Turning Points_Spring2026.v2pages

STORIES OF LIVES YOU HAVE HELPED CHANGE

TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME POINTED TOWARDS PURPOSE | 4 GRACEWOOD ANSWERED PRAYERS | 6 MIRACLE FARM BOYS RANCH FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE | 8

SPRING 2026

VOL. 20 / NO. 1 SPRING 2026 PUBLISHED FOR FRIENDS OF :

1301 N Mays Street Round Rock, TX 78664 512-255-3668 www.cahm.org Children At Heart Ministries envisions hope and a promising future for all children and families.

LEADERSHIP TEAM Todd L. Roberson President/CEO Kirk Kriegel Executive Vice President Maynard Phillips Vice President for Mission Advancement Stephanie Ochoa Chief Financial Officer

©2026 Children At Heart Ministries

GRACEWOOD Vinicia “Vi” White President 1617 Elmview Dr. Houston, TX 77080 713-988-9757 www.gracewood.org

MIRACLE FARM BOYS RANCH Will Klotz President 10802 FM 2621 Brenham, TX 77833 979-836-0901 www.miraclefarm.org

TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME Debbie Rippstein Bond, MA President 1101 N Mays Street Round Rock, TX 78664 512-255-3682 www.tbch.org Cover photo by Emma Knowles Photography Stories written by Molly Perkins

2

CHILDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES Children At Heart Ministries supplements administrative, accounting, human resources, information technology services, fundraising, and communications services to our family of ministries at no cost. These affiliate arrangements allow our family of ministries to significantly control general administrative and fundraising costs, which maximizes donor gifts for direct care of children and families in need.

GRACEWOOD Helping children and their single mothers rise above.

Gracewood rescues and restores children and their single mothers by offering home, hope, and healing.

At Gracewood, we allow single mothers and their children who find themselves in crisis to hit the pause button and refocus their future toward safety, happiness, and independence. By guiding them in their pursuit of independence, they learn the basic tools they need to make long-term, quality-of-life improvements.

MIRACLE FARM BOYS RANCH Forging boys into men of character and purpose.

Rooted in Christian faith and western heritage, our oneof-a-kind ranch helps struggling young men experience healing, earn an education, and learn respect. Through our innovative horse program and on-site academic and vocational training, young men establish and achieve goals for a lifetime, and learn to believe in themselves as something more than society has painted them to be. It all happens in a safe, structured environment where they have the opportunity to turn their lives around and become responsible young men.

TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME Embrace. Empower. Equip.

Texas Baptist Children’s Home embraces children and families in need in order to empower and equip them for a promising future. Children and single mothers, and youth aging out of foster care or facing homelessness, who come to TBCH are often lost, hurting, and hopeless, without a place to turn for help during their time of greatest need. Our residential programs provide a safe home and a stable family environment where they can learn, grow, and ultimately experience a happy, healthy future.

TODD ROBERSON

PRESIDENT/CEO CHILDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES

Opportunity in the Difficulty

T

he last several months have been difficult for my family. In a span of two months, we experienced the deaths of four close family members. The closest to me was my father.

My dad, Charles Roberson, walked a very bumpy road during the final year of his life. His health declined steadily, and much of what most of us would consider personal dignity was gradually stripped away. Yet one thing that never changed was his gentle spirit. He remained kind. Grateful. Thoughtful. All the way to the end.

In the final moments of his earthly life, his last words to the hospice nurse standing beside him were simple: “Thank you.”

That was my dad.

As he turned his head and took his final breath, the difficult road he had traveled gave way to the smooth streets of gold of heaven. In an instant, he was whole. Restored. Complete with Jesus. While I grieve the loss deeply, and all that comes with it, I am also grateful, relieved, and joyful for him. We will see him again soon enough.

These losses came during the holiday season, the time we so often call “the most wonderful time of the year.” And yet, for many people, it is not wonderful at all. It can be a season marked by absence, by grief, by quiet reminders of what once was.

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven Of touching a hand, and finding it God’s Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial Of waking up in Glory, and finding it Home — Finally Home!

That is the hope we cling to as believers.

Years ago, when our family moved to Round Rock to join Children At Heart Ministries, our children were in high school. We were leaving the only church, community, and friendships they had ever known. It was hard. I remember telling them to pay attention to how it felt to be the outsider.

Why? Because soon enough, they would build new friendships. They would find their place. Life would begin to feel normal again. And when that happened, I wanted them to remember what it felt like to be new, to be uncertain, to feel displaced. Remembering cultivates empathy.

This recent season of loss has reminded me of that lesson again.

One day, life regains rhythm.

Responsibilities return. The acute pain softens. But remembering how it feels — what helped, what hurt, what comforted, what was needed — equips us to walk more compassionately with others.

This season reminded me that while some celebrate new births, anniversaries, new jobs, and milestones, others are walking through loss — loss of health, loss of employment, loss of relationships, loss of stability. The calendar does not always align with the condition of the heart.

Every day across Texas, at Gracewood in Houston, Miracle Farm Boys Ranch in Brenham, and Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock, our teams walk alongside children and families navigating profound loss. Some have lost stability. Some have lost trust. Some have lost safety. Many are working through complex developmental trauma that reshapes how they see themselves and the world. The work we do is sacred because it meets people in those tender spaces.

During this time, music spoke to me in a deeper way than usual. One song in particular, “Finally Home,” captured what we were feeling. The chorus says:

Your faithful support makes it possible for children and families to experience stability, healing, and hope. It allows compassionate professionals to step into hard stories Continued on back cover 3

TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME

Pointed Towards

Purpose

When Aaliyah first came to the Home Base Program at Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH), she was at a crossroads. She had been living on her aunt’s couch because things at home were difficult and unstable. Trying to juggle school and work without a permanent place to live made every day a struggle. When she learned about the Home Base Program and applied, it offered the stability she urgently needed. The program is designed to provide housing for young adults aging out of foster care or facing homelessness while they pursue education or begin a career.

A

aliyah remembers her transition into Home Base clearly. The structure of the program was new to her and at first it was difficult to adjust to all the rules.

“In order for the program to work there has to be a lot of rules,” she said. “It can be hard to adjust if you haven’t had that structure in the past.”

Staff members, especially Mary and Ms. Cheryl, helped her ease into daily routines and set personal goals. They met with her regularly and held her accountable. “They helped me figure out what it would take to make my goals happen,” she said of her desire to graduate college.

Education was another central part of her journey.

With TBCH’s support, she was accepted into the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where she was able to pursue her degree in a Christian environment that aligned with her values.

The impact TBCH had on Aaliyah’s life extended far beyond housing and guidance. Most importantly she found her faith during her time here. Ms. Cheryl and Mrs. Martinez were instrumental in helping her come to know Christ. Faith became a foundation that supported her through challenges and milestones.

A particularly challenging chapter of her life occurred during her time at Camp Mystic. Aaliyah was a student nurse at the camp last summer when the catastrophic flash flood struck on July 4. The disaster claimed the lives of campers and staff members and became part of one of the deadliest

4

At TBCH, Aaliyah built relationships that felt like family. “I was blessed to form so many special relationships with both staff and other young adults in the Home Base Program,” she said.

Those bonds helped shape her sense of community and belonging during a time when she needed connection and encouragement most.

flood events in the region’s recent history. For Aaliyah the emotional toll of that experience was heavy. She was surrounded by support from her Home Base “family.” Friends and staff from TBCH checked on her constantly, prayed with her, and helped her access therapy and counseling. She said their care made all the difference during that dark period.

Part of what prepared Aaliyah for her future was the opportunity to go on a mission trip during college. TBCH helped make that experience possible. She traveled to Greece where she worked in a refugee camp. The trip was humbling and transformative. “Nursing has become more than a career for me. It’s a way to live out my faith through service. My experiences on a medical mission in Greece and as a student nurse during the Camp Mystic flood taught me that nursing is about more than clinical skills. It’s about showing up in moments of pain, fear, and uncertainty, and choosing to lead with empathy, courage, and love,” she explained.

Her hard work paid off. Aaliyah recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Even as she celebrated that achievement, she continued to look for ways to grow and serve others. She has applied to attend a short-term Spanish school abroad so that she can enhance her language skills before working as a full-time nurse. While working in hospitals during nursing school, she noticed the need for nurses who can speak Spanish to better serve patients.

Ultimately, she hopes to serve as a clinic nurse in either the Austin or Dallas area.

Nursing has become more than a career for me. It’s a way to live out my faith through service.

When asked what she would tell other young adults living at TBCH, she offered encouragement grounded in her own experience. She urged them to stick with the program even when the rules seem hard. “The staff really cares about you, and they go above and beyond,” she said. She encouraged others to work with the program and trust that those who serve there truly have their best interest at heart.

Looking back on her journey from instability and uncertainty to graduation, faith, service, and future plans, Aaliyah reflected on how the Home Base Program helped her build a life of meaning and purpose. She is incredibly thankful to the faithful supporters of TBCH whose generous donations made her education and serving opportunities possible. With her education complete, her faith strengthened and her heart set on serving others, she is ready to take the next steps in her life with confidence.

Photos by Focal Point Photographics

5

GRACEWOOD

Answered Prayers Manda remembers the moment everything changed. She had married young and was raising two small children, Madison and John, when her marriage became marked by domestic violence. For a long time, she lived in fear, quietly wondering how she could leave safely and protect her children. Manda prayed for direction. She asked God to help her find contentment if she was meant to stay, but if not, she prayed for deliverance.

J

ust weeks after that prayer, Child Protective Services stepped in and removed the children, who were only four and two at the time. With her children safely out of the home, Manda left the same day, seeking refuge at a women’s shelter.

There, a counselor introduced her to Gracewood, a place dedicated to helping children and their single mothers in crisis find safety and rebuild their lives.

At the time, Manda faced overwhelming obstacles.

To regain custody of her children, she was required to complete counseling, attend parenting classes, and secure a stable living environment. Financially, she had little to rely on. Gracewood provided what she needed most: stability, a safe home, and the opportunity to rest and regain her footing.

Manda and her family received a vehicle. The gift transformed their daily lives, easing the burden of transportation and providing a new sense of independence. It was more than a practical solution. It was a reminder that others believed in her future and wanted to see her succeed.

Equally meaningful was the sense of community she discovered. Living alongside other mothers who faced similar struggles, Manda found encouragement, understanding, and friendship.

The relationships she built during that time became a lasting support system, and many of those women remain close friends today. Together, they

Life was far from easy in those early days. After nine long months, her children returned to her care, and Manda’s schedule became even more demanding.

Relying on the city bus for transportation, she woke each morning at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for the day, dropped her children at daycare, and arrived at work by 6:30 a.m. The routine required tremendous endurance and determination.

Then an unexpected blessing changed everything.

Through the generosity of Gracewood donors, Manda, John, and Madison with the car they received from donors.

6

shared their challenges, celebrated progress, and strengthened one another through difficult moments.

As her situation stabilized and her children were safely back in her care, Manda began to look toward the future with renewed hope. Gracewood provided the foundation she needed to pursue her education.

She enrolled in school and earned an associate degree, later continuing her studies to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education. During this time, she also learned essential life skills, including budgeting and financial planning, which equipped her to build long term stability.

Gracewood was a stepping stone to their destiny, a place where healing began and a future filled with safety, happiness, and independence became possible.

Family counseling played a vital role in the healing process for Manda and her children. After the trauma of domestic abuse and separation, they needed to rebuild trust and restore their sense of security. Counseling sessions gave them a safe space to express their feelings and understand one another’s experiences. Manda gained insight into what to expect as a survivor of domestic violence and learned how to guide her children through their own emotional recovery. The experience helped her reconnect with herself, recognize her strengths, and grow into a stronger, more confident mother and role model.

Her time at Gracewood also deepened her faith. She describes the opportunity as a clear answer to prayer, strengthening her relationship with Jesus and shaping her spiritual journey. Family Life Counselors became trusted mentors who encouraged her, shared scripture, and helped her develop self-esteem.

Their guidance helped her hold firmly to her faith and find hope during the most challenging seasons of her life.

Today, Manda’s life ref lects the transformation she worked so hard to achieve. After completing her education, she became an elementary special education teacher, dedicating her career to supporting children with unique learning needs. She secured her first apartment, a milestone that represented independence she had never experienced before. Applying the budgeting skills she learned, she later purchased a vehicle and, three years ago, achieved another dream by buying her own home.

Her children have also f lourished. Madison, now sixteen, attends an early college high school where she works toward an associate degree while completing her studies. She plays tennis and has started her own business making and repairing jewelry. John, now fourteen, attends a college preparatory school and is actively involved in both basketball and football. Manda hopes they will always remember the resilience they witnessed in their family’s journey and carry that strength with them when they face life’s challenges.

Gracewood was a stepping stone to their destiny, a place where healing began and a future filled with safety, happiness, and independence became possible.

Photos by Emma Knowles Photography

7

Alek arrived at Miracle Farm Boys Ranch as a reluctant teen who didn’t take kindly to authority. Raised in a single mother household, Alek watched his mother struggle with her own challenges after brain surgery left her on disability. At the same time, he was navigating severe ADHD, mounting anger, and the pull of the wrong crowd during his high school years.

MIRACLE FARM BOYS RANCH

Foundations for the Future

F

ights became common, authority felt suffocating, and despite his mother’s best efforts through counseling and mentoring, she feared he was slipping through the cracks. When a friend suggested Miracle Farm, Alek resisted. He did not want structure, rules, or accountability. Looking back, it was exactly what he needed.

Miracle Farm Boys Ranch exists to partner with families in bringing connection, healing, and restoration to young men. Rooted in Christian faith and western heritage, the ranch provides a safe, structured environment where boys can earn an education, learn respect, and begin to believe they are more than the labels society has placed on them. Alek spent three and a half years there, years that would lay the foundation for the man he would become.

The structure Alek once resented soon became a stabilizing force. Life at the Farm was predictable and demanding, and over time he learned to thrive within it. The inf luence of his houseparents was especially significant. He lived with three different sets of houseparents during his stay at the Farm and he connected deeply with each of them.

One house dad shared a testimony of turning his own troubled life around, which gave Alek hope that change was possible. One house mom was firm and uncompromising, but Alek now recognizes that her strictness provided boundaries he had never known. All of his houseparents modeled healthy marriages, commitment, and consistency.

For a young man who had rarely seen a present father figure, this example was powerful.

8

The structure Alek once resented soon became a stabilizing force.

Not every moment at Miracle Farm was easy or triumphant. About six months before graduation, Alek made a decision that nearly cost him everything.

Believing he could outsmart the system, he broke into the campus school to steal answer keys. He was caught and suspended. With nowhere to go and his mother unwilling to take him home, Alek experienced firsthand how unforgiving life could be without support or direction. In desperation, he begged Alex, the president of Miracle Farm at the time, for another chance. Grace met him there. Alek was allowed to return, and from that moment on, he committed himself to walking the straight and narrow.

After graduating, Alek enlisted in the Air Force, stepping directly into an environment that rewarded discipline and accountability. He thrived. He credits his military success to the preparation he received at Miracle Farm and the houseparents who helped shape his character. Following his time in the Air Force, Alek worked as a mechanic, a skill he learned during his service. Today, he balances ambition with family life. He is enrolled at St. Edwards University pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a minor in juvenile justice, with hopes of attending law school. He also works as a professional futures trader, a role that offers f lexibility and allows him to be present with his wife and daughter.

If Alek could speak to the boys currently living at Miracle Farm, his message would be simple. Slow down. Be quiet. Get out of your own head. Watch, learn, and trust the program. Miracle Farm Boys Ranch is exactly where God has placed each boy for His purpose, and it will help pave the way to a promising future.

Faith also took root during Alek’s years at the Farm.

He arrived with no belief in God, but through daily life and example, he began to know Jesus. His faith journey continues today, guided by a conviction that God speaks clearly and persistently. Alek listens for that direction and strives to live accordingly.

When Alek thinks about the future, his hopes center on his family. He wants to be a husband and father whose example sets the standard for his daughter.

He wants her to recognize character, listen for God’s call, and have the confidence to make wise choices, even when they go against the grain.

Photos by MWY Photo Services

9

Your generosity has the power to change lives! Whatever your stage in life, planned giving can benefit you and your loved ones while also helping generations to come.

Some planned gifts have an impact now, some after your lifetime. Many offer tax savings, and some even provide you with income for life.

Your charitable giving should accommodate your personal philanthropic interests and goals and your individual financial needs and abilities.

Let us help you design a plan that fits your desires. You can decide the legacy you leave!

10

-------------------- • --------------------

OUTRIGHT GIFTS: • Cash gifts • IRA Distributions • Gifts of appreciated securities or stocks • Gifts of real estate (land, buildings, home equity, etc.)

• Gifts of tangible personal property (jewelry, antiques, automobiles, etc.)

• QCD (Qualifies Charitable Distributions)

For more information or to meet with a gift planning professional, please contact:

Children At Heart Ministries Office of Mission Advancement 1301 N Mays Street Round Rock, TX 78664 512-246-4222

PLANNED OR DEFERRED GIFTS: • Charitable Gift Annuity • Annuity Trust, Unitrust, and Lead Trust • Life Estates (All of the above can provide life income or return funds directly to the donor or designee)

LIFE INSURANCE: • Donate paid-up policies

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS (DAF): • Specify a gift to any of the Children At Heart family of ministries through your DAF

BEQUESTS: • Specify a gift to any of the Children At Heart family of ministries in your will

www.cahm.org/financial-support

Many of the programs and services at Gracewood, Miracle Farm, and Texas Baptist Children’s Home have benefited from individuals who had the foresight to include the Children At Heart family of ministries in their estate plans. There are many ways to give, and choosing the right plan can have a major impact on you and your family. We are here to serve you and work with your professional advisor to help develop a strategy that is right for you. As a result, you and your family can experience the joy of leaving a legacy that will benefit generations to come.

11

1301 North Mays Street Round Rock, Texas 78664

Continued from page 3

with patience and skill. It creates environments where restoration can begin.

Seasons of difficulty are inevitable for all of us. But one truth remains steady: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22–23 I have leaned on that promise personally in these past months. And I see it lived out daily through this ministry — in cottages and homes, in counseling rooms, in offices across our campuses.

Even in seasons of loss, God’s faithfulness carries us. And because of your partnership, that same faithfulness is reaching children and families every single day.

Thank you for standing with us!

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit 609 Austin, TX