Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Announces General Assembly Awards
Sevierville, TN– The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home hosted a virtual awards ceremony on August 11, 2020, to recognize friends and partners who support the Home. The online event occurred in place of a brunch that traditionally takes place at the Church of God International General Assembly, which was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosted by SMCH Executive Director Dr. Walt Mauldin and Public Relations Director, Tammie Mauldin, Dr. Raymond Culpepper, First Assistant General Overseer, greeted the online audience and shared his appreciation for partners who continue to support the children’s home. Paula Hill, First Lady of the Church of God, greeted the audience and expressed her appreciation to all who were joining to watch the presentation. Walt Mauldin then introduced each of the SMCH Board of Directors: Chair Bishop Ron Martin, Brandon Bohannon, Shelly Dority, Julia Grey Fraser, Teresa Holder, Marlon Green, Lori Lewis, Dr. Jan Lowery, Kent Miller, Teri Moody, Betty Ogle, and Yvette Santana. In addition, Mauldin also introduced the Care Division Board of Directors Chair, Bishop Gerald McGinnis.
Special appreciation was given to Ron and Betty Ogle for their continued generosity to SMCH. The Ogle family has been supporting The Home since the early 1940s. Tammie Mauldin introduced the International Women’s Director, Paula Hill and the Women’s Ministries Council: Peggy Culpepper, Joyce Stephens, Fernanda Ramirez, and Debbie Childers. Tammie stated, “All of us are grateful for your continued support and prayers for the Home.”
The 2018-2020 General Assembly Award recipients are as follows:
B-E State Category: second place went to Midlands, Marcia Stigile and first place was Northern New England, Sonja White. In the A State Category, second place went to New Jersey, Lorna Burch and first place was Alaska, Jan Wright. For the AA State Category, second place went to Missouri, Jessica Powell, and first place was Arkansas, Joy Claypoole. The AAA State Category, second place went to Michigan, Tammie Box, and first place was Mississippi, Glenda Shuler. In the Four-Star State Category, second place went to Virginia, Betty Mirkovich and first place was South Georgia, Lori Lewis. The Five and Six Star-State Category second place went to Alabama, Ora Hart, and first place was Tennessee, Shelly Dority.
The overall state that raised the most money for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home during this General Assembly term was Tennessee.
The Mauldins also recognized the eleven state cottage sponsors: Cottage 1, Texas, Bishop Toby and Diane Morgan; Cottage 2, Ohio, Bishop Ron and Roshelle Martin; Cottage 3, Tennessee, Bishop Wayne and Shelly Dority; Cottage 4, Missouri, Bishop Tommy and Jessica Powell; Cottage 5, Illinois, Bishop Rick and Letha Whitter; Cottage 6, Alabama, Bishop Terry and Ora Hart; Cottage 7, South Georgia, Bishop Gary and Lori Lewis; Cottage 8, Delmarva-DC, Bishop Stan and Teresa Holder; Cottage 9, Indiana, Bishop David and Lorna Gosnell; Cottage 10, Virginia, Bishop Joe and Betty Mirkovich; and Cottage 11, Kentucky, Bishop Charles and Alice Fischer.
Recognition was given to the Church of God Homes in other states: Heart of Florida Ranch, Bishop Tim and Rhonda Brown with Director Dr. John Sweet; North Carolina Home for Children, Bishop Dennis and Judy Page in Eastern North Carolina; Bishop Ken and Trish Bell, Western North Carolina with Director Bishop Ken Hudson; South Carolina Home for Children, Bishop Bruce and Wanda Rabon with Director Bishop Tim Kerns; and West Virginia New River Ranch, Bishop Dan and Ruth Hampton with Director Dr. Carla Torres.
The longest running fund raising tradition, besides the Penny March, is the Mother’s Day Offering. An award is presented to the top two churches that raised the most funds over the past two years. Second place went to the Forest Hill Church of God, Pastor Daniel Blaylock of Mobile, AL. The first-place winner was Price Chapel Church of God, Pastor Johnny Stowe of Lavonia, GA.
For the second General Assembly term, the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home presented a Christmas Offering Award to the top two churches receiving the largest Christmas offering. The second place winner was presented to Mt. Juliet Church of God, Pastor Brian Varnell of Mt. Juliet, TN. First place winner (for the second time in a row) was presented to the Church of God Worship and Ministry Center, Pastor Gordon Lee, of Lebanon, TN.
SMCH Board Chair Martin shared appreciation on behalf of the board and prayed a special blessing upon all of the children’s home supporters and prayer partners.
The 2020 Awards Ceremony video will continue to be available to view at the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Facebook page or on the website, smch.org.
(Source: Smoky Mountain Children’s Home)
