The Open Door

I wish you could have been with me recently as I interviewed Ken Dobbs about the ministry of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. His remarks would have thrilled your heart as they did mine. Since we are approaching Mother’s Day when we will receive in our churches our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries Offering, I thought it would be encouraging to you to read some of the things I heard Ken say. This truly is a remarkable ministry that needs and deserves our sacrificial support.

It will be helpful for you to know the Mission Statement of the Children’s Homes:

The Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries is a Christian caring ministry of service designed to promote the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of children, youth and families.

This mission statement is demonstrated through genuine concern for the spiritual lives of the children. Ken said, “We have a goal of teaching the children about Jesus. Every year we have professions of faith. Most are made in the cottages where the house parents are teaching by example and taking the children to church. All of the cottages do not go to the same church so that one church is not overwhelmed. We spread them out. Because of our relationships with the churches, we know the children are hearing the Gospel being preached and this helps us with our work. We had 54 children make professions of faith last year.”

Ken commented further that “At the Nelson Price Treatment Center a mother got up and thanked us for giving her daughter back to her which was a tremendous testimony.” A pastor thanked Dr. Dobbs for caring for his daughter who had gotten out of control. He thanked Dr. Dobbs for saving his daughter and for saving his family. This kind of testimony, which is marvelous in every way, is often repeated at the Children’s Homes where so many children receive the help that will literally save their lives.

With a deep sense of gratitude, Ken Dobbs said, “Through the last 10 years there have been unusual opportunities to expand the ministry and touch the lives of families. Ministries have evolved from what started out as an asylum for orphaned children. The asylum became a home for children.

“We have done things like the Nelson Price Treatment Center which has been a blessing. Charter Peachford refers children to us. Even the courts are referring children. We have had other states from all over the Southern Baptist Convention come to look at us and they shake their heads and say, ‘How do you do this?’ I say, ‘By God’s grace.’ We had prayed for 10 years for this kind of ministry.”

One of the things Ken said that day particularly thrilled me. He talked about the times that the United States government has called upon the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries for help. He cited the fact that about 10 years ago the Immigration and Naturali-zation Service asked if the Children’s Homes could help with some children from Haiti who had come into Miami.

“A couple of years later they came back and asked if we could take some children from China and then some children from Russia,” Dobbs said. “The trustees established a program where we could work with these children. They get to the country, crossing the border, some from Central America. Their parents have put them on a plane. They do it thinking they will be okay when they get to America. Last year at our trustee meeting in Meansville, I was called and told that we would get 17 teenaged girls (from an international country) who had been sold by their parents into prostitution in the U.S. When they got to Savannah they were in the belly of a ship and the door to the hull was welded together. They had been sold for $42,000 each. They were rescued and brought to our campus. In the last 4 to 5 years we have had children from 47 countries, over 600 children. We keep them a while and help them find placement.” Referring to the 17 girls sold into prostitution, Ken said that they contacted one of our churches that sponsored a congregation of the same language and country and the language pastor came to the Children’s Home to talk to the girls. He “helped them understand where they were and took them to church…It is incredible to do that kind of ministry to that many children from so many different countries right here in Meansville.”

I’m sure you would agree that this is indeed an incredible ministry, yet it is not without tremendous challenges. Caring for the children is expensive. The Homes operate on a tight budget with the help of Georgia Baptist associations and churches. Due to contributions of groceries, the children receive well-balanced meals for just 75 cents per child, per meal. Ken said that without this kind of help “we couldn’t make it.” With the economy down for the last several years, personnel had to be terminated and staff has gone without salary increases.

I will repeat for you what I said to Ken that day, “I seriously doubt that we are doing anything in our Convention that is nearer to the heart of God than caring for the children.”

Your help is needed. Will you give a generous offering this Mother’s Day for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries? Your gifts are desperately needed and will be used to the glory of God in ministering to the children.