Sunshine

Q & A WITH TIM BROWN
Sharing the vision:
An interview with
MCH President Tim Brown
In part two of this series, Tim Brown discusses how faith
plays a role in his career, the experiences that drive him, and
the challenges of being a husband, father and president of
Methodist Children’s Home.
During the first message you
gave as president at MCH
during a Sunday service on
the Waco campus, you mentioned
a quote by Marianne
Williamson from her book,
“Return to Love.” Part of
the quote reads, “We ask
ourselves, ‘Who am I to be
brilliant, gorgeous, talented,
fabulous? Actually, who
are you not to be? You are a
child of God.” Why did you
choose that quote?
Many of our kids are here purely
due to painful circumstances
in their lives. Bad things happen
– death, abuse, neglect,
school issues, divorce, anger,
illnesses – that lead children to
MCH. In many cases, it’s not
necessarily something they did
or something they could have
prevented, things just happen.
There’s a saying that we
tend to become what the most
important person in our life
thinks we’ll become. As caring
adults and staff members, if we
help children believe they have
worth and value and will do
great things in life, they typically
fulfill that vision and do
great things. I’ve had the blessing
many times to hear from
former residents years later,
who thanked me and other
staff members for believing
in them. It makes a difference
in the lives of our youth when
they know we support them
and believe in their potential.
Are there any past experiences
in this profession that
keep you motivated?
I’m convinced there is always
hope when I see the resilience
our children have in overcoming
the difficult or traumatic
circumstances that bring them
to MCH. There is always potential
for children to successfully
turn their lives around.
They can accomplish things
they never dreamed they could
do. I’m inspired to know that
MCH contributes to the success
of our youth. This keeps
me motivated to maintain our
good work and find even better
ways to serve children.
Can you share any specific
experiences?
I’m frequently reminded of my
experience with four sisters who
were here several years ago.
Horrendous family losses led
them to the Home. Their caregivers
all died – first their father,
then their mother, grandmother
Tim Brown speaks to members of the December graduating class
from the University of Texas University Charter School on the
Waco campus. Throughout his career, Brown has drawn strength
and encouragement from letters, phone calls and personal visits
he receives from former residents who provide updates on their
success since leaving the Home.
and aunt. They struggled with
relationships because everyone
they ever loved had died. One of
the girls even said she thought
they died because she loved
them.
Closeness, love and trust
were challenges for them. Even
though none of their family
attended college, they came to
MCH, stuck with our program
and did well in school. They’re
all doing great now – they attended
college, have good jobs,
and one is married with children.
They’re all healthy, confident
and successful people. The
girls remain in touch with each
other, and they have developed
their own extended families and
support systems.
There are those youth who
learn valuable lessons from living
at MCH, and there are those
youth who teach us important
lessons. There was another
young man who came to live at
the Home who was diagnosed
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Sunshine I I Winter 2011