“Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

What is the significance of delivering a sofa to a home? The answer: “Reunification and Family Preservation.”

As you can see from this young lady’s smile, she is thankful for our sofa. She recently enrolled in our Active Parenting Class and was mandated by the court to do so. Families that have children in state custody have case plans outlining specific reunification goals. These goals mandate that within a certain time period, the family must be able to maintain employment, participate in counseling, and, most of all, be able to provide a clean, safe and stable home environment for the children. This means that families have to have adequate bedding and other furniture in the household. In this case, our sofa found a new home, which will in time have not just the parents but the whole family hanging out together on the sofa.

This family had previously rented furniture, which put them deeper in debt. They gave up the rented sofa for our sofa so they could pay for other mandated services outlined in the case plan. A good trade don’t you think?

-Mike LaChapelle
Supervisor, Northwest District Office of UMCH

Toward the end of the summer break, our youth had an amazing opportunity to lead a week of Vacation Bible School for children in the Reynoldstown community. Twelve residents and five leaders from UMCH helped lead the program for kindergartners through sixth graders. Our youth led the large group songs and either led or helped lead at each of the stations that were set up for the Reynoldstown children.

Dane Martin, Activities Supervisor at UMCH, is incredibly proud of the leadership that UMCH youth demonstrated over the week:

“All of our youth from UMCH were ready and willing to step up. They started strong, knowing exactly how to run their stations and encouraged each of the children to participate. The first day was a little tough and tiring, but once Tuesday came around, everyone was just as ready and soon took upon the responsibility to arrive early and help pack the van before we left.

“Even with no air conditioning in part of the house and sometimes very rambunctious kids, everyone from UMCH did an excellent job at leading, finding a need and helping, and creating relationships with the younger children. The days were long, but there wasn’t any complaining on the daily trip back to campus. Instead there were conversations about which kids they loved being with the most and how they couldn’t wait to get back the next day. I was so proud of our youth and impressed in their leadership, understanding that they were role models for these children and they didn’t disappoint them. We would be drenched in sweat, laughing and reminding each other of funny situations that happened that day.

“In having such good attitudes and lively spirits, our youth at UMCH showed and shared God’s love with children they didn’t know. Our youth transformed into servant leaders, and whether they knew it or not they were following the example of Christ: loving their neighbor. It was an exciting week where love was at the center, and it was full of laughter, sweat, tears, and a new heart for others. As we left, many of our youth from UMCH wanted to come back the next week and continue working with them. Everyone’s dedication to the week, pouring themselves into the children, showed that this was as important for our youth as it was for the Reynoldstown children.”

Our youth play outside with the Reynoldstown children

UMCH staff member Hillary Peete helps out at one of the VBS “stations”

A local middle school counselor referred a student, John*, and his family to our office for counseling education. John’s father is deceased, so it’s just him and his mom in the household. One day John asked if I would come to his school and have lunch with him. John’s mother was supportive of his invitation.

I checked with the school counselor upon arriving at the school and was escorted to the lunchroom serving line with John and his classmates. John directed me to a table where his friends were seated, and he introduced me as his mentor.

As I took my first bite of my hamburger, it immediately reminded me of my middle school days – it tasted the same, back then and now. I noticed that John’s friends were not eating their burgers. When they saw me taking my second bite, they said, “Ugh! Nasty! How can you eat that?”

To be honest, I was thinking the same thing, but I wanted to be a positive role model for the children by eating lunch.

I responded, “This is really good; it’s the best emu burger that I have ever eaten.”

John’s friends said, “What’s an emu burger?”

I explained that an emu was a large bird similar to an ostrich that lives in Australia, down under.

They responded, “Australia, huh? Cool.”

I then noticed all the kids wolfing their burgers down. My thought was, “Well, I was able to get the kids to eat their lunch, that’s good.”

John seemed very pleased that I came to have lunch with him and his friends. The next day I received a call from the middle school counselor.

She asked if I had a good lunch with John, and then she said, “What did you tell John and his friends during lunch? I had several parents who have called the office inquiring why their children were being fed emu burgers at school. After I explained, the counselor replied, “Good job; you were able to get some of those children to eat their lunch!”

The power of suggestion and the comments we make to children do have an impact on them. By the way, genuine emu burgers are delicious.

-Mike LaChapelle
Supervisor, Northwest District Office of UMCH

*Name changed to protect client’s privacy.

“This was a great class. We feel like we really learned a lot.”

“Presented valuable information with a sense of humor.”

“IMPACT classes are valuable sources for general parenting skills as well as for fostering skills.”

These are the kinds of things participants had to say about the most recent IMPACT class at UMCH!

IMPACT is a state-required pre-service training for all foster and adoptive parents. UMCH offers this class every other month. If you are thinking about fostering or adopting, this class is for you! Contact Denise Peacock at 404.327.5864 or dpeacock@umchildrenshome.org to find out more information about the next IMPACT class to be held in late September.

Here on our website, in our monthly e-newsletter, on Facebook, and in our quarterly donor magazine, you learn all about UMCH and how we’re partnering with you to change lives. But we want to know more about YOU and also what else you’d like to know about us! Please click here to take a brief survey and tell us more about you and your interest in UMCH!

UMCH’s garden returned this year, thanks to all the youth who faithfully have watered, weeded and harvested the yummy produce. Among other things, they are growing watermelon, different types of tomatoes, and a variety of sweet pepper plants.

Not only does the campus get to eat fresh fruits and veggies, but our youth are learning the origin of the food they eat and just having fun in the dirt!

So far this summer, the families in our Short-term Family Housing program have enjoyed nutrition classes, a play at the Center for Puppetry Arts, and even a Sunday afternoon at the ballpark, courtesy of the Braves organization.

Despite the heat, the families thoroughly enjoyed their day at the ballpark!

Nothing says “summer nights” like softball, at least at UMCH! Our Twilight League is in full swing this summer, and our youth and staff are having a blast. In between the double header games, everyone enjoys a delicious meal together. Check out all the fun we’re having!

One of our youth’s powerful poems, “To the unborn and uninvited,” is included in this powerful new video that was premiered at Annual Conference this year. Click below to hear several youth in our Independent Living Program share their stories of hope and redemption, and please share the video with others on Facebook or  Twitter by using this link.

If you’re worried about the next generation, the youth from Glenn Memorial UMC should allay your fears. Instead of spending one of their first weeks of summer sitting around, they got right to work! They raised the money themselves to buy all the supplies they needed to come work on our campus.

They sanded and stained the benches outside the Chapel in the prayer garden, and they planted some azaleas and trees around the Chapel as well.

We are grateful to them and all the other groups of young people who work hard on our campus,  showing us that the future is in good hands!