ICMinistries History |
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| Since 1967 the Illini Christian Ministries, Inc. (ICMinistries) has focused on preserving families and protecting and caring for children at risk. Over 3,000 children and their families have been served over the past 33 years. In 2000 alone, ICMinistries served 523 children and families through foster care, pregnancy support and adoption. Whether the problem is abuse, neglect, crisis pregnancy, infertility, a runaway or behavior problems, a parent's inability to care for their child due to death, illness or lack of ability to parent, or family dysfunction ICMinistries can help |
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| 1967 |
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The love of Christ moved men from Champaign, Vermilion and Douglas Counties in East Central Illinois to join together in the bond of love and prayer to establish a home for children in need. On December 6, 1966, they met to crystallize their intention with a formal organization. The Christian Men's Association provided strong support in starting the work and helped to incorporate the Illini Children's Christian Home. Out of the initial meeting, 12 men from 11 congregations formed a Board of Directors for ICCH
Feb 20, 1967 papers were signed for incorporation. Bill Tucker was called to be the superintendent of ICCH
June 7, 1967 the St Joseph facility (home, office, infirmary, garage, storeroom and foster home) was completed
Children were placed in foster homes throughout the St Joseph area
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| 1968 |
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The first family unit was completed at St Joseph. This unit was designed to house 12 children with live-in house parents |
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| 1970 |
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The second family unit was completed at St Joseph
Goals were established to begin a church related adoption agency and foster care program |
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| 1971 |
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Bill Tucker became the 1st Executive Director |
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| 1973 |
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August brought the completion of a new family unit at Erie, Illinois
The State of Illinois issued a temporary Child Welfare Agency License |
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| 1974 |
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March brought the completion of a new family unit at Macomb, Illinois
A permanent Child Welfare Agency license was granted which gave ICCH the ability to develop the adoption and Christian Foster Care Ministries
The first baby was placed for adoption |
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| 1975 |
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February brought the addition of a new family unit at Dix, Illinois |
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| 1989 |
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A St Joseph unit was designated as a unit specializing in Pregnant Teens |
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| 1991 |
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ICCH entered into agreement with Eastern Illinois Christian Assembly in Oblong to provide the supervision of their program under our Child Welfare Agency umbrella |
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| 1992 |
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Bill Tucker retired from the full-time Executive Director position and became the part-time Director of Planed Giving
Dr Earl Beaty was called to the Executive Director position |
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| 1993 |
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ICCH became debt free |
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| 1996 |
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Efforts were underway to establish a Christian Foster Care Ministry
A new administration building in St Joseph with all expenses paid prior to completion was completed & moved into |
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| 1997 |
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Our agreement with Eastern Illinois Christian Assembly in Oblong ended in December |
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| 1998 |
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As of January 1, Dr Earl Beaty retired as Executive Director and Donna Jones was called to the position |
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| 1999 |
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The name Illini Children's Christian Home was changed to better reflect the services to children and their families. It became Illini Children's Christian Home Ministries, Inc
Christian Foster Care Ministry became a reality with NO state contracts or State funding. By the end of 1999, twenty-nine new foster homes were established
Our 100th baby was placed in her adoptive home in May |
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| 2000 |
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The Pregnancy Support Ministry was expanded in order to facilitate private and international adoptions. By July of 2000, 15 international adoptions were finalized |
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| 2001 |
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In March, the board decided to modify the name to Illini Children’s Christian Ministries. Since our ministry focus is not only 6 homes but on individual families throughout the state. As Christian foster care ministry grew, the need for our campus housing shrank. To be good stewards of God’s Blessings, the house in Macomb was sold to the Maple Avenue Christian Church |
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