MidSouth Mission Partners with Holston Home for Children

The MidSouth Annual Conference is pleased to announce the approved mission partnership with Holston Home for Children, located in Greeneville, TN. As part of the Global Methodist initiative to engage in mission with organizations steeped in Wesleyan theology, we are thrilled that Holston Home for Children has focused on the ministry of helping children and families facing significant challenges through that Wesleyan lens. Their aim is to offer biblical teaching while sharing and demonstrating the love of Jesus with children and families.

Since their establishment in 1895, they have helped thousands of children. During the 2024-2025 calendar year, they assisted 469 children in the Tennessee and Virginia area, including 57 professions of faith and 6 children finding their forever homes through adoption. Their profound impact on the lives of these children includes a 66% college or tech school enrollment across the past decade demonstrating that they are not only caring for the immediate physical needs of these children, but also the long-term care needed for these children to grow into adults capable of caring for themselves, alongside the spiritual nurturing they receive during their time at Holston Home.

While modeling the Christian life for those they serve, they also provide assistance with healing from trauma, recovery from addiction, family reunification, care for people with disabilities, support for learning and socialization, services for foster care and adoption, and much more. Their approach considers the needs of the individual and the family while working toward solutions that meet people where they are, so they can progress.

As we formed this mission partnership, our MidSouth Conference Connectional Officer, the Reverend Dr. Chris Howlett, was blessed with the opportunity to spend time in discussion with Seth Taylor, the Vice President of Development at Holston Home for Children. Knowing of their work, Rev. Howlett endorsed them, stating,

I am grateful for the faithful ministry of Holston Home for Children, a Christ-centered organization that embodies our Wesleyan and holiness heritage through compassionate, transformative care. For more than a century, Holston Home has provided hope, healing, and stability for children and families facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. I commend Holston Home for Children to our churches as a trusted ministry partner, worthy of prayer, support, and engagement, as together we seek to share the love of Jesus and help children and families flourish.

Our MidSouth Conference Superintendent, Rev. Todd Chancey, knows first-hand the work of this organization, having experienced ministry work with them in the past, also praised this mission partnership, saying,

Holston Home for Children has been part of my ministry for over 20 years. I can remember all the good God has graced the children’s home with many times. Their love for God and for children is a testament to how they live out their calling to serve those in need, especially children. Any help local churches in the MidSouth can provide will go to care for children within the bounds of the MidSouth Annual Conference. Holston Home for Children agrees with the Global Methodist Church on Biblical Authority and Scripture Holiness in all we do, as we live and serve. They are truly a mission partner with the MidSouth, and we praise God for the partnership. Please, local churches, help if you can.

As a Conference, we are grateful for the trust Holston Home for Children has entrusted us to join them in this ministry. If you or your congregation would like to take the next steps to show your support, we encourage you to consider the 5th Sunday Offering, volunteering, and joining in prayer. If you would like to support Holston Home for Children, you can learn more about giving and help collect items to meet their needs, such as school supplies and personal care items.

Stay tuned as we develop this partnership and share more ways to get involved in the ministry of Holston Home for Children, including an upcoming interview on our MidSouth podcast, Striking Sparks.