To understand the impact of the current economic situation
on the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home, one first must understand important
facts about how the ministry is funded, Darrell Washam said.
Important fact one – the home receives only about 15 percent
of its annual budget through the Louisiana Baptist Cooperative Program.
Important fact two – the home generates only about 12
percent of its annual budget through investments and such things as oil and
gas leases on properties.
To understand the impact of the current economic situation
on the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home, one first must understand important
facts about how the ministry is funded, Darrell Washam said.
Important fact one – the home receives only about 15 percent
of its annual budget through the Louisiana Baptist Cooperative Program.
Important fact two – the home generates only about 12
percent of its annual budget through investments and such things as oil and
gas leases on properties.
Important fact three – the home must generate the remaining
73 percent of its budget through another source.
Important fact four – the home has no ready-made channel
of revenue that can generate those funds, such as fees for services or subscription
rates.
“That means 73 percent of our budget each year comes from
individual gifts – from people, churches, Sunday School classes, Vacation
Bible School offerings, Womans Missionary Union groups, etc.” said
Washam, interim executive director at the childrens home.
“So, the economy definitely is affecting us, …”
he noted. “When the economy is down like it is, we may get as many gifts,
but theyre smaller. People just dont have the money to give. ….
They do what they can, but when the gifts are down, it directly affects us.”
Nonetheless, the overall financial state of the home remains
strong, Washam said.
For instance, he noted that while the home suffered some capital
losses last year, on most of its investments, there was a 2.8 percent return
for the 12-month period.
“Given the times and how many agencies did, thats
pretty phenomenal, …” Washam acknowledged. “Were just grateful
we havent lost money. A lot of people have.”
Still, there is no denying the impact of current economic woes,
he added. “Everybody is experiencing the same thing,” Washam insisted.
“Its affecting everything.”
In such a situation, Washam said the biggest financial challenge
for the home is maintaining the level of individual giving – “because
were so dependent on it.”
In that sense, the home is unique among Louisiana Baptist Convention
agencies. Louisiana College has tuition and service fees as a source of revenue.
The Baptist Message has subscription rates. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation
charges service fees. And the Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia collects
fees from residents.
In almost all instances, the fees and payment rates are less
than those of many competitors because the agencies also are supported by the
state Cooperative Program.
However, the only ready-made revenue source for the home is
payment for counseling through its 14 Granberry Centers around the state. But
even that is not entirely reliable. Counseling operates on a sliding-scale basis
– a person pays what they can afford, up to $60 an hour. “Some pay
nothing, some $5,” Washam noted. “We dont turn anybody away.
… So, we do get a little income there, but its not a lot.”
Indeed, an endowed trust helps finance the ministry.
The Happy House crisis pregnancy ministry in Tallulah also
is aided by an endowment, Washam said. It does not collect fees for services
provided to pregnant young women.
Whatever is not provided by endowment, the childrens
home underwrites. For some of the women, Medicaid helps with hospital delivery
costs. “But if they dont qualify, the Louisiana Baptist Childrens
Home pays 100 percent, …” Washam said. “And we have girls there
all the time.”
That is not counting the children the home has on its Monroe
and Baton Rouge campus.
Last week, Washam reported there are eight children in Baton
Rouge (the limit there) and 67 in Monroe.
Washam referred to these as “orphans of the living rather
than orphans of the dead (as was the case in the past). …
“And thats really the case, because so many are
just victims of broken homes and families.”
At times, the home plays a unique role at that point. Sometimes,
a judge will not want to split a family of siblings apart. By sending them to
the home – instead of into the state foster care system – the siblings
can remain together. Indeed, the home received a family of nine that way, Washam
said.
In addition to those young people, the Louisiana Baptist Childrens
Home also has 10 young people in college. “If theyre college material,
we pay their expenses all the way through school,” Washam noted. “They
have nobody else to educate them. They just dont have anybody.”
The home has 13 children in foster care as well. Through this
ministry, the home pays Louisiana Baptist families a small fee to take care
of children until they reach preschool age. The children then are brought to
a home campus.
Finally, the home is responsible for 10 pairs of cottage parents
and five relief parents that rotate between cottages to give others needed breaks.
To help fund such ministries, the home engages in a range of
fund-raising efforts.
These include a planned giving program – just as every
Baptist childrens home has in place, Washam noted.
In addition, the home has a program in which people from all
around the country give in memory or honor of others, Washam said. “And
were probably the leading state in that program, …” he noted. “That
helps a lot.”
The home also makes seasonal appeals – such as at Christmas,
Easter, Thanksgiving and during the summer.
It promotes a Christian Family Heritage Program as well, through
which persons make monthly gifts.
It receives bequests, Vacation Bible School donations and mail
contributions generated by donation envelopes.
By far, the bequests and memorial/honor program are the largest
sources of revenue, Washam said. But the home relies on each one – and
on the generosity of donors, he said.
“Theres no secrets to it,” Washam said. “If
we depended totally on the Cooperative Program, we couldnt make it. …
“It takes everybody helping in order for us to operate.”
As with other agencies, the struggles of the state Cooperative
Program to meet budget goals has not helped the home. In addition, its 2003
allocation was reduced by $100,000 to $550,000 this year.
Had the line been held, the budgeted figure would have represented
almost 18 percent of the homes 2003 budget. As it now is budgeted, it
represents 15 percent – and that is only if Louisiana Baptists reach their
budget goal.
That has made investment income extremely valuable to the home.
“Its very crucial,” Washam agreed. “Right now, if we didnt
have a little extra investment to operate on, wed be in real trouble.
… Were living on the interest our investments have generated –
and were so grateful that people through the years have helped build this
for a rainy day.”
Despite the difficulties, the home remains committed to its
ministry – and its growth, Washam said.
Home leaders would like to see Granberry centers in every area
of the state, he said. They also want to see the Baton Rouge campus expanded
beyond its eight-child limit.
However, the home never has gone into debt to build –
having depended on individual gifts instead, Washam said.
“And we have faith enough to believe that one day, somebody
will want to do this (build to expand the Baton Rouge campus), …” he
said. “Someday, it will be provided. … The Lord truly has taken care
of this ministry through the years. You can see he has.”
Meanwhile, Washam is clear on how invaluable Louisiana Baptist
support is for the home ministry.
A key avenue of support is awareness – of the home and
of the children in ones area that could be helped by the home, Washam
said. “We are dependent on people in the churches to recommend and tell
others about our ministry. … A lot of times, people dont know that were
available.”
In addition, financial help is welcome, Washam said.
Other forms of help is needed as well, such as the annual Fall
Food Roundup. “We literally eat all year on the staples food that come
in there,” Washam said. “That would be a tremendous expense wed
have to pick up.”
Others may send a box of socks or tee-shirts, Washam noted.
“All these things help, …” he said, emphasizing the home can use
just about anything average families use.
“People are very generous and very eager to do what they
can do,” Washam emphasized. “And when it comes to children, they cant
do for themselves.
“They need our help.”