North Trenholm Baptist members were introduced to ministry at Hall Institute during NAMB’s 2025 Serve Tour. That team repainted interior walls with brightly colored murals, in addition to other beautification projects in the state-run adolescent mental health facility located off of Farrow Road. Since then, North Trenholm members have returned to serve patients and build relationships with staff through evangelistic Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
“I have found the door to be wide open at Hall Institute, where they are asking for leaders for Bible studies, games nights, and other volunteer opportunities,” says Joe Copeland, SCBC Church Strategies Specialist and North Trenholm member. “There is almost a monthly patient turnover, so there is an opportunity to minister to many kids from all across the state.”
Dr. Maryjane Hicks serves as the facility’s director and says churches are welcomed to volunteer because “it’s about the care and concern that the community can show. We are working to show these kids that they can have a better life and make different choices than what they’ve been exposed to or taught at home.”
Hall Institute is licensed for 51 beds but typically serves about 30 children aged four to 17 years old at any given time. Patients arrive from throughout the state and typically stay for one week to one month. There are 30 clinical staff members and 85 to 100 nurses that work at the facility. With 98 percent of patients having experienced trauma at some point in their lives, Hicks says the staff “truly care about these kids’ wellbeing.”
In her role as Volunteer Services project coordinator, Tonya McClary encourages individuals and churches interested in serving at Hall Institute to consider donating clothing and shoes of all sizes, but requests items not have shoestrings. McClary says many children arrive wearing hospital gowns and family members often cannot travel to bring the basic items they need immediately. Of note, McClary says Hall Institute is looking for individuals who will lead regular Bible studies and for chaplains who could be available to the children as needed.
“Serving at Hall has meant a lot to me, my community, and my church to be able to serve the Lord this way,” says North Trenholm Member Barry Marcus. Since being introduced through Serve Tour, Marcus has returned with his church’s holiday parties and reports he has been able to plainly share the gospel and pray with patients. Whether they some to play games with the children, lead a chapel service or Bible study, Marcus says churches will be blessed as they “fulfill the Great Commission here.”
“I hope our churches will become involved in serving at Hall Institute, because it’s an open door for ministry,” says CMBA Associational Missions Strategist Jamie Rogers. “It would be a great opportunity to serve the Lord for any of our churches if they have a person that wants to volunteer as a chaplain one day a week, or even less often, to be available to pray with staff members and children.”
For more information about ministry opportunities at Hall Institute, contact Rogers or call 803.898.1662 and request to speak to Tonya McClary.