Thank you!

Hello again.

This is excellent.

Having served in administrative capacities at different state-wide "children's homes", including UMCH Decatur from 1976 to 2000, I understand the need to change and create different paths to serve those in need. On one hand, I hear the message from Rev. Jones and the need to serve more without necessarily serving them in a "campus" setting. The challenge to success is going to depend upon the administration being able to carefully communicate to its constituency the need for a change in how children are served. Even if you are successful at this, you have to be able to overcome many donors' basic belief that services can be only be offered from a "home" and not from the community. In many ways, the Children's Home becomes its own worst enemy, since the Children's Home often took the message to the Churches that "on-going" success would be accomplished by giving to the "Home." The Public Relations challenge that is faced is that great value has always been placed on its "alumni", i.e. the gathering of past residents and the flea market sales, many times hosted by alumni. Another issue of concern is the issue of the Chapel. Again, the administration of the Home is responsible for this being an issue. Everything was centered around the Chapel, i.e. weddings (including my own), chapel services, town meetings, etc. To eliminate the Chapel is eliminating history. To eliminate history is to eliminate the core of your existence. The Church needs to incorporate the actual Chapel in its history going forward. This would go along ways in helping ease some of the concerns of both former residents/staff but also neighbors. Board Members need to realize that history is important everywhere, but especially in the South. Many are feeling and will continue to feel that if there is no Chapel, there is no Children's Home. I hope you seriously take these comments to heart. They are meant to be constructive. God Bless, Steve Hubbard

I remember as a child in the 70's hearing children playing there from my grandparents home on Fairfield dr in Avondale Estates, I also remember hearing cows mooing over there too

Hard to discern what the board is trying to do by selling the Decatur property. HOW will closing the doors accelerate services to other children? If I read the story right you are turning 30 children AWAY each year because of lack of funds. What kinds and level of services will replace current children hosted in Decatur that can benefit 63 others in perpetuity?

Wow. A sad day for Decatur, GA.