THOMASVILLE, N.C. – Officials representing the Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) of North Carolina have announced that they are utilizing the services of an executive search firm to assist with the selection of the organization’s next leader.

David Powell, chair of the BCH’s transition and search committee, told supporters and friends of the ministry in an email Thursday morning, Dec. 20, that the search team is contracting with Vanderbloemen Search Group, a firm based in Houston, Texas, that specializes in finding executive leaders for churches, ministries, nonprofits and faith-based organizations.

“Vanderbloemen is a firm that has experience in assisting Christian organizations, of all sizes, with the expertise and resources needed to fill their executive leadership positions,” Powell wrote. “Because it has been 40 years since BCH’s previous leadership search, partnering with Vanderbloeman, which has helped other nonprofits including Young Life and Compassion International, will be essential in guiding our approach and process.”

The email message was also posted on BCH’s Facebook and Instagram accounts on social media.

Powell wrote that his committee interviewed several potential firms to assist with the search, and Vanderbloemen was selected due to the organization’s track record of working with Christian organizations, among other factors.

Powell noted that Vanderbloemen’s staff members “have seminary and theological experience” and have an understanding that BCH’s “future leader must not only possess the appropriate executive qualifications but must also be a strong spiritual leader.”

In addition, Powell wrote that Vanderbloemen’s team also understands the importance of input from current BCH staff, adding that staff members would have opportunities to provide feedback during the search process “through both surveys and interviews.”

Although terms of the contract were not disclosed, Powell’s email said the committee is contracting with Vanderbloemen “based only on the required needs.”

“We are able to contract with Vanderbloemen based only on the required needs,” Powell wrote. “This means BCH will not be locked into a longer-term business agreement that could require spending unnecessary funds. They afford us financial flexibility allowing us to be the best steward of BCH dollars.”

The email also provided insights into some of the services that Vanderbloemen will provide, which include developing a candidate profile that highlights “essential qualities and expertise necessary for the position” and creating a formal job description.

Powell’s email said the committee will release a job description and receive applications following some initial work with Vanderbloemen. No timetable was given for those steps in the process.

Powell, who serves as pastor of Lovedale Baptist Church in Sylva, asked N.C. Baptist to pray for the committee as it conducts its work.

“As a committee, we see God at work throughout this process as He continues to bring us together with the right relationships and resources in His perfect timing,” Powell wrote. “Please continue to pray for the committee, the step-by-step process and for the search itself. At the end of it all, this is about the children, families and adults Baptist Children’s Homes is privileged to serve – we want them to come to know the same God who is leading and guiding us into this new season.”

BCH is seeking a new leader for the first time since the early 1980s after longtime president and CEO Michael C. Blackwell retired in September as part of an agreement between Blackwell and the organization following an independent financial review that revealed multiple instances of misuse of BCH funds.

Prior to his retirement, Blackwell had been on a leave of absence since late May while the review took place.

Blackwell, 81, was the longest-tenured president in BCH history. He became BCH’s eighth president in July 1983 and served in the role for 40 years.

BCH Chief Operating Officer Keith Henry and Executive Vice President for Development Brenda Gray have shared presidential leadership responsibilities for the organization since Blackwell’s leave began in May and will continue in that capacity until a permanent leader is named.

The transition and search committee tasked with finding BCH’s new leader was announced in November.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – The complete text of the email to BCH to supporters and friends is included below.)

Hello Baptist Children’s Homes friends,

Thank you for your continued support as the Transition and Search Committee continues the process to identify the next President/CEO of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH). As we shared in our previous update, the committee covets your prayers. We know that God Himself is ultimately the head of our 138-year-old ministry, and we look to His wisdom and guidance with each step forward.

We are excited to share with you that the Transition and Search Committee secured the services of Vanderbloemen. Based out of Houston, TX, Vanderbloemen is a firm that has experience in assisting Christian organizations, of all sizes, with the expertise and resources needed to fill their executive leadership positions. Because it has been 40 years since BCH’s previous leadership search, partnering with Vanderbloeman, which has helped other nonprofits including Young Life and Compassion International, will be essential in guiding our approach and process.

The committee interviewed several potential firms and Vanderbloemen became the choice for several reasons:

• They specialize in working with nonprofits and mission-first organizations.
• Their staff, who have seminary and theological experience, understand that our future leader must not only possess the appropriate executive qualifications but must also be a strong spiritual leader. Vanderbloemen will be able to help the committee build an executive leader profile that identifies the essential qualities and expertise necessary to the position.
• The firm understands the importance of input from staff. The voices of BCH staff members are valued and there will be opportunities for them to be heard including through both surveys and interviews.
• We are able to contract with Vanderbloemen based only on the required needs. This means BCH will not be locked into a longer-term business agreement that could require spending unnecessary funds. They afford us financial flexibility allowing us to be the best steward of BCH dollars.

We are confident and filled with expectation as we begin to move forward with Vanderbloemen. Once we move past the initial phase with them, we will be prepared to release the official job description and receive applicants.

As a committee, we see God at work throughout this process as He continues to bring us together with the right relationships and resources in His perfect timing. Please continue to pray for the committee, the step-by-step process and for the search itself. At the end of it all, this is about the children, families and adults Baptist Children’s Homes is privileged to serve – we want them to come to know the same God who is leading and guiding us into this new season.

Blessings and Merry Christmas.
David Powell
Chair, Transition and Search Committee