The Taunton Family Children’s Home

On Saturday, June 27th we will have a “Barnraising”.  The walls of the new home will be erected as well as parts of the gym.  There will be lots of work to do and plenty for all who would like to be involved in this project.

At 4:00 we will have music and food in the form of a fundraiser.  The facilities will be open for tours.  We invite you to come and see what’s going on at the Children’s Home.  The facilities have undergone some remarkable changes thanks to all the volunteer groups that have been here to work.

Come help, visit, eat supper and enjoy the music!

For more info please contact us at 850-639-5031 or 639-2337.

The year of 2008 ended on a sad note for us at Taunton Family Children’s Home.  The main home along with the gym burned to the ground around 4:00 am.  No one was injured!  Praise God! We (David & Abby) were on the way home from our cabin in Tennessee, where we’d spent a few days, with a few of the children from our home, our adult children and grandchildren when we received the call.  After making sure that everyone was safe there was plenty of time to reflect on the 10 hour drive home.  

We were so thankful that no one was hurt that it was hard to mourn.  There were three volunteers in the home, they escaped with no injuries.  We did pretty well on the way home talking with our adult children who came home early and were there to keep us posted on the fire and to assist in anyway.  Our arrival was tough but there were so many friends and family there to support and comfort us, we were blessed.

We are trying to adjust and busy working on plans to rebuild.  This will take everyone helping just as it did when the home was first built, lots of fundraising and lots of hammers.  

We are okay!  God has a plan!  We feel like something good will come of this tragedy.

Please keep us in your prayers.

For More Info see the Links under Local News Coverage. (Search Taunton)

Northside Baptist Church of Panama City has recently completed their 5th workday on the amphitheater project.  They have completed decking the wooden portion of the amphitheater seating.  What a talented group and such hard workers.  We’ve been very blessed by this group of men.  

On a recent trip two of their members gave us aerials of the amphitheater project, as you can see they really show the progress and the promise of the project.  Thanks so much guys!

We’ve been so blessed this year with Santa’s helpers.  Everyone has pitched in to make sure the children have a wonderful Christmas.  We really appreciate each individual and group who has offered to help.  Christmas will be another joyous event for our children thanks to you all.

The children along with our church kids are working hard on a Christmas Musical/Drama entitled “Operation Holly”.  The theme of the play is that a group of children are working hard gathering things for underpriviledged children so that they can have Christmas too.  Our children and church are involved in making sure that happens in our local community too.  The play should be great, if you are in the area we invite you to join us on Sunday night December 21st at 6:00.

Merry Christmas!

Luverne and Elba Methodist Churches were with us for a short time, July 17 - 19, ut all those that were at TFCH will forever remember these three days.  Youth Pastors, Joe Driver (Luverne), Scott Batson and Rene Zeringue (Elba) brought a group of 25, mostly teenagers, along with several college students to the Children’s Home.

Everyone worked hard during the mornings, getting the yard and grounds at the Home in immaculate condition.  Afternoons were spent playing with the children.  Lake Mary, with its beautiful beach was a favorite recreational spot.  Many enjoyed Beach Volleyball.

However, it was what happened in the evenings that were most impressive.  Beginning at 8:00, everyone gathered together to listen to a talented trio made up of college students from Troy University.  Following the inspirational music, each night a different youth speaker addressed the young people with powerful, moving messages.

Saturday nights’ youth service was truly an experience that will never be forgotten by those in attendance. God’s presence so saturated the building that hearts were filled with joy unspeakable. Our own Jackson Vine Rona & Stuart’s son) accepted Christ.  Many lives were rededicated.

These groups already are planning to be back next year!  Thanks to one and all, and thanks be to God!

Northside Baptist Church of Panama City has once again blessed us with a hard day’s work on the Summer Camp Project.  Their men’s mission work team under the leadership of Earl Fillingjim hit the ground running on July 19th.  This was their third trip to work on this project, they can get an amazing amount of work done in one day.  Northside has taken a special interest in getting the wooden portion of the Amphitheater seating completed.  Their talented carpenters have almost finished this project, one more days work will probably see this job done.  Thanks Northside for a job well done.

Immanuel Baptist Church of Hokes Bluff, Alabama held a week long Soccer and Drama Camp July 7th - 11th at the Children’s Home.  It was another wonderful week!  Approximately 50 children participated.  During the day work crews did yard work, trimming trees, hauling rocks and lots of other good stuff along with our children.  Then it was cool off time at Lake Mary and preparation for VBS.  

Each night from 6 - 8 there was soccer practice and musical/drama practice along with Bible Stories and crafts for each age group.  On Friday night a “Block Party” was a big hit.  There were two soccer games and the musical “Heaven’s Kitchen” as well as huge inflatables, hot dogs, snow cones, deserts and just loads of fun and fellowship.

Some of this group also decided to brave the Swamp!  Some of the Taunton Crew, Buster, Josh, Jerry, Mitchell, Colby & Dusty served as tour guides for a boat trip through the Dead Lakes and Chipola River and then a “Survival Trip” on foot from the River to the Children’s Home.  They all arrived safely though a bit tired and a lot muddy.  

Thanks for a wonderful week!

Farmstead Baptist Church of Jasper, Alabama did a marvelous job with Backyard Vacation Bible School for us the week of June 21st.  The mission team, 58 strong arrived ready to go to work and eager for a great week. Under the direction of Children’s Minister, Sonny Bennett and Youth Pastor Benjamin Smothers the group quickly began to organize everything from cooking efforts to VBS crafts and schedules.  We had a high count of 49 children for Bible School and it was great!

Bible School was held in the mornings and the Youth Group worked in the afternoons.  They really worked hard and accomplished a lot.  After work they enjoyed swimming in the pond and then game time after supper.  This was one of the best youth groups we’ve had, our children really bonded with them and they were a great influence on our group.  Some of the boys were extremely good at getting things done.

The kitchen staff under the direction of Brother Sonny and caterer Cathy did an excellent job.  They had it down to a science feeding not only their 58 but the Bible School children as well.  It was wonderful.  We enjoyed several meals together and it was great fellowship and food.

This was truly one of the highlights of our Summer.  Thanks Farmstead.

What a blessing the Jasper, Alabama area work group was to us in June when they spent an entire week working hard on projects at the Children’s Home.  This was a very talented group who really accomplished a great deal while here with us.  They built a complicated part of the deck system for the new “Summer Camp”/”Amphitheater” projects.  Yard work, hauling rocks for the putt putt course, cleaning everywhere and working on the office of the golf course was among the many jobs this crew accomplished.  

Jasper has really been a blessing to us in many ways.  Some of this same group came back a week later to do Backyard VBS.�

David and Abigail’s daughter, Mary graduated May 31st from Wewahitchka High School with high honors. Mary was a straight A student, having never made a B in her 13 years of school. 

Having grown up in the home she has mentored many of the children who’ve come our way.  She has really been a blessing to the home.

Mary will attend Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City this Fall.  She will seek a business degree.

Congratulations Mary, you’ve made us proud!