BRIDGETON – Economic outlooks may vary, but 2012 was a strong year according to reports given to trustees at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) board meeting Jan. 22.
“We had a good year,” said Russell Martin, MBCH executive vice president and treasurer. “If I could sing, I would sing the Doxology. Since I can’t sing, I’ll just say ‘praise God!’”
Gifts from the Cooperative Program are up slightly ($484,968 vs. $483,333 in 2011) as are individual gifts from Missouri Baptist Convention churches, bringing in $1.2 million. Nearly $850,000 in newly available tax credits helped MBCH and its affiliates raise $2.98 million from individuals and businesses. Investment income rose sharply over the past twelve months, moving from a loss of $106,000 in 2011 to a gain of $1.31 million last year. Total revenue for MBCH rose to $3.99 million, more than 20 percent above the projected budget.
“There are 10,500 Missouri kids who need families,” said MBCH President Bob Kenison. “You can’t pass that number up. Taxpayers save money, but those kids who were bouncing from one institution to another have a home. They have a mom and a dad who love them and they know where they live. When they’re a teenager in trouble, they know who to call.”
Kenison reiterated that moving children from state-run residential centers to adoptive homes through MBCH is a win-win; the child gets a permanent, Christian home and the state’s costs drop from $4,500 per month to $671.
“Things have changed,” Kenison said. “We’ve actually made a dent in how Missouri deals with children. They used to tell us how to do things, but now they’re coming to us and asking how we do things.”