Bicycle Blessings

This Christmas, the First United Methodist Church of Grapevine, Texas gave three truckloads of bicycles to the children of Methodist Children's Home. And this year wasn't the first time the church has given... it was the twenty-first year!

Here are some photos from the donation delivery day this Christmas. The bikes are delivered to the Waco campus and then distributed to various programs and locations.











Thank you to FUMC Grapevine for all you do for our children - past, present and future. We are proud to carry on this tradition with you!

Christmas at MCH

Here are some photos from the Christmas celebrations on our Waco campus, Boys Ranch and Waxahachie campus this year. Thank you to all the staff, donors and friends who help us share the joy of Christ with our children throughout the year!











To view even more photos from Christmas, click here to go to our MCH Facebook Fan Page. You do not need a Facebook account to view the photos.


But if you do have a Facebook account you can "Become a Fan" of Methodist Children's Home and get access to exclusive updates and content! To find our Facebook Fan Page go to: www.facebook.com/wacomethodistchildrenshome

Commissioners visit Waco

This week marked our annual Commissioners Meeting. The two-day event kicked off with a lively dinner and program in the brand new Boys Ranch Recreation and Activities Center on Tuesday evening.

Several boys from the Ranch shared the story of how their lives have been impacted by life at Methodist Children's Home. In fact, one young man gave us permission to share his comments here on the blog so that you can hear his testimony. Click here to read Chris's inspiring story.

Trey Oakley, vice president of development, welcomed the Commissioners.

Bobby Gilliam, MCH president, addressed the meeting attendees.

Commissioners and Boys Ranch staff and students enjoying the evening.

Jordan, a Boys Ranch resident, shared his story.

Reverend Travis Franklin from Salado brought the Tuesday evening message and encouraged Commissioners to provide light in the darkness for youth in need of guidance and support.

Reverend Franklin, a former MCH chaplain who was with MCH
for 12 years, shared inspiring stories from MCH alumni.

On Wednesday morning, the Commissioners gathered at the Johnson Student Center on the Waco campus and heard reports and stories from a variety of departments across the organization. The highlight of the morning was a special performance by the MCH Charter School choir.

Becca McPherson, director of development,
planned and organized the successful event.

Commissioners and development staff sharing morning fellowship.

Dr. Jack Kyle Daniels, former president of the Home,
held a book signing for his memoir.

MCH student athletes shared about their experiences.

MCH Charter School choir offered several musical selections.

The Meeting concluded with a luncheon in the Community Room where Commissioners were joined by members of the MCH Student Leadership Team.

Methodist Children's Home Commissioners are nominated by MCH development staff or benefactors and serve as liaisons for the Home. Commissioners help raise funds and promote Methodist Children's Home in their churches and communities across Texas and New Mexico.

Did you attend Commissioners? Tell us about your experience in the "Comments" section below!

Cooking Class

On one of the last days of summer, residents from Waxahachie gathered together in the kitchen for one more cooking lesson. This time, the lesson was in peeling potatoes for potato salad and making cheese biscuits. One of the goals of our residential programs is to help our youth become strong and independent as they move into adulthood. Cooking lessons, like the lessons taught at Waxahachie, and also on the Waco campus and Boys Ranch, help youth move one step closer to healthy independence.

Glen Lake Camp

In honor of the first week of school, here is a look back at summer camp at Glen Lake Camp in Glen Rose, Texas. Our youth had the opportunity to attend camp this summer with other kids from across the region. Last week, as a celebration of the end of summer, the Religious Education department put on a mini-camp for all of the kids from the Waco campus, Waxahachie campus and Boys Ranch. The youth were able to use the zip line, fish, bask in the sunlight, swim and play games for the day. Thank you to the Glen Lake Camp staff members for all that you do for our youth!

Field Trip on the Wild Side

Youth from our Waxahachie campus enjoyed the air conditioning at Watkins Wildlife Museum in Corsicana during one of their summer field trips. The staff at our Waxahachie campus have done a great job investigating fun, educational opportunities in their area. After a tour of the Wildlife Museum, our kids ate a picnic lunch at a local water spray park.

Do you have pictures from an MCH summer event? Click the blue button below and share your fun summer story with the MCH community!

Water Day

On Thursday, the Boys Ranch held a Water Day. They even invited youth from the Waxahachie campus to join them. The afternoon was filled with water balloon games and relay races, all designed to help the kids cool off and enjoy the hot summer day. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun, but we will let the pictures and video speak for themselves!

The balloon toss.

The water balloon "fight" with over 1,000 balloons!

Everyone took a break for Sno-Kones.

The bucket relay race was a big hit with all of the kids!

Service to the Community

Youth from across the MCH community are giving back by spending part of their summer on community service. Youth from the Waxahachie campus are serving at a local nursing home, helping with their school and even cleaning up their campus by picking up trash. Boys Ranch youth have volunteered to pick up trash in the Lake Waco area as well as some county roads around the Ranch.

The Waco campus youth have given their time to a wide variety of projects. However many homes have given a substantial amount of their time to help the local Salvation Army. Salvation Army representative, Christie Harper was very complimentary of their efforts.

"They are a great group," Harper said. "They have been a huge help to us. In fact, we sometimes have trouble keeping them all busy because they are such hard workers!"

Here are a few photos and a video of MCH youth and staff serving at the Salvation Army warehouse.

The boys working outside to clean the drop-off driveway.

The girls work to sort and hang donated clothing to be sold in the Salvation Army store.

The boys and MCH staff join in on the sorting.


Way to serve, MCH!

Summer Mission Trips

It seems like only yesterday summer was just beginning, and yet our MCH residents have already put in many hours ministering on mission trips and serving the community through community service with their home units. During the month of June, MCH had two different groups of youth serve on short-term missions teams through the Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission program.

Youth from our Waco campus served the community of Mt. Pleasant, Texas alongside young people from Austin Avenue UMC of Waco, Dido UMC of Fort Worth, Good News UMC of Cedar Park/Leander, Mart FUMC and Palo Pinto UMC. Our youth worked tirelessly to build wheelchair ramps, repair roofs, paint homes and share the love of Christ.

Calvin, a Waco campus resident, works to fix a roof.

For Anthony, a Waco campus resident, the trip was a great combination of meeting new friends from other youth groups and serving people in need. "I loved helping clean up this one woman's house. She really needed help power washing the outside and then repainting it," Anthony said. "She was really grateful." The weeklong mission trip was filled with these experiences, in fact, Anthony said there was only one downside - they had to get up early.

Anthony (in foreground), repaints a home with his CTCYM team.

The team from MCH Waxahachie teamed up with the First United Methodist Church of Waxahachie to serve a community in Monroe, Louisiana. Their experience was similar to Anthony's. They served individuals in need by helping paint, rebuild and restore their homes. Working alongside youth from Graham FUMC and Weatherford FUMC allowed them to meet other young people while they immersed themselves in service.

Amy (left), a Waxahachie resident, works with Katlynn, from FUMC Waxahachie, to build a wheelchair ramp.

Special thanks to MCH Chaplain, Steve Heyduck and FUMC Director of Children and Youth, Amanda Sargant for the pictures.