By ANGELA WARD

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Albert Reyes, the new president of Buckner International, visited with clients and staff at Buckner Children and Family Services in Longview on Wednesday.

It was the first stop on what Reyes characterized as his “presidential tour” in which he will visit all of the nonprofit agency’s Texas facilities.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve in this position,” Reyes said. “Our mission remains the same: to make life better for vulnerable children and elders.”

Buckner operates a wide range of services aimed at helping children, including foster and adoptive care and after school programs. Its elder care facilities in Longview include the first nursing home in Texas modeled on the Green House concept, which provide a more homelike atmosphere than typical nursing homes.

“We’ll continue to offer our adoptive and foster care homes for children who need a home different from the one their biological parents are able to provide,” Reyes said, “because, unfortunately, there’s always going to be a need for those services. However, we’re also putting more emphasis on family-strengthening programs, to help keep families healthy so there are fewer children in foster care.”

Imani Perry, 13, was on hand to represent the Stars program, which Buckner runs in conjunction with First Baptist Church, to provide tutoring and mentoring for middle school students.

“It’s been a really good thing for me to be part of,” Perry said. “They help me with my homework and provide a lot of support in making the right choices.”

Her mother, Treva Perry, said she had an older child go through the program and was glad it was available.

Kara and Locke Curfman, who recently began serving as foster parents through Buckner, said the experience has been beneficial for them and their family.

“I was adopted through Buckner as an infant and I’ve always wanted to serve as a foster parent, but it took awhile for our whole family to be on the same page about the idea,” Kara Curfman said.

Published by Longview News Journal:  http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2010/02/18/02182010_buckner.html

Longview, Texas:  Defining moments—you know, those small instances in the day that seem to make everything right; that make every effort worthwhile.  I experienced one of these instances just recently during our S.T.A.R.S. After-School Program.  Between discussing math problems, reminding the students to use encouraging words instead of negative, and keeping them focused on their tasks, one student approached me, pointing at the bulletin board. 

“Miss, that says Luke.  I’ve heard of Luke.  He wrote a book in the Bible.  I’ve been reading the Bible.” 

“That’s great Antonio!” I encouraged.  “What have you been reading?”

“Well, it hasn’t been Luke.  I’ve been reading in Matthew.  The Crucifixion of Jesus.  I just can’t seem to get enough of it.  I keep re-reading the same passage over and over.  I find it so interesting.”

“What about this passage do you find so intriguing.”

“You know miss, He [Jesus] just hung there, in pain.  He could have gotten off of there if he wanted, but He didn’t.  I don’t think I could have done that.  If I was hurting so much, I would have just gotten off.”

With a smile, he soon carried on with his homework and our conversation was over.  But in that moment, there was a peace that soothed over all the hectic conversations and loud noises.  It was that instance that blessed my heart more than he will ever know.  That moment made the program a success; it made all the hard times worthwhile.  Buckner’s vision: “to lead children…towards God’s redemptive purpose for their lives” was revealed in that defining moment. 

-Kandyce Ormes

Life Skills Specilist

BCFS-Longview