Southwest Texas commissioners visit home in Waco

Laity and clergy representatives of Texas United Methodist congregations—including 24 from Southwest Texas—were reminded last month that the at-risk youths across Texas and New Mexico are “our children.”
That reminder came during the annual commissioners event Oct. 9-10 at Methodist Children’s Home in Waco. The agency is related to the seven United Methodist conferences of Texas and New Mexico, including the Southwest Texas Conference.
“The children at Methodist Chil-dren’s Home are our children, not somebody else’s,” Marlene Richardson, member of First UMC, Crowley, told fellow commissioners. “They are the responsibility of our churches and each member in the church.”
Commissioners are nominated by leaders of the Waco home and district superintendents. Commissioners support the home’s ministry through prayer, raising funds and sharing stories of what the agency does to help young people.
“Your role is vital in helping us reach children and families who need healing and hope,” said Ann Weiss, commissioner chair and member of St. Peter’s UMC, Katy. “You can be our voice, the voice of our children.”
The yearly meeting:
> Provided training for new representatives.
> Allowed commissioners to tour the Waco campus and nearby Boys Ranch to meet students in their home units.
> Presented information about programs.
> Equipped commissioners to share the home’s story.
The Children’s Home has 110 commissioners for 2007-2008. Seventy-nine attended the Oct. 9-10 gathering.
Founded in 1890 as an orphanage, Methodist Children’s Home now provides services to more than 800 children and youths daily. Those services come through residential care in Waco, the Boys Ranch near Axtell, and foster care through outreach offices in San Antonio, Houston, Tyler, Dallas, Lubbock, Corpus Christi, El Paso and Albuquerque, N.M.