April 21, 2003

AT Breckenridge Village of Tyler's fifth anniversary celebration, guest speaker Anne Murchison greets resident Brien Wylie and Kevin Dinnin, president of Baptist Child & Family Services.

Breckenridge Village celebrates five years
___By Orville Scott
___Texas Baptist Communications
___TYLER--For five years, Breckenridge Village has "lifted the weight of the world" from the shoulders of worried parents concerned about who would care for their special-needs children after the parents' lifetime.
___"For those of us who have been blessed with a special-needs child--and I am one of those parents--we begin early thinking about what will happen when we are no longer around," author and speaker Anne Murchison said at Breckenridge Village of Tyler's fifth anniversary celebration.
___Murchison, widow of Clint Murchison, original owner of the Dallas Cowboys, said the anniversary observance coincided with the 40th birthday of Breckenridge's first resident, Jimmy Breckenridge.
___Jimmy's mother, Jean, provided "the key piece of the Breckenridge puzzle," when she gave 70 acres of land near Tyler Pounds Field Airport, Murchison said.
___In 1998, about 300 Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders and other volunteers erected six residences, an administration building and a vocational building.
___Three years ago, about 40 church construction volunteers returned to Breckenridge to construct a chapel named for the late Bob Rogers of Tyler, whose charitable foundation provided funds for the chapel.
___At the anniversary observance, Kevin Dinnin, president of Baptist Child & Family Services of San Ant

KEVIN Dinnin, president of Baptist Child and Family Services, San Antonio, presents first annual Robert and Jean Breckenridge Freedom Award to Texas Baptist Men represented by Wilton Davis, immediate past director of Retiree Builders; Arvil Pickett, coordinator of the Volunteer Builders of Smith Baptist Association; and Bill Pigott, director of Retiree Builders. (Photo by Orville Scott)

onio, which operates Breckenridge Village, presented the first annual Robert and Jean Breckenridge Freedom Award to Texas Baptist Men.
___Receiving the award on behalf of the volunteers were Bill Pigott of Glenview Baptist Church in Fort Worth, director of Retiree Builders; Wilton Davis of First Baptist Church of Dallas, immediate past director of Retiree Builders; and Arvil Pickett, coordinator of the Volunteer Builders of Smith Baptist Association.
___Other awards went to Susan Parker of Tyler, volunteer of the year; Hallie Benefield of Dallas, Pathfinders Award; and Pruitt Baptist Church near Van, Faithfulness Award.
___A choir of Breckenridge residents sang at the anniversary observance. They have sung in 40 churches in two years.
___In the keynote address, Murchison quoted from several staff members, including Campus Director Virginia Saban, who said the staff and residents are ordinary people who are "able to accomplish extraordinary things because of the presence of God."
___Residents are "easily pleased, quick to forgive, excited about small things and find beauty in amazing places," she said. "They love unconditionally, laugh whole-heartedly and live honestly.
___"Contrary to the assumption that there are few things the residents can do, they are involved in ministries in the community, including serving as volunteers in Meals-on-Wheels and Adopt-a-Park."
___The greatest needs at Breckenridge Village, Saban reported, include contributions toward a $5 million endowment goal and scholarship assistance for new residents.
___She also cited a need for Sunday School classes to "adopt" a resident and send birthday cards or letters or visit the resident on campus.
___Murchison closed her address by quoting Jean Breckenridge: "You have lifted the weight of the world from my shoulders in my knowing that Jimmy and others will have a Christian, caring home for the rest of their lives."
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