President's Message : Good News, Concerns and Great News!
by Terrel J. DeVille, President and CEO
Upon returning from Annual Conference I have decided to not only update you on my report to the Annual Conference, but to also include information that I did not have time to elaborate on due to the time constraints placed on presentations due to the scope of the agenda that the Conference had to deal with. The Conference devoted half a day to mission work opportunities around the Greater New Orleans Area helping with the continuing recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina. Yes, there is still a great deal of work to be done and that was one of the primary reasons that Annual Conference was held in Kenner, enabling the entire Conference Leadership to participate. We also devoted the better part of a day to dealing with the Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2008 General Conference.
Of course we submit an annual report that summarizes our service statistics and financial status from the previous operational year. The report is printed in the Pre-Conference Reports and upon Conference approval becomes part of the official Annual Journal. This year we updated our Relationship Statement between the Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services and the Annual Conference, reflecting the updated organization, which includes the Campus of the Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans and the Christmas Offering necessary to continue the support of that program. Our relationship to the Annual Conference is critical to our ability in remaining a Faith Based Institution.
I very briefly reported that all three Campuses, the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston, The Home for Children in Mandeville, and the OWL Campus near Dubach are all at operational capacity and doing well. Our four Regional Family Plus Offices located in Shreveport, Monroe, Pineville and Baton Rouge continue to grow in services. I did not get the chance to announce that we just this month added a fifth Regional Office in Natchitoches, LA with the leadership of Rev. Don Avery and the membership of First UMC Natchitoches. They have made this possible with a 3 year pledge of support from an anonymous donor and the use of office space at the Church.
A concern that I shared with the Conference was disturbing comments which have been made stating that, "with the New Orleans Home now being part of Ruston Home that they no longer needed to direct their gifts there." Nothing could be further from the truth. First there is no separation of the Ruston Home and the Greater New Orleans Home. There is one "Home" with two locations. If you stop the support of one location then you weaken both locations. It is possible to damage both if this happens and there could be no worse time for this to occur. With economic times as they are, now is when we are even more overwhelmed with requests for help than ever. We cannot afford to lose any programs.
I did inform the Conference that we are proceeding with plans to start construction on the site between Sulphur and DeQuincy, LA. The campus, to be known as the Methodist Children's Home of Southwest Louisiana should be ready to receive Children into care no later than early 2011. I am happy to report that bids have been received and we are negotiating a contract for construction.
Two very Special Blessings to report on with each pertaining to the campuses in the Southern portion of our Conference are: Upon closing Oak Park UMC, this congregation along with the leadership of Rev. Shawn T. Hornsby and Rev. Steve Spurlock, Lake Charles District Superintendent; established the "Oak Park Memorial Endowment Fund" at the Louisiana United Methodist Foundation in the amount of $70,000. The interest income will support the ministry of care to be offered at the Methodist Children's Home of Southwest Louisiana once it begins operations. This is an open fund that one can add to. What a great witness! Oak Park Church will continue in ministry even after it ceases being an active church.
The second Great Blessing to be shared is with the Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans. The Central Pennsylvania Conference has pledged a tithe (10%) of the receipts from the Capital Campaign it is conducting. This Campaign is for the purpose of rebuilding their Children's Home Campus which is located in Mechanicsburg, Penn. The 10% pledged to us is for the purpose of locating and constructing a permanent site for our Campus in the Greater New Orleans Area. We are currently in rented space at South East LA Hospital. This is indeed a tremendous witness by the Central Pennsylvania Conference and is being lead by Bishop Jane A. Middleton to that Annual Conference's wish to help with the recovery effort still being addressed because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Our connectional system, for all the concerns we hear about it, is indeed a wonderful Blessing. As Rev. Dr. David L. Reed, Executive Director and his staff from the United Methodist Home for Children provide new and safer facilities for the Children of Central Pennsylvania we will be assisted in providing a Home at a safe site for some of Louisiana's Children.
We are indeed blessed by all who partner with us during these uncertain times making it possible for us to share this positive report when so much appears negative. One thing is certain: together we will care for each individual that asks for our help by extending God's Love to them as we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in carrying out our Ministry.
One final thought. As our Conference challenged us to "Re-Think Church", I shared with the Conference Members and I invite you to think of your Children and Family Ministries, when you "Think Church". Everything we do on a daily basis is bringing Church to the least in our world. God Bless All We Do.
In His Service,
Terrel DeVille
President/CEO
Past Messages