A lively display of football-field-green tables and neon-yellow goal posts, the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home exhibit drew clusters of conference attendees at the 2012 South Carolina Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. Connie Maxwell director of communications and marketing Miller Murphy handed out calendars, informational packets and foam footballs to the exhibit’s many visitors.
Miller Murphy stands by a table of promotional materials, which featured photos of some of Connie Maxwell student athletes. The display also included a special Connie Maxwell calendar, which he designed.Murphy, who was the creative force behind the football-themed Connie Maxwell display, said the booth’s theme was inspired by young athletes from Connie Maxwell. The home, Murphy said, helps children realize their potential, and many children use their newfound confidence on the athletic field.
“It’s neat to see kids, who have been told they’re worthless or can’t do anything, come to Connie Maxwell and discover ‘I can do anything I want to,’?” Murphy said. “I’m proud of our kids, so it’s just a way of saying that.”
To celebrate the accomplishments of Connie Maxwell’s current residents and alumni, Murphy displayed photographs of some of the home’s distinguished athletes. The booth also included an array of football paraphernalia, and Murphy himself came decked out as a football coach for the occasion.
Murphy, who is no stranger to the sidelines of a football game, was especially inspired by one special Connie Maxwell alumnus named Kadarron Anderson. Murphy faithfully attended Anderson’s football games throughout high school, college and the past summer, when Anderson played for the New Orleans Saints. Murphy and Anderson developed a special bond, and Murphy said that Anderson described Murphy and his wife as “the grandparents he never had.”
“I will treasure that always,” Murphy said with tears in his eyes.
In his 22 years with Connie Maxwell and 17 years creating displays for the SCBC’s annual meeting, Murphy said he has always been inspired by the people and history of Connie Maxwell, but he attributes his ideas to God. “All of a sudden, it just pops into my head, and I think, ‘That’s what I’m going to do this year,’?” he said.
Murphy’s display themes have ranged from NASCAR to a grocery store to trains. “I like to be off-the-wall and kind of creative. Do something different,” he said. Murphy spends months working on his designs, hunting for decoration bargains and preparing materials to hand out.
Ben Davis, Connie Maxwell president, said Murphy’s months of work on the SCBC annual meeting exhibit are instrumental in raising awareness about Connie Maxwell and drawing new prayer and ministry partners into the program.
“It’s always appealing to people. They want to come over and look at it and see it, and that lets them then learn more about us. We’re the type of ministry that, if you really know what we do, you have to feel good about it. When you’re taking care of kids who have been abandoned or abused or neglected, I think that’s something that touches everybody,” Davis said.
Murphy said his display each year is designed to grab people’s attention while letting them have fun and be kids. “People have loved it,” Murphy said. “It’s not just for our family. It’s for theirs, too.”
One great part of putting together the exhibit every year, Murphy said, is giving away the toys and decorations at the end of the day. His giveaways have always been a hit, especially the racecar driver photographs from his NASCAR display and miniature grocery carts from his grocery store display. “One little boy took off with that grocery cart when it was all over with, and you’d have thought he was in heaven,” Murphy said with a grin.
Whether he is handing out footballs to conference attendees or cheering for Connie Maxwell children from the sidelines of a sports event, Murphy knows he is where he is supposed to be, and he always enjoys finding creative ways to spread a little happiness.