We all like to dream about the future of new and exciting possibilities. But have you ever stopped to think about what the future looks like to a hungry child whose parents lost their jobs and home? Or to the neglected child who lives in a locked bedroom of a drug-infested house? Or to a child whose only proof of parental interaction is a body covered with bruises? To these children the future is not an exciting dream…it is a nightmare. We, the United Methodist Church of South Carolina, refuse to let these tragedies define childhood for our neighbors. We stand with these children and promise to transform their future. Through the ministry of Epworth Children’s Home we open our doors to these children, surround them with comprehensive care and provide them with the opportunity to transform their lives. Epworth goes above and beyond just food and shelter. It provides 182 children each year with tutoring, counseling, health care, fun activities, and the spiritual formation they need to heal and belong. On Sunday, May 11, our congregation will stand with Epworth to break the cycle of abuse, neglect and shame through our collection of the Annual Epworth Mother’s Day Offering. Without the support of churches like ours, Epworth could not provide transformational care for children in need. We invite you to give generously to the children who call Epworth home. For more information about Epworth Children’s Home, you can visit them on the web at www.epworthchildrenshome.org or find them on Facebook.