Lay Leader Message for August

A vital  mission for Trinity is the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon.  Early in the summer, several Trinity members attended the Children’s Home Auxiliary’s annual meeting on the Home’s campus.  Following the meeting and a delicious lunch, the members attended the  grand opening of two new additional homes.  Each of these homes houses 10 older teens who will be provided  independence outside the home while still working with their Family Teachers to learn positive behavioral skills, academic skills, and independent living skills.  The other four homes each house 8 youth bringing the total to 52 youth now residing on campus.

The unique design of the Lebanon campus is the Teaching Family homes, an open-campus group, where the children live in family-style, non-institutional  environments with live-in married couples as the Family Teachers. The Home serves youth ages 14-19 who have behavioral, emotional, and/or minor substance abuse issues. The students receive services based on their individual needs and may include individual counseling, family counseling, social skills training, psychiatric/psychological service, education on or off campus, post-secondary education assistance, community-based employment, spiritual development, recreational opportunities, community service opportunities, and exposure to cultural experiences.

Also, a small group from Trinity attended the June graduation and luncheon for the eight graduating seniors.  The Home has the James E. Davis School on site.  This years, for the first time, a graduating senior was awarded a scholarship for post graduation schooling.  This scholarship is possible from a generous donation of an Indiana couple.  It is planned that 2 scholarships will be given each year.  The Home has also recently seen a growth in the number of students wishing to be baptized.

FINALLY, TRINITY CONGREGATION, THANK YOU!!! FOR YOUR EASTER OFFERING OF $1,482 TO THE CHILDREN’S HOME AUXILIARY.  The funds received by the auxiliary are used to provide special activities or items for the students. It has recently funded a pottery project, tickets for a cultural event, a grief garden, and a large handmade dining table for one of the new homes. The Auxiliary is made up of individuals from all over the state. If you would like more information about the Home, contact Norma Singley (a past president of the Auxiliary for 6 years), Chris Lilly, Jane Nichols, or Kay Franscoviak (present scholarship committee member).  Tours of the homes, school, and chapel are available.