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Spiritual Life Report
Once again the fall was full of activity. We hosted our second Early Christian Worship Hear at the home. We had three hundred in attendance. Your very own Michael McCoy delivered the message. His message spoke to the heart of some of our children in reference to their daily bible reading. We purchased some One Year Bibles for those interested. This event continues to have an impact on our children and those that attend. I likewise believe this is a great opportunity for the Home to put its best foot forward. The hospitality extended is a great public relations statement.
The following weekend we took our high school age children on a retreat to my family ranch on the Colorado River. We have been blessed to own some land directly across from the Bend State Park. On our land we have a few really nice cliffs. I spent some time climbing up and rappelling down the cliffs to make safe the rappel with our children. Michael and Michelle Murray and my wife Vickie were our sponsors. We have a nice cabin so the girls had all their amenities. The guys all stayed in tents in the camp ground on our property. Wayland Dobbs and his daughter Kasey Dobbs were our facilitators. We challenged the children to overcome some fears. We had a great opportunity at the end of the day to make some good spiritual application. Two men from Mac Arthur Park Church of Christ in San Antonio rode their motorcycles up and participated with us. I believe fun was had by all.
Personally, things slowed down at this point. I have really enjoyed this time to gel with the children at their school events. I attend most of the games. I find the children are often willing to share with me at these sporting events. I think there is some felt security in the noise and chaos. Whatever element that makes the appeal I will continue to simply listen. Michelle Murray and Vickie Baugh continued devos with our high school girls while Cindy Suggs held devos for our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. I continued to host our young men, when they could make it. The basketball schedule makes our devotional times difficult.
We are going to change how we handle our devos this winter and spring. Sunday p.m. we will have our devotionals following worship. In the effort to build a stronger base with our own members we will host these at church members homes coupled with one of our six cottages sponsorship. These may take place at the Home or at the members’ homes. This will allow our other parents to go home and meet the rest of their obligations. During these nights we will split the message opportunity between the guys and the girls. Ester Cox is going to help with our girls while I will continue to lead our young men.
On Thursday evenings each week from 8:00-10:00 we are staring “Come Fill Your Cup” at the Upper Room coffee shop. This is an opportunity for our children to come and just hang out. There will be Christian music playing and a movie with a message playing muted. There is no set agenda. Children can come and visit with each other under my supervision and a few other adults. Some evenings this area will be pack other evening there will only be a handful. The house parents and children are also welcome to invite their friends from the community. The expectation is to create an environment conducive to sharing coupled with a Christian environment. This is not a required attendance event. Any cottage can come for however long they wish. I want to use our older children to host these evening. Example: High School age children making drinks, cleaning, and serving everyone else.
The Aggies for Christ have been here for the entire week. This year I was their main contact with the Home. They have done well exceeding all our expectations. While it was a smaller group the impact was great. Our Children have benefited greatly from their presence. I believe we cut and hauled enough wood for about three years of Cherokee Day type events. The girls accomplished a great deal of clerical work and they help cook cookies for the stock show on Friday. The AFC students dinned with the cottages in the evening. Lunches were with staff and the fellowship was wonderful. These are promising young men and women. We were blessed to have them here with us but I also feel we have impacted them in great measure.
Life here continues to be exciting. I am eager to be about my Father’s work. We continue to experience challenges and God continues to work out the details. Again I thank you for your confidence and continue to petition God on behalf of our ministries.
In The Dust of His Feet,
Robert Baugh
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