Building Project

Faith in Action: Campaign
Focus Now on Church Participation

First, John and Emaline Bashor built a church! The generous couple, whose vision established a foundation for what is now Bashor Children's Home, had roots deep in the Wesleyan tradition. Truly, they did "all the good they could, by all the means they could in all the ways they could.

A generation before the Bashor Deaconess Orphanage welcomed its first young men, Bashor Methodist Episcopal Chapel served Harrison Township farm families. John and Emaline set the cornerstone personally in 1892. Walk around the northeast corner of the campus and you'll come across the remains of the foundation. Unfortunately, the small chapel succumbed to the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

While the building may be gone, the Methodist tradition is as strong as ever. Whenever Bashor has faced a challenge, the church has been there to answer. As the agency continues its "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" campaign, the North Indiana Conference, its congregations and its membership will once again be asked to play a major role.

It was a "banner day" when teachers and students moved into the classroom portion of the new Community Resource Center on the campus of Bashor Children's Home. Staff members (left to right) TJ Jenkins, Doug Ganger and Mark Adams helped lead the celebration.

Warm, inviting, kid-centered - these were characteristics we kept in mind when building the new classrooms. Teachers and students alike played a big role in designing the new Community Resource Center.

Giving opportunities will be divided into three main areas:

Evan Bergwall Memorial Wing - This section of the new building will be named for the former community activist and chairman of the Board of Directors who chaired the fund drive for the original school building. Four churches will be asked to step forward and sponsor an individual classroom. First United Methodist Church of Goshen has already claimed one of those rooms.
Wesley Circle - A ring of commemorative plaques will circle the new, 250-set dining hall. "Our hope here is that people will enter the dining hall and be overwhelmed by the diversity of support," says Turner. "We hope to see plaques recognizing churches from Crown Point to Winchester, from Fort Wayne to Lafayette and everywhere in between."
Emmaus Walk - This will be a brick path leading to the main entrance of the Community Resource Center. The bricks will serve as permanent memorials and honorariums and may be for individuals, families, churches or circles.

The church portion of the "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" campaign is being led by five pastors currently serving on the Board of Directors - Rev. Steve Conner of Fort Wayne Church of the Covenant UMC, Rev. Rick Taylor of Rochester Grace UMC, Rev. Arch Hawkins of University UMC in Indianapolis, current Michiana District Superintendent Rev. Bob Dexter and retired Marion District Superintendent Rev. Dan Motto. The goal is to raise $500,000 in gifts and three-year pledges.

If you would like more information about the campaign, contact Steve Riikonen at 574-875-5117 or sriikonen@bashor.org. An informational DVD is available. Members of the team will also visit churches, groups or individuals by request.

"We had two choices, say no to kids or do this," says Phillips, who noted Bashor now serves an average of more than 100 residents and students each day, an increase of nearly 50 percent over the past six years. Those young people have come from 27 different Indiana counties during that time span. "We have grown because we don't just care for children and their families; we care about children and their families. We know others care just as much. We believe they'll join us."

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Phase I Complete...

P.O. Box 843 Goshen, IN 46527-0843 . 574 875-5117 . e-mail: info@bashor.org