Chris Myers’ Children’s Place was established as a children’s facility to house children whose parents are unable to take care of them.  This arrangement could be temporary until the mother is able to obtain employment and is able to care for the children or permanently in cases where mothers never become able to nurture or provide for the children.

Chris Myers’ Children’s Place is located on eight acres in rural Lexington.  There are two large brick homes on the property.  One home has been renovated to house up to eighteen young children. Final renovations on that house will be completed on this work day.   A second house will house teenage boys.  “We hope to have the first home ready for occupancy in the next month,” stated June S. Fusco who serves as Chairman of the Board of Advisors and Director of the home. 

These two houses will become homes for needy children where they will receive the necessities of life as well as  make new friends, have the security of loving house parents, and live in a clean, healthy, and nurturing environment. The homes will be owned and operated by Christ Central Ministries, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that operates numerous facilities throughout South Carolina communities for needy individuals and families.

This project is named in honor of Chris Myers, son of Donnie and Vance Myers.  Chris was a graduate of Lexington High School in 1992 and the University of South Carolina in 1996.  Chris died suddenly on February 14, 2003, from a genetic condition that causes cell damage. Chris Myers’ Place will honor his bright, happy life with the hope that others can enjoy a wonderful childhood and become respected, well-rounded young adults like Chris. 

The home was founded through the inspiration of Ted McGee who serves on the board of a Lexington woman’s shelter. Ted had worked with Miriam Williams and Donna Jerman on the woman’s home and together they saw the need for a home for children.  McGee found the property as well as shared his vision with numerous community members who have donated generously to fulfill the vision.   One home is the HOOVER Cottage and the second home is the SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT Cottage. Rooms in each home have also been donated in memory or honor of a loved one.

McGee also developed the idea for “THE BOOK OF LOVE.”  The Book of Love is a physical binding of every single name of an individual, business, church or organization who donated anything to make the Chris Myers’ Children’s Place possible. Any child who comes to the home can turn the pages of the Book of Love and see the names of those who loved them enough to give and make this home a reality. A $1 contribution places the name in the book.  The goal is to include fifty thousand names of caring people.

“This is the most exciting adventure of my life,” stated Fusco.  “I had a special foster sister in my life, and she, in turn, adopted a special child and saved her life.  It is an incredibly rewarding experience to prepare this home in love for children without a home. With all these awesome people working here on Saturday to complete phase one of our vision, I am going to be crying happy tears all day. The Lexington community is the most caring town ever.”

Donations can be sent to Christ Central  Ministries for Chris Myers’ Children’s Place, 560 Meeting Street, West Columbia, South Carolina 29169. Further information can be obtained by emailing to chrismyerschildrensplace@yahoo.com or see updates on Facebook.  Members of Lake Murray Baptist need to contact Shannon Madden (smadden@lakemurraybaptist.org) to sign up to serve!

1) Mom and Dad-Do you find more joy in finding the faults in other people or celebrating what God has done in the lives of others?

2) Children do you find it more fun when your brother or sister gets into trouble or when God does something neat in his or her life?

3) Mom or Dad-Describe a time in your life when you had to take a stand for Jesus that cost you something (promotion, popularity, ect.)

4) Children-Do you understand that following Jesus will cost you something?

5) Why is worshipping Jesus more enjoyable than anything this earth has to offer? (Discuss as a family)

Dr. Smith is the author of Doctrine that Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life; coeditor (with Timothy George) of A Mighty Long Journey, a collection of sermons on racial reconciliation; coeditor with Timothy George and James Earl Massey of Our Sufficiency is of God: Essays on Preaching in Honor of Gardner C. Taylor; and has had a study of Christian ministry in the African American church published in Preparing for Christian Ministry.

His research interests include the place of passion in preaching and the literary history of African American preaching. Before coming to Beeson, he was the Carl E. Bates Associate Professor of Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. An ordained Baptist minister, he served as pastor of New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, for 20 years. He and his wife, Wanda, are the parents of four adult children and eight grandchildren.

See you February 26th at 10:30 for this very special day of worship!