Kevin Carrothers
Delivering the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS) report at the Annual Meeting, Executive Director Kevin Carrothers provided inspiration to messengers through stories of faithfulness, hope, and sacrifice.
Carrothers expressed his gratitude for Cheryl Dorsey, who was completing her service as BCHFS Trustee Secretary after six years, and announced the death of former staff member and trustee, Lowell Huffstutler. Carrothers said Huffstutler, who retired from BCHFS after serving as director of accounting for a decade, died October 25, also served as trustee chair for seven years. “We are so grateful for Lowell’s devotion, for his support, for his love of the Children’s Home in particular, but of all the ministries. We will miss him deeply,” Carrothers said.
Founded in 1918 as the Carmi Baptist Orphanage, BCHFS is now comprised of five ministries that make up its mission. The residential program now serves traumatized teens, guiding them toward family restoration through counseling, daily Bible devotions, prayer, and gospel engagement. Carrothers reported that the cottages, which had neared capacity but then returned about half the residents to their families over the summer, were filling up again.
Pathways Counseling offers grace-based counseling services to children, individuals, couples, and families across the state. It’s currently undergoing a leadership change as longtime staff member Guy Williams is retiring at the end of the year, Carrothers said.
Carrothers told messengers how Faith Adoption Ministry works with birth mothers through planned adoptions and urgent hospital calls that come in the middle of the night from mothers who make the decision not to parent. The ministry also offers rare post-placement grief care to those birth mothers.
He shared how Angels’ Cove Maternity Home has become a lifeline for women in crisis. He shared the story of Tracy, once trapped in addiction and homelessness, who has regained custody of her daughter, welcomed a newborn, celebrated a year of sobriety, secured a job and car, and is now preparing to move into a place of her own. She’s become a faithful church attender, although she has yet make a commitment to Christ.
Grace Haven Pregnancy Resource Clinic was founded in the fall of 2020 amid the pandemic, “born during the season of global fear and uncertainty,” according to Carrothers. “It’s a place where every heartbeat is sacred and every story is valued, and every woman is seen and loved as they come through our doors.”
Through the end of September, across all five of its ministries, BCFHS reported 2,731 spiritual connections which include Bible studies, prayers, and gospel presentations.
In other business, messengers approved the 2026 BCHFS budget of $3,978,600.