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President's Message
Greetings, After two and a half years of working to combine our Annual Conferences two Children, Youth and Family Agencies, a major piece of the task was accomplished when seven youth moved from Washington Avenue to the new site in Mandeville with a new name called Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans. The move took place on Monday, February 18, 2008. That following Saturday, February 23rd, approximately 250 people gathered in Mandeville at Benedicts Plantation to celebrate the accomplishment. The move is proving to be successful. The children have responded to the new setting. There were concerns at first about strange sounds difficult to explain, until one of the kids who grew up in the countryside before coming into our care was able to educate the others, staff included, as to what crickets and frogs sounded like. We are in the process of admitting new residents to the group and eventually we will have a total of 22 boys and girls in our care at the Home. We anticipate completing the transition to one Children's Home by this summer when the Therapeutic Foster Care Program is transferred into our one operation. As I write this article we are rapidly moving toward the acquisition of a tract of land located in Calcasieu Parish where we will locate a fourth campus to our operation. As previously announced we will construct and operate a twenty-four (24) bed facility to care for boys and girls in South West Louisiana. We expect to complete construction and begin operation of the new Home during 2010. Once this project is complete we will be operating at four Campuses. The main campus in Ruston named Louisiana Methodist Children's Home where the Orphanage was founded; The Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center (OWL) where outreach and community based programs are provided; The Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans located near Mandeville, LA; and the Methodist Home of South West Louisiana, located near Sulphur, LA. In addition, we presently have Regional offices in Baton Rouge, Pineville, Monroe, and Shreveport, LA, offering Family Services of varying type on an outreach community based manner. We project adding additional regional offices in the Greater New Orleans area, Lafayette, and possibly other sites within the next couple of years. Once this plan is accomplished we will be able to respond to families seeking our help throughout our State and Annual conference at a much greater level of effectiveness. We have and are becoming a much more comprehensive and complex organization in order to accomplish our ministry. Questions are being raised, can I support one of these projects or do I have to support all? Truth of the matter is when you support one you are supporting all. All are part of the whole and just as when you care for part of yourself you are caring for all of you. However you still have the option of singling out one part to sponsor. When you share yourself whether its time, talent, or spirit with us you may select which campus, even which program on that campus, you wish to help. Our staff is ready and willing to assist you in making that happen. We need you to direct your gifts to our main office which is P.O. Box 929; Ruston, LA 71273-0929 since all the business procedures for all operations are being handled there. The telephone number is (318) 255-5020. Without your partnership our Mission could not be accomplished. Together we are "Guiding Children and Families Home to Experience God's Love by Following the Teachings of Christ." Yours in Christ's Service,
Terrel DeVille
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