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Run with the Horses…

Excellence…

Lean in and listen closely. I have something I want to tell you…

Truth be known…

Excellence is uncommon.

I believe it’s because excellence demands change.

Change….that dreaded and often disruptive word that interrupts our deeply embedded patterns and routines. It takes us out of our comfort zone. Immediately after the temptation in the desert,  Jesus goes out to Galilee, and there he begins to preach. His initial preaching is summed up in one verse, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)

For my purpose of exploring excellence this morning, I want to think more deeply about this theologically packed statement. What does repent mean? “Repent” (or metanoia in Greek) means to turn around, to change.  Jesus talked about change from the very beginning of His ministry.

The truth is, change is hard, and Jesus knew that. It’s easy to see that people who are not willing to change are not willing to turn away from themselves. If I continue here on the line of truth-telling, what we’re in love with usually is not God. We’re in love with our way of thinking, our way of explaining, our way of doing.  Jesus knew that the greatest way for human beings to protect themselves from God and the truth was to simply buy into some kind of cheap conventionalism and call it a tradition.

But the great traditions always call people on a journey of faith to keep changing. There is no way we can open up to all that God is asking of us. There is no way we can open to all we have to learn, all we have to experience unless we are willing to let go of the idols of yesterday and the idols of today.

If I have learned anything as a leader, it’s that change is not popular. Change stirs insecurities that lie just below the surface and calls those that are comfortable to step out towards something new, something unfamiliar. Interestingly enough, this is not a brand-new concept. It is an age-old challenge. You can trace it back to the Old Testament and prophets.

Recently, I studied the prophets and was inspired by the deep resolve, courage, and enduring conviction found in their hearts and lives, especially Jeremiah. It caused me to ponder time and time again on the intimate conversation between God and Jeremiah. It seems right at the moment when Jeremiah was ready to abandon his unique calling, he heard God strongly say,

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

God is asking, What do you want, Jeremiah? What do you want to achieve? Greater riches? A Happier life? A longer life? Is it power over your neighbor that you are after? What do you want, Jeremiah!!

While continuing to think deeply about this passage, I stumbled across Eugene Peterson’s translation of God addressing  Jeremiah and his ultimate response to God’s questions,

“Life is difficult, Jeremiah. Are you going to quit at the first wave of opposition? Are you going to live cautiously or courageously? I called you to live at your best, to pursue righteousness, and to sustain a drive toward excellence. It is easy to be neurotic. It is easier to relax in the embracing arms of the average.

Easier, but not better.

Easier but not more significant.

Easier but not more fulfilling.

I called you to a life of purpose far beyond what you think yourself capable of living and promised you adequate strength to fulfill your destiny.

Now at the first sign of difficulty, you are ready to quit.

If you are fatigued by this run-of-the-mill crowd of apathetic mediocrities, what will you do when the real race starts, the race with the swift and determined horses of excellence?

What is it that you really want, Jeremiah? Do you want to shuffle along with this crowd or run with the horses?

It is unlikely. I think that Jeremiah was spontaneous or quick in his reply to God’s question. The ecstatic ideals for a new life had been splattered with the world’s cynicism. The euphoric impetus of youthful enthusiasm no longer carried him. He weighed the options. He counted the cost. He tossed and tuned in hesitation. The response when it came was not verbal but biographical. His life became his answer,

“I’ll run with the Horses.”

At the same time I was studying Jeremiah, I ran across a letter written by A.T. Jamison in 1942 upon the occasion of Connie Maxwell’s 50th anniversary. As you may remember, our “Decade of Dreams’ plan begins with a review of history spotlighting a quote that underlines the fire and passion that burned in Dr. Jamison’s soul for doing everything possible to meet the needs of our children. This quote came four days before he passed away. He strongly instructed his colleagues, Smith and Murdoch, as they left his house the final time,

“Boys, don’t get in a rut!! If our children need something we don’t have, then go learn where to find it.”

So, it did not surprise me to find this passage from a letter written to Sybil Foster, Director Foster Home Department of New York Children’s Aid Society, that lays out even further Jamison’s deep, abiding desire for excellence. I quote him from that letter in 1942,

“The orphanage will shortly celebrate the close of its fiftieth year of activity. Having been opened in 1892, we should celebrate our jubilee in 1942. Is it not fitting time to raise the question as to whether we are doing all that we can do or merely what we care to do for dependent children?”

For about three years, there has been no substantial increase in receipts, nor has there been enlargement in any other respect. Are we willing for the Orphanage to remain static?

Is it, not a fitting time to raise the question as to whether we are entirely satisfied that Connie Maxwell Orphanage is fulfilling its just function?

Are we patting ourselves on the back in thinking we have an up-to-date institution when few of us actually know much about it?

Are we satisfied with the figures which show that it now requires 688 Baptists to support one child at Connie Maxwell Orphanage?

Are we satisfied that every dollar given to the Orphanage is wisely spent and used in such a way that it shall result in the most far-reaching good?

Are we satisfied to let some of our long-used and seriously deteriorating, outworn buildings stand in disrepair year after year?

Are we willing to follow the line of least resistance and take it for granted that it is a good institution, wisely managed, or should we not ask some of the most thoughtful and able exponents of child welfare in this country to point out our weaknesses?

Are we willing to accept criticism, advice, and suggestions from competent individuals who are divorced from and completely independent of the institution?

Should we enlarge our extramural activity and add more social workers to our field staff in order to find places for many destitute children who apply to us and receive no favorable attention?

Are we pursuing the wise course to receive normal children mainly, or should we make provision to give special attention to handicapped or exceptional classes?

Has the time come when we should consider changing the name to the Connie Maxwell Home, The Connie Maxwell Home for Children, or some other suitable name?

Are we taking for granted that Connie Maxwell Orphanage is doing first-class work because it happens to be a popular cause and stands high in the favor and esteem of the people?

Many children, formerly pupils at the orphanage, have not come to high success as all admit, but are we willing to study our failures in an honest way, guided by scientific helpers in order that we may make corrections for better future services?

Are we willing to take a leaf out of the book of the industrial, chemical, and mechanical organizations of the present day and plan for new techniques?

Many modern enterprises have skillful and highly salaried persons on their payroll, studying every detail of the business of the organization in order that high efficiency may be reached as failures are discovered.

These questions flow from the passionate heart and fiery spirit of a man who was committed to excellence! You can feel his intensity in challenging the status quo and calling himself and all those who surround him to a higher level of accountability in ministry.

A higher level of excellence….

Finally, I guess these thoughts are begging us to answer the question for today.

As we step forward to complete our third year of “A Decade of Dreams” and move towards the execution of many of our dreams for children in Jesus’ name…

What will our response be?

We should weigh the options. We should count the cost.

Will we shuffle along with the crowd, or will we run with the horses?

My reply, Connie Maxwell will…

“Run with the Horses!”

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A Decade of Dreams

The executive committee plants a tree to symbolize the beginning of the Decade of Dreams.

A  report delivered to the Board of Trustees, CM Staff, and South Carolina Baptist Convention
November 2020

The first shovel of dirt was scattered across the ground…

As we quietly celebrated the launching of our strategic plan entitled,

“A Decade of Dreams.” 

Our Executive Council gathered around the Prayer Garden across from Connie Maxwell Baptist Church on a beautiful October morning to bury a Dream Box which held within it each of our personally written vision statements to become more like Jesus and our “holy” ambitious plans for Connie Maxwell in promoting a deeper level of healing and ministry in the next ten years.

Right beside the Dream Box, we planted a beautiful Japanese Maple Tree to mark the spot that our journey towards excellence began.

This strategic plan is more than a lifeless document of words and metrics.

It is a living, breathing testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Our strategic plan is a testimony.

This plan presents our VISION statement as follows:

TO BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALING AND MINISTRY FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Of course, Coronavirus has interrupted our ability to unveil this plan without distraction. So we will patiently wait to share this plan with all our constituencies when we can best and most effectively communicate its context and content.

At this appointed time we will unfold our plan and a new branding initiative that features our new name and logo which better represents who we are today as a ministry and who we prayerfully aspire to be in the future. We are currently preparing to present this change to the Convention’s Executive Board for approval in December and have already received full approval from our Board of Trustees, staff, and alumni.

We are beyond excited and feel confident that this has been a “God Led” process which began with a campus-wide “Forgiveness Initiative” that emerged as a first step towards bringing unity to our Connie Maxwell family.

The completion of our strategic plan will guide, direct, and lead us to:

The creation of a Healing Center that will focus on a better understanding of trauma and the brokenness of children and families by establishing partnerships, conducting research, initiating a broad scope of educational activities, and applying best practices of healing and ministry to our Connie Maxwell children and families.

We envision the transformation of Maxwell Farms into a higher level therapeutic ministry tool and serve as an Alternative  Revenue Source featuring a chapel, villages, renovation of our amphitheater, an events venue, renovated barns and petting zoo, enhanced Leadership Adventure Course, and a walking/running trail that will surround the circumference of the Farm property.

Our plans for the next ten years will seek to double the Endowment, nearly triple our annual fund for operations, and enhance revenues by developing Maxwell Farms. This three-prong approach to increasing revenues is aimed at one singular goal:

To strengthen and increase our budget and enhance opportunities to minister to more children and families in Jesus’ name. 

It is important to note that Connie Maxwell is benevolent and has no other way to increase revenues except for fundraising and alternative revenue sources. We do not have an option to increase tuition… because we don’t have one. We depend solely on the much appreciated and valued support of the SC Baptist Convention, churches, individuals, businesses, and friends.

We will also seek to expand our ministry geographically by building a Connie Maxwell site in Charleston.

Renovate many of the cottages and facilities on the Greenwood campus and off-campus sites.

These dreams are just a few of the initiatives we will seek to fund in our upcoming campaign…

In the meantime, as we have been diligently planning for the future, we have also been hard at work serving the needs of children and families.

During this year, we served:

260 children and families in Residential Care

Family Care provided services to 6 families, which consisted of 13 single parents and their children

Foster Care Services has 22 homes licensed and has served 23 children this past year. In light of our partnership with the SCBC, Columbia Metro Association, and support from many ministry partners across the state, we currently have 40 homes in the process of being licensed Foster families.

Also, this year, with the creation of Connie Maxwell’s first Human Resources Department, we completed several strategic leadership hires to include a new Senior Pastor, Minister of Music/ Worship and Discipleship, and a Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. Additionally, 22 new employees have been hired to strengthen our efforts.

In God’s eyes, every single child matters…

Every single child…

During my comments this morning…

You have seen the names of countless children scrolling down the screen behind me…You may have asked, “Who are these names?

These are just a few of the names of over 18,000 children who have walked the hallowed grounds of Connie Maxwell for nearly 130 years. Each name represents a child that has been given a home, loved and nurtured, and most of all taught about the love of Jesus.

There is a moment in time when the door opens and lets the future in….

Connie Maxwell’s moment is now….

Pray with us as we walk into a bright and promising future…

“A Decade of Dreams.”

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Father,

Lost and abandoned children sit at your feet and lift their arms in need of healing, crying out as they have been broken and scattered across a lost and lonely world.

Each and every child is precious to You.

Oh God help us to be the hands that wipe away their tears.

Let us hold them in our arms.

Safely tuck them into bed at night.

Read them the holy scriptures and sing with them the familiar hymns that our mothers sang to us.

Pray with them until sleep comes and gives them hope for a brand new day.

Thank you for the privilege of saturating and transforming their lives with the gospel and strengthen us now as we advance the Kingdom of God in the lives of children who need us most.

In Jesus name and For the Dreams of Children,

Amen.

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The old man reaches out his hand of forgiveness to his prodigal son.

The sun sets in the western sky with a burst of fire and glory.

A dewdrop slightly rolls down a silky red petal in the early morning.

A baby born in a manger to save the world.

The Christmas Miracle stands in my mind and heart as the greatest gift of extraordinary love ever given. This Christmas at Connie Maxwell over 18,000 people came to celebrate this Miracle with a horse carriage ride around campus while singing “Silent Night” as their breath collided with the cold air and sent smoke signals of love and good cheer to all those that passed by.

When the carriage ride came to an end, the family jumped off the wagon and walked hand in hand toward the manger scene to catch the next presentation of a “live” nativity scene and once again glimpse a simple remembrance of that holy, blessed night.

When the reenactment begins, we are transported back in time…

The stars light up the night like glitter sprinkled across the black velvet sky…

The sound and smells of animals that rustle around the barn…

The shepherds arriving from a long journey to the place marked by the brightest star…

And there, in the midst of the ordinary….

A baby is found crying and moving around in a batch of hay where the animals usually eat…

Hundreds of people stood and stared at the baby whose presence announced the coming of God into the world. An ordinary child wrapped in extraordinary love. The Creator of the Universe is clothed in flesh. The King of Kings wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger…

The Christmas Miracle…

While the nativity scene held its audience spellbound, I slowly walked back to the church. I was told there was a family waiting patiently to meet me. I arrived and found a friendly couple with two precious children running around them in front of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church.

I extended my hand to welcome them and spent the next thirty minutes enjoying their company. Then I said,

“Why don’t you come back to campus soon and enjoy lunch with us at our home. I promise not to ask you for anything!!” The gentleman looked in my eyes and said,

“That’s ok, we came to give tonight.”

I paused in the silence and said, “Why?”

He said, “You see those two children. They are a Miracle.”

“You see, my wife and I were told that we would never be able to have children. When the doctor told us we were having two beautiful babies, I fell to my knees. I promised God when they came into the world that I would pay Him back for the Miracle that He gave us.”

He then proceeded to tell me the story of a long journey of faith that he and his wife had experienced in seeking God’s direction in finding the right way to say thank you.

One ordinary day, he overheard a lady talking about broken, abandoned children and the conversation caught his attention. He said to her,

“Who are these children you are talking about? Where do they live?”

She said, “ Connie Maxwell.”

He looked me in the eyes while tears rolled down his face and said,

“That’s when I knew that my wife and I would say thank you for our Miracle by giving to the children at Connie Maxwell.”

He turned to his wife and said, “ Write the check.”

She handed the check to me and I looked down to see that she had written it for $10,000.

That night, in front of the church with the steeple reaching towards the sky and not too far away from baby Jesus, I was moved beyond words and we both just stood there in the midst of another Christmas Miracle celebrating the gift of children in a whole new way.

Now, you may not believe in Christmas Miracles…but I do.

I believe with all my heart. I believe that it is the greatest love story ever told.

And once again, on this ordinary night, a gift was given with extraordinary love.

The Christmas Miracle…

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“SHE LET ME WEAR HER PEARLS”

It was a beautiful summer morning…

On May 22, 2019, Connie Maxwell staff, children, friends, and family met at the Prayer Garden between the church and the cemetery to celebrate the 127th birthday of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home.

As the birds sang and the sunshine touched our shoulders, we experienced a worship service that featured two of our alums, Nick and Ruth Compton sharing their testimonies, Miller Murphy leading us in a reflective devotion of God’s faithfulness, and Doug Kauffmann explaining the meaningful legacy behind the Prayer Garden where we stood.

The moment that most inspired me was when Ruth Compton, a Connie Maxwell alum who is now 88 years old, told the story of an enduring memory of her beloved house mother. As Ruth shared her testimony, she spoke of her “Connie Maxwell Mom” in glowing terms of endearment. She remembered, with tears in her eyes, about the woman who nurtured her and loved her into wholeness. She recollected vividly, the night she was preparing to go to prom which is a big night in the life of any young lady!!

After getting dressed, putting on her make-up, and enjoying the preparation of this very special night, her house mother came to her and handed her something very special. Ruth said that she opened her hands and there before her very eyes was the most beautiful pearl necklace she had ever seen.

The house mother said, “I want you to wear my pearls to the Prom.”

Overjoyed and touched deeply, Ruth said she leaned over while she place the beautiful pearls around her neck.

Then Ruth said,

“She let me Wear her Pearls.” 

That’s the love of Connie Maxwell!!

The pearls must have made her feel beautiful. No doubt, they made her feel loved.

I’m sure Ruth will never forget that moment.

As the final words of the Benediction for the 127th birthday party were spoken and the church bells rang from the steeple, we broke out in a song that echoed across the beautiful green field that lies like a blanket in front of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below,

Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen…

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