Unusual Ministries Benefit Smoky Mountain Children’s Home
Sevierville, TN–Through the years Smoky Mountain Children’s Home has hosted many ministries and church groups on its campus. Some have been unusual in name and service, but all have given generously to provide for the children.
Recently, two such groups from the Minor Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama—consisting of unusual ministries—visited SMCH campus bearing their monetary gifts and gifts-in-kind.
WINGS (Women in God’s Service) was one of the groups to visit SMCH. They blessed SMCH with a monetary gift and a load of paper products for the facility. Although the Minor Church of God is not a large congregation, it is growing under the pastorate of Reverend Richard Meads and his wife, Kay, and it is exploding with a big, compassionate heart.
Within the same church is another unusual ministry–Prayer Bear & Critter’s Ministry—started by Myniley Chamblee. While Myniley’s mother was ill and under hospice care, someone gave her a plush, cuddly bear. Hospice would use it to prop her up to prevent bed sores. It was used to comfort her, and sometimes she appeared to be just holding it for comforting companionship. The bear offered her mother great love and comfort, and that gave Myniley the inspiration to start the Prayer Bear & Critter’s Ministry. The mission of this unusual ministry is “to uplift those we meet by helping them through trying times and situations with courage, comfort, and healing.” With this purpose in mind they presented a large bear to Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, reminding the administration, staff, and residents that they are the subjects of prayer every day.
The bear presented to SMCH has a name badge that reads: “This bear has been among the congregation of Minor Church of God. It has heard the Word read and taught, prayers prayed, and songs of praise sung. It now comes to you (Smoky Mountain Children’s Home) with prayers for your comfort, strength, and healing. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His care.”
Smoky Mountain Children’s Home is the recipient of many unusual gifts and blessings that seem to abound from an unusual God,” stated Dr. Coleman Peacock, who is in charge of communications and campus services at the Home. “Through the years the Home has hosted many ministries and church groups on our campus. Some have been unusual in name and service, but all have given generously to provide for the children in our care.”
