The Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) has agreed to acquire two facilities currently under the management of Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries (BHHM), pending approval of messengers at the MBC Annual Meeting Oct. 26-27 in St. Charles.
The boards of MBCH and Baptist Homes have agreed to the acquisition, with the Baptist Homes board deciding to sell its remaining properties and cease operations. This decision is a result of months of prayer, study, and careful consideration regarding the unsustainability of the current BHHM ministry in a highly competitive senior-care environment.
On Aug. 24-25, the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Executive Board considered a request from BHHM to cease operations, along with a request from MBCH to expand its ministry assignment to include senior care. After considerable prayer and discussion, the Executive Board unanimously approved both requests.
Read the full announcement below, watch a video message from MBC Executive Director Dr. Wes Fowler and MBC President Dr. Wesley Vance, and review frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
If messengers approve this at the MBC Annual Meeting, what will happen to Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries?
Baptist Homes would cease operations after transferring the Ashland and Ozark facilities to MBCH and selling the remaining five facilities to another senior-care provider.
What if messengers don’t approve?
Baptist Homes would cease operations by the end of the year, as its board has already approved. MBCH would not acquire the Ashland and Ozark facilities, nor would it seek to add senior-care to its current portfolio of ministries to children and families. Missouri Baptists would cease to have a formal senior-care ministry.
What happened to Baptist Homes to make this move necessary?
Senior care has become an increasingly competitive ministry, with large corporations owning and operating a significant number of facilities to gain an economy of scale. Baptist Homes tried to stay abreast of this environment by acquiring multiple properties, but was unable to attain the economy of scale necessary to sustain the ministry.
Why does MBCH desire to acquire the Ashland and Ozark facilities?
The homes in Ashland and Ozark are financially and operationally sound, as is MBCH. By adding these two facilities to its current operations, MBCH can expand its ministries to children and families to include senior adults. This move also enables Missouri Baptists to continue a century-long legacy of care for the aging across our state.
Why do messengers have to approve this proposal two years in a row?
The proposed transfer of senior-care ministry from Baptist Homes to MBCH requires changes in the governing documents of both entities, as well as the MBC’s governing documents. Any changes to these governing documents require the approval of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings.
What are the facilities in question?
MBCH would acquire the Baptist Homes facilities at Ashland and Ozark. The remaining five facilities – Adrian, Arcadia Valley, Shelbina, Smithville, and Vandalia – would be sold to another senior-care provider.
Where did the idea for this partnership between Baptist Homes and MBCH come from?
MBCH’s late president, Juston Gates, cast the vision for this initiative, in concert with now-retired Baptist Homes President Rodney Harrison. Understanding the economic headwinds that challenged Baptist Homes, yet desiring to continue providing Christlike, compassionate care for the aging, Gates and Harrison began pursuing a solution that would align BHHM’s legacy with MBCH’s expanding ministries. Gates and Harrison understood that the needs of children, youth, families, and the aging are not isolated ministry concerns. Rather, they’re parts of one larger Baptist witness to the sanctity of life, the dignity of every person, and the redeeming compassion of Christ. From there, Baptist Homes and MBCH began lengthy and prayerful discussions about how to continue Missouri Baptists’ ministry to our seniors.
When and how will all this be finalized?
The planned transition of Ashland and Ozark from BHHM to MBCH is January 1, 2027, through an asset purchase agreement. The remaining five BHHM properties are being sold to another buyer with a planned closure in mid-December 2026.
How are MBCH and BHHM working together to ensure a smooth transition?
BHHM has entered into a consulting agreement with MBCH, effective until all remaining assets are divested and BHHM ceases operations. Leaders from both entities are scheduled to meet weekly to ensure an orderly transition. In addition, experienced BHHM leaders will move over to MBCH to help manage the Ashland and Ozark facilities.
What will happen to the frontline ministry staff at Ashland and Ozark?
All campus staff are being welcomed to MBCH on January 1, 2027, with seniority/tenure, wages, and benefits maintained.
What about the other BHHM campuses?
While we can’t speak for the new owner, every indication is that current staff would be retained to ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in care for residents.
How will this affect Cooperative Program allocations?
MBC leaders and the MBC Executive Board are reviewing this and will make budget recommendations to messengers at future MBC Annual Meetings.
How will this affect Missouri Missions Offering allocations?
MBC leaders are reviewing proposed changes for the 2027 Missouri Missions Offering and will present a budget to the Executive Board in March.
Is MBCH financially stable enough to acquire the Ashland and Ozark facilities?
Yes. MBCH is in a very healthy financial position and is more than able to proceed with this acquisition.
How are the existing residents of the five locations to be closed being cared and provided for?
Baptist Homes is not closing any campuses. Ashland and Ozark will be operated by MBCH. Adrian, Arcadia Valley, Shelbina, and Vandalia will continue to operate under new ownership. A fifth campus, Smithville, currently has no residents.
Two years ago, when residents at Ozark were forced to move if they were going to be under benevolent care, we were told the facility was not doing well, at least in the area of benevolent care. Why is it doing well now?
The elimination of the benevolent expenditures by virtue of participation in the Medicare/Medicaid payor system has brought great balance to operating expenses of BHHM. However, this process took much longer than expected and led to the expenditure of BHHM’s reserve funds. The Ozark campus is positioned to begin receiving Medicare/Medicaid funding soon. In addition, the senior care market of southwest Missouri, especially Christian County, shows a significant need for senior skilled care.
When are residents and families going to be informed? The article in The Pathway says residents and staff have been notified. My parents have not mentioned anything about this and I know they would because of concern about what was going to happen to them. I, as a family member, have not received any mail about this. I question the accuracy of that statement.
We have completed system-wide communications with all of our campuses beginning with the Ozark campus and finishing September 17 at the Vandalia campus. We spoke to all employees, Independent Living residents (where applicable) and residents and their families. In addition, letters were sent to all resident family contacts informing them of the meetings. These letters were sent from the campus to ensure accuracy. A follow up letter is being sent the week of September 21, referencing the verbal discussion that was held at each campus.
We chose The Baptist Home because it is Baptist, Christian, and faith-based. Are the facilities that are being divested, being sold to a Baptist, Christian, or faith-based entity?
Ongoing contract negotiations are with a for-profit organization. It is not a faith-based organization. We are negotiating with the buyer to support and continue the faith-based Christian focus and ministry of the campuses. The essential Christian life of each campus is fleshed out by the staff, volunteers, residents, and families. We are encouraging all campuses to continue their faith-based activities as these will provide a positive environment for a new owner.
Why is it better to dissolve the Baptist Home and send Ozark and Ashland to MBCH than to keep the Baptist Home open in two locations?
Due to the overall financial stress of Baptist Homes, keeping the two homes, Ashland and Ozark, would be very difficult as Baptist Homes has no reserve funds to provide for ongoing operational costs and future maintenance at the campuses. In long-term care, revenue for services occurs on a reimbursement basis. That is, we provide the care, and payments are made sometimes as much as 60 days later. Thus, it’s important to maintain a significant cash reserve. Unfortunately, BHHM has expended its cash reserves and is not able to borrow additional funds.
Who bought them [the five other BHHM facilities]?
As we are still in the “due diligence” phase of the contract, we are unable to announce who the new owner will be. However, as the process moves forward, we will announce the ownership details.
There was money that was set aside for the MBH [Baptist Homes]. A lot has been donated, even now. Where is all that money going?
Current assets and donations have been depleted in the process of purchasing/remodeling the Adrian, Shelbina, and Smithville facilities. Operating costs at these homes and the Arcadia Valley campus have exceeded revenues and reserve funds have been exhausted in this process.
Proceeds from the sale of the properties will be used to pay off operational debts, short term financing, and the long-term debt for the Arcadia Valley, Ozark, and Ashland campuses.
Why do they not build a new facility in Arcadia and rent out the older building for support? Would that not be a better option than to sell to a “for-profit” outsider? We feel that giving up the properties is not in the best interest especially to an entity that is not faith-based.
The Department of Health and Senior Services says there is a surplus of skilled nursing beds in the Iron County area and would likely not approve the building of a facility in Iron County. There is a surplus of senior-oriented independent living rental units in Iron County, so renting out the existing Ironton campus would be difficult. The units on the existing campus are single rooms with a shared half bath and shared shower rooms on the hall. This arrangement is not appealing to today’s seniors.
The two homes to be acquired by MBCH are newer, in more populated areas, and the Ozark campus has a track record of being over 90% full for many years. The Ashland campus is in Boone County where there is a projected need for over 1,000 new nursing beds.
Why was this not brought up sooner and discussed? Many more have been involved than just the board to keep the locations open. Legalities is not an excuse. Many feel that it was hidden and discussed behind closed doors, and you all are not being open as to the actual reason this is happening.
We could have and should have communicated more clearly, However, Baptist Homes has communicated via our newsletter, fund raising letters, and on social media concerning our financial situation.
If it is approved, how can we be sure that the residents will be taken care of and not kicked out of the current home? Won’t the affordable rates go up when they have already given everything to be there. If they can’t afford the new rates where will these poor folks go? Many of the residents have made the MBH [Baptist Homes] their home and they have been there many years. They have no other options if things change. Where is the guarantee for them? We need to rely on God, not man’s plans.
While we can’t speak for the new owner, every indication is that current staff would be retained to ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in care for residents. The only rates that we have control over are the private pay rates. The remaining rates are controlled by Medicaid and Medicare, who set those rates. As someone’s personal assets are depleted, Medicaid will become the resource to cover the cost of their care.
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