CARING FOR ORPHANS
David G. Roebuck
When delegates to the fourteenth General Assembly gathered in October 1919, they heard General Overseer A.J. Tomlinson present a bold vision. The Assembly had been unable to meet the previous year because of the global influenza pandemic, which had taken the lives of more than 50 million people and left innumerable “flu orphans” in its wake. Near the conclusion of his address, Brother Tomlinson encouraged church members to respond to the needs of orphans. Recalling the recent request of a dying mother, the general overseer challenged delegates, saying, “The need of such an institution is staring us in the face...We ought to be able to care for our own, and...we should be able to reach out a hand of tender love and mercy, and take in others and train them for God and His beautiful church.”
Tomlinson’s theology of holiness and mission was central to his call for an orphanage. Godly compassion shaped his social emphasis—a heart full of God’s love responds to human needs. Originally an Indiana Quaker, in 1899 he had relocated to Culberson, North Carolina, where he established a school and orphanage. His strategy there was to reach the children of the mountains and through them take the gospel into their homes.
Tomlinson closed his appeal to the General Assembly with a well-known Irish folk song, “Two Little Orphans.” In the song, an orphaned brother and sister are abandoned on church steps and taken to heaven by angels. Tomlinson added his own closing stanza, which created an alternative future for orphans:
Tomlinson’s theology of holiness and mission was central to his call for an orphanage. Godly compassion shaped his social emphasis—a heart full of God’s love responds to human needs. Originally an Indiana Quaker, in 1899 he had relocated to Culberson, North Carolina, where he established a school and orphanage. His strategy there was to reach the children of the mountains and through them take the gospel into their homes.
Tomlinson closed his appeal to the General Assembly with a well-known Irish folk song, “Two Little Orphans.” In the song, an orphaned brother and sister are abandoned on church steps and taken to heaven by angels. Tomlinson added his own closing stanza, which created an alternative future for orphans:
The great Church of God, the body of |
THE FIRST ORPHAN
|
As Tomlinson described the need to care for orphans, weeping began to spread throughout the congregation. Spontaneously, a woman stood saying, “I will give $100,” and a man followed, “I know of a man who will give $1,000.” Contributions and pledges continued throughout the Assembly with delegates committing almost $6,000.
Decision-making and activity filled the following months. After considering several options, an orphanage committee arranged to use a six-room cottage across the street from the new Assembly Auditorium. Plans to use that house as a nursery during the 1920 Assembly hindered necessary remodeling, however. When doors opened on December 17, 1920, four children —Letha, Viva, Clifton, and Lillian— entered “Orphanage Number 1” under the care of Mother Lillian Kinsey.
Decision-making and activity filled the following months. After considering several options, an orphanage committee arranged to use a six-room cottage across the street from the new Assembly Auditorium. Plans to use that house as a nursery during the 1920 Assembly hindered necessary remodeling, however. When doors opened on December 17, 1920, four children —Letha, Viva, Clifton, and Lillian— entered “Orphanage Number 1” under the care of Mother Lillian Kinsey.
A Growing Ministry
The next twenty-nine years saw growth and expansion as the Church of God Orphanage sought to care “for the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). In less than a year, Orphanage Number 1 reached its capacity of fifteen children, and the orphanage began constructing or purchasing neighboring houses. In 1921, leaders constructed the “Cleveland Orphanage,” named to honor Cleveland businesses and citizens who provided funding, followed in 1922 by the “Kentucky Orphanage,” named in appreciation of the labor and funds from congregations in Kentucky. In 1923, the orphanage purchased a large house that became “The Children’s Home.”
As the Church of God Orphanage grew, additional staff joined the ministry. Among those, L. C. “Clint” Chambers, and his wife Hattie, had supported the orphanage financially since 1919, and joined the ministry about 1923 as house parents. Hattie made many of the children’s clothes, and Clint taught agricultural skills to the boys. An Orphanage Committee, usually comprised of three bishops gave oversight to the policies and progress of the homes. It was not until 1946 that the General Assembly established a formal Orphanage Board.
The orphanage name became “The Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home,” which recognized that some residents were there because of circumstances such as abandonment. Children attended local schools and worshiped at North Cleveland Church of God. The local congregation, as well as the general church family, attempted to create as comfortable a life as possible. It was common for the general overseer to meet a newcomer at the train station, and general church ministries included the children in activities such as annual July picnics.
The next twenty-nine years saw growth and expansion as the Church of God Orphanage sought to care “for the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). In less than a year, Orphanage Number 1 reached its capacity of fifteen children, and the orphanage began constructing or purchasing neighboring houses. In 1921, leaders constructed the “Cleveland Orphanage,” named to honor Cleveland businesses and citizens who provided funding, followed in 1922 by the “Kentucky Orphanage,” named in appreciation of the labor and funds from congregations in Kentucky. In 1923, the orphanage purchased a large house that became “The Children’s Home.”
As the Church of God Orphanage grew, additional staff joined the ministry. Among those, L. C. “Clint” Chambers, and his wife Hattie, had supported the orphanage financially since 1919, and joined the ministry about 1923 as house parents. Hattie made many of the children’s clothes, and Clint taught agricultural skills to the boys. An Orphanage Committee, usually comprised of three bishops gave oversight to the policies and progress of the homes. It was not until 1946 that the General Assembly established a formal Orphanage Board.
The orphanage name became “The Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home,” which recognized that some residents were there because of circumstances such as abandonment. Children attended local schools and worshiped at North Cleveland Church of God. The local congregation, as well as the general church family, attempted to create as comfortable a life as possible. It was common for the general overseer to meet a newcomer at the train station, and general church ministries included the children in activities such as annual July picnics.
Beginning with Tomlinson, the general overseer handled the official business of the orphanage, including admitting and discharging children. There were many more requests than could be granted so priority went to “full orphans” without either parent with consideration given next to “part orphans,” who still had one living parent. Many children stayed only until a family crisis could be resolved or arrangements made for placement with extended family.
When S. W. Latimer became general overseer in 1928, he promoted a plan to purchase a 119-acre farm with a large two-story house eight miles from Cleveland on Baugh Springs Road. The farm provided room for the boys while the girls occupied the houses in town. The orphanage enlarged the original two-story building and constructed an additional building in 1935. Clint and Hattie Chambers oversaw the farm until 1935 when Clifford J. Eller and his wife became managers. |
The farm provided meat, grains, and vegetables to feed growing boys and girls. A Pictorial Review in 1940 described a “bumper crop” and reported, The storerooms for canned goods such as beans, tomatoes, pickles and fruits have been filled to the brim. Besides the farm produce, the stock has been greatly increased. The herd of more than forty beautiful Jersey cattle and the nice hogs make a beautiful stock-farm picture. Last year, the farm raised the largest hog in its history, weighing about 800 pounds.
The original farm became too small to house the increasing number of boys and to feed all the hungry mouths, so the Orphanage Committee located 275 acres and built a new farm south of Cleveland near Lee Highway. Dedicated on September 2, 1941, the new farm cost about $5,000 and included dormitory-style housing for ninety-five boys, as well as buildings and equipment for crops and a small dairy. The $5,000 barn measured 36’ wide and 92’ long with an attached 16’ shed along the entire length.
Quickly the farm on Lee Highway became too small, so in January 1945, the orphanage purchased an additional farm six miles east of Cleveland in the Chatata Valley for $29,000. This farm was 363 acres and eventually had about 200 acres under cultivation. Together, the farms produced enough pork, poultry, and beef that they could sell beef to help support the orphanage.
With boys living on the farm, in 1938 the orphanage purchased a dormitory on Peoples Street from the Church of God Bible Training School, which had relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee. The two-story building provided a home for fifty-six girls. Then in 1947, the Orphanage Board constructed a new facility adjacent to the Church of God General Offices on Montgomery Avenue, which provided office space and housing for forty additional girls.
The expanding orphanage ministry required additional administration, and in 1943, F. R. Harrawood became the first fulltime superintendent. J. A. Muncy followed Harrawood as superintendent in 1945.
The Chattanooga News-Free Press reported on the Church of God Orphanage in July 1949. According to their article, the four locations were home to 208 children including 88 girls and 120 boys under the care of twenty staff—one of which was a music teacher. The article highlighted the fact that the children attended local public schools and fifteen were attending Lee College—most of them in the high school academy. The article featured the Lee Highway farm and noted that chores and responsibilities on the farm provided residents with numerous opportunities to develop their skills. Kitchen duty provided chores for many of the boys, and some were learning to cook. The article also informed readers that voluntary contributions were the primary support of the ministry.
The original farm became too small to house the increasing number of boys and to feed all the hungry mouths, so the Orphanage Committee located 275 acres and built a new farm south of Cleveland near Lee Highway. Dedicated on September 2, 1941, the new farm cost about $5,000 and included dormitory-style housing for ninety-five boys, as well as buildings and equipment for crops and a small dairy. The $5,000 barn measured 36’ wide and 92’ long with an attached 16’ shed along the entire length.
Quickly the farm on Lee Highway became too small, so in January 1945, the orphanage purchased an additional farm six miles east of Cleveland in the Chatata Valley for $29,000. This farm was 363 acres and eventually had about 200 acres under cultivation. Together, the farms produced enough pork, poultry, and beef that they could sell beef to help support the orphanage.
With boys living on the farm, in 1938 the orphanage purchased a dormitory on Peoples Street from the Church of God Bible Training School, which had relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee. The two-story building provided a home for fifty-six girls. Then in 1947, the Orphanage Board constructed a new facility adjacent to the Church of God General Offices on Montgomery Avenue, which provided office space and housing for forty additional girls.
The expanding orphanage ministry required additional administration, and in 1943, F. R. Harrawood became the first fulltime superintendent. J. A. Muncy followed Harrawood as superintendent in 1945.
The Chattanooga News-Free Press reported on the Church of God Orphanage in July 1949. According to their article, the four locations were home to 208 children including 88 girls and 120 boys under the care of twenty staff—one of which was a music teacher. The article highlighted the fact that the children attended local public schools and fifteen were attending Lee College—most of them in the high school academy. The article featured the Lee Highway farm and noted that chores and responsibilities on the farm provided residents with numerous opportunities to develop their skills. Kitchen duty provided chores for many of the boys, and some were learning to cook. The article also informed readers that voluntary contributions were the primary support of the ministry.
SEGREGATED ORPHANAGES
During the time “Jim Crow” laws restricted mixing of races, black members of the Church of God created an organizational structure known as the Church of God (Colored Work). They built a school and orphanage in Eustis, Florida, and dedicated its first building in 1934. The Church of God abolished the separate Church of God (Colored Work) in 1966, and that same year the first non-white resident came to live at the home in Sevierville.
|
Funding the Ministry
Not surprising, the Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home always needed a steady stream of resources to provide for expanding numbers of children. Beginning with Tomlinson’s 1919 call to establish the orphanage, the ministry has relied on the gifts and generosity of congregations and friends.
Local churches were encouraged to organize orphanage committees to keep the need before their members, and the Church of God Evangel provided reports of those who sent money, food, and other items. In the May 13, 1922, issue, Mary Jane Tomlinson wrote a lengthy letter of appreciation to congregations for their gifts. She reported:
Not surprising, the Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home always needed a steady stream of resources to provide for expanding numbers of children. Beginning with Tomlinson’s 1919 call to establish the orphanage, the ministry has relied on the gifts and generosity of congregations and friends.
Local churches were encouraged to organize orphanage committees to keep the need before their members, and the Church of God Evangel provided reports of those who sent money, food, and other items. In the May 13, 1922, issue, Mary Jane Tomlinson wrote a lengthy letter of appreciation to congregations for their gifts. She reported:
A nice ten-dollar donation from Shorts Creek, Va., came this week consisting of meat, sugar, syrup, butter, rice, flour, beans, jelly and canned goods, and a two dollar and five cent offering. A nice lot of green beans and a box of squash from Brother and Sister Sanders of Plant City, Fla. The nice little bonnets and a box of quilt scraps from the church at Oaks and Sister Bradford, Rome Ga., and such a nice box from Sister L. L. Swan, a nice package for Letha, the cripple girl, and some nice pieces of new goods, some hats, matches, starch, cakes, coconut, some dresses for the girls, and a few pieces for the boys.
|
THE TWINS ON THE
ORPHANAGE PLATE Tragedy stunned the home of Alex Young on August 30, 1941. Alex accidently drowned leaving his thirty-two-year-old widow, Hannah, alone with eight children: James, Frank, and three sets of twins—R. L. and J. T.; Phyllis and JoAnn; and Gene and Joan. Without her husband’s income, Hannah turned to the Church of God Orphanage to care for her children.
In February 1943, the orphanage announced the sale of a ten-inch dinner plate featuring the newly built boys’ home and the three sets of Young twins. To encourage sales, a contest ran until August and divided states into three groups based on Church of God Evangel subscriptions. Illinois raised $1,786, which was more than any other state. Florida, Illinois, and California were first-place winners; while Tennessee, Virginia, and Michigan placed second. |
In expressing her appreciation, Mrs. Tomlinson reminded readers that with the advent of canning season, the orphanage would happily receive fruit, which the children could can.
As was common at that time, the orphanage recruited solicitors to appeal to business and churches for support. Among those was Nannie Ruth Hagewood and Ella Hilsabeck, who traveled as a team visiting local churches, cottage prayer meetings, street services, and businesses. Hagewood was a credentialed evangelist and often preached while Hilsabeck led singing or testimonies. When visiting businesses, they solicited products, as well as cash contributions. In 1924, the general church asked each congregation to begin promoting the orphanage on Sunday, March 30, and to continue the promotion until a culminating rally on Easter, April 20. Easter was the preferred date of the special offering for many years, but eventually this changed to Mother’s Day. Over the decades, coupons, trading stamps, and soup labels became a major source of funding as supporters of the ministry cut, clipped, and sent them to the home by the thousands for volunteers to sort and organize. Redemption by businesses as diverse as Octagon Soap, Sperry & Hutchinson (S&H Green Stamps), and Campbell’s Soup Company provided products such as an organ, laundry equipment, ice machine, bus, station wagon, and vans, as well as cash for remodeling and construction. Means of support have changed over the decades, but countless individuals, congregations, and Church of God Women’s Ministries projects continue to provide resources for ministry to children in need. |
The Move to Sevierville
Even with the success of the Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home in Cleveland and the surrounding countryside, some aspects of the ministry were less than ideal. The four scattered locations complicated daily operations and separating siblings by gender deprived brothers and sisters of the strength and encouragement that comes from one’s own family. Superintendent William F. Dych, who served from 1948–1953, looked for an opportunity to combine all the operations into one location.
When the Church of God Bible Training School returned to Cleveland in 1947 as Lee College, its former 63-acre campus in Sevierville became available. Situated 90 miles north of Cleveland in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the campus was an ideal location, so the orphanage relocated to Sevierville in 1949.
A large stately administration building constructed in 1890 crowned the campus. Bible Training School had added a spacious five-story building that included an auditorium, kitchen, dining room, and classroom space, including music studios. The college dormitories provided rooms for housing, and property sloping down to the flood plain of the Little Pigeon River, which could be cultivated for the ministry to harvest their own food.
No doubt, children traumatized by the death of one or more parents chafed at the label “orphan,” and under Superintendent R. R. Walker, the ministry began using the name “Church of God Home for Children.” This became the legal name of the ministry on December 3, 1962.
Even with the success of the Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home in Cleveland and the surrounding countryside, some aspects of the ministry were less than ideal. The four scattered locations complicated daily operations and separating siblings by gender deprived brothers and sisters of the strength and encouragement that comes from one’s own family. Superintendent William F. Dych, who served from 1948–1953, looked for an opportunity to combine all the operations into one location.
When the Church of God Bible Training School returned to Cleveland in 1947 as Lee College, its former 63-acre campus in Sevierville became available. Situated 90 miles north of Cleveland in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the campus was an ideal location, so the orphanage relocated to Sevierville in 1949.
A large stately administration building constructed in 1890 crowned the campus. Bible Training School had added a spacious five-story building that included an auditorium, kitchen, dining room, and classroom space, including music studios. The college dormitories provided rooms for housing, and property sloping down to the flood plain of the Little Pigeon River, which could be cultivated for the ministry to harvest their own food.
No doubt, children traumatized by the death of one or more parents chafed at the label “orphan,” and under Superintendent R. R. Walker, the ministry began using the name “Church of God Home for Children.” This became the legal name of the ministry on December 3, 1962.
Developing Children and Youth
The physical, social, and spiritual wellbeing of children and youth have always been the focus of this ministry, and the Sevierville campus was an ideal location for improvement. Under the leadership of Cecil Bridges, the home increased opportunities for physical activity with the addition of an indoor swimming pool and a regulation-size gymnasium. Later, Superintendent B. A. Brown hired J. D. and Vicki Simmons to develop a youth activities program. From the home’s establishment in 1920, regular chores provided opportunities for social development and a sense of responsibility for the livelihood of the community. With some exceptions, these were typically gender specific, with boys taught agricultural skills and girls taught quilting, sewing, and laundry. With increased responsibilities, older children could earn money for completing some tasks; and the home provided allowances, as well as an on-campus store. Several superintendents had served as pastors and were very attentive to the spiritual needs of the residents. Church attendance was mandatory, and in 1965, the home constructed the Parkway Church of God on its campus. Although open to the Sevierville community, the Parkway Church provided greater opportunities for residents and staff to be involved in a local congregation. When the Church of God Orphanage and Children’s Home first settled in Sevierville, the town did not have enough schools for the large influx of students. The former Bible Training School classrooms allowed the orphanage to seek approval from the state of Tennessee to establish a school on campus. In the arrangement, the State of Tennessee paid $1 per year for use of the orphanage facilities and provided teachers for each class. Beginning with high school students in 1963, the residents began to merge into the public school system. When P. H. McCarn became superintendent in 1964, he initiated the elimination of dormitories in favor of family style cottages designed for twelve children and a couple serving as house parents. With the dedication of the first two cottages on March 3, 1966, the home effectively returned to the original living arrangements of the 1920s. |
A SON OF THE ORPHANAGE:
BENNIE S. TRIPLETT At age eleven, Bennie Triplett (right) was the youngest member of a boy’s trio representing the orphanage at churches, conventions, and camp meetings, as well as singing on radio programs and in street services.
Perhaps Bennie Stevens Triplett was the best-known resident of the Church of God Orphanage. Abandoned by his father before birth, at his dedication, the pastor prayed that God would bless Bennie’s life and future, that he would be an example of one who knew God and God’s Word, and that he would serve God all his days. Bennie wrote in his autobiography, “The congregation agreed to pray and work toward that accomplishment.” Tragically, his mother, Sarah, died; and five days after his tenth birthday Grandpa Freeman relinquished Bennie to the orphanage. Living on the Baugh Springs and Lee Highway farms taught Bennie the value of hard work and discipline. He carried water, shucked corn, milked cows, canned fruits and vegetables, and drove tractors. Orphanage staff and visitors were vital to his development. He remembered George Douglas’ shape-note singing school, Otis McCoy’s voice lessons, C. J. Eller’s emphasis on a good attendance record, James Muncy’s attention to care for one’s body, Brother Waters’ driving lessons, Robilee Ledford’s trust with leadership opportunities, and Avis Swiger’s assistance with singing at the General Assembly. Music was already part of Bennie’s life when he arrived at the orphanage. Grandpa Freeman had bought him a second-hand guitar; and at the age of eleven, Bennie was the youngest member of a boy’s trio representing the orphanage. By 1945, he was writing his own songs. The Church of God cared and prayed for the young Bennie Triplett, and he served with distinction as musician, evangelist, music minister, pastor, radio minister, state overseer, and statesman. |
An Expanding Mission
In Sevierville, the mission of the home began to expand in new directions. The addition of Eugene Christenbury as assistant superintendent allowed for the development of a department of social services and the pursuit of licensure as a child placement agency. An important component to this advancement was hiring Paul Duncan, who had a Master of Science in Social Work. Additionally, Tennessee state law required adding women to the board that had been only male ministers. Sylvia Norman Britt and Lucille Walker became the first women to serve. With these changes, the Tennessee Department of Health and Human Services began placing children at the home, provided funding, and required state regulatory standards. These developments enabled the home to offer services to children from “broken homes and disruptive circumstances” and to serve entire families. In time, the home expanded its services to provide foster care placement and adoption in some cases.
The twenty-first century brought additional changes. Paul Duncan became director, and the home was renamed Smoky Mountain Children’s Home (SMCH) in 2000. Then in 2003, SMCH began a Foster Care program with an emphasis on training for foster care families. A large number of foster homes in Scott County, Tennessee, prompted director Mike Walker to open an extension office in Oneida.
Growth in the foster care program along with changes in childcare laws shifted the focus of residential care to children and youth who were not ready for foster care. To better prepare students for the public school system, SMCH developed the Alpha Educational Learning Center in 2008, with Coleman Peacock as its first director. Participation in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services program necessitated national accreditation, which the home acquired with the Council on Accreditation in 2009.
Following the tenures of Larry Pemberton, John Sweet, and Daniel Boling, the SMCH welcomed Walt Mauldin as director and his wife, Tammie, as assistant director for public relations in 2014. The Mauldins began to strengthen the home’s base of support, as well as renew the physical campus. They utilized Church of God meetings and conferences to share the extraordinary ministry, and Tammie worked along with Coleman Peacock to strengthen relationships within the surrounding region. Their work bore fruit as businesses and organizations increased their contributions to the ministry.
In Sevierville, the mission of the home began to expand in new directions. The addition of Eugene Christenbury as assistant superintendent allowed for the development of a department of social services and the pursuit of licensure as a child placement agency. An important component to this advancement was hiring Paul Duncan, who had a Master of Science in Social Work. Additionally, Tennessee state law required adding women to the board that had been only male ministers. Sylvia Norman Britt and Lucille Walker became the first women to serve. With these changes, the Tennessee Department of Health and Human Services began placing children at the home, provided funding, and required state regulatory standards. These developments enabled the home to offer services to children from “broken homes and disruptive circumstances” and to serve entire families. In time, the home expanded its services to provide foster care placement and adoption in some cases.
The twenty-first century brought additional changes. Paul Duncan became director, and the home was renamed Smoky Mountain Children’s Home (SMCH) in 2000. Then in 2003, SMCH began a Foster Care program with an emphasis on training for foster care families. A large number of foster homes in Scott County, Tennessee, prompted director Mike Walker to open an extension office in Oneida.
Growth in the foster care program along with changes in childcare laws shifted the focus of residential care to children and youth who were not ready for foster care. To better prepare students for the public school system, SMCH developed the Alpha Educational Learning Center in 2008, with Coleman Peacock as its first director. Participation in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services program necessitated national accreditation, which the home acquired with the Council on Accreditation in 2009.
Following the tenures of Larry Pemberton, John Sweet, and Daniel Boling, the SMCH welcomed Walt Mauldin as director and his wife, Tammie, as assistant director for public relations in 2014. The Mauldins began to strengthen the home’s base of support, as well as renew the physical campus. They utilized Church of God meetings and conferences to share the extraordinary ministry, and Tammie worked along with Coleman Peacock to strengthen relationships within the surrounding region. Their work bore fruit as businesses and organizations increased their contributions to the ministry.
OTHER USA
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES Church of God Children’s Home of North Carolina—Located in Concord, the Children’s Home began in 1944 when two small girls were brought to the home of Reverend A. V. Childers, pastor of Elm
Street Church in Kannapolis. Childers won favor with local businessman Charles A. Cannon, who donated seven acres of land and a farmhouse for an orphanage. Elm Street members then received a special offering to finance the orphanage. Their first Christmas is pictured here. |
South Carolina Church of God Home for Children—This ministry opened in Gaffney on January 13, 1956, with four children. J. B. Camp served as the first Superintendent. Now located in Mauldin, its primary support comes from Church of God congregations throughout South Carolina.
New River Ranch—This children’s home located in Fayetteville, West Virginia, opened in 1988 when Joe and Sandi Lewis donated 266 acres of farmland previously used as a “show” horse ranch. The ranch provides residential and group home care and behavioral health services to homeless and at-risk youth, ages ten to eighteen. Heart of Florida Youth Ranch—This residential horse ranch for dependent, neglected, abused, and troubled youth began in November 1990 in Citra. It also serves as an outpatient community and mental health facility for boys and girls from infancy through seventeen years of age. —With Louis F. Morgan |
A Centennial Celebration
As the SMCH entered its centennial year in 2020, there was much to celebrate. The year began in Cleveland with commemoration festivities at the Church of God International Offices.
On the 100th anniversary of ministry on December 17, a “Virtual Centennial Celebration” remembered the past and looked toward the next hundred years. General Overseer Timothy M. Hill was the keynote speaker, Steve Allen and the Westmore Church of God Singers from Cleveland ministered in music, and First Assistant General Overseer Raymond F. Culpepper led an international audience in an offering of support for the home’s future ministry.
As the SMCH entered its centennial year in 2020, there was much to celebrate. The year began in Cleveland with commemoration festivities at the Church of God International Offices.
On the 100th anniversary of ministry on December 17, a “Virtual Centennial Celebration” remembered the past and looked toward the next hundred years. General Overseer Timothy M. Hill was the keynote speaker, Steve Allen and the Westmore Church of God Singers from Cleveland ministered in music, and First Assistant General Overseer Raymond F. Culpepper led an international audience in an offering of support for the home’s future ministry.
EL CUIDADO DE LOS HUÉRFANOS
La Asamblea General del 1919 adoptó el desafío del supervisor general, A.J. Tomlinson, en cuanto al cuidado de los huérfanos, dándole paso a la Fundación del Orfanato de la Iglesia de Dios el 17 de diciembre de 1920. Madre Lillian Kinsey estuvo a cargo de cuatro huérfanos. Durante los próximos veintinueve años estuvimos cuidando a los huérfanos en hogares, dormitorios y granjas en los alrededores de la ciudad de Cleveland, Tennessee. La mayoría de la comida provenía de las fincas y las iglesias y los comerciantes donaban dinero y muebles. En el 1949 el orfanato fue mudado al antiguo edificio de la Escuela de Adiestramiento Bíblico en el pueblo de Sevierville, Tennessee.
El recinto de Sevierville siempre ha estado enfocado en el bienestar físico, social y espiritual de niños y jóvenes. En el 1962 el orfanato fue rebautizado como el Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios y en el 2000 como el Hogar de Niños de las Montañas Humeantes (Smoky Mountain Children’s Home). El ministerio desarrolló un programa extenso de hogares de paso. En el 2009 fue acreditado como centro de cuidado para los menores que no están listos para el sistema de crianza.
Otros ministerios de cuidado de menores en los Estados Unidos son el Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios en Carolina del Norte, Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios en Carolina del Sur, Rancho Río Nuevo y Rancho de Jóvenes Corazón de la Florida.
El recinto de Sevierville siempre ha estado enfocado en el bienestar físico, social y espiritual de niños y jóvenes. En el 1962 el orfanato fue rebautizado como el Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios y en el 2000 como el Hogar de Niños de las Montañas Humeantes (Smoky Mountain Children’s Home). El ministerio desarrolló un programa extenso de hogares de paso. En el 2009 fue acreditado como centro de cuidado para los menores que no están listos para el sistema de crianza.
Otros ministerios de cuidado de menores en los Estados Unidos son el Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios en Carolina del Norte, Hogar de Niños de la Iglesia de Dios en Carolina del Sur, Rancho Río Nuevo y Rancho de Jóvenes Corazón de la Florida.
|
David G. Roebuck, Ph.D., is director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center and Church of God historian.