I wholeheartedly concur with Rev. Moody that the very generous contingency fund should be used instead of making cuts at this time. As a retiree of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home having served under Dr. Jimmy McAdams and Dr. Ben Davis, I believe I know more than some about how much CMCH needs the support of Baptist churches right now.
In my years at CMCH, I saw just about every class and kind of child come through those “doors of opportunity,” not only in Greenwood, but the other campuses as well. I traveled to Florence and Orangeburg on occasion and saw the needs of children being met there also. Even though these children were often very different, they all had the same basic needs: someone to love them, protection, guidance, physical needs (often arriving with only a garbage bag with all their worldly belongings), and most of all, spiritual guidance.
Time and space limit my comments, but if you could see the extent of needs being met by such people as Dr. Davis and the office staff; Rev. Doug Kauffmann, pastor of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church; and the houseparents, housekeepers, groundskeepers, maintenance crew and workers at the farm, you would better understand my concern.
Let me point out that these children are not there due to any fault of their own. They very seldom even have both parents (often it is grandparents) helping. Also, every child who comes to CMCH gets not only protection and safety, but clothing, medical and dental attention, and if needed, psychological help. Certainly, if financial cuts are needed, they should come from an area not as vital as this (I would be glad to suggest some if asked!).
My point is simply this: If ever there was a time to increase giving to CMCH – certainly not to decrease it – the time is now!
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