Judy McLeod, Chair – Round Rock
Shayne Eddleman – Georgetown
Buddy Ferguson – Woodway
Edward Hanna – Round Rock
Hannah Herber – Waco
Gary McDowall – Hutto
Anita Moore – Georgetown
Tom Norris – McGregor
Todd Roberson – Georgetown
I absolutely love this opportunity to review the previous year and marvel at ALL God has done through the ministry of Texas Baptist Children’s Home by sharing highlights and successes with you. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Each year, hundreds call TBCH during a crisis or great need and see firsthand the faithfulness of God.
Across all our programs, we have witnessed remarkable courage as mothers, young adults, and children embrace vulnerability by beginning counseling, while others make significant progress by pursuing education, working, and building their savings.
One young adult in our Home Base program graduated with a degree in international business and another graduated and secured full-time employment as an intern with a company he is excited about.
In August, we opened our Welcome Home Drop-In Center to meet the needs of young people who needed support and direction. Three young adults who had dropped out of school in 6th or 8th grades, acquired their GEDs by working hard in the classes provided on our campus. All three plan to start classes at a community college in 2025.
Our Hope Counseling Center opened a third office in partnership with First Baptist Church, Round Rock, enabling us to offer no-cost, professional counseling to more residents in our community. We continue to have counseling offices on the TBCH campus and in Georgetown, Texas.
We saw significant educational successes, with three moms graduating from their education institutions, resulting in substantial increases to their incomes. One inspiring story is of a mom who, through our partnership with the Williamson County Family Recovery Court, graduated from the Family Recovery Court program and has successfully reunified with her child. She thrives, making remarkable progress in her employment, financial stability, and emotional well-being.
I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV), which says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The imagery of two working together and the strength of a threefold cord illustrate the concept of working collectively to make extraordinary changes and progress. This verse highlights the benefits of having partners who help sustain those who rely on our resources. We are thankful for the generosity of donors who make these life-changing services possible.
Many mothers who come to TBCH are broken and beaten down by difficult circumstances. This was the case when Merritt came into the Family Care Program. She hid her face behind a hooded jacket, only showing her eyes. Her responses were typically a shrug of the shoulders or one-word answers. Merritt slowly embraced the counseling that was provided during her time at TBCH. She knew she needed to be a better mom, so she worked hard for a couple of years to fight through tough hurts in her past. Merritt’s life was completely transformed through counseling. TBCH staff noticed that she was smiling and openly talking to people. She began to sign up for events offered through TBCH and as she gained more exposure to the truths of Jesus, she recognized the work that God was doing in her heart. At the Aftercare Christmas Store, one of the volunteers gifted each mom a necklace containing a special message. When Merritt opened her box, her message simply stated, “you are enough.” With tears in her eyes, she explained that getting that necklace was no accident, that this was God’s message to her, and it was received in His perfect timing.
When financial stability, healthy relationships, and a Christian foundation have not been modeled in a home, the children do not have the necessary role models to emulate good choices in their own adult lives. Kelly, one of our Family Care moms, spent much of her childhood being passed around from one family member to another due to her parents having problems with substance abuse. When she became a mom and began to struggle to support herself and her daughter, she had no life experience to draw from to help her move forward. Determined to change her story, Kelly embraced every opportunity at TBCH. Inspired by her financial literacy training, she began to save as much as possible to prepare for her future. She is planting seeds now with her own daughter, Amari. Every time Amari gets money, she excitedly runs to put it in her piggy bank. As a reward for her diligent saving, Kelly has plans to take Amari to a bank to open her own savings account. It is exciting to see moms like Kelly make changes that will impact their future, but it is even more rewarding to see that these changes will live on in the lives of their children.
Gloria and her two children have made incredible progress since coming to TBCH. When she arrived, she felt defeated and overwhelmed, which affected her job stability. As a nurse, she often had to take time off to address her son’s behavioral challenges at school. However, during her time at TBCH, the Family Life Coordinators have invested deeply in her, helping her see life from new perspectives. Her FLC began to see a breakthrough in her attitude as Gloria began to open up, have hope again, and find her confidence. Saving money and providing a stable environment for her children are things that once seemed impossible to her but, over time, became achievable goals. Today, Gloria not only knows but truly believes in God’s love for her and her children. She has paid off her credit card debt and has kept her son actively engaged in play therapy, continuing a supportive environment for him. She is excited about her family’s future.
50 , 594
178
bednights in which mothers, children, young adults, and guests called TBCH home
14
served in residence: 58 moms, 93 children, 27 young adults
mothers and young adults attended higher education: 3 graduated college, 5 graduated high school, 3 GEDs
10 , 712
77
hours of individual and family counseling provided, 82% of mothers attended counseling
decisions for Christ: 17 professions of faith, 5 baptisms, and 55 rededications
10 , 606
314
hours provided by 3,800 volunteers
334
visits to Welcome Home Drop-In Center in 5 months since opening
served in aftercare: 71 moms, 225 children, & 38 young adults
Unaudited Year Ending December 31, 2024
Unaudited Year Ending December 31, 2024
Other Revenues encompass in-kind contributions, including land and buildings provided at no cost by Texas Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Additionally, Children At Heart Ministries supplements administrative, accounting, human resources, information technology, fundraising, and communications services. These affiliate partnerships enable Texas Baptist Children’s Home to effectively manage general administrative and fundraising expenses, ensuring that donor contributions are maximized for the direct care of children and families in need.
Children At Heart Ministries
1301 N Mays St
Round Rock, TX 78664
512-255-3668
www.cahm.org
