Kourri, 16, came to live at the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) about two years ago. Her family had recently lost everything they owned because of Hurricane Katrina. Kourri’s troubled family background only added to her struggles.
Kourri shared during the BCH report at the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) annual meeting Nov. 8 about how she became rebellious and angry toward the adults in her life.
That changed when she came to Broyhill Home in Clyde. Her houseparents and the BCH staff showed her God’s love and taught her about the gospel. On Nov. 20, 2009, during a youth group meeting, Kourri prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.
“My life has completely turned around. Day by day I’m becoming closer to God,” she said.
Kourri is just one of many children and teenagers who have experienced hope and healing through the ministry of BCH.
BCH president Michael Blackwell also gave an update on North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM). NCBAM, created in 2008, helps churches and associations learn new ways to minister to aging adults.
Michael Blackwell, the BCH president also gave an update on the North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry. |
Blackwell highlighted the “Rampin’ Up” initiative on April 28, 2012. One of the requests NCBAM receives most often is for help building wheelchair ramps. On April 28, North Carolina Baptists will partner together to build wheelchair ramps for senior adults across the state.
Church and community relations director Paul Mullen brought the North Carolina Baptist Hospital report. Ever since the hospital opened in 1923 with 88 beds, the goal has been to “care and to cure.”
The hospital now has more than 1,000 beds, two affiliate hospitals and is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation. In fiscal year 2010, the hospital served 728,213 patients.
This year the hospital opened a pediatric emergency department – the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in the state.
Clinical pastoral education continues to be an important ministry for the hospital as each year more than 40 students are trained in clinical pastoral care.
Mullen thanked North Carolina Baptists for their support of the Mother’s Day Offering, which helps patients in serious financial need pay their hospital bills. In 2010, North Carolina Baptists gave $650,410 to the Mother’s Day Offering.
Messengers also heard from Clay Warf about the N.C. Baptist Foundation. Warf, president of the Foundation since 1998, encouraged messengers to financially invest in Kingdom work and in BSC ministries such as BCH and N.C. Baptist Hospital.
One way North Carolina Baptists can do that is through an endowment. To help lead by example, the Foundation gave a $1,000 endowment to three churches – one from each area of the state – registered at the annual meeting.
The church endowment winner from the eastern area was Island Creek Baptist Church in Rose Hill and Billy Overby, director of development, made the presentation.
Charles Fox, central area manager for the Foundation, presented an endowment to Phaniels Baptist Church in Rockwell. Western area manager David Webb presented an endowment to Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby.