In the News
Passing of Dr. Bob Kenison
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Raymond R. (Bob) Kenison, who served as president of MBCH for many years until his retirement in 2014. I was priviliged to have worked with him the entire time he was with MBCH (1977-2014). Under his leadership, MBCH grew from one campus ... [more]
Happy Birthday, MBCH
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Happy birthday, MBCH. Birthdays are fun days. I should know as I have had 75 of them so far! Saturday, April 1, marks the 137th birthday of MBCH. I am sure the women who founded the Baptist Orphan's Home (as we were then called) would be amazed at what the Lord has ... [more]
President and Treasurer Russell Martin Announces Intention to Retire from MBCH in June 2024
By: Communications
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Board Prepares Transitional Timeline and Will Soon Search For Successor Monday, March 20, 2023 — Russell Martin has announced his intention to retire from the role of President and Treasurer of the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, effective mid-year 2024. Martin will provide continued leadership and support throughout a time of transition ... [more]
MBCH Hosts First Annual The Bleak Midwinter Endurance Ru
By: Special Events
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
5am, January 28, 2023 - Sac River Mountain Bike Trails - Springfield, MO Trail runners and volunteers began arriving well before dawn for Missouri Baptist Children’s Home’s first-ever The Bleak Midwinter endurance run. Inspired by a passionate family of MBCH supporters and bolstered by a new Springfield-area trail running club, this ... [more]
MBCH’s Coleman House renamed Martin Youth Center
By: Communications
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
At their first meeting of 2023, MBCH’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the Coleman House to the Martin Youth Center, named after current MBCH President Russell Martin. The board came to this decision as a way of honoring President Martin’s passion for this project. “If you ask Russell (Martin) ... [more]
Crossway BC Makes $5,000 Donation to MBCH & Challenges Sister MBC Churches
By: Communications
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Crossway BC Makes $5,000 Donation to MBCH & Challenges Sister MBC Churches MBCH recently received a wonderful gift of $5,000 from Crossway Baptist Church in Springfield Missouri, “…to be a leading voice for future generations of children.” “They're the leaders when it comes to care, and the prevention of ... [more]
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Wednesday, January 11, is set aside as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Human trafficking, according to Unitas, is the exploitation of another person for labor, domestic servitude, or commercial sexual activity by force, fraud, or coercion. It is also the act of enslaving or exploiting unwilling other people. This is not ... [more]
Sanctity of Life Sunday - Do Something!
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
As we enter a new year, it is fitting to begin with a focus and emphasis on the sanctity of life. President Ronald Reagan on January 13, 1984, issued a proclamation designating January 22 of that year as the first National Sanctity of Life Day. This was the 11th anniversary ... [more]
Get Involved--Protect the Life of Another
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
I want to share with you some alarming and concerning statistics. The latest report from the state of Missouri indicates that as of October 14, 2022, there were 13,689 children in foster care. The majority of them were placed in state custody because of neglect. And the vast majority of the ... [more]
Sexual Abuse Information Line Established
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
I am pleased to announce that MBCH has established a sexual abuse information line for survivors and family members to call for assistance and resources. The number is 314-785-9889. Kathy Woods, counseling center coordinator, will be fielding and responding to these calls. Our website also contains information on several resources ... [more]
Sanctity of Life
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
The overturn of Roe v. Wade announced on June 24 was something that I did not expect to see in my lifetime. Nowhere in the Constitution does it confer the right to abortion. The 1973 ruling was an overreach on the part of the Court and this latest ruling corrects ... [more]
Guidepost Solutions Report to the SBC re: Sexual Abuse Allegations
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
The report recently released by Guidepost Solutions addressing sexual abuse allegations within the Southern Baptist Convention is heartbreaking. It reveals an ongoing pattern of abuse, cover-ups, and misuse of power by those in whom people should have been able to trust. We grieve for the survivors and their families. The ... [more]
Uvalde Tragedy
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Our hearts ache over the tragic deaths of 19 children and two teachers who were killed senselessly earlier this week in Uvalde, TX. The anguish and loss being experienced by parents, siblings, grandparents, other relatives, and friends cannot be easily comprehended or understood. Please join me in praying for those who ... [more]
National Foster Care Month
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
May is National Foster Parent Month and we celebrate those who serve as foster parents. We especially want to recongize those "kin" providers who step forward and assist in fostering children with whom the child has a special relationship, Foster parents are a vital part of the continuum of care ... [more]
Be Part of the 10%
By: David Burch, Church Engagement Strategist
MBCH Children and Family Ministries
Are you aware that May is National Foster Care Month? Ever wonder, just how many churches it would take to solve the foster care crisis in the United States? According to the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), if just 10% of churches in every county in each state was actively engaged ... [more]
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Child Welfare Information Gateway website states that National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Through this collaboration, prevention services and supports help protect children and ... [more]
Happy Birthday, MBCH
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
April 1, 2022, marks the 136th birthday of Missouri Baptist Children's Home. It was on April 1, 1886, that the doors of the Baptist Orphans Home were first opened with five babies being placed that first day. A lot of changes have taken place in the past 136 years and, ... [more]
Consider Serving Together with MBCH Through our Open Table Project
By: David Burch, Church Engagement Strategist
MBCH Children and Family Ministries
Recently, Pastor George Fulgham, Spiritual Life Director/Church Engagement Catalyst with MBCH, wrote down his thoughts from his experience serving on an Open Table formed by a local church in the St. Louis area. This table has been serving a young family and I believe you will be inspired by Pastor ... [more]
Freedom from Addiction
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
I am concerned that the DOJ is considering providing "safe places" for people to inject drugs into their bodies. I would much prefer we spend our time, energy, and money on seeking the root causes of addiction and get people off drugs. This can be done and I want to ... [more]
Sanctity of Human Life
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation on January 13, 1984, designating January 22 of that year as the first national sanctity of human life day. This was eleven years after the Roe vs. Wade decision handed down by the Supreme Court legalizing abortion. Churches continue to recognize the third Sunday in ... [more]
Christmas Greetings
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, we at MBCH also celebrate our faithful friends who have joined hands with us in providing needed services to children, youth, and families all across our state. Your partnership has enabled us to make a lasting ... [more]
Christmas Reflections
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Christmas is right around the corner. For many people, it is just as Andy Williams used to sing, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Anticipation is building for many children as they contemplate what good things might be in the presents they will unwrap on Christmas day. I know ... [more]
National Adoption Month
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
November is National Adoption Month. The Missouri Children's Division is making plans for its 4th annual "Shine A Light for Adoption" candlelight vigil scheduled for November 14, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Activities may vary, but individuals, churches, and other groups are being encouraged to take a few minutes to pause ... [more]
Families Make A Difference
By: David Burch, Church Engagement Strategist
MBCH Children and Family Ministries
How important is family to you? If you are like most people, you would probably answer that family is extremely important. We find love, acceptance, support, a sense of belonging, and who we are, all through family and family connections. MBCH operates with a philosophy that Family Works for children. ... [more]
Foster Homes Needed
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Do you know that according to the latest statistics issued by the Department of Social Services of the state of Missouri, there were 14,165 children in foster care (May 2021)? Do you also know that over the past fifteen (15) years, MBCH has helped facilitate the addition of more than 1,100 ... [more]
National Foster Care Month
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
During the first quarter of 2021, the staff of MBCH Children and Family Ministries helped facilitate 50 permanencies (26 reunifications, 6 guardianships, 8 adoptions by relative/kin, and 10 adoptions by foster parents). We praise God for these permanencies and the positive impacts they will have on these 50 children. Permanency is ... [more]
Sanctity of Life
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Many of us will be celebrating Sanctity of Life Sunday on January 17, while some will be doing so on January 24. And while neither day has any special significance over the other, it is important that we take opportunity to pause, focus, and reflect on the value of every ... [more]
Birthday Offering
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
I celebrated another birthday on December 22 and it was my pleasure to make a birthday offering to MBCH in recognition of that event. By giving one dollar per year I am old (it "cost" me $73 this time) I was able to receive a birthday mug. For many, many years ... [more]
Good News
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
For many people, this has not been a good year for good news. We have been bombarded with all kinds of news that is not uplifting and can cause us to become discouraged and anxious. In fact, I must confess that I have limited my news watching as it was ... [more]
Campers on Missions
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
A great big shout-out to the Campers on Missions who spent a few days on the Lowe-Frillman Campus installing a metal roof on one of the houses. This group has also installed metal roofs on buildings on the Hutchens Campus in Mount Vernon and on a building on the Byrne ... [more]
Orphan Sunday/Stand Sunday
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Sunday, November 8, 2020, is recognized as Orphan Sunday and Stand Sunday, a day on which we call believers to reach orphans and vulnerable children and to engage the local church in caring for foster children and their families. MBCH has been providing services to children and families since 1886 and ... [more]
A Changed Life
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
With all that is going on in the world today--the pandemic, storms, the election and all the buzz surrounding it--it is good to be reminded that God is still on the throne and is still at work to change the lives of men, women, boys, and girls and to give ... [more]
Strategic Plan
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
In its most recent meeting, the board of trustees of Missouri Baptist Children's Home adopted a strategic plan for 2021-2025. As part of that process, we did a review of the mission statement and the values statement. While the mission statement remains the same: "Missouri Baptist Children's Home is committed ... [more]
Lasting Change
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
This has been a challenging year in so many different ways: the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on so much of our lives, the unrests dealing with racial reconciliation and social injustice, and, unfortunately, the expressions of violence and destruction on the part of some. There was a song some ... [more]
Special Prayer for Racial Healing and Reconciliation
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
In addition to our lives being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tragic death of George Floyd has brought a sharp focus to the racial inequities and divisions that exist in our land. Individuals are responding in various ways to this most regrettable and sad event. This pandemic of racial inequity ... [more]
A Different Summer
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
We are finishing up a school year that has been disrupted with children and parents having to make adjustments and adapt their lifestyles. No matter what your thinking might be on the rationale for the COVID-19 pandemic, our lives have been impacted. It appears this is going to continue into ... [more]
#GivingTuesdayNow
By: James Morrow
MBCH Foundation
Missouri Baptist Children's Home (MBCH) is being affected by the pandemic as are all nonprofits around our country. The affect to our mninistry is unique in two ways. First, this is a time of intense concern and stresses for all members of our society and during times of national crisis ... [more]
Unprecedented
By: David Burch, Church Engagement Strategist
MBCH Children and Family Ministries
It seems that we are hearing the term “unprecedented” frequently now. The Coronavirus Pandemic is described as unprecedented, as are various responses to it, whether those responses were successful or unsuccessful. Dictionary.com defines unprecedented simply as having no precedent; unparalleled. In other words, something unlike anything we have experienced before, ... [more]
Happy Birthday, MBCH
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
April 1, 2020, is the 134th birthday of Missouri Baptist Children's Home, as it was on Thursday, April 1, 1886, that the Baptist Orphans' Home was opened in a rented house in downtown St. Louis. Five infant orphans were placed the first day the Home was opened. In the first ... [more]
Alarming Drop in Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Calls
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
On March 25, 2020, the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) issued a press release, which stated that since March 11, 2020, DSS has experienced an approximate 50% drop in child abuse and neglect calls. While the number of calls going down might seem like good news at first glance, ... [more]
Assurance in our Life
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
We are now several days into various restrictions and MBCH's responses to those restrictions. Travel has been severely reduced and we are using the technology at our disposal for visits and meetings. Because of the seriousness of this situaiton and the stress it can place on the staff and the clients ... [more]
Text to Give
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Are you aware that you may now make a donation to Missouri Baptist Children's Home through the texting app on your smart-phone. Here are the instructions: 1. Send a text to the number 52014.2. Type "@mbch and at the prompt enter the dollar amount you want to give.3. You will receive ... [more]
Coronavirus Pandemic and MBCH Response
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is rapidly changing our world obviously affects the ministries of Missouri Baptist Children's Home. Like everyone else, we are continuing to monitor this pandemic very closely. We are adjusting policies and procedures which allow us to follow the guidelines and restrictions developed by the health ... [more]
Sanctity of Life Sunday
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Sunday, January 19, 2020, is designated as National Sanctity of Life Sunday. President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation on January 13, 1984, designating Sunday, January 22, 1984, as National Sanctity of Life Day. This was the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, in which women ... [more]
Reflections
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
As we close out 2019 and begin to think about the opportunities God has for us in 2020, I began to consider some of the accomplishments we have seen in our strategic plan over the past couple of years. There have been many, but those that have probably the most significance ... [more]
An Overview of Missouri Baptist Children's Home
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Are you aware that more than 90% of our ministries are provided in “community-based” programs rather than on a residential campus? I know that can be difficult to understand because it is so easy to think of “The Children’s Home” being our campus in Bridgeton – or Peculiar or Mount ... [more]
President's Report to the MBC Annual Meeting
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
The Psalmist wrote “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Children are a precious gift from our God; second only to His gift of His Son, Jesus. We are to cherish and nurture them. Not only those who are born, but those who ... [more]
Children in Foster Care
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
An article in the October 25, 2019, issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the number of children in the U. S. foster care system has dropped for the first time since 2012. The annual report from the Department of Health and Human Services counted 437,283 children in foster care ... [more]
Ministering to Children in Today’s Society
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Missouri Baptist Children’s Home has been serving children, youth and families since April 1, 1886. In those early days, only very young children were served. The history shows that during the first year of operation, 76 children were received into the home of whom 25 were adopted and 26 died. These ... [more]
Forgiveness Is the Beginning of Healing and Restoration
By: Communications
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
I recently attended a conference in Charleston, South Carolina, of development and public relations professionals from Southern Baptist child care agencies. One of the speakers at that conference was Rev. Anthony Thompson, pastor of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church of Charleston. That name may sound familiar to you. On June 17, ... [more]
MBCH Summer Camp Changes Lives
By: James Morrow, Vice President MBCH Foundation
MBCH Foundation
A month or so ago I encouraged you to pray and provide funds to send an MBCH kid to our summer camp. We have just returned to our “normal” lives from this annual camp and I have the privilege of sharing how lives were changed because of your donations and ... [more]
Change a Child's Life by Sending Them to Camp
By: James Morrow, Vice President MBCH Foundation
MBCH Foundation
Before moving into my current role at MBCH Foundation I worked as a Regional Representative for northeast Missouri and the St. Louis metro area. I loved being on the road every day and meeting with Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) supporters from all walks of life. During this time two ... [more]
Julie Ball Attains SRAS Certification
By: Russell Martin, President
The LIGHT House
I am very pleased to announce that Julie Ball, vice president of The LIGHT House, recently fulfilled all the requirements and earned the designation of Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist. We are very proud of Julie for her commitment to professional growth and for the attainment of this recognition. The knowledge ... [more]
How Well Do You Know Missouri Baptist Children's Home?
By: Communications
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
For more than 130 years, Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) has been “serving God by responding to the needs of children, youth and families.” Most Missouri Baptists would say that they are familiar with MBCH. Many would say that they support the Children’s Home and pray for the children and ... [more]
A Time to Celebrate Foster Families
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity for people all across the nation to focus attention on the year-round needs of American children and youth in foster care.On any given day there are more than 400,000 children in foster care nation-wide. If you were able to bring together ... [more]
A Foster Child's Wants in a Family
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
Each of our board meetings begins with a devotional thought usually brought by a board member or a staff member. In our most recent board meeting, board member Rev. David Stephenson, pastor of First Baptist Church Tipton, brought the devotion and concluded with the following list of things that were ... [more]
Lives Impacted and Changed
By: Russell Martin, President
The LIGHT House
The LIGHT House is truly making a difference in the lives of pregnant and parenting teens and young women and their children through our maternity home and our outreach programs. This would not be possible without the prayers and financial support of many individuals. I have been reviewing the data ... [more]
Stepping Toward Hard Places
By: David Burch, Church Engagement Strategist
MBCH Children and Family Ministries
How can we get engaged in this work? I am so blessed to hear this question over and over as I have conversations with Pastors, Directors of Missions, small groups, and individuals from churches around Missouri. As MBCH launches our new Church Engagement Initiative we believe that God is calling ... [more]
Sexual Abuse and Mandated Reporting, What is Your Responsibility
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
The Houston Chronicle recently printed part 1 of a 3 part series on sexual misconduct by Southern Baptist pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, and volunteers. It is a sobering and extremely concerning report that the very spiritual leaders one should be able to trust instead are perpetrators of abuse. It ... [more]
A Life Changed
By: Russell Martin, President
Missouri Baptist Children's Home
One of the staff at the Byrne Campus shared the following story:Today the Byrne Campus staff received news from the parent of a recent placement that shared that the youth was doing very well. He is staying in school, making A's and B's, and is needing the extra supports of ... [more]
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