President's Message
A Year for the History Books
by Terrel J. DeVille, President and CEO
What a year of mixed blessings 2008 has been. It is certainly a year for the History Books as far as Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services is concerned.
The date of February 18, 2008 records the completion of the transition of the Methodist Home for Children of New Orleans from Washington Street in New Orleans to the Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans at 23515 Hwy 190, Mandeville, LA. The mixed blessing being that two separate ministries became one while it was no longer possible for the one to continue. In fact, in becoming one the wholeness that resulted will be an even greater Blessing for countless children and families that will benefit from the new history being created.
The entire year of 2008 was a time when the wilderness of the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center was transferred to a Natural Gas Production Field. With a drilling site every forty acres, the roadways and pipeline right-of-ways, that campus has undergone a major change. Indeed the revenue generated from the compensation for the right-of-ways, drilling sites and timber were indeed welcome during a year of such dire financial uncertainty. Yet the campus has been changed forever. The willingness of the drilling company to compromise on the location of the drilling pads and right-of-ways was a blessing allowing us to maintain programming integrity of the facilities. Of the 22 wells drilled, the Home has rights to a fraction of the production of 6 of those wells. The other 16 we realize no additional revenue benefits. Many of our friends believe that we are flushed in revenues. The truth is the royalty rights were sold in the late 40's and production was kept alive throughout the years resulting in no royalty benefits to us for most of the new drilling. Someday production will cease and the wilderness will be reclaimed.
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike did come through our State, ravaging resources and destroying much of the recovery from Katrina and Rita. Our donor base once again has been impacted and yet in spite of that and the other economic factors that have seemingly exploded on us these last several months, we are on track to almost match our annual donations required to remain at current level of services. We pray for God's Blessings on 2009 that we will be able to weather this Historical Storm and be able to respond to the children who need the safety and security of our care.
"God's Will Be Done," may all we do be in "His Honor" and we trust our partners in ministry will continue to help our Special Children.
In His Service,
Terrel DeVille
President/CEO
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