowd?
For many of the children and youth who come through our doors these are very painful questions. They have moved so many times and have lived with different families and in different settings. Their pictures aren’t on anyone’s dresser, and they are only 5 or 8 or 10 years old.
There was a family we serve that had three siblings. The youngest was 8 years of age, and they had been in 12 different places—sometimes together and other times apart. They would always tell each other goodbye whenever they went different places for fear that they would not see each other again. They live their lives as constant visitors, always searching for home and having no idea where to find it.
As their chaplain, I have learned, through the pain in their eyes, about a life where you make your own way, protect yourself with a hard shell around you, don’t hope and never allow yourself to love. They become self centered, angry and violent at times, and will tell you that they don’t need anybody in their lives—that they are fine by themselves. They are very believable until you look into their eyes. The emptiness you find stops you cold.
The message that I share with them is very simple and gentle…
“God has your name written on the palm of His hand. You are a biological child of God, not a foster child, and nothing can ever change that fact. And one more thing—Jesus’ greatest desire is to hold you in his lap, where you belong.”
Namasté and Shalom
(Namasté means, “The Christ in me recognizes the Christ in you.”)