Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Blessed as Children Give to Children
A few of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home staff still remember when the Sunday school bell would ring, class was dismissed and we all marched up to the front of the church to put our coins in the offering plate for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Penny March. That moment in time seems like a very long time ago, but the principle of giving was taught to children at an early age. The principle of giving has not changed –it’s just done in other motivational ways.
By Sandra Kay Overbey
One such incident took place when Miss Ava Barnes, six-years old, decided she wanted to do something for the Church of God’s Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Her parents, Joel and Crista Barnes state, “We have always tried to explain to our children that they are blessed especially when they are complaining about something. We have shared with them that some kids do not have a home or family like they do with all of the blessings.” When their daughter, Ava, decided she wanted to do something to help others, she began by trying to sell her suckers she received for Halloween to other family members for a quarter. Ava stated, “She wanted to raise money for kids who do not have parents like she does.”
Ava Barnes presents her $400 donation to SMCH Director of Business and Records Shane Smith.
At Christmastime, Ava received a loom kit as a present. She decided she was going to knit scarfs, hats and earbands to raise money for kids that did not have very much. Her mother explains, “I thought she would do a few for our family members and she would soon be over the idea, but a friend saw her picture on Facebook and wanted to help Ava with her project. Other Alabama friends emailed orders and soon we were overwhelmed with requests. The items were sold for $10 each and all the money raised was going to be sent to the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home.” During the course of Ava’s adventure, she learned the Scripture verse, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27 NIV).
For other children, Ava raised a total of $400 which she so beautifully presented to the Director of Business and Records, Reverend Shane Smith at the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Her thoughtfulness and faithfulness to the task will hopefully inspire other children to reach out and minister to others through their selfless acts of kindness.
The director of the Care Campus, Daniel F. Boling remarked that he was excited to see our younger generation getting involved and carrying on the torch of the “Penny March.”
Ava is the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Gosnell, Men & Women Discipleship Coordinators for the Church of God International Offices, Cleveland, Tennessee.
(Reported by Pamela Kay Overbey, Administrative Assistant at SMCH)
