Truett Baptist looking to expand foster homes
Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel Writer

The Truett Baptist Association of Churches, Inc. held their quarterly meeting in April and voted to allow members of the residential group home team to look into the possibility of purchasing two homes which sit on 4 * acres of land in Clay County for use as foster homes for children in Clay, Cherokee and Graham Counties.

According to Pastor Greg Carroll of Truett Memorial Baptist Church, the 61 TBA members agreed for the purchase of the property to be investigated, including cost of the property and possible financing of the purchase.

The Truett Baptist Association Children's Home Committee, as the team is named, had been looking into the possibility of constructing a foster home on land owned by the Truett Baptist Association located next to their offices in Peachtree. However, Pastor Carroll said the plans recently took a detour when they were made aware of the availability of the two homes in Clay County.

"This would mean that we could have two foster homes up and running a lot quicker," Carroll commented. The original plan to construct one home in Peachtree meant it would be at least two or three years before a home would be ready to house local children.

"The purchase of the two homes would mean we could start ministering to area children with in three to six months, and we would be meeting an immediate need much sooner," the local pastor added. Carroll said that Association members are very excited about the possibility of being able to meet the needs of children in Western North Carolina and at last month's meeting asked how many children in the area are currently in foster care. Carroll said that there are currently 25 children in Clay County and 75 in Cherokee County who are in foster care. And due to the lack of foster homes, many of these children must be sent out of their county to be placed in foster care.

This is one of the main reasons Truett Association is considering the purchase of the two homes, to provide foster care for local children so they do not have to be removed from everything familiar including their school, friends and community.

By purchasing the two homes, Carroll said that would mean 18 children would be able to stay in their community who might otherwise be placed hours away where a home was available.

The major question now facing the Association is the cost of purchasing the property. Carroll said the possibility of financing the homes will be looked into and brought before the Association. Fund raising efforts are also being discussed to help with the purchase.

"The Association members are supportive of this and interested in providing this ministry so they can meet the needs of these children," he commented.

Although cautious about how much specific information he could provide because plans are still very preliminary, Pastor Carroll said he is very encouraged about the new possibility before them.

"I feel like God has opened a new door for us and I'm very excited about the fact that we can do something about the immediate problem (lack of foster care locally) much sooner. This would mean we would be helping the situation out within six months. It would enable us to help and minister in our community much quicker. "

Truett Memorial Baptist Church congregation has already purchased a home directly across the street from their sanctuary and is currently renovating the home for use as a foster home. The home should house children by early summer, Carroll stated.

If the two other homes are purchased by the Truett Baptist Association, a total of three foster homes would be caring for area children before years' end. Carroll said that the three homes would all be supervised and run by the Baptist Children's Home of North Carolina and would bear the name Truett Baptist Association Children's Home.

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