Buckner International: Giving Hope Globally to Children, Families, and Seniors
By Darrell W. Wood
The author served Buckner in its Dallas, Texas, headquarters as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, 1986-89, before joining the staff and adjunct faculty at Dallas Baptist University.
Buckner International is a non-profit Christian charitable organization with a global reach and impact. Founded in 1879 by Baptist preacher R. C. Buckner in Paris, Texas, with the $27 raised under an oak tree during a meeting of Baptist deacons, the first children's home was opened in Dallas, Texas.
"Father" Buckner, founded Buckner Orphans Home in Dallas after seeing the needs of hurting and orphaned children in post-Civil War Texas. During the first years, Buckner was filled with children left parentless due to disease and hardship.
The oak tree is a fitting symbol for expressing the growth, strength and stability of Buckner over the years. Buckner began with a prayer and an appeal for funds under an oak tree in Paris, Texas, in 1877. Since its charter in 1879, Buckner has grown from a modest beginning to the largest private Christian social care agency of its kind.
The oak tree appropriately symbolizes the heart of Buckner: rooted firmly in the traditions of the past, yet ever expansive as it looks to the future in ministering to the whole person. The deeper the roots, the greater the outreach of its many branches--this depicts Buckner today as it reaches out to help thousands in need.
Although it was established initially as an orphanage, Buckner International evolved over time to become one of the most highly respected Christian social services agency in the nation with multiple ministries in the U.S. and globally. Buckner is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) representing Texas Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Baptist World Alliance.
"Buckner is there because we care..." has been the historic missional thrust of Buckner's ministries.
Buckner CEO Dr. Albert L. Reyes has served since 2012 to head up the international Christian ministry. The author's tenure at Buckner was under R. C. Campbell, who served as president and general manager at Buckner for 31 years, 1963-1994. (Since 1879, Buckner has been led by only six presidents.)
Buckner International's Statement of Faith declares: Buckner International is a ministry dedicated to the transformation and restoration of the lives we serve. We are a Christ-centered organization that delivers redemptive ministry to the most vulnerable from the beginning to the ending of life.
The focus of Buckner International includes:
In a Celebration of Cooperation conference in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1988, Campbell reaffirmed Buckner's basic mission and commitment to cooperative support. An article in Buckner Today--edited by the author--in June 1988, titled "Buckner Reaffirms Cooperative Mission," summarizes the focus of the conference.
The Buckner head made his 'declaration of interdependence' in a symposium with two other Baptist leaders, Jesse Fletcher, president of Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas, and Harold Bennett, president and treasurer of the SBC Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee.
In addressing the theme "Baptists Need Human Welfare Institutions," Campbell challenged the 600 Texas Baptist pastors and lay leaders of the need to remain true to our "core mission"...not only to evangelize but to go into the world "to educate, to heal, to nurture and to love."
The priority for human welfare institutions was presented by Campbell from the perspective of a biblical base, historical significance, and ministry to society--particularly in the areas of hunger, health, and spiritual well-being. Campbell pointed out that Buckner and other welfare agencies are loved and accepted by our lay people and stressed the importance of keeping Texas Baptists close to what we are doing in our ministries.
"Ministries--not programs--have helped us grow to where we are today," Campbell said.
Sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the year-long Celebration of Cooperation emphasis is "in recognition of our responsibility to share God's love through a partnership of churches, associations, institutions, and ministries," according to William Pinson, Jr., director, BGCT Executive Board.
Buckner, faithful to its founding principles, has been such a partnership of shared ministries. Over the years, concerned and committed individuals have supported Buckner in reaching out to hurting humanity.
Two cataclysmic catastrophes resulted in Buckner's largest intake of children:
In Buckner's 1986-87 Annual Report, produced by the author, the following words were written for the "President's Report":
Buckner continues to provide leadership in quality care--for the lonely, neglected child; for the adolescent struggling for acceptance; for the aging person facing a future with anxiety and uncertainty. All of this would not be possible without the support of individuals, churches, and corporations whose generosity sustains our many ministries:
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Buckner's values are reflected in its current missional motto: "Hope shines here"--
In the 1985-86 Annual Report, R. C. Campbell's "President's Report" stated:
Buckner...constant yet creative. This statement expresses the heart of Buckner. Since its founding in 1879, we have been in the business of helping those not able to help themselves.
The constancy of our presence is consistent with Buckner's purpose--meeting the needs of hurting people through Christian social care ministries.
Buckner began as a basic child-care ministry. Today--107 years later--we are still known for our service to thousands of children annually. While we have been constant in our commitment, we have also been creative in meeting the needs of a changing society. For that reason, Buckner today is a multi-service organization spanning the state, with 30 program units in 20 Texas locations, serving over 4,000 individuals during 1985-86.
In addition to the more traditional childcare and related family assistance, Buckner provides maternity care and adoption services, retirement services, counseling/crisis intervention, and specialized treatment programs.
Dedicated to the Christian ideals and biblical principles basic to our mission, Buckner continues to find creative ways and means to meet current social needs.
Buckner stands on the threshold of a new era--one that will demand our best efforts in the days ahead. The opportunities and needs that lie before us represent promise backed by past performance, as we seek to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us.
Buckner...constant yet creative...will continue to be and do that which is central to our purpose--ministering to the whole person. We pledge ourselves anew and reaffirm our intent to reach out to the least, the last, the lonely, the lost--following the example of our Lord.
Buckner International continues to give hope globally to children, families, and seniors. The full range of services includes all levels of care from birth to death--based on the constancy of biblical principles and the creativity to meet changing social needs.
The whole mission of the whole church is to take the whole gospel to the whole world for the whole person.
Although Buckner had provided foster care/adoption services for many years, since 2009, Buckner International has offered foster care and adoption services through partnership with the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). Dr. Reyes, sixth president of Buckner since its founding, serves as a member of the CAFO board of trustees. In addition to the U.S., countries of operation include Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Mexico.
Father Buckner's deep compassion for the hopeless and helpless was the driving force behind his ministry. That same spirit, shared by Dr. Reyes today, constantly looks for innovative ways to deliver social ministries, including those to seniors.
A prime example of such creative innovations is Ventana by Buckner, which opened in 2019 in Dallas. Ventana offers high-rise luxury senior living with multiple floor plans and a full spectrum of services:
Buckner has provided seniors with dignified living and expert care since 1954. Constant yet creative continues to be the strategy of Buckner today and for the future. All Buckner ministries give hope to those touched by its many services.
Christian hope is based ultimately on the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All who receive and follow Him are assured of this same hope of victory over life and death.
The apostle Paul declares the hope and victory of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57:
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
"but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
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