AUMC

Ember Hope

John B. Perry was born in Indiana in 1842. He was reared on a farm and served in the Civil War in Co I of First Missouri Volunteers. One daughter died in infancy and another daughter died as a result of a runaway. His daughter, Ida, moved with him to Kansas after the death of his wife in 1877.
He married again and a son, Floyd, was born. Floyd reached manhood but died from a malady that swept our country. Besides the loss of his children, he also faced financial ruin. He settled on his brother’s farm and accumulated enough money to invest in Harper county land.
He was a devoted member of the Anthony Methodist Episcopal Church. When he could no longer attend church he requested the pastor bring his church to him. He passed to his reward on September 27, 1923. His funeral service was held in his home at 324 N Lincoln. Interment was in Carmago, Illinois.
His will included a $1000 bequest to start a Methodist Children’s Home. In 1924 the Southwest Kansas Conference formed a committee to plan a residence for homeless, needy, and orphan children. The three Kansas conferences voted in 1927 to build a home for children.
On April 5, 1927 the first Board of Trustees met in Hutchinson and chose Newton for the site. An application was made for a charter, a constitution adopted, officers elected, and committee formed. Serving as treasurer was Miss Ida Perry of Anthony in recognition of her father’s $1000 bequest.
The City of Newton raised funds to purchase thirty acres of land on Broadway for the initial campus. Mr. E. P. Libbey of Newton agreed to leave the bulk of his estate for the construction of the home. Matt Johnson of EmberHope related a story that Mr. Libbey was approached by a fundraiser from Southwestern College. Mr. Libbey declined the offer to donate to the college but commented that if the Methodist Church had a children’s home, he would be interested. Providentially the fundraiser was a member of the original committee to explore the building of a children’s home.
In October 1928 construction began on The Kansas Methodist Home for Children. Libbey Hall was dedicated on October 8, 1929 as the first unit. Soon it was filled with boys and girls. The first child, Kenneth Deets, to move into the home was adopted on October 22, 1929.
John Perry’s daughter, Ida, taught school and lived at 210 N Bluff. She was an active member of the church and Woman’s Society of Christian Service. Claudine Gering remembers her as a very petite lady whom everyone called Miss Perry. Miss Perry passed away on May 17, 1956. Her funeral was held at Parsons Funeral Home with Ruth Allen as soloist and Alice Meador as organist. Interment was in Carmago, Illinois.
The Kansas Methodist Home for Children has evolved into a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, EmberHope, committed to developing innovative programs that inspire change in at-risk youth and families. Youthville’s focus is to help at-risk families with children ages 0 to 18 with foster care, child specific adoption recruitment, residential treatment and secure care services. FCS Counseling provides hope and healing to individuals, couples, and families. STRIVE provides an opportunity to develop self-sufficient young adults’ transition into adulthood with one-on-one coaching, an individualized plan, monthly financial assistance, and connections to community resources.
Over the past 90 years, Mr. Perry’s $1000 gift has grown exponentially as Jesus said it would “yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”