A Look at the Ministry of the Covenant's Children's Homes
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God’s Place BOB SMIETANA AND CRAIG PINLEY A look at the ministryfor of theChildren Covenant’s children’s homes ROM AS EARLY AS THE 1880’s, the Covenant Church has been involved in ministry to abandoned and abused children. In 1883, Covenant churches in Chicago (then known as Mission Friends) hired Henry Palmblad as a city missionary to visit poor and sick Scandinavian immigrants. As part of his duties, Palmblad worked to provide food and other necessities for children. FHe also placed children in foster homes—taking five children into his own home. In 1886, Palmblad helped start the Home of Mercy in Chicago. Among the Home’s first residents were an eighteen-month-old girl and a six year old. In 1900, Covenant churches on the East Coast opened the Children’s Home of Cromwell, Connecticut. This was followed in 1921 by the Covenant Children’s Home in Princeton, Illinois, founded by the Central Conference. As the need for orphan- ages decreased, both homes started to serve, taking in abused children, and adding specialized staff to deal with the challenges that these children faced. The year 2000 brought new challenges for the children’s homes. While the Chil- dren’s Home of Cromwell celebrated its 100th anniversary, the Covenant Children’s Home in Princeton closed its residential program, with hopes of finding new areas of ministry for the future. Both groups also became part of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence during this time. This month, the Companion looks at the past, present, and future ministries of both the Covenant Children’s Home and the Children’s Home of Cromwell. 6 THE COVENANT COMPANION lect. The Illinois Department of Chil- Basketball Association. Covenant Children’s dren and Family Services refers families Some former residents even found a Home PRINCETON, ILLINOIS to CCH and CCH assists in parent train- partner for life at CCH. Carl and Signe Craig Pinley ing, researching community resources, Nelson met when they were growing up and homemaking skills, among other at CCH. They have been married for ive years ago, the thought of no things. fifty-five years and are members of the children living at Covenant Chil- A model program called Communi- Evangelical Covenant Church in Prince- dren’s Home (CCH) in Prince- ties Can!, one of forty in Illinois, focus- ton. Ray and Ruth Vetter, another cou- ton, Illinois, would have been es on community-based alcohol and drug ple that met on campus, have been mar- Fludicrous. After all, CCH had just come abuse prevention to junior-high and ried fifty-six years. off one of its best years financially, and high-school students. Another program, In the 1970s, increasing numbers of the organization was having an impact Youth Under the Influence (YUI), pro- abused and neglected children were on its campus and in the local commu- vides counseling and education for chil- referred to CCH. In response, CCH nity. CCH employed nearly 200 people dren who committed a drug or alcohol- became a residential treatment center, on campus and had a $5 million annu- related crime. and was renamed Covenant Children’s al budget, and an eighty-year history of CCH staff member Susan Barlow Home and Family Services. Covenant ministry. During those eighty years, CCH teaches kids how to handle anger and Counseling Services was established for had cared for 1,700 children. get along with peers through a program outpatient counseling and community How times have changed. In the past funded by the Illinois Violence Preven- education in and around Princeton. “One of the things we’re trying to do is not be blinded by our campus,” Lundberg says. “We want to discover what the needs are and how to get those needs met, whether they are here or elsewhere.” five years, state funds for resi- CCH also began to provide in- dential care programs dwindled home support services for at risk and a major overhaul was need- families. Because funds were ed at CCH. On February 19, coming from public agencies, 2000, the CCH board of direc- attendance at church was no tors voted to discontinue its res- longer required, although chap- idential program. On June 30, the lains provided spiritual guid- last children moved out of the ance for the children. Children’s Home. In recent years, the number Since then, prayer and plan- of youth referred to CCH ning have been the major prior- through the Illinois child wel- ity for CCH. On July 16, a Cir- fare system decreased 45 per- cle of Prayer celebration gave cent, forcing CCH to repriori- longtime supporters a chance to Children at Covenant Children’s Home head to church in the 1950s. tize. Harold Spooner, executive grieve the changes in program vice-president of outreach min- emphasis and to pray for the future. CCH tion Authority. A key component is edu- istries under CMB, says that Illinois and has also operated in a “eliminate and cating children how to make better deci- many other states are directing more concentrate” mode, cutting the staff to sions under stress. Barlow also works funds toward foster care and less to res- fourteen people, and the budget to with two elementary school programs idential treatment programs. $700,000. for at-risk children. Spooner says that the ministry of CCH administrators are in the midst CCH suffered more notably when more of an eight-month evaluation process In the beginning stringent stipulations were put on resi- with Covenant Ministries of Benevo- The Sunday School Association of dential treatment programs. CCH is not lence (CMB). CCH executive director the Central Conference founded CCH alone in its struggles—similar Christian David Lundberg says that by June 30, in 1921 in Princeton, Illinois. At first service organization near Princeton have 2001, the organization will have “a busi- the mission was to provide Christian shut down and another has experienced ness plan that will outline who will be nurture for children whose families were major changes in recent months. served, how it will be served, how it will unable to care for them. For many chil- be funded, and when new programs will dren, CCH provided a solid foundation Looking to the future begin.” as they blossomed into adulthood. As the ministry looks to the future, As CCH plans its long-term future, One young man who grew up at CCH and CMB staff are looking at a its ministry to the community contin- CCH, Joe Ruklick, played basketball at variety of options, both on and off the ues, with six outreach programs. A Princeton High School then went on to current campus site. “One of the things homemakers program provides support play basketball at Northwestern Uni- services to twenty-five area families versity. He eventually played for the Craig Pinley is a staff writer for the Department deemed at risk for child abuse or neg- Philadelphia Warriors in the National of Communications. JANUARY 2001 7 we’re trying to do is not be blinded by our campus,” Lundberg says. “We want to discover what the needs are and how to get those needs met, whether they are here or elsewhere.” A ministry for victims of domestic violence, a senior center, and an afford- able assisted living facility are among the possibilities for future ministries, though Spooner says that no definitive plans have been made. “We’re not anywhere near that stage yet, but we will be and we will be soon,” Spooner says. “One thing we can say for sure is that we hope some kind of min- istry that will come out of CCH. CMB resources have opened up things to used to control in my life...and I think CCH—things they may have not have God was saying through this that life is had in previous years or didn’t know fragile and that I needed to let God be what to ask for.” God through it.” Gary P. Bush, director of marketing Despite the recent changes, many of and business development at CCH, says CCH’s supporters have continued to give that having time to plan has given to the ministry, says Becky Strand, direc- CCH’s board and staff time to carefully tor of resource development. Strand, plan out their mission. “I think [in the who has worked at CCH for twenty-five past] there’s been a mode of being reac- years, says that reading letters from sup- tive as opposed to proactive,” Bush say, porters has helped raise her spirits. Know- “I think that’s because of the number of ing that people in the denomination can changes that has literally assaulted this envision a new work at CCH has helped Alumni of Covenant Children’s Home: (seated) organization in a short time. We can her dream again. Ruth Vetter, Carl Bergin, Signe Nelson, (standing) Ray Vetter, Carl “Okie” Nelson “I’ve been humbled by the people who have sent letters to us,” Strand says. fact, some have increased giving and one “There are some people waiting in the person recently put CCH in his will. I’m weeds to see what will happen next, but just starting to allow myself to be excit- there are many that are saying they will ed again. I think there’s something good keep giving as they have in the past. In out there that’s yet to come.” ❏ Children’s Home of Cromwell CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT Bob Smietana Scenes from the 1950s (top, above) n 1898, A. N. Pierson, of Pierson and proposed using the building as a attend to the planning process now Greenhouses in Cromwell, Con- home for Swedish orphans.