Seeds of Hope - Searcy Children's Homes

Searcy Children’s Homes, Inc. 

See Seeds See ds of of Ho Hope Ho pe 

News 

Planting Seeds of Hope in the lives of children and 

families, providing the tools for spiritual, physical, 

intellectual, emotional and social growth 

Volume 3, No. 2 509 North Main, Searcy, AR 72143 SPRING 2007 

“““““ 

ore” ore” ore” ore” ore” the the Children 

Children 

The 7 th Annual Max Clark Memorial Golf 

Tournament for Searcy Children’s Homes at The 

Course at River Oaks was a great success! The 

tournament was held on Friday, May 11 with 37 teams 

participating in the 4-person scramble. Initially there 

was some concern about the weather, but the storm 

held off and it was a beautiful day. Special thanks to 

our tournament directors, Mary Ann Arnett and Leah 

Miller, the tournament sponsors, players, volunteers, 

those who donated items for door prizes, golfer goodie 

bags, and the silent auction. The winning teams are 

listed below. 

Championship Flight - 

1st Place - Harriman Athletic 

(Defending Champs from 2006) 

scoring 55 

Tommy Harriman 

Jeff Morgan 

Tim Kirby 

Bob White 

2nd Place - Regions Bank 

Larry Killough Jr. 

John Talkington 

Mark Elliott 

Bruce Baxley 

3rd Place - Jimmie England & Co. 

Tom Clark 

Joe David Smith 

Kevin Eads 

Nathan Elliott 

First Flight 

1st Place - Sonic II 

John Calloway 

John Stone 

Joe Simmons 

Jared Cox 

2nd Place - Simmons Bank 

Blake Holzhauser 

Dennis Donovan 

Steve Smith 

Dove Doughty 

3rd Place - USAble 

Jim House 

Ray Griffin 

Jerry Mote 

Ethan Sheffield 

Second Flight 

1st Place- Bobby T’s Mattress & 

Furniture 

Bobby Thompson 

Tom Webb 

Larry Nokes 

Faye Macfarland 

2nd Place - Sonic I 

Greg Rowden 

Tim Harrell 

Steve Taylor 

Bobby Huff 

3rd Place - First Security Bank 

Patrick Stegall 

Phil Blansett 

Blake Hendrix 

Rob Eads 

Third Flight 

1st Place - Kroger 

Ronnie Thomas 

Weldon Cato 

Bobby Palmer 

Brad Thomas 

2nd Place - Dennis Organ 

Dennis Organ 

Tim Bruner 

Jesse Whitmire 

Mike Emerson 

3rd Place - Allstate/Superior Lawn 

Services 

Jim Featherson 

Robert Finley 

Pete Kaminsky 

Keith Brock 

Although we all had a “tee-rific” time, the children were the true winners!

FAMILY 

-- Maternity Services 

Pregnant! This 

word evokes different 

feelings depending on 

the situation. For most, 

there are tears of joy 

and happiness. A baby 

is a blessing for a 

married couple who is 

wanting their family to 

grow. Everyone is 

excited with 

anticipation for the new 

arrival as baby showers are being planned, nurseries are 

being decorated, names are being chosen, etc. 

For some, there are tears of guilt and despair. There 

may be feelings of guilt about being sexually active 

outside of a marriage relationship or feelings of despair, 

knowing that the life this child will have is not the life 

that would have been wanted or hoped for. 

For a young woman who is unmarried and 

experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, she has to ask 

herself these questions… 

What kind of life can I provide for a child? 

Am I ready to be responsible for a child? 

How am I going to be able to take care of a baby 

and finish school, pursue my career, etc.? 

Am I going to be able to be both “Mom” and 

“Dad” to a baby? 

Do I have the support that I will need from my 

family? 

Is the baby’s father going to be supportive, both 

emotionally and financially? 

What kind of stability can I provide for a child? 

Do I have the financial resources I need to raise 

a child? 

Am I comfortable getting assistance from the 

government? 

CHOOSING TO PARENT 

Parenting requires a lot of time and energy. 

Parenting is both challenging and rewarding. It is 

important if a young woman chooses to parent that she 

has family and/or friends who are supportive of her and 

will help her to be the best parent she can possibly be. 

By: Taryn Sheets, Director 

There are single parent 

support groups, 

Mothers of Pre- 

Schoolers (MOPS), as 

well as financial 

resources that will 

help her in her parenting efforts. 

She needs to be aware that there are people who 

believe that she should take “responsibility” for her 

actions and that she should parent her child, no matter 

what her circumstances are, or that the baby’s father 

should marry her, even if neither is ready to commit to a 

lifetime of marriage. She has to decide—take a step 

back and look at her situation. What is best for her and 

her baby? 

CHOOSING TO PLACE 

Not everyone who experiences an unplanned 

pregnancy is prepared to become a parent. She may still 

be living with her parents and is being parented herself. 

She may be in college and has hopes and dreams for her 

future and is actively working toward her goals. She 

may be well established in her career and doesn’t have 

the time or the energy to parent the way she would want 

her child to be parented. She may or may not have the 

emotional or financial support she will need to parent 

her child. 

Creating an adoption plan 

for a baby is one of the hardest 

and yet most unselfish and 

responsible decisions that a 

young woman can make as 

someone who is experiencing 

an unplanned pregnancy. It 

means that she is putting her 

baby’s needs for stability and 

well-being above her own 

needs. It means that she does 

love her child and wants what 

is best for him or her. 

Adoption is a very loving 

option! 

Whether someone decides 

to parent, or to place, Searcy 

Children’s Homes can help. 

Page 2 

www.searcychildrenshomes.org office@searcychildrenshomes.org

F oster 

amily 

eature 

Our journey into foster care began on a Sunday 

evening. An announcement was made at church about 

two newborn babies who had nowhere to go. My heart 

instantly reached out to these unknown children, then I 

looked at Glen and said, “we can do that.” He instantly 

agreed. That night I called Taryn and told her we wanted 

one of the babies we had heard about. She graciously 

thanked me for my willingness to help and then explained 

to me that we would first need to go through training! A 

few months later we received our first telephone call. 

Within an hour I was given a 

six-week-old baby girl to care 

for. She was dirty, 

malnourished, and had nothing 

to call her own. As I cried, 

Taryn hugged me and said, 

“thank you for being there for 

this baby.” That is what foster 

care is all about. Being there. 

Being there to hold, 

comfort, reassure. Being there 

to offer a clean diaper, a freshly 

made bottle that has been 

washed, a bath and some lotion 

before bed. In James 1:27 we 

are told that taking care of these 

children is pure religion. We 

had no idea what this verse was 

all about until we lived it. This 

is pure religion because it is 

completely about someone else. 

It has been a wonderful experience to see my two girls 

(ages 5 and 11) learn to give of themselves simply 

because it is the right thing to do. 

We have chosen to serve as an emergency and respite 

care foster family. We take the babies (we are only taking 

infants at this time) when they are first brought into care. 

We may have the child for one day, one week, or at the 

most a month. The need for foster care is enormous. 

Since we began in August, 2006 we have cared for eight 

babies. Unfortunately, we have had to say “no” to many 

others. 

One of the reasons we have such a need in Arkansas is 

because of a wonderful law called “Garrett’s Law.” This 

law mandates that babies who are born with illegal drugs 

Glen and Wanda became foster parents in 2006. 

This is their story (in Wanda’s own words)… 

Glen and Wanda and family 

in their systems or born to mothers with illegal drugs in 

their systems be taken into care. The only drawback to this 

law prior to this Spring was that the babies were 

automatically taken into state care and the option of private 

agency care or even adoption was not presented to the 

mother. I began to work with Representative David Evans 

and with his help we were able to get Garrett’s Law 

amended. Now it is mandatory that the mother be 

presented with the option of adoption and be given the 

right to choose private Christian care for her baby. If even 

one mother makes this choice, 

the effort will have been well 

spent. We are very grateful to 

Representative Evans and to 

Senator Critcher for helping us 

to pass this law. 

Being there for these 

innocent babies sometimes takes 

a little effort. Schedules are 

altered (sometimes thrown out 

the window!), a good night’s 

sleep is a fond memory, 

household chores are set aside— 

sounds a little like it was when 

our own girls were born! We 

believe that these precious babies 

need the same love and care any 

baby born into a Christian family 

would receive. The catch is that 

Christian families must step up 

and be there for children, who 

through no fault of there own, are born into a world much 

different than the one our children were born into. Making 

this choice has made a lasting difference in our lives. Each 

member of our family has been changed for the better. 

Being a foster family is amazingly wonderful!! 

We are so blessed to have Glen, Wanda, and their girls 

involved in this ministry. They have stayed up at night, 

caring for babies who are going through drug withdrawal. 

They are truly advocates, not only for the children who are 

placed in their care, but for children throughout the state 

who are born testing positive for drugs. Their love, care, 

and concern provide babies with hope! Thank you for 

being part of our FAMILY! 

Page 3 


SPECIAL THANKS... 

...to Stacy Schoen for 

designing our logo for 

our maternity services 

brochure. She did a 

tremendous job on this 

project! 

…to Wal-Mart Distribution Center and Searcy 

Wal-Mart for their donations of $1,000 for the 

Max Clark Memorial Golf Tournament. 

…to Lowe’s for cabinets and appliances, 

McCoy’s for building supplies, Ridout 

for flooring, Shields and Associates, 

Kevin Eads, Jeffrey Sheets for 

overseeing and providing the labor, 

James Plumbing, Seark Systems, Karl, 

Caleb, Josh, and Paul McLarty, Stephen 

O’Neal, Chris, Carter, and Kendall 

Lowe, Jess Keathley, and Maurice Moon 

for their involvement with our 

kitchenette project. We are so thankful for the willingness of 

these folks to work with us to improve the lives of children! 

...to Courtesy Consignments for 

their generosity. They have had two 

“yard” sales with proceeds 

benefiting Searcy Children’s 

Homes. Thanks for thinking of the 

children! 

…to Maurice Moon, Jeffrey Sheets, and Jason McGlawn for 

working in the hot sun spreading concrete for a circle drive 

and to extend the backyard patio at the group home. Special 

thanks also goes to White County PreCast for their donation 

of concrete to help with the project. The circle drive allows 

for safer entrance onto the busy street and the larger patio 

provides an area for the picnic tables and for the younger 

children to ride their Big Wheels! 

Page 4 


Sowing 

the Seed 

by Jeffrey Sheets 

2006 was a great year! It is such 

a blessing to see God work through 

His people, being willing to sow and 

plant seeds of hope in the lives of children. 

In 2 Cor 9:6-11 we are challenged with our sowing, 

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap 

sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap 

generously. Each man should give what he has decided 

in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, 

for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make 

all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, 

having all that you need, you will abound in every good 

work. As it is 

written: “He has 

scattered abroad 

his gifts to the 

poor; his 

righteousness 

endures forever.” 

Now he who 

supplies seed to 

the sower and 

bread for food 

will also supply 

and increase your 

store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your 

righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so 

that you can be generous on every occasion, and 

through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to 

God.” (NIV) 

It is more than just sowing the seed - it is also 

tending the garden. A garden requires constant 

maintenance in order to produce a good crop. It is a 

process of tilling, planting, watering, cultivating, and 

harvesting. When you partner with Searcy Children’s 

Homes, your gift makes a difference. 

Our goal for Searcy Children’s Homes this year in 

2007 is 100 at 100 - 100 churches, individuals, and or 

businesses committing to $100.00 per month. This 

allows us not only to just begin to reach our operational 

costs, but to be able to grow and expand our services, 

giving us the opportunity to serve more children and 

families. 

As Searcy Children’s Homes continues to grow, so 

does our need to add additional qualified professionals 

to our staff. Our foster care program has grown a great 

deal and we hope to have 24 foster families by the end of 

the year. As we also anticipate our adoption and 

maternity services programs growing, we are faced with 

the need to add another Social Worker/Case Manager as 

well as an Office Manager. 

As God continues to bless Searcy Children’s Homes 

with opportunities for growth, I would like to challenge 

you, if you are not already, to become a monthly 

contributor to this work and ministry. 

“Are you sowing the seeds of the kingdom, 

brother?” “Are you sowing the seeds of the kingdom, 

sister?” Words from a hymn of the same name, 

originally written by Palmer Hartsough in 1888, 

encourage us to be sowers for the kingdom. Let us be 

about planting and sowing seeds of hope in the lives of 

children. What can we count on you for this year? Will 

you be one or part of the 100? “You will be made rich 

in every way so that you can be generous on every 

occasion, and through us your generosity will result in 

thanksgiving to God.” May we all partner with God by 

partnering with Searcy Children’s Homes. And all 

glory, honor, and thanks be to Him. 

YOUR MONTHLY GIFT GIVES… 

…Duane and Missy a warm home in the winter 

and a cool home in the summer where they can sleep 

in clean, comfortable beds. 

…Freddie and Alesia a home that is safe. They 

don’t have to feel afraid of someone coming into 

their rooms at night. They know that the doors and 

windows are alarmed and there are motion detectors 

in their hallways. 

…Rachel a home where she will be well cared for 

and nurtured as her little newborn body withdraws 

from drugs. 

…Barbara and Shane a home that provides help. 

They have professionals with whom they can talk 

about past abusive experiences as they surface, to 

work through those feelings and begin to heal. 

…Damon the opportunity to get the services he 

needs to succeed in life. 

…each of the children we serve many 

opportunities they may not have had before, and a 

chance to succeed. 

Page 5 


MEMORIAL 

GIFTS 

February - April 2007 

Abbott, Robbie - Robbie V. Abbott 

Memorial Fund 

Nicholson, Warren and Kenda 

Anders, Andy 

Anders, Patricia 

Anderson, Leonard 

Cloverdale Church of Christ 

Andrews, Myrtle Lee 

Anonymous 

Mother of Robert Armstrong 

Gibson, Hugh and Barbara 

Barker, Therman 

Luce, Charles and Betty 

Brown, Edgar 

Bisbee, Joel and Sybil 

Boyd, James Paul and Cheryl 

Boykin, Patricia 

Goy, Joe, Jo and family 

Lankford, Jim and Betty 


Mahan, Jesse and Donnie 

Moss, Pat 

Murray, Fayetta 

Robins, Harvy and Amy 

Wedeking, Dortha 

Burford, James 


Burkett, Engle Lee 

Arnett, Boyce and Mary Ann 

Baggett, George and Jeannette 

Blanchett, Joel 



Brown, A.R. 

Gateley, Raymond and Mary Anne 

Gunter, Larry and Sheri 




Moss, Pat 


BOARD MEMBER FEATURE 

Dennis Organ became a member 

of the board in 1999 and has served 

as treasurer and currently serves as 

secretary. Residents of Searcy since 

1967, Dennis and his wife, Sherry, 

became involved with child care in 

1969 when they worked with James 

Balcom of Children’s Homes, Inc. as 

foster parents to a 10-year-old girl. In 

early 1970, they adopted their first 

son, Michael, through Christian 

Homes of Abilene and Children’s 

Homes, Inc., and while living in 

Lubbock in 1973 they adopted a 

second son, David. Their third son, 

Philip, was born in 1975 back in 

Searcy, where Dennis was teaching 

English at Harding University. He is 

former chairman of the English 

Department and now is dean of the 

College of Arts and Humanities. The 

Organs are members of the 

Downtown Church of Christ. 


Sears Bible Class 

Anonymous 


Clark, Max 

Cook, Louella 

Muirhead, Buddy and Alice 

Moss, Pat 

Cleveland, Marie 

Kelly, Raymond and LaDonna 


Cole, Rachel 

Sheets, Jeffrey , Taryn, Lydia, and Miriam 

Colglazier, Emma 

Sheets, Jeffrey , Taryn, Lydia, and Miriam 

Colson, Myrtle Ruth 


Moss, Pat 


Sheets, Jeffrey, Taryn, Lydia, and Miriam 

Curry, Joan 

Oliver, George and Joy 

Davis, Iva 

Cook, Louella 

Deaton, Edith 

Allen, Michael and Cheryl 

Ferguson, James 


Ferguson, Worley, Ruth, Freda and Pat 

Lytal, Glenna 

Fowler, Marilyn 


Gardner, Jasper 



Burkett, Ronnie and Laveta 




Moss, Pat 



Jack Wood Sears Bible Class 


Garner, Salley 

Rose, Scott and Kelley 

Rine, Dennis and Terri 

Goy, Anna 







Moss, Pat 




Grant, Q.C. 


Hartley, Wanda 

Holden, Derrel and Zella 

Heggie, Marlon 

Oswald, Christine 

Anonymous 

Hillman, Dixie 

Garner, Neal and Melba 


Holliman, Jim 

Holliman, Melinda 

Holloway, Carolyn 

White County Republican Women’s Club 

Huback, Joyce 



Elliott, Gary and Cheryl 




Moss, Pat 




Hulsey, Cody 



Elliott, Gary and Cheryl 




Miller, Donnie and Leah 

Moss, Pat 




Jones, Louis 

Page 6 


Martin, Bill and Myra 

Kamerman, Mrs. 

Anonymous 

King, Hardie 

Anonymous 

Martin, Bill and Myra 

Lang, Beverly 



Oswald, Christine 

Lemmons, Joe 

Boykin, Pat 


Goy, Joe, Jo and family 

Guffey, Ann 

Hindman, Virginia 

Muirhead, Buddy and Alice 

Management Information Systems staff at 

Harding University 

Perkins, Phillip and Joyce 

Shelton, Glenn and Louise 

Ulrey, Evan and Betty 

Anonymous 

Yingling, Lewis and Dot 

Lynn, Sherril 






Moss, Pat 





Martin, Jedidiah Rhea 

Jones, Joel and Claudine 

Kernodle, Jeff and Sara 

Masters, R.C. 






Moss, Pat 




Mays, Jewell 


Father of Eddie McAdams 

Cavitt, Jeff and Jane 


McChristian, Bertha 

McChristian, Mac and Evelyn 

Martin, Billie Jo 


Mother of David Martin 

Anonymous 

Miller, Kenneth 

Miller, Kathy 

Morgan, Dale 


Raney, Harry and Rhea 

Norman, Tammie Leann 

Clare, Darrell and Lavelle 

Oliver, Orvis 


Patterson, Connie Yingling 



Fowler, Clarence and Betty 





Moss, Pat 





Patterson, Durwood 

Anonymous 

Davis, Richard and Margaret 

Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. Bill 


Shelton, Glenn and Louise 

Spurlock, Herman 

Anonymous 

Weaver, Virginia 

Pierce, John Robert 


Putman, Stanley 

Price, Ronnie and Mildred 

Raney, Sarah 


Rogers, Bill 

Weaver, Virginia 

Rogers, Vernon 

Allee, Donald and Linda 



Elkins, Mr. and Mrs. Bob 

Schmuke, Lucille 


Sears, Jack Wood 





Gibbs, Michael and Eva 





Moss, Pat 


Organ, Dennis and Sherry 



Anonymous 


Scott, Peggy 







Moss, Pat 




Smith, Weldon 




Jenkins, Brenda 




Moss, Pat 




Smith, Willie C. “Bill” 


Grandmother of Dean Stanley 


Thomas, Roy 


Tucker, Louise 

Allee, Donald and Linda 

Guffey, Ann 

Anonymous 

Vest, Zee Lynn 

Clare, Darrell and Lavelle 

Watson, Ross and Halie 

Sheets, Jeffrey, Taryn, Lydia and Miriam 

Watts, Lee 


Webster, Larry 

Martin, Myra 

Moss, Pat 

Williams, Conley 

Anonymous 

Woodward, Viola 

Bridges, Larry and Pam 

Wray, B.J. 

Sheets, Jeffrey and Taryn 

Tipps, George and June 

Zeltner, John 



HONOR 

GIFTS 

February - April 2007 

ANNIVERSARY 

ANNIVERSARY 

ANNIVERSARY 

ANNIVERSARY 

ANNIVERSARY 

Sheets, Raymond and Carol 

Jeffrey, Taryn, Lydia and Miriam Sheets 

APPRECIATION APPRECIATION APPRECIATION APPRECIATION APPRECIATION AND AND AND AND AND 

HONOR HONOR HONOR HONOR HONOR 

Burkett, Ronnie and Laveta (for all you do 

for Brenda and me) 

Moss, Pat 

Charles, Donna 

Charles, Kenneth and Sherry 

Downtown Church of Christ 

Holliman, Melinda 

Dollahite, Sam 

Fullerton, Mr. and Mrs. Shane 

Hart, Dearl and Mona 

Hamilton, Jonathan and Christinna 

Hillis, Lanny and Rhonda 

Nielson, William and Dorothy 

Schraudt, George and Dorothy 

England, Jimmie 

BIRTHDAY 

BIRTHDAY 

BIRTHDAY 

BIRTHDAY 

BIRTHDAY 

Carr, Jim 

Bridges, Pam 

Miller, Kenneth (March 14) 

Miller, Kathy 

Sheets, Lydia (10 th birthday) 

Boyce, Chris, Teresa, and Sarah 

Sheets, Raymond and Carol 

Jeffrey, Taryn, Lydia and Miriam Sheets 

Page 7 


SEARCY CHILDREN’S HOMES, INC. 

509 North Main St., PO Box 1141, Searcy, AR 72145 

“Address Service Requested” 

Taryn Sheets, Director • Sarah Wade, Case Manager 

Pat Moss, Secretary • Jeffrey Sheets, Development 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mary Ann Arnett (treasurer), Trent 

Austin (vice president), Ron Baker (president), 

Dennis Organ (secretary), Terry Smith, Jeff Woods 

SAVE THE DATE… 

December 2 nd , 2007 is 

“Planting Seeds of Hope” 

Sunday and 

Open House. 

For more 

information, 

please contact 

Jeffrey Sheets at 

(501) 268-3243. 

If you wish to be removed from 

our mailing list, please phone 

501-268-3243 or email 

office@searcychildrenshomes.org 

or mail us at 

PO Box 1141, Searcy, AR 72145. 

On August 17, 2006 President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 

2006 (PPA 2006). This legislation includes a limited-time provision for 

qualified charitable contributions from Individual Retirement Accounts to 

Searcy Children’s Homes and other charities, sometimes referred to as 

“Charitable IRA Rollovers.” Between now and December 31, 2007, you 

have an unprecedented opportunity to help us. 

♦ Individuals aged 70 ½ and older may transfer any gift amount up to 

$100,000 in 2006 and again in 2007 directly from an IRA to Searcy 

Children’s Homes or other charities; 

♦ The charitable distribution counts toward Minimum Required 

Distribution requirements 

♦ Charitable distributions may be made in addition to any other 

charitable giving you may have planned 

Please note since funds deposited in IRA’s are tax-deferred, the distribution 

to charity can not generate an additional tax deduction. However, because 

the distribution from the IRA to charity avoids the taxation that would 

ordinarily occur, even taxpayers who don’t itemize their deductions can 

benefit from making such a gift. 

If you are interested in discssing your options under this unique 

provision,contact Jeffrey Sheets at Jeffrey@searcychildrenshomes.org or 

(501) 268-3243. 

New Law Encourages 

Large Gifts from IRAs 

Non-profit 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Permit # 25 

Searcy, AR 

As always, we recommend you seek the advice of your tax 

and/or legal counsel before deciding on a course of action. 

Page 8

Seeds of Hope - Searcy Children's Homes

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