About Cookson Hills Christian Ministries

What is your mission statement?

We, a ministry of independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, supported by charitable gifts from those churches, individuals, and other organizations, seek to honor Jesus Christ in our ministry to children and families by helping them become and develop as His disciples. We are committed to excellence in providing a Christian environment for children in our care while out of their own homes. We strive to develop healthy child-family relationships, to provide an education that is Christ-centered, and to train and encourage children and their families to live according to the scriptures.

What geographic area do you serve?

We serve children and their families throughout the United States. We currently have children in our care from 11 different states.

Please give a brief history of your ministry?

Cookson Hills began accepting children in February 1957. During the spring of that year the Board of Directors formed and signed the Articles of Incorporation. Cookson Hills officially became Cookson Hills Christian School. In September of that year the first classes were held with several students attending. The decades of the 1960s and the 70s were years of initial growth. In the 1980s and 90s, the school continued to grow, adding new programs and facilities until today 18 cottages exist for child care as well as other staff homes, a new office building, classrooms, a gymnasium, maintenance buildings and a working farm. As we begin the next decade and, as God provides, we are improving our facilities and programs to keep up with the ever-changing demands of quality childcare and education.

Over the years, the ministry of Cookson Hills has touched hundreds of students and staff. Since our founding, Cookson Hills Christian Ministries has literally raised a generation of youth. Lives have been changed and given the opportunity to be set on a straight course that follows Christ. Our children are taught a Christian worldview in the K-12 Christian school that is housed on the grounds. Houseparents lovingly provide guidance and instruction in everyday home situations.

Describe your facilities and staff?

We have 18 homes currently be used for child-care. They range in size from three to seven bedrooms. We have an accredited K-12 Christian school on grounds, as well as food and clothing stores, auto mechanic shop, wood and metal shops, service station and several other buildings on 1000 acres. We currently have 80 full time staff and 24 retired staff. We are licensed for 160 children, but our census is typically dependent upon our staff dynamics and our ability to meet the needs of each individual child.

What, if any are your group affiliations? (Church, social, etc.) Explain

New Testament Independent Christian Church

Childcare licensing through the Department of Human Services for the State of Oklahoma

School accreditation through the State Department of Education for the State of Oklahoma

Please describe the financial need of the ministry?

Our daily budgeted need is $6700. We appreciate all levels of funding and continue to strive to operate efficiently and effectively, providing excellent child care services that are Christ-centered.

In April our Board of Directors approved a 2.4 million dollar budget. For the last several years we have proposed a budget that reflected mostly a cost of living increase and maintained the current level of operations. God has been faithful to provide what we needed to meet the goal. This year we designed a budget that would provide adequate funds for optimum operations. In other words, we projected the costs of full houses and numbers of qualified staff to reach our licensing standard maximums.

As always, we operate on a pay-as-you-go basis. This means that we will only do what God provides the funds for us to do. We have prayerfully proposed a vision that only God can accomplish. Will you allow Him to use you to make the vision a reality? Over the next several years, we are asking that you prayerfully consider increasing your giving by 10% to meet the financial projection of the vision. In addition, we are especially asking you to pray that God sends houseparents, teachers, and support staff to fill our child care homes to capacity and meet the increasing needs of the children He sends us. We thank you for being involved in this ministry. God is using you to change the lives of children and their families?

How do you raise funds to operate?

Cookson Hills Christian Ministries currently has over 600 churches sending financial support, in addition to individual and foundational donors. We operate annually at approximately 2.4 million dollars. It has been through the joint support of many, that we have been able to serve so many children and their families over 40 years. While we encourage parents of placed children to contribute to the cost of taking care of their child, we do not make their ability to pay a condition of placement.

What percentage of your budget is used for administration?

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, we operated at 17%, which includes promotional expenses.

What changes, needs, or improvements are you anticipating in your organization or ministry?

We are always in need of staff. We believe that God is opening doors for the expansion of our child-care capacity and we rely on Him to provide the staff necessary to make the vision a reality.

Changing child-care licensing standards, school accreditation standards, as well as fire and health codes are always a challenge to our ministry. We desire to be an example of excellence to the rest of the world while not compromising any Christian standards.

In our Education program, we anticipate an "Vocational Agriculture" program, along with a green house program for our elementary and high school ages. We see agriculture as a key element in foreign missions.

More Questions?