The Christian Home Orphanage
Taken from "History of Pottawattamie County" of 1907
Inaugurated in 1882; incorporated in 1883
Those who are skeptical as to the Bible story of the prophet being fed by ravens, should visit the above named institution.
In the fall of 1882, Rev. J. G. Lemen, then pastor of the First Baptist Church of Council Bluffs, organized a department in connection with his church work to give aid to the poor of the city.
It soon became known and children brought them to him even as they were to another person some nineteen centuries ago, and if he did not claim to bless, he fed and clothed them.
Himself poor, he struggled on often far into the night, but always found a way to meet the emergency. Children continued to come, and the work grew until it encroached upon the time he owed to his pastoral duties. At his point, he claimed, God's hand appeared and the decision was made for him, not by him. He gave up his pastoral work and devoted his whole time, and that of his family, to the work of saving destitute and afflicted children. His house being too small he rented others, having faith that the Lord would put it into the hearts of the people to sustain him.
At times he did not know where the next day's food was to come from, but it came. More room was needed as the children continued to come, more houses were rented and help employed and the money came to pay for them. Hundreds of our citizens had no conception of what he was accomplishing, so quietly was the work progressing. A chapel was needed and play grounds, these also were provided as well as schools, and the ravens continued to come. If a child was feeble or crippled, it had special care.
Year after year, it continued to grow, but the constant strain was wearing the faithful pair away. On September 10, 1902, Mrs. Florence J. Lemen, the devoted wife, passed away, but the founder worked on, making improvements and adding to and enlarging the grounds for two years more, when his Father called him October 6, 1904.
Then people wondered what would become of it. The ravens came in flocks.
H. R. Lemen, son of the founder, took up the orphan's burden where the father had laid it down. Large, substantial buildings with all modern improvements have supplanted the old frames, a department has been adeed for aged and dependent women, also for deformed and afflicted children. Ample playgrounds for both sexes provided. The grounds adorned with trees and flowers, and in all its arrangements it will compare favorably with any of the benevolent institutions of the state.
Its property is valued at $275,000. Five thousand helpless children have passed through it to comfortable homes.
And still the ravens come.
Reverend Joseph G. Lemen
Return
to PCGS Home Page
Go
to Frontier Heritage Library Page