I’m excited for you to be among the first to hear about the newest member of our Children At Heart family. Monday morning, the Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH) Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Jeffrey B. Jones as president. He will begin in his role effective Oct. 26.

Jeff will succeed Debbie Rippstein Bond, who announced her retirement earlier this year after serving in various positions across the Children At Heart family for 37 years, including more than eight years as president of Gracewood and 11 as president of TBCH. She will serve as TBCH president emeritus Oct. 26-Jan. 8, 2027.

TBCH trustees were really impressed with Jeff, and hope you are, too.

Board chair Dr. Tom Norris said trustees narrowed their search down to Jeff after conducting an extensive search process to seek a replacement for the president position. Dr. Norris called Jeff “the man that God has chosen to lead and build” TBCH into the future.

Here’s what he said about Jeff: “He has extensive experience in serving children, young adults and parents in Texas and other parts of the country and world. Jeff’s counseling background and prior leadership roles will assist the board and the TBCH team to build on Debbie’s work.”

God provided a man in Jeff Jones with great experience and background to lead TBCH to new milestones. He’s a warm, winsome leader who is very relational. He will collaborate and connect well with staff, clients, donors and the community as he seeks to lead TBCH into the days ahead.

Jeff’s leadership begins at a time when TBCH is on the brink of a drive towards a historic expansion, allowing our ministry to double our community footprint and serve twice as many people. We’re excited to have Jeff (and his wife Jenn) join the team as we seek to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.

Jeff previously served 26 years at our sister organization Buckner International, where he led in a variety of ministries, including leading Buckner’s children and family counseling arm, then helping Buckner boost its growing international ministries during the early 2000s. Most recently, Jeff led a wing of the Buckner development office, helping Buckner grow its entire ministry. Jeff brings a wealth of experience to our ministry. He’s a native of Austin (he grew up attending Hyde Park Baptist Church) who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University in Waco; dual master of arts degrees in religious education and marriage and family counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth; and holds a doctor of strategic leadership degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Jeff and his wife have three children. In addition to spending time with family, he enjoys golf, hunting, fishing, travel, mentoring and Baylor sports.

Our Children At Heart family has truly been blessed by Debbie’s accomplishments and lifetime of dedication to children and families, meeting the needs of thousands over many years. Debbie has led TBCH to new heights of service, quality and Christian commitment over this past decade-plus, and she hands the reins to Jeff to take it to the next level. The decade ahead has great promise and opportunity due to the efforts of many, the leadership of Debbie and the wonderful blessing of God. While we welcome Jeff, we acknowledge Debbie will be greatly missed.

You’ll love Jeff… he’s a great cultural fit for us… and you’ll love his commitment and caring attitude. As Jeff acclimates to his new role, please welcome him and give him the blessing of your encouragement.

Thanks for supporting our ministries as we serve in God’s name.

Todd Roberson
President and CEO
Children At Heart Ministries