ABHMS urges American Baptists to show support for Murrow Indian Children’s Home
VALLEY FORGE, PA (9/3/16)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) urges American Baptist individuals and organizations to join in solidarity with Murrow Indian Children’s Home, Muskogee, Okla., by donating to the GoFundMe page created by ABHMS to benefit children in the home’s care.
Recently, the children’s home respectfully declined a donation from an atheist organization because the gift was contingent upon including the organization’s name as a contributor in an event program book, because Murrow’s faith practice includes a focus on lifting up only messages of Christianity in its publications and materials.
The atheist organization responded by creating a crowd-funding appeal—without Murrow’s authorization or knowledge—to up the ante of the contribution and publicize Murrow’s quiet, respectful decline. The appeal, which raised more than $25,000, resulted in abusive calls from across the United States to Murrow staff and board members, along with posts on Murrow’s Facebook page filled with such vitriol that the children’s home deactivated its page.
Murrow Indian Children’s Home has been caring for Native American children with support from American Baptist Home Mission Societies and its predecessor organizations for decades. Now ABHMS seeks to show Murrow that American Baptists stand with this historic ministry, supporting its right to practice Christian faith as it sees fit. You, too, can stand with Murrow Indian Children’s Home by contributing online.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on leadership, discipleship and healing communities.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
