Greetings from OBHC Three guiding principles

A few weeks ago, I began serving as the president of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC). It has been a whirlwind of visiting our ministry locations and getting to know the wonderful men and women who serve so faithfully in our ministry.

Last year, 2022, proved to be a challenging year of transition, and I am so thankful for Michael Williams’ faithful service as interim president. During the year we were blessed to serve 153 children on our campuses and 37 mothers through Children’s Hope. Our Hope Pregnancy Centers served almost 3,000 clients, and One Such Child assisted churches in foster care ministry. The number that drives all of what we do is the 77 people who came to Christ and the numerous Gospel conversations beyond them.

Over the past weeks, I have shared with our Board of Trustees and staff three guiding principles that will characterize my leadership in the days ahead.

First, it will be Christ-honoring. In the way that we work together and walk together; in how we talk to each other and about each other. This spirit is more evident in what people see than in what we will say. I will strive to set the expectation by the way that I walk and talk. I pray the Lord will enable us to encourage one another in our work.

Second, it will be child-and-family-focused. The mission will drive the organization. Our mission is to demonstrate God’s love through empowering children and their families to follow Christ. The question I will consistently ask in all our decisions is “How does this further the mission?” Whether it is a child in the mother’s womb or a child that cannot be in their home, I will lead us to do what is best in serving them and their families.

In 1978, Lowell Milburn wrote the introduction to the book recounting the first 75 years of OBHC’s ministry. He quoted Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up,” and then he wrote, “Can you feel the heartbreak in those words? The experience was a reality for the Psalmist, and it is real to thousands of children and youth today. They have been forsaken, abused and neglected. I believe the Lord led Oklahoma Baptists to ‘take up’ these boys and girls.”

I share Dr. Milburn’s conviction that the Lord has led Oklahoma Baptists to “take up” these children. I pray the Lord will enable us to empower every child and family He brings our way.

Finally, OBHC will be church-connected. When the Baptist Churches of the Oklahoma Convention and the Indian Territory convention joined together to establish what was then named the Baptist Orphans’ Home in 1903, it was an act of compassion and a step of commitment from the churches. I am committed to continuing and building on this rich 120year legacy. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for any church to do the work we do, but we cannot do that work without the church.

I will not let us forget that we were established by the church for our mission. I will lead us to continue to engage the churches of our state in our kingdom work. I pray the Lord will enable us to engage every church that will come alongside in our mission.

James Swain President of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children

ACROSS

1 Island Paul was shipwrecked on

6 “Lo, the winter is past, the ___ is over and gone” (Song 2:11)

19 “The angel Gabriel was ___ from God” (Luke 1:26)

24 “The wise took ___ in their vessels with their lamps” (Matt. 25:4)

30 Eager to imitate

47 Alcoholic beverage

20 “Sir, come down ___ my child die” (John 4:49)

25 Competition at the Greek games

27 What the seraphim did in Isaiah

28 Tag

10 Yarmulkes

14 In con ict with

34 What Mary goes through giving birth to Jesus

48 “They all hold swords, being expert in ___” (Song 3:8)

40 Level o

42 What brides and bridegrooms do

43 Dale

44 Boston airport

45 Tower that looks toward Damascus (Song 7:4)

48 “Many ___ cannot quench love” (Song 8:7)

49 ___ mode

50 “Swear not, neither by heaven. . . neither by any other ___” (James 5:12)

51 “His ___ over me was love” (Song 2:4)

54 Hairstyle

55 “He planteth an ___, and the rain doth nourish it” (Isa. 44:14)

58 Ardor

59 “His ___ hand is under my head” (Song 2:6)

61 Cleft in rock where dove hides

63 “Open to me, my sister, my love, my ___” (Song 5:2)

64 Fencing sword

65 Colder thought ___ o ” (Ps. 139:2)

3 Theme of Song of Solomon

4 Second day of work week (abbr.)

5 What Song of Solomon is often viewed as

6 “Black as a ___” (Song 5:11)

7 Center of rotation

8 How Maiden feels when not with her love

9 “One thing is ___” (Luke 10:42)

10 Cuban leader

11 Palestine, e.g. 12 ___ pong

13 Fill

22 Yang’s partner

24 “The wise took ___ in their vessels with their lamps”

(Matt. 25:4)

25 Competition at the Greek games

27 What the seraphim did in Isaiah

28 Tag

___” (Song 4:8)

41 Loathe (var.)

43 Twisted

46 Illegal

47 Alcoholic beverage

48 “They all hold swords, being expert in ___” (Song 3:8)

50 Frequently

51 “To the ___ of spices” (Song 6:2)

52 Plant in the Bridegroom’s garden

53 Church part

54 “They had __ ___ small shes: and he blessed” (Mark 8:7) (2 wds.)

55 Vinegary

56 Butter used in soap and candles

57 Mister (Ger.)

60 Government agency

62 “He casteth forth his ___ like morsels” (Ps. 147:17)

21 The Bridegroom’s are like doves by rivers of waters (Song 5:12)

29 King Solomon’s was a palace

23 Senility

50 Frequently

15 Shaft

30 “I have ___ my honeycomb with my honey” (Song 5:1)

35 “___, King of the Jews!” (John 19:3)

51 “To the ___ of spices” (Song 6:2)

52 Plant in the Bridegroom’s garden

36 “The other holy o erings ___ they in pots” (2 Chron. 35:13)

66 “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard ___” (Luke 17:6)

67 “Until the day ___” (2 Peter 1:19)

29 King Solomon’s was a palace

30 “I have ___ my honeycomb with my honey” (Song 5:1)

25 Against (var.)

16 Opera solo

31 Bearing

53 Church part 54 “They had __ ___ small fishes: and he blessed” (Mark 8:7) (2 wds.)

38 “Horns of ivory and ___” (Ezek. 27:15)

68 “We will inclose her with boards of ___” (Song 8:9)

31 Bearing

32 Accepted practice

33 Bat GPS

32 Accepted practice

33 Bat GPS

17 “Thy ___ is like a round goblet” (Song 7:2)

18 What God views sin as

26 “Our rafters of ___” (Song 1:17)

55 Vinegary

56 Butter used in soap and candles

35 What an angel supposedly wears

37 “From the lions’ ___” (Song 4:8)

41 Loathe (var.)

43 Twisted

46 Illegal