Speaking Up!

BY STEPHEN JUDD
PRESIDENT

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV).When I think of this verse, I can’t think of any group in the world that this verse defines better than orphans. They have no voice. They are powerless and helpless.

Throughout the scriptures, God expressly says that He cares about orphans. “If you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, if you do not follow other gods…then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers  for ever and ever” (Jeremiah 7:6-7).

Notice that one of the conditions for the Israelites to live in the promise land was…You’d better take care of orphans! The Lord was saying to His people, “If you don’t do that you’re going to lose your right to the privilege of the promise land.” God takes it just that seriously.

On a stormy night, a scared little boy ran from his bed into his parent’s room and jumped right in the middle of their bed. The storm passed and the mother said, “Son, you can go back to your room now. Jesus is with you.” He replied, “I know, but right now I need someone with skin on!”

Jesus said in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless” (from the Greek word orphanos, meaning “fatherless”).

For 58 years, Tupelo Children’s Mansion has embodied this promise of Jesus. TCM has been there to provide the “skin” of Jesus’ comfort for over 1,000 scared and troubled children who, through no fault of their own, have been deprived of the love and nurture that every child longs for and deserves.

When you pray, please remember to pray for one of our boys at the Mansion whose mother recently committed suicide and his father overdosed on drugs.

While not all of our children at the Mansion are true orphans in the strictest sense of the term, most all of our residents are “social orphans” in that their parents have stepped out of their lives and abdicated their role as a mother and a father.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

You can help support Tupelo Children’s Mansion by becoming a Mansion Kid Sponsor.

You will receive a welcome packet upon enrollment. Each quarter, an update will be sent to you with information about how your child is doing, along with a new photo, and ways that that you can make a difference in your child’s life.

For more information on how you can support Tupelo Children’s Mansion, go to http://www.mansionkids.org. Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @stephenjudd @ermajudd @mansionkids

Just one day left!

BY STEPHEN JUDD
PRESIDENT

There’s just one day left in 2011!

Of course, you already knew that. But let me remind you that tomorrow is the last day to make a tax-deductible gift before the new year.

If you don’t need the tax deduction, I can assure you that Tupelo Children’s Mansion certainly needs your contribution. This has been a very difficult year for charitable organizations like TCM. As we close out this year, we desperately need all the help we can from precious folks that love this ministry.

Don’t wait.

Make your gift right now! You can go online and make a year-end donation at:  http://www.mansionkids.org/donate.asp

Your gift today will go to the children who need help the most right now. It will also provide life-changing essentials to children in desperate need.

Tupelo Children’s Mansion is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations and contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. Almost all of our support comes from individual donors just like you.

Thank you for helping ring in the new year right!

The True Meaning of Christmas

BY MARGO BURTON
Special Assistant

Christmas at the Mansion undeniably begins in the month of October. It begins as children write letters to their sponsors that includes their needs and wishes. Excitement is in the air as the decorations are placed on the grounds as well as each resident hall. Preparations are made as individual sponsors and churches call to schedule their visits and parties.

The first weekend in December is always saved for the Tupelo parade. The children enjoy watching the floats and hearing the bands as they ring out their favorite Christmas carols. Churches kick off the week by bringing gifts and having pizza parties. Donations are made that will help towards goodies and Christmas dinners.

The second weekend is always saved as the Biker’s Toy Run. This year we celebrated the 22^nd annual Biker’s Toy Run with 150 motorcycles along with 5 other children’s homes. Each child is given a large sack of presents from an individual who has sacrificed to make each child’s Christmas special.

The week before Christmas is always hectic, yet exhilarating! The Sponsor Relations Department does an excellent job in insuring that each child at the Mansion has a wonderful Christmas. Each present is wrapped and put in a special box for each child for that special morning.

As I again had the privilege of wrapping gifts this year, I was reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. The remembrance that God gave His only son as our gift so that we would have everlasting life; that we would receive His love and in turn give to others so that they would have a better life. The true meaning of Christmas is found at Tupelo Children’s Mansion not only at Christmas but every day of the year as people like you give to this worthy ministry.