The Legacy of Mom Bolin

I am sharing my message space with one who knew Edna Bolin better than most ~ her son, Lendal Bolin. Lendal and his wife Elaine have spent their lives in ministry in congregations in Texas and Oklahoma. When Edna retired from MCCH, she went to live with them in Enid, Oklahoma, where Lendal was preaching at the time.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed.”

All those who knew Edna Bolin recall her quiet and loving spirit. In 2006, when Maude Carpenter Children’s Home (now Carpenter Place) was celebrating its 60th anniversary, those who had worked and lived with Mom Bolin listed her at the top of their list of “important people to me.” They described her as quiet and a bit shy, but someone who had a great influence over them. Both children and adults agreed that she exhibited unconditional love to each of them.

Bevery Becker recalled many instances of going to Edna with a concern or problem and said that the discussions almost always ended in prayer.

Edna Bolin reared her three children alone with a strong and loving care for them. In a Wichita Eagle newspaper interview, she reflected that she struggled with feelings of shyness. “This made it easy for me to related to the needs of those around me.” After 12 years with MCCH, Director Clay Becker stated that she had become “the geomagnetic center of the campus, the one with whom everyone feels free to unburden their problems.”

Mom Bolin began her service with MCCH as a laundry lady. Because of her diligent willingness to serve, she became a houseparent of three; then the houseparent of nine. She also served as a storeroom and supply clerk. She was a frequent babysitter for children of houseparents. By thetime she retired in 1977, she wore the title “senior houseparent.” In 15 years of faithful service, she had earned a position of honor that she dearly cherished.

At Mom Bolin’s retirement, Clay Becker asked her children stand so they could be recognized. In addition to her three biological children, about half of the large audience stood. She had become the endeared “Mom Bolin” to many and they rose to give her the recognition that she deserved.

Many of those “kids” and the second generation children of Mom Bolin have come together to build a new home on the Carpenter Place campus The Mom Bolin Home will be a haven for seven young girls.

It is the prayer that this beautiful home that bears the name of “Mom Bolin” will always be filled with her sirit of love and joy and that it will be instilled in the staff and children. Carpenter Place will continue to be a place of healing love.

Mom Bolin would have been embarrassed to have even one compliment in public. She would have credited the Lord and ask that she not distract from the honor due Him, even though others might think she was deserving.

The goal for Carpenter Place and the new home is to continue her legacy of love.

Lendal Bolin

Behind the Name Change

The name “Carpenter Place” retains an important link to our past, while opening up wonderful possibilities for the future. 

Our society requires some effort, thought and investment of energy to change a name. An individual wishing to change his or her name must file a petition, provide notification, and have a judge sign the order. A corporation planning a name change must follow a prescribed order of notifications, voting and resolution from the Board of Trustees and then register with the Secretary of State. These steps are necessary because a name is a very significant thing in the life of a person or organization. 

The change from “Maude Carpenter Children’s Home” to “Carpenter Place” was not made quickly or lightly. As early as 2003 in a Board Retreat, there was discussion about whether a name change could be beneficial in helping raise awareness in the larger community about our mission. 

In August of 2007, a series of focus groups was held with donors, Board and Resource Council members and other stakeholders. Some of the reasons mentioned to consider a name change were:

“Children’s Home” does not accurately describe the program or age range of our residents and may limit our effectiveness in expanding programming to other populations or ages. 

“Children’s Home” can bring up an institutional, “orphan’s home” image. 

“Maude Carpenter Children’s Home” is cumberson to pronounce and is easily misunderstood by someone with no previous knowledge of the agency. 

People often confuse us with the Wichita Children’s Home. 

Over the last year, a committee made up of myself, two Board members and two volunteers experienced in the area of marketing and branding, met several times to consider a proposal for an effective and positive name. We decided to embrace the blessing of having a name with such positive connotations as “Carpenter” and retain that part of our current name. The next issue was identifying a word that would have a strong emphasis, yet be broad enough in anture to accomodate plans and programs well into the future. ”Place” was the best candidate. 

We know there will be many of you who will always refer to this ministry as “Maude’s” and that’s okay! But the Board and staff who are looking to ensure that this mission is still thriving 20, 40 and 60 years from now feel strongly that an image “makeover” will help us grow our programs as well as our support base.