Last Friday, our speaker was Mr. Jay Craig, the Director of Stewardship at Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch in Shelbina and Clarence, Missouri. Mr. Craig related stories about some of the students that have graduated from Shiloh over the years, which house abused and neglected children from all over the Midwest. These students include a young lady from South Dakota who is now a researcher at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, an Oklahoma student who now runs his own recording studio, several graduates who are now moving through the ranks of the armed forces and a several more that just live normal lives.

Shiloh has a staff of 25 with room for up to 60 children. As a not-for-profit, religious based organization, they are not required to be a licensed home in Missouri, nor do they accept government grants. As a result, there student population is currently around 30, as state agencies in Missouri have made the decision to send children only to licensed homes.

Without government funding, Shiloh operates almost entirely on contributions from the public. With a budget of nearly $2 million, that's a lot of public contributions. Shiloh has an 8 member board of directors that includes Pete Million of Quincy.

Thanks to Mel Dillman, an old Monroe City classmate of Jay's, for the introduction.