Sunshine

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE
MCH achieves goal to serve 1,000 children
“Finding at-risk children
and youth who need to
discover the hope that is
offered through this ministry
has never been, nor will
it be, difficult to do.”
As a friend of Methodist Children’s Home, I am sure you heard in recent years about
this ministry’s goal to serve 1,000 at-risk children and youth each day. I am excited to
tell you that we achieved this goal in April.
Finding at-risk children and youth who need to discover the hope that is offered
through this ministry has never been, nor will it be, difficult to do. As I told our staff,
we can pick any spot on a Texas or New Mexico map and identify communities where atrisk
children need our services. Unfortunately, in those same locations, we can identify
government and faith-based agencies that are closing their doors or cutting services due
to a lack of funding.
As we consider opportunities to expand the scope of this ministry, we are diligent in
our research to identify locations where our program can flourish and impact the largest
number of children in the most cost effective way. We are blessed to have faithful
benefactors whose support enables our expansion plans to become a reality. This issue of
Sunshine features our annual Circle of Friends recognition. This list identifies individuals,
churches and foundations who helped the Home increase funding again this year. Methodist
Children’s Home would not be able to offer hope to at-risk children without this support,
along with the contributions of past supporters who designated gifts from their estate to
strengthen our permanent endowment.
The Home’s financial and physical resources enabled us to answer the call in April
when the state sought support for children from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado. We were able
to immediately hire additional staff to serve more than 40 of these children, purchase new
beds and mattresses, renovate a building to house the children, plan daily meals and
organize activities. While the situation at the YFZ Ranch has captured the nation’s attention,
caring for children in need is nothing new for this ministry. We serve children every day
who have experienced abuse, neglect, violence, the result of poor choices and hopelessness
prior to coming to Methodist Children’s Home.
Thank you for supporting this ministry. In busy times like these, when we are
accomplishing so much for children, I am reminded of how special the Home is and how
it truly offers hope through a nurturing, Christian community. I promise you that MCH
will continue to work tirelessly to fulfill its mission to children, regardless of the
circumstances that bring them to us. Thank you for empowering me to fulfill this promise.
For His Children,
Bobby Gilliam
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
Methodist Children’s Home served more than 40 children from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado from April 25 through June 3. The Home is grateful
for the staff members who maintained their commitment to the Home’s mission by helping to serve these children.