John Wishon Chairman-Owner WWWC Radio/Foothills Media Inc.

Jerry Sidden Vice Chairman-Retired Project Manager for John S. Clark Builders

Gail Walsh Secretary- Owner of Sisters, Melody Square, North Wilkesboro

Rev. Ken Pardue Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church

Will Hartley Owner of Builders Choice Kitchen & Bath

Bridgett Gardner Lowe's Employee

Cathy Graham Educator

Kevin Sheets President, Dealer Financial Services

Doug Rollins Insurance Agent, Faw Insurance

Prospective board members are nominated by a current member and if voted in, serve a four year term. The board meets the first Monday of each month to pray and discuss the business of the children's home. Our board members are not just people who meet once in a while to make decisions, you will see all of us involved in the various activities that involves Ebenezer from share-a-thons, to Singing in the Foothills, the golf tournament, even attending adoption ceremonies for the children that Ebenezer has helped to place with forever families. No board member receives any compensation for serving other than the many blessings that are involved. All financial decisions, including salaries, are made by the board of directors. Ebenezer is audited each year by Kim Walker, CPA, who presents her findings to the Board of Directors.

Ebenezer now has four homes: Genesis, Faith, Charity, and Hope. These four homes give us the capacity of 33 children. We are constantly either at or near capacity. As many of you know, our next project is for a foster home in the Oakwoods Community on some beautiful land that has been donated.

Earlier this year construction completed on a new office building. Many people do not realize how small the space was that our administrative staff has worked in over the years. The basement of the Charity home served us well for some time but we have grown to the point that we had to have more space. We looked into several modular units but they were not cost effective to accommodate the needed fireproof rooms and some space for future growth. We are committed to continuing to care for more and more children and it is only a wise builder that "counts the cost" and looks into the future with anticipation of growth. The office is a very nice, but modest, white brick building with sheet rock walls and carpet floors that provides us with some much needed security near the entrance to the Ebenezer property. Some of the materials and labor for the offices were donated, the rest we paid for out of finances raised during the share-a-thons on 3WC.

These are exciting days at Ebenezer and the Lord has pushed the fast-forward button in the last few years. In a way, it seems like just yesterday that funds were being raised for the first home and property for five children. When you are faithful over a few things the Lord will increase your realm of responsibility.

The Board of Directors had a wonderful two-day meeting last weekend specifically to outline our vision for the future. We have never been more excited about what the Lord is doing with this ministry and with what he has laid on our heart for the future. We will be releasing those plans as the year progresses.

The Board also has never been more proud of our staff. Our office staff, house parents, and Attic employees do such a wonderful job and deserve WAY more than they are paid. Our Executive Director, Jean Davis has been with us since day one and we can not express enough our confidence in her. Jean oversees the day to day operations of all of the different areas of ministry at Ebenezer. Even though Jean makes no financial decisions and is not on the Board of Directors, she is always faithful to carry out the Board's wishes. We never cease to be amazed that she still manages to know so much about each of the children that have called Ebenezer home. Sherry Reeves, our Associate Director, has been such an asset to the ministry. She does a fantastic job coordinating volunteers for all of our fundraising events in addition to her regular job responsibilities. A special thanks to Mrs. Arliene who handles the accounting for all of Ebenezer's donated funds, sales from The Attic, and ticket sales for Singing in the Foothills. She pours her heart into her job and even though her work load has increased with Ebenezer's growth, she still pays close attention to every penny that's given.

For the past several months, we have been in the process of accreditation with two organizations that will increase our financial accountability. The Word of God teaches us that "where much is known, much is required." We clearly understand that we should not only be excited about future growth but we are also required to protect what has been entrusted to us. These steps are being taken not to correct a problem, but to protect the integrity of the ministry from the enemy whose job it is to steal, kill, and destroy. So in addition to the "in-house accounting" by Mrs. Arliene and by Kim Walker, our independent CPA, you will be seeing reports on our website and in print from the two fine organizations that we are working with. I am not at liberty to name the organizations we are working with since the process has not been completed. Just be assured that Ebenezer will be listed for financial integrity beside organizations like Samaritan's Purse, Campus Crusade For Christ, World Vision, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Focus on the Family, and In Touch Ministries, among many others.

2009 marks Ebenezer's 15th anniversary and is shaping up to be a very busy year. Our Spring share-a-thon on 3WC is April 10th and 11th. We will continue to raise funds for the new foster home on the Oakwoods Community. Singing in the Foothills, our largest event will expand to three days this year, June 25th-27th at Wilkesboro Raceway Park. July 11th, we will team up with 3WC Radio for the 15th anniversary celebration of the radio station and the Home. We will be announcing details of this event in the near future. Later on this year will be our annual golf tournament and Fall share-a-thon. Even though the children are always taken care of thanks to the funds from DSS and our church supporters, it is these large fundraising events that allow us to build the buildings to take care of more and more children. The focus at Ebenezer today is the same as it was 15 years ago, to care for hurting children in a Christ-centered environment.

As always, if you have any questions about the Home, feel free to call 667-LOVE. We would be glad to answer any question you may have. In closing, our Board would like to thank all of the donors, churches, and volunteers who give so much to help us answer the call to care for hurting children. Most of all, our thanks and praise goes to our King of Kings, Jesus Christ!