Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries
“Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 CSB
This verse from the book of James gives a clear call to those who follow Christ: we must care for the vulnerable.
Since 1892, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries has served Christ by caring for vulnerable children and families. Through Christ-centered services focused on healing and restoration, Connie Maxwell works to restore faith, strengthen families, and help children rediscover hope—in themselves, in family, and in God—for a brighter future.
Through residential care, crisis care, family care, and foster care programs, Connie Maxwell extends the love of Christ to children and families in their greatest times of need. The ministry’s work is sustained and amplified by passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, supportive churches, and generous donors — all partnering to make a deep, lasting impact in children’s lives.
What Connie Maxwell Does: Programs That Transform Lives
Connie Maxwell offers a continuum of care through four core programs that serve children and families across the state: Residential Care, Crisis Care, Family Care, and Foster Care. Below, we explore each program and how it helps children flourish.
1. Residential Care — A Home Away From Home
For many children at Connie Maxwell, Residential Care is the foundation of their journey toward healing.
This program provides a safe, secure, Christian living environment for children who cannot remain with their families due to neglect, trauma, abandonment, loss of a guardian, or other difficult circumstances.
Rather than being institutional or impersonal, residential care at Connie Maxwell is designed to be family-like: children live in cottages with live-in staff, attend school, participate in extracurricular activities, and receive individualized support.
Beyond physical care, children receive:
● Academic support through tutoring and school partnerships.
● Counseling and emotional support to help navigate difficult life experiences.
● Life skills training such as money management, good work habits, and positive relational skills.
● Spiritual nurturing through engagement with Connie Maxwell Baptist Church and discipleship opportunities.
The goal is to build resilience — helping children not only find stability but also grow into healthy, confident young adults prepared for life beyond Connie Maxwell.
2. Crisis Care — Immediate, Compassionate Support
Life can change in an instant, and when families face emergency situations, Connie Maxwell’s Crisis Care program offers a timely place of refuge.
Crisis care programs are equipped to provide short-term emergency housing (from a few days to up to 90 days) for children experiencing sudden upheaval — such as family disruption, abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Children in crisis care live in a nurturing, family-style setting staffed around the clock by caring adults. They receive meals, participate in structured activities, and benefit from counseling and spiritual support — all designed to create a stable, restorative environment while longer-term solutions are being arranged.
The goal is not merely to provide shelter but to surround children with encouragement, hope, and a sense of belonging during a time of profound vulnerability.
3. Family Care — Restoring Families From Within
Families are at the core of a child’s life, and Connie Maxwell’s Family Care program exists to restore family stability and independence.
This program primarily serves single mothers and families who are experiencing instability, offering support that empowers them to work toward self-sufficiency and healthier family dynamics.
● Life skills and parenting workshops
● Financial education and budgeting support
● Vocational and employment guidance
● Individualized case planning
● Spiritual encouragement and community connections
● Aftercare support up to 12 months following program completion
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all model, Family Care tailors support to each family’s unique needs, recognizing that every journey toward stability looks different.
4. Foster Care — Extending Family Through Love and Support
Foster Care ministry sits at the core of Connie Maxwell’s mission to care for children in need.
Rather than simply placing children with unknown caregivers, Connie Maxwell actively partners with Christian families and churches to license, support, and train foster parents throughout South Carolina.
The organization works in multiple regions of the state, offering:
● Licensing and training for foster families
● Support networks that walk alongside families in their journey
● Resources for local churches to build robust foster care ministries
Foster parents who partner with Connie Maxwell are equipped not only to provide safe homes but to walk with children through trauma, healing, and growth.
Importantly, Connie Maxwell emphasizes that not everyone needs to become a foster parent to make an impact. There are many ways to support foster families and children — from providing meals and babysitting to sending notes of encouragement and offering practical services through local churches and community groups.
Volunteer & Engagement Opportunities — How You Can Serve
Connie Maxwell’s ministry is rooted in community involvement — and volunteers play a vital role in bringing care, joy, and support to the children and families they serve. Whether you are an individual, family, student group, or church congregation, there are multiple ways to get involved.
1. Ongoing Volunteer Roles
Some volunteer opportunities recur and require application, reference checks, and background screenings. These roles may include:
● Providing meals for children and families
● Babysitting or mentoring
● Tutoring or academic support
● Offering ongoing encouragement and relationship building
2. Single-Occasion Volunteer Events
If you’re looking for a flexible way to serve, Connie Maxwell hosts many single-occurrence opportunities.
These include:
● Campus Serve Days working alongside staff and other community members
● Seasonal events that provide fun, care, or enrichment for children
● Family and group service projects
These events are ideal for volunteer groups looking to make a tangible impact in a shorter time frame.
3. Foster Family Support and Specialized Opportunities
Beyond direct work with children, volunteers can support foster families in practical and relational ways.
Examples include:
● Providing lawn care or household support
● Taking meals to foster homes
● Offering childcare respite
● Sending encouraging notes or care packages
● Providing professional services (e.g., haircuts, car maintenance) through business partnerships
These acts of service — small to large — can offer vital support to families navigating the challenges of foster care, reminding them they are not alone.
4. Church Engagement and Partnerships
Connie Maxwell offers robust opportunities for churches to engage in transformational ministry. Churches can:
● Host informational events about foster care
● Establish foster care ministries
● Set up support networks for foster families
● Pray, give, and volunteer together
Church involvement amplifies the impact of Connie Maxwell’s work, helping mobilize entire congregations — not just individuals — to care for vulnerable children and strengthen families.
5. Prayer Partners & Maxwell Imagineers
For those who feel called to support the ministry behind the scenes, Connie Maxwell provides other meaningful engagement pathways:
● Prayer Partners receive monthly requests and opportunities to pray for specific needs within the ministry.
● Maxwell Imagineers are monthly donors whose generosity fuels ongoing care, enrichment, and future-focused programs.
Both prayer and financial partnership are vital components of sustaining Connie Maxwell’s mission year after year.
6. House Parents: A Critical Role in Restoring Faith and Family
Connie Maxwell provides Christ-centered residential care and family support for children who have experienced trauma, neglect, or instability. Rooted in the Great Commission, this ministry exists to bring hope, healing, and the Gospel to children in crisis—right here in South Carolina.
At the heart of this mission are House Parents, who serve as full-time missionaries within a residential campus setting. These men and women model Christian family life and create homes marked by structure, forgiveness, and love. While the role includes daily caregiving responsibilities, its true essence is missional—living out the Gospel through consistent presence, discipleship, and relational care.
The need for House Parents is immediate. Each unfilled position impacts the stability, care, and spiritual formation of children who depend on these homes for safety and healing. House Parents stand on the frontlines every day—around the dinner table, in school pickup lines, and during evening devotions—offering children something many have never known: a faithful, loving Christian home.
House Parenting is more than a job; it is a calling that requires spiritual endurance, humility, and deep commitment. Serving on a 7-days-on/7-days-off schedule, House Parents live in campus cottages while on duty, providing daily care, spiritual guidance, life skills training, transportation, and behavioral support in partnership with a team of ministry professionals.
Qualified candidates should have experience working with children, strong relational skills, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and a heart for ministry. Those who step into this role become part of a redemptive work that shapes lives, restores hope, and points children to Christ.
Children are waiting for consistent caregivers, spiritual mentors, and loving role models. Filling these House Parent roles is not optional—it is essential to sustaining the mission of Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries and ensuring that every child receives the care and discipleship they deserve.
House Parenting is missions lived out daily—serving where your feet are planted and bringing the Gospel to life for children who need it most.
How Will You Serve?
Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries stands as a model of compassionate, Christ-centered service to vulnerable children and families. From providing a safe home to nurturing healing relationships, from emergency crisis care to long-term family support, Connie Maxwell lives out its mission with intentionality, love, and faith.
Yet the heart of this ministry is community involvement. Whether you volunteer your time, support a foster family, engage your church, partner in prayer, or give financially, there is a place for you to join in this mission of hope.
In a world where children and families often face overwhelming challenges, Connie Maxwell offers not just support — but a future filled with possibility, dignity, and grace. Join the journey. Serve with compassion. Let your life be part of restoring faith, family, and future for children who need it most.
To learn more about Connie Maxwell and find opportunities to join in their work, visit https://conniemaxwell.com/ or contact Debbie McDowell at (864) 942-1405 or dmcdowell@conniemaxwell.com.