Since 1885, the heart of Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) has beat with a rhythm of hope that now extends throughout NC, SC and Guatemala. Today, BCH outreaches to people of all ages including abused and neglected children, many who are in the NC foster care system; single mothers, teen mothers, expectant mothers, birth mothers who have chosen adoption for their babies, intellectually/developmentally disabled adults, community families, college students, impoverished and abandoned children in Guatemala, and aging adults. By being on mission together with NC Baptists, we are able to minister to a variety of needs and share God’s love with those BCH is privileged to serve. We are many ministries beating with one heart — the heartbeat of Jesus. Learn more at bchfamily.org
OVERVIEW:
● Lives Impacted and Professions in 2023: BCH impacted 117,502 lives in 2023
● Professions in 2023: 316 professions of faith were made in 2023 and 844 professions in the past five years. 80% of those we serve come to us unchurched and unreached for Jesus.
● EVERY CHILD Foster & Adopt Numbers: The total number of foster homes licensed to date: 464 – an increase of 110 from last year. The total number of foster children served in BCH foster homes: 1,039.
● Associate Pastor’s Family Adopts Brothers, Baptizes His Foster Son – Annual Offering Focus: Through the prayers and Annual Offering support of NC Baptists, the story of this EVERY CHILD foster-to-adopt family was made possible. Week of Prayer: Nov. 3-11 Resources: bchoffering.org
● Birth Mothers Retreat Yields 17 Professions: Christian Adoption Services, a BCH ministry, offers the annual retreat to encourage mothers who have chosen adoption for their babies and share the good news of the Gospel.
● Ride to Clyde Celebrates Four Professions, Reaches $1 Million Mark: The ninth annual motorcycle ride, benefiting BCH and organized in partnership with NC Baptists, passed $1 million in funds raised. Bikers led four people to Christ as they shared the Gospel throughout the statewide ride.
● Three New Family Foster Homes Dedicated in Cleveland County: The dedication of River Hill Refuge sees nearly 600 friends and dignitaries attend the ceremony on April 27.
● NC Baptists Collect $500,000+ in Supplies for Food Roundup: Through the leadership of Associational Missionaries and churches, NC Baptists collected enough food, gift cards and supplies to feed BCH children for a year.
Annual Offering Focus Highlights Foster-to-Adopt Son Proclaiming Christ:
Tyler, age 17, and Liam, age two, were among the 10,000+ children in the NC
foster care system until NC Baptists stepped into their lives. The two brothers found
their forever family with Chris and Lindsay Ciufo (pronounced Chee-fo) and their four
biological children because churches faithfully support the Baptist Children’s Homes
(BCH) Annual Offering.
As members of Cowee Baptist Church in Franklin, where Chris is Associate
Pastor, the couple knew about BCH and its many ministries including foster care and
adoption. They also see the ministry first hand because boys and their cottage
parents living at BCH’s Drake Cottage in Franklin attend services and activities at
Cowee.
When Chris and Lindsay made the decision to add to their family, they turned
to BCH and its EVERY CHILD Foster & Adopt partnership with NC Baptists. BCH
team members trained and licensed the Ciufos, and other couples at their church, to
be foster families.
At the end of 2021, Chris and Lindsay began fostering Liam, a three-month-old
infant who, for his well-being, had been removed from his mother’s care by the NC
social services. Just one month later, Liam’s teenage brother, Tyler, was also placed
in the foster care system. Both brothers have the same biological mother but two
different fathers. Tyler came to live with the Welch family, a couple from Cowee
Baptist who had also been licensed by BCH. Through their mutual church community,
Tyler and Liam, who barely knew one another, were able to begin to form a bond.
As time passed, Tyler moved from the Welches to the Ciufos. The two families
worked together so the brothers could live with one another.
During a church service in 2023, Chris and Cowee Senior Pastor Jason Smith
were standing at the front of the room for the closing invitation. Suddenly, Tyler rose
from his seat and came to Chris telling him he wanted to follow Jesus. They kneeled
at the altar and, at that moment, Tyler accepted Christ. Immediately afterward,
Tyler, Chris and Jason entered the baptismal. An emotional Chris said these words as
he prepared to baptize his foster-to-adopt son: “It has been our
prayers since the moment we received him into our family that he
would be our son but our brother in Christ.”
Today, Chris and Lindsay have completed their family by
adopting Tyler and Liam. Their story is the focus of the
Annual Offering for Baptist Children’s Homes. Their video,
along with resources to help your church collect an offering, are available
at bchoffering.org. The Week of Prayer is November 3-11.