Welcome Home Alumni of the Church of God Home for Children 2013
Children who grew up in the “Home” forty plus years ago came together for their biennial reunion August 2-4, 2013.They are now adults from many different walks of life.
When they came together for the beginning process of registration on Friday, August 2, there was a familiarity of kinship between each one. They responded to one another as though they were one big “family of God” who had not seen each other for a very long time. In fact, there were a few who said this was their first reunion in forty years. The first Alumni Reunion was held in 1965 with five people attending. At this event there were over 200 people present.
It all began with a young woman named Lillian Kinsey, who took four young orphans into her small house in Cleveland, Tennessee on December 17, 1920. This small house was later named Orphanage Number One. From this humble beginning, the ministry of homeless children began to grow. Because of this growth, two more homes were added and that eventually grew into a larger facility housing hundreds of children. This became known as the Church of God Orphanage.
In 1949, the Orphanage relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee, on property that was formerly Murphy College. As with all changes, not only were children coming because they were orphaned, but others came because of poverty, broken homes, illness of parents, abuse and neglect.
In 1962, the name was changed from the Church of God Orphanage to the Church of God Home for Children. That same year, social workers and counseling services were also added to effectively deal with the needs of the children.
The Alumni Banquet on Saturday evening included presentations to several deserving individuals. Among those were Sister Edna Shults who served at the Home for more than forty years; Alumni of the Year Award was presented to Calvin Spitzner, a resident in the 70s; Mrs. Sheila Barton received the Lillian Kinsey Award for her dedicated and faithful service as a house parent for twenty-four years and to approximately 400 boys during her tenure; and a special presentation was made to Dr. Daniel Boling, director of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home in honor of Reverend B. J. Moffett. The plaque that was presented to Dr. Boling read: “We The Alumni Hereby Present to The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home this $500.00 Donation in “Memory” of Brother B. J. Moffett, August 3, 2013.” Brother Moffett served the Home as Superintendent during the years of 1986-1994. A special certificate was framed for Brother Moffett’s wife and his son, Dr. Brad Moffett, Director of the Lee Singers at Lee University.
“Coming Home” was the words most often quoted to Dr. Boling and other staff members who were on campus during the Alumni Homecoming. It was indeed a time to remember and a time to look to the future of the “Home” through the eyes of the current residents who are presently in the care of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home.
In just seven short years, the “Home” will be in operation for 100 years! Although the name has changed yet again to the Church of God Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, it is still a safe haven for hurting children.
Reported by Pamela Kay Overbey
SMCH Administrative Assistant
