Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina will undertake a new ministry to aid aging adults. The North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry will be an educational and information-based ministry connecting aging adults and their families to the resources they need.
"Baptist Children's Homes has had the privilege of meeting the needs of children and families through our statewide services for more than a century," said BCH president Michael C. Blackwell. "This new aspect of BCH's ministry is a natural step as we strive to help meet the
growing needs of older adults."
BCH's corporate offices and the institution's Mills Home residential campus are in Thomasville.
Blackwell has named Sandy Gregory as director of NCBAM. The Statesville native has served BCH as director of development, south central region since 2005.
"Sandy has been a tremendous asset to BCH's development team helping to grow and secure support for the children and families we serve," Blackwell said. "I am confident he will bring to NCBAM the same level of commitment and success as we move forward with this new, dynamic resource to the aging and their families."
Gregory will direct NCBAM's daily operations under Blackwell's leadership. Gregory is a graduate of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and completed his Doctorate in Ministry from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Prior to joining BCH, Gregory served as a pastor, associate pastor and children and youth minister at churches in Virginia and North Carolina. He has also served as executive director for the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry and the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation in Virginia.
"I am delighted to be appointed as director of NCBAM, and I am looking forward to working with aging adults and their families across the state," Gregory said. "There is a great need to provide quality resources and information to this rapidly growing population."
In 2008, a task force appointed by Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Executive Director/Treasurer Milton Hollifield, with the approval of the BSC Executive Committee and Board of Directors, created the concept for what is now NCBAM. Blackwell, who served as an ex officio member and advisor to the task force, agreed for Baptist Children's Homes to oversee the new ministry.
NCBAM will offer aging adults and their families education and information through practical and personal ministry applications. NCBAM will also aid North Carolina Baptist churches and Baptist
associations in developing ministries to benefit the aging. The new ministry will be fully funded by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and will not involve building residential facilities or any type of brick and mortar construction.
"There are a number of quality institutions already providing residential services to aging adults," Blackwell said. "Our emphasis will be focused on identifying and connecting families to the resources that will best fit their needs."
NCBAM will begin by focusing on three defined areas. First, the ministry will provide education and information on issues important to aging adults ranging from assistance with Medicare/Medicaid to emerging issues such as identity theft and adult day care. Second,
NCBAM will coordinate practical ministry assisting older adults with a variety of in-home needs. Last, the ministry will assist in developing transportation services for older adults who cannot drive.
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