LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. - Greeneville businessman Kent Bewley and the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Hutchins were honored here in separate ways this week during the annual meeting of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

In addition, major progress in the current House of Hope building program at the Holston United Methodist Home for Children was a featured part of the program at the Holston Conference meeting.

Before hundreds of ministers and lay representatives from the 910 churches making up the Holston Conference, Holston Home President and CEO Art Masker reported an "excellent year" for the 114-year-old child-and-family-service ministry as the result of strong support provided by the Conference.

The announcement of the honors for Bewley and for the Rev. and Mrs. Hutchins came during Masker's report to the conference meeting.

Kent Bewley was brought to the stage by Masker, who presented him with an award in honor of his induction into the Hall of Fame in Philanthropy by the United Methodist Association of Health & Welfare Ministries, a national network of United Methodist-supported organizations.

Bewley was named to the Hall of Fame in Philanthropy in March, but was unable to attend the organization's convention in Indianapolis, Ind., when the award was announced.

Masker accepted a plaque on his behalf at the convention in March and gave it to him during the Holston Conference meeting this week.

Bewley and his family have been strong supporters of Holston Home for many years.

In 1974, the Bewley family constructed the Bewley Center, a home-like apartment building for young women who needed round-the-clock care.

Bewley's sister, Ginger, who died in January, had resided there 34 years until her physical condition required that she be moved to a facility that provided medical care.

Kent Bewley said that the love and attention that his sister received while she lived in the Bewley Center on the Holston Home campus made the Center "the most loving place you can imagine."

He and his father, mother, sister and wife have all served on the Holston Home board of trustees and have given strong financial support to the multi-faceted and comprehensive ministry.

He himself currently chairs the fund-raising drive that has paid for the House of Hope renovation of the Holston Home campus, the project that prompted Masker to nominate Bewley for the prestigious Hall of Fame in Philanthropy award.

"I have been most proud of my association with Holston Home. It is a wonderful ministry. And I feel equally as honored to be a Methodist," Bewley told the appreciative audience.

Earlier in his report, Masker announced that the Holston Home Board of Trustees had decided to name the original superintendent's home on the Holston Home campus for the Rev. Charles Hutchins and his wife, Eva Grey Hutchins.

The original superintendent's home is now being renovated.

Rev. Hutchins, a leader at Holston Home for many years, is the vice president for Development and Church Relations for Holston Home and a widely-known figure in the conference.

He has been of service to children both at Holston Home and, for more than two decades, at a South Carolina facility similar to Holston Home as its president -- a total of 50 years of ministry for the benefit of children.

Mrs. Hutchins has also been closely associated with the ministry of Holston Home over the years and has written extensively on the history of the institution, which dates from 1895.

She is the author of the book, Haven In The Hills: A History of Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Inc., 1895-2000.

Masker said the Board of Trustees decided to name the facility for Rev. and Mrs. Hutchins at the trustees' December meeting.

The Holston Conference audience gave standing ovations to both Bewley and the Rev. and Mrs. Hutchins.

Masker was introduced by Holston Conference Bishop James Swanson, who, by virtue of the office he holds, is a member of the Holston Home Board of Trustees.

In a short video presentation Masker showed the large audience in the Conference assembly hall, he recalled some of the highlights of Holston Home's 2008 service year.

He said that 752 children were served by Holston Home in 2008, including:

* 346 who were assisted through residential, foster and in-home care in Tennessee;

* 47 youth who received comprehensive child and family treatment;

* 35 youth who were provided day treatment;

* 43 children who were moved to a permanent home by adoption;

* 215 children who were served by Holston Home's early childhood ministries;

* 68 youth who were enrolled in foster care in Virginia;

* 213 students who were served by Beacon School, Holston Home's on-campus special-education school.

Country music star Rodney Atkins, who was adopted with Holston Home's assistance while he was an infant, was featured on the video as the national spokesman for adoptions.

He spoke fondly of his association with the children of Holston Home, and on behalf of adoption in particular.

In his report, Masker emphasized the approaching completion of the House of Hope rebuilding of the Holston Home campus. The $4.4 million renovation began two years ago and will be completed this summer, he said.

Masker said that the project has been a pay-as-you-go venture, and that he is confident the remaining 8 percent of construction cost will be donated before the ribbon cutting and dedication on Aug. 18 at 2 p.m.

He invited everyone to that event, calling it the end of the largest renovation of the 150-acre campus since Holston Home was founded in 1895.

The House of Hope consists of two new 20-bedroom residence halls for boys; renovation and improvement of the Hull Pavilion, the outdoor, covered basketball and multi-purpose facility; renovation of the Administration Building; new pavement, curbs and street lights; and landscaping.

"That will be an important day in the history of Holston Home, and everyone will be invited. You will be hearing more about that event as Aug. 18 approaches," Masker said.