florida

Modern-day orphans find hope through Florida Baptist Children's Home

by Karen Granger | The Good News | May 5th 2009
Tags: children, Florida Baptist Children's Home, foster care, George W. Bush, Josh Kelchner, Randy Rankin

Lee and Miami-Dade Counties
Ministry: Florida Baptist Children’s Home
Child in focus: Josh Kelchner
Website: FBCHomes.org

Florida Baptist Children’s Homes have been serving abused and neglected children throughout the state of Florida for more than 100 years.

Randy Rankin, the South Florida administrator, has seen many lives dramatically changed in his 30-year career caring for orphans, yet one recent story sticks out in his mind.

Rankin explains, “We had a young man, Josh, in one of our foster care programs in Fort Myers. He came to us years ago as an angry young boy, having cared for his siblings who suffered from abuse. Josh came to know the Lord through a nearby church and grew tremendously, spiritually and academically. He recently received an appointment at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point.”

Today, Rankin says he sees a lot more older children are entering foster care.

“When they come to us, it’s long-term care. They end up staying for several years, and it ends up being ‘home’ for them,” he says. Rankin says he observes powerful life transformations not only in foster care children, but in foster parents and biological parents, too.

“A foster parent recently led a troubled biological parent to the Lord, and they were ultimately reunited with their children,” he said.

For the children who enter the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, Rankin says they offer children stability with a family atmosphere.

“The kids go to church and are involved in small groups. They even went on a missions trip, [and] they did an outreach with bottled water in the Keys,” he says. “It was a great experience for them to be a part of an outreach, a giving experience.”

According to Rankin, the Florida Baptist Children’s Home is a ministry, not a job.

“I may be a little prejudice, but I think our children are the most beautiful children,” he says with a smile.