VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/4/06)-American Baptist Homes and Hospitals Association (ABHHA) recently changed its name to American Baptist Homes and Caring Ministries (ABHCM).
Founded in 1930, the association promotes cooperation, communication, and a standard of excellence among organizations that provide care for children, seniors, or those with special needs due to physical, mental and emotional disabilities or illnesses.
ABHCM's membership now encompasses 74 retirement communities, 26 long-term care facilities, 20 children's homes and special service agencies and eight administrative facilities throughout the United States. With a new name, the mission remains the same: to develop and enhance ministries of its members; to promote standards of excellence in services to adults and children with special needs; and to communicate its program to all American Baptist churches.
In another action, the board of directors recently elected the Rev. William Painter to become president in January 2007. "Bill will bring new energy and creativity to the board," says Patricia A. Griffith, outgoing president. "Our membership strives to provide the best possible care to those who need us - that will always remain the same." Painter is chaplain at Judson Park, a retirement community in Des Moines, Washington.
Membership in ABHCM reflects a great diversity of missions, many of which are community based. The new name was chosen to be reflective of this broad array of services under the umbrella of "caring ministries."
For more information, please call 800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2430, or e-mail Aundreia Alexander, National Ministries' national coordinator of Community Ministries, at Aundreia.Alexander@abc-usa.org. A directory of facilities within ABHCM's membership is available online at www.nationalministries.org <http://www.nationalministries.org/> Caring Ministries.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/