 On Christmas Eve, an innocent baby will be held by a caregiver in an emergency shelter, secure in the arms of unconditional love, far away from the abuse and neglect that were once a too real part of her life.
For 11-year-old Tony, this will be a Christmas unlike any other. He has a new home and new friends, far removed from his recent life in a homeless shelter. Little blond-haired Carrie will spend Christmas surrounded by love and the joyous sounds of the season, much different than the loud arguments that punctuated the broken home from which she came. They are just a few of the hundreds of children whose lives will be touched by Children At Heart Ministries this Christmas, all made possible by the generosity of donors like you who give so much to children who have so little. Won't you reach out to them this Christmas? This year, as you consider your gifts at Christmas, we pray that you will remember the children and families served by Gracewood, Miracle Farm, Texas Baptist Children’s Home and STARRY and know the difference your generosity can make. This has been a difficult year economically for many families. Our ministry family is no different. Through sacrificial stewardship, we have met the needs of children and families in crisis with no reduction in services. But we are asked to do more.
At the request of the state, STARRY has expanded its counseling services to Bell, McLennan, Lampasas and Coryell counties. Gracewood has opened a second home for mothers and children in the Houston area and will open a third home early in 2010. TBCH is seeing the demand for its Family Care ministry far exceed capacity. Miracle Farm continues to help growing numbers of boys learn to make right choices and become responsible young men. God is opening doors for our ministries, even as our capacity to serve children and strengthen families is being stretched and we are askedto accomplish more with less. As we meet the challenge of greater need, each ministry is reducing expenses in ways that don’t compromise quality or quantity of services. Our dedicated employees, for example, have agreed to a salary freeze, saving money for services to children and families. In spite of the challenges, we thank God for allowing us the privilege of witnessing the positive and eternal changes in the lives of children and families. Every Christmas we serve hundreds of children through our residential and outreach ministries. But more important than the numbers are the faces of children who look to us – and to you – to protect them, love them, and teach them the true meaning of Christmas. One of the most precious gifts that a child can receive is the promise of a safe, loving home at Christmas time. Thanks to caring ministry partners, Children At Heart Ministries has been providing that gift for almost six decades. Guided by prayer, that will never change.
You can help. Your Christmas gift today can make an eternal difference in the life of a child.
Make your Christmas Donation today, online. It is simple and secure and each gift, no matter the amount, goes directly to help children and families.
In a year when the economy has seldom been tougher and the need has seldom been greater, our prayer is that you will be especially generous with this year’s Christmas gift to the children and families we serve. Tony, Carrie and that little baby in the Emergency Shelter are depending on you.
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