$1.4 million goal set for FBCH offering

LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes has set a $1.4 million goal for its annual Mother’s Day Offering. Funds raised go to meet the needs of children who have been neglected, abused, or can no longer be cared for by their parents or guardians. The annual offering has provided critical financial support for more than thirty years.

The various services provided by the Children’s Homes include adoptive care, foster care and residential care programs. In addition, the FBCH provides others services such as 24-hour emergency shelter care for children who are in a crisis and need immediate placement. It also offers adult day training for men and women who are developmentally delayed.

Maternity care for young women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy is also a ministry of the FBCH which, through its Sanctity of Human Life program, focuses on working with pastors, community groups, and Christian pregnancy care centers to help prevent abortions.

Jerry Haag, FBCH president, emphasized the importance of the support of Florida Baptist churches and the annual Mother’s Day Offering for its ministry.

“We are able to change the lives of abused and neglected children all over the state because of the generous support that Baptist churches provide through the Mother’s Day Offering. Their support by way of prayer and financial contributions is what allows us to meet the needs of the many children that come into our care,” said Haag.

Haag spoke about the success that the Children’s Homes has had over the years, but also underscored the critical importance of the ministry by outlining the widespread needs.

“Last year the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes provided Christ-centered services to more than 3,300 children and families. Unfortunately last year more than 155,000 children were reported neglected or abused in the State of Florida alone,” Haag said. “We are meeting the needs and touching the lives of hundreds of children across this state with Christ-centered services. However, the need is great, which is why the annual Mother’s Day Offering is so critical.”

The Children’s Homes have residential-care facilities in Miami, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Pensacola. Additional campuses are planned for Gainesville, New Smyrna Beach, and the Sarasota/Manatee County area.

“With ever increasing needs, the Children’s Homes is expanding to open new ministry sites in Gainesville, New Smyrna Beach, Panama City, Bradenton-Sarasota, and Orlando,” Haag said.

The staff of the Children’s Homes focuses on meeting not only physical needs, but on meeting emotional and spiritual needs as well. The house parents and foster care parents work to provide strong emotional support and encouragement for the children as well as spiritual guidance. They pray with children, take them to church and provide them with a safe Christian environment.

“We do more than just give these children a place to live,” Haag said. “We ensure that they get wonderful medical care, nourishing food, proper clothes, and a great education. We provide counseling along with lots of love, attention, and a positive environment where Christian values are modeled on a daily basis.

“We take a proactive approach to healing the lives of children that come into our care. Our staff work very closely with our children, his or her family, or foster care parents in order to ensure that every child has a loving Christian home of their own,” Haag concluded.

The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is an agency of the Florida Baptist Convention and is governed by a 24-member board of trustees who are elected by the convention to serve a three-year term on a rotating basis.

Willie Rice, president of the Florida Baptist Convention and senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, is a strong supporter of the Children’s Homes and said he wants to be sure that they surpass this year’s offering goal.

“The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is one of the crown jewels of Florida Baptist life. Few ministries embody the passion to touch lives and meet needs better than our children’s home ministry. All Florida Baptists should be enthused about generously supporting this vital work,” Rice said.

For more information or to make a contribution contact the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes at 863-687-8811 or online at www.FBCHomes.org.