VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/12/16)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has provided a $15,000 gift to Murrow Indian Children’s Home, Muskogee, Okla., on behalf of the American Baptist family. The gift includes all donations from ABHMS’ GoFundMe campaign and an ABHMS matching grant.

The home was challenged recently, when it respectfully declined donations from an atheist organization. Targeted with abusive telephone calls and Facebook posts from the group and its sympathizers, the home deactivated its Facebook page and feared disruption of its annual fundraising event, which turned out, instead, to be a record-setting success.

“All of us at ABHMS were profoundly troubled by the recent undeserved attacks on Murrow from the Muskogee Atheist Community,” says Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, ABHMS executive director. “We deeply respect and admire the firm stance that Murrow took in defense of its Christian principles, even as it recognized that doing so entailed waiving receipt of a potential financial windfall. The home’s stance embodied courage, conviction, strength and faith. The gift is our way of letting Murrow know that the American Baptist family stands with them.”

Murrow Indian Children’s Home has been caring for Native American children with support from ABHMS and its predecessor organizations for decades.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on leadership, discipleship and healing communities.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.