Oblong Christian Children's Home
Oblong Childrens Christian Home
Website: http://www.oblongchristianhome.org/
Dave & Kris McCarter
4086 E. 1050th Avenue
Oblong, IL 62449
Telephone: (618) 592-4685
Email:
"We have had a very busy summer. We think
it is good for young people to try different experiences that encourage
spiritual growth during their summer break. In June, we and our high
school girls attended Christ in Youth at Milligan College with the
Senior High Youth Group of Highland Church of Christ. In addition to
seeing our Movement's only liberal arts college, the young people
experienced challenging preaching, fantastic Christian music, and times
for personal and group Bible Study and devotion. After CIY, we took a
white water rafting trip and toured Gatlinburg, TN.
Two weeks later, we were in Indianapolis for the North
American Christian Convention. The whole campus of the Oblong
Children's Christian Home went to the Convention as our annual unity
trip. There were so many good things, it would be hard to describe them
all. The session that had the most impact on our kids was entitled
"True Lies." It explained to them the spiritual and moral traps that
much of today's secular music lays for them personally and for our
society as a whole.
The third week of July we were missionaries and faculty for a
junior high week at Camp Illiana in Washington, IN. Our son, Nathan,
was the co-dean for that week of camp. It was a week full of praises!
Samantha and Harlie both expressed an interest in being baptized. We
decided that they needed to learn a bit more. I am currently teaching
them concerning the process of conversion and the life of faith in
Jesus to follow.
The very next week, Natasha attended "The Institute," a youth
leadership training program hosted by First Christian Church of
Marshall, IL, and Sarah attended the Colorado session of World View
Eyes, hosted by Lincoln Christian College. The purpose of World View
Eyes is to enable young people effectively deal with the myriad of
cultural voices in our world from an informed Christian perspective.
Sarah was a bit younger than most participants, but the folks at
Lincoln thought her application demostrated that she was mature enough
to attend. They were so impressed with her, they asked that she be
allowed to attend this week's session in Lincoln. She is there with
Natasha and with another friend of theirs from the Highland Church of
Christ. Both the Institute and World View Eyes are selective programs,
limited to young people that show a certain level of seriousness about
their faith. We are happy that we have young people able to participate
in these programs.
Please pray for our home as the school year starts. Pray
that our girls may be able to take the lessons learned this summer and
apply them as they return to school. Pray especially for Janell and
Sarah as they transfer from a Christian junior high school to a secular
high school (there are no Christian high schools in our area). Also,
pray for the Home as it undertakes building another unit starting the
spring of 2004. Both homes are full and there is a waiting list of both
young men and young women needing a Christian group home. We are
looking for volunteers to help with the construction of this new home
starting in the spring. We would love it if a group from DCCC could
come!"
Running the Race,
II Timothy 4:7
Kris McCarter
Chris & Amy Martin
4094 E. 1050th Avenue
Telephone: (618) 592-3315
Oblong, IL 62449
Email:
The Martins serve as substitute houseparents at the Oblong group of
homes, allowing others to take a break. Those of you who have a few
kids might empathize with taking a break from watching over 8-10 kids!
Chris also supervises maintenance on the homes, as well as construction
on the new home that is planned in the spring of 2004.