Promotion includes current, former residents

LAKELAND (FBW)—For the first time, the Florida Baptist Children’s Home 2005 promotional materials for its Mothers’ Day offering features current and former residents. Autumn, 14, a resident of the Lakeland campus, is shown receiving a hug from Sarah Johnson, a former resident of the FBCH’s original Arcadia campus.

FBCH president Jimmy McAdams told Florida Baptist Witness the departure from the past use of models for the photos is a step FBCH administration is “quite proud of.” The models, Autumn and Sarah, had to approve the use of their images in the promotion. Johnson and her husband, Joe, served as the first superintendents of the Miami campus and live now in Lakeland.

“We believe the picture of a current resident and a former resident conveys a significant message,” McAdams said.

Churches throughout Florida will exhibit the posters in their promotions of the annual Mothers’ Day Offering, which provides a significant percentage of support for the 101-year-old ministry of Florida Baptists. The 2004 offering of $1,113,175 enabled the agency to “operate from strength,” according to McAdams.

“We never want to be just a get-by organization,” he said. “We always want to have qualified staff and facilities.”

Before last year, the homes operated on “tight funds,” and dipped into the endowments to make ends meet, McAdams said. Staff and administration had to forego salary increases. The 2004 Mothers’ Day Offering contributed to meeting the budget of the agency, and allowed 4 percent salary increases.

“The Lord smiled on our ministry and allowed our income to exceed our needs– just by a little,” he said. “It saddens me, though, that some churches have let the offering slide, and don’t ask their people to give.”

FBCH houses more than 750 children on campuses in Miami, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola. One cottage on the Miami campus and one on the Tallahassee campus are closed for much-needed renovations.

The agency also provides a statewide network of Christian foster homes for infants, preschoolers, sibling groups and children with unique needs. In addition, FBCH ministers to pregnant teenagers and developmentally delayed adults.