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Children At Heart Ministries is a family of ministries dedicated to transforming the lives of all children and families. Our ministries provide those who are most vulnerable with the support and structure they need to find hope, heal, and put their lives back on track.
Children At Heart Ministries is the family behind Gracewood, Miracle Farm Boys Ranch, and Texas Baptist Children’s Home. Together we serve children, their single parents, and young adults across Texas.
Our mission
We are a family of Christian ministries that exists to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.
Our vision
We envision hope and a promising future for all children and families.
“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’”Mark 5:34
Our Statement of Faith With Core Values
We Are Authentically Christian
- We believe that Scripture is God’s inspired and authoritative Word to humankind. We strive to live by its instruction for daily life, and it is the basis of our Core Values. (Psalm 119:1; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
- We believe in the God-ordained sacred institution of marriage exclusively represented by a man and woman, that God created all people either male or female, and in strong families. We value all human life. (Genesis 1:27, 2:22-24; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 13:4-8; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:13; 1 Timothy 5:8)
- We believe that prayer must be at the center of all we do, both individually and collectively. We pray for God’s direction in all that we do as well as actively pray for one another. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 145:18; Mark 11:24; John 15:7; Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; James 5:13; 1 John 5:14-15)
We Build Trust
- We believe that we must place all of our trust in the Lord. God is faithful and promises over and over again to never forsake us. He will provide for all of our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. We will also seek to develop trusting relationships with our ministry partners, key stakeholders, and those we serve. (Joshua 1:9; Psalm 28:7, 37:3-7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3-4; John 15:15-27; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 13:8)
- We believe that to be effective, we must improve in body, mind, and spirit. Our individual and organizational growth will result in excellent and innovative services. In addition, we must embrace best practices and understand the importance of quality, professionalism, and accountability in all we do. (Psalm 119:66; Proverbs 1:1-7; 2:1-11; 9:9-12, 18:15, 22:17-19; Luke 2:52; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:23-24; Titus 3:14)
- We believe in being good stewards of the time, talents, and treasures entrusted to us by God, through His people. (Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 10:24; Galatians 6:10; Titus 2:7-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
We Connect Compassionately
- We believe that having healthy and close relationships with others is built on having a personal relationship with God through Christ. (Galatians 5:13, 6:9-10; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:10-12)
- We believe in living lives of integrity. This value relates to all areas of conduct and character including how we relate to all people we serve and those with whom we work. We best display integrity when we support the cultural heritage of others by respecting the diversity of those we serve and those with whom we work. (Psalm 15:1-5, 25:21; Proverbs 11:3, 12:22; Micah 6:8; Philippians 4:8; James 1:12, 4:17)
- We believe in pursuing relationships with those in need of our services and investing our lives in them for their betterment and God’s glory. (Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 14:21, 31; Jeremiah 22:3; Acts 20:35; Hebrews 13:16; James 1:27, 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17-18)
We Demonstrate Christ’s Love
- We believe in loving others through Christ regardless of cultural, racial, ethnic, or spiritual belief differences. The Love of Christ knows no boundaries. (Matthew 7:12; John 15:12-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:19)
- We believe in being of service to others – it is the reason we exist. Service is an underlying value of all our Core Values. (Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 41:1; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:3-4; James 2:14-17; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
- We believe in loving others – we are an example to others of our living faith. (Mark 12:30-31; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7, 11)
We Empower Children, Youth, and Families
- We believe that by strengthening families, we promote healthy children and youth and they are the core of all that we do.(Psalm 82:2-4; Proverbs 31:8-9; Matthew 25:37-40)
- We believe in sharing the gospel with children, youth and families. It is through Christ’s power that they will be able to be empowered in all areas of life. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 103:17-18; Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 19:14; Mark 16:15; John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12)
- We believe that God has called us and will equip us for this great work. We demonstrate our Christian values by being of service to those in need. (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Romans 8:31; Ephesians 2:10, 4:1-7, 11-13; Hebrews 13:20-21; James 1:5, 27)
Note: All the Scripture references are representative of the topic. They are by no means exhaustive. There are many other Bible passages that would apply to these Core Values.
Our History
Over the years, as the needs of families and children have evolved, so too has our family of ministries evolved to meet those needs. The expanding structure began in 2001, when separate 501(c)(3) organizations were formed for each of our ministries.
In 2006, all of the ministries began operating under the Children At Heart Ministries brand.
The Children At Heart Foundation manages an endowment, which benefits the ministries through annual grants. Texas Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services operates as the property-holding entity for all of the ministries.
How our family fits together
A family of ministries
Affiliated with Texas Baptists
Children At Heart Ministries provides support to the ministries that serve our children and families. Children At Heart Foundation manages the endowment and receipting, and Texas Baptist Children's Home and Family Services holds the land and buildings.
Our Approach
Our ministries are an extension of Christ’s love.
Faith is the basis of what we do. Faith enables those who come to us lost and broken to lean on God when they need Him most. We do our part, offering our children and families grace, hope, healing, and tools for success, while leaving room for God to do His work.
We help those in need help themselves.
Negative family environments that foster neglect, abuse, and poverty are often cyclical. Our goal is to break that cycle and inspire generational change. However, we don’t just hand those we serve a future; we support them and teach them how to achieve it themselves.
We remain focused on family.
You can’t “structure” a child into better behavior; you have to “relationship” them there. In addition to working with children in crisis, we strive to restore families whenever possible.
We help children from hard places recover from trauma.
We use Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI), a systematic and therapeutic approach, to help children and their families heal from complex developmental traumas. This trauma-informed intervention allows us to get to the root of the problem with the goal of a lasting positive result through highly personalized care.
We never charge a fee for our support.
We are proud to be able to offer our services and programs at no cost to any and all children and families in crisis who are eligible. Children At Heart Ministries is blessed to have long standing partnerships with state funding sources, however we’re funded primarily by generous donations from our local communities.
Get to know us
Leadership and TrusteesMeet the people who lead our ministries.Learn more
StoriesStories of hope and healing, in words and on video.Learn more
PublicationsAnnual reports, Turning Points, and brochures.Learn more
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