Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Announces Awards
The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home hosted an awards brunch on Monday, July 30 during the recent Church of God International General Assembly in Orlando, Fla.
“International Women’s Ministries is extremely proud to be in partnership with Dr. Walt and Tammie Mauldin and Smoky Mountain Children’s Home,” stated International Women’s Ministries President, Paula Hill. “We thank God for the opportunity to change lives and for the leadership of The Home.”
Smoky Mountain Children’s Home presented awards to those who have raised the most funds in their respective divisions in the most recent general assembly period, 2016-2018:
B-E Category
Second Place – Northern New England, Jodi Cushman
First Place – Minnesota, Linette Watson
A Category
Second Place – Arizona, Shyrel O’Neal
First Place – Alaska-B.C., Jan Wright
AA Category
Second Place – Arkansas, Diane Morgan
First Place – California-Nevada, Alice Fischer
AAA Category
Second Place, Pennsylvania, Kathy Cooper
First Place – Mississippi, Teri Moody
Four-Star Category
Second Place – Virginia, Betty Mirkovich
First Place – Kentucky, Wanda Rabon
Six & Five Star Category
Second Place – Ohio, Donna Higgins
First Place – Tennessee, Wendy Corder
The overall winner giving the most monies to SMCH was Tennessee, led by state women’s ministries president Wendy Corder.
Special recognition was given to the Executive Committee spouses: Paula Hill, Peggy Culpepper, Joyce Stephens, Fernanda Ramirez and Debbie Childers. In addition, honor was given to each state sponsoring its own Church of God orphanage, which includes Florida: Keith and Debbie Ivester, Eastern North Carolina: Dennis and Judy Page, Western North Carolina: Ken and Trish Bell, South Carolina: Tom and Cathy Gillum, and West Virginia: Dan and Ruth Hampton.
For the first time, presentations were made for an Annual Christmas Offering Award, with the winner being Pastor Gordon Lee of the Church of God Worship & Ministry Center in Lebanon, Tennessee. The first Mother’s Day Offering Award recipient was presented to Pastor James Worley and Care Pastor Alan Mathura of the South Metro Ministries located in Sharpsburg, Georgia.
During the event, the late Dr. Donnie Smith was honored and remembered for his twelve years of service as the executive administrator of the Division of Care. A commemorative gift was presented to Dr. Smith’s wife, Barbara. Also in attendance were Dr. Shane and Lisa Smith and Casey Smith, along with their five children.
Updates on the progress of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home was provided by the Mauldins, which included major renovations on the gymnasium, interior and exterior transformation of the Moffett Dining Hall, the Memories Room facelift, completion of the new Miller Training Room, repairs of both the Texas Rose house and the Director’s home, makeovers of the Administration Building lobby and board room, dedication of the new location of the Oneida Foster Care office, and an update on the progress of the cottage now under construction.
Bishop Ron Martin, board of directors chair, concluded the event by saying, “Finding the harvest begins with finding the children who need a home. The SMCH Board of Directors is committed to this vision. We believe every child has a purpose, and God has a plan to fulfill each purpose.”
Together for 97 years, the Church of God Women’s Ministries and the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home continue to strive and fulfill the mandate of James 1:27, to care for the orphans and widows.
–By Pamela Kay Overbey, Smoky Mountain Children’s Home
