During the 36 years that I have enjoyed being a Methodist Children’s Home staff member, I have seen my colleagues perform incredible acts of service for the children in our care. Others see our organization’s activities and results and wonder how the Methodist Children’s Home make such a powerful difference in the lives of the children and families in our care.

What makes the Methodist Children’s Home successful? What is the difference that makes a difference?

Our Mission inspires a culture that frees all of us to do whatever it takes to make life special for children. For 123 years, improving the lives of children and their families has been the only reason our organization exists. Pursuing our Mission calls us to help children and their families experience God’s love. There is no more powerful motive. There is no more inspiring Mission. There is no more liberating guidance to do good!

For decades, I have been blessed to see our staff go beyond the norm, beyond the reasonable even, for children. I have seen unsurpassed goodness in the actions and intentions of my peers. In a recent issue of Pathways, you may have read current examples of our staff using their freedom to do good, to go beyond the routine, to surpass regulatory standards, and to be the difference that makes a difference in the lives of children.

From my first day as a Family Therapist in 1989 to today, being a member of the LUMCFS staff has been a special privilege. I work with incredible people whose goodness, energy, and commitment to our Mission make every day special.

I commend all our staff working throughout our state to care for Louisiana’s children and families. You will meet these wonderful people in our Methodist Foster Care offices and in our Life Skills Training Centers. You will find our staff in communities in every part of Louisiana, recruiting and training therapeutic foster parents, and you will find them at the OWL Center sharing the joy of God’s creation with children. You will see them participating in advocacy work in Baton Rouge, educating stakeholders, and working hard to make Louisiana a better place for children. You may hear they support relative caregivers in your community to help keep children out of foster care. Of course, you know about the hundreds working on our three children’s home campuses, providing Louisiana’s most intensive residential treatment for children.

When you support the Methodist Children’s Homes in Louisiana and the statewide Methodist Foster Care program with your prayers and donations, you help make it possible for our staff to do much more than is required. In this way, you become one of all of us, working to make good things happen for Louisiana’s children and their families. We are grateful for your support, and we pledge to continue pursuing our transcendent Mission. We guide children and families home to experience God’s love by following the teachings of Christ.

Sincerely,

Rick Wheat
President and CEO
Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services