Author: adminsunrise

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Donor Generosity Foster Care Foster to Adopt

A ‘least of these’ culture at Mercy Hill

When Nate Young felt a calling to start a church 12 years ago in Bullitt County, he never could have imagined the journey ahead for Mercy Hill Church — from battling floods to birthing new ministries. And with a county population of around 82,000, only about 24,500 attend church — a striking reminder that over 57,500 people in Bullitt County remain unreached by the gospel.

“From day one, we said we’re not just here to preach about Christ, we want to live in light of what we are preaching,” Young said. “We want to have the heart of Christ. We want to be a church who, like Christ, loves the least of these.”

Mark 12 Ministries emerged from that vision, a ministry helping those dealing with homelessness and extreme poverty. But Young’s heart for orphans and vulnerable children became central to what Mercy Hill has come to represent.

The Young family modeled this personally — adopting three children themselves, one who was fostered and adopted through Sunrise Children’s Services. Pastor Nate had previously served on the board of Sunrise Children’s Services as well.

Growing a Family of Families

Mercy Hill currently has seven families caring for kids who are not their biological children. One of these families is the Broughtons. Mike and Penny Broughton have fostered over 200 children and currently have five in care.

“We also adopted eight — that’s just our family,” shared Penny. “I always wanted the children to have a wonderful Christmas and a loving home. I felt God sent me a message when I read the ‘needing foster parents’ article in the Pioneer News.”

In total, Mercy Hill has over 25 kids fostered or adopted currently within the church community.

“It’s amazing to see these children come to know the Father. This isn’t an add-on — it’s life,” Young said. “Caring for orphans is not simply something we do, it’s part of our culture.”

Designed for understanding

Recognizing unique needs, Mercy Hill built a sensory room and supports children with special needs.

As pastor of family ministries Perry Cooke — himself adopted — explains: “My story shaped me. I recently preached through James, focusing on ‘pure religion’ — caring for orphans, this is the heart of the gospel. Mercy Hill’s culture breathes the values of Matthew 25, making ‘least of these’ a lived identity. We have a special focus on our special needs children. We have a heart for them.”

A culture rooted in mercy, not perfection

“We call ourselves a beautiful mess,” Young laughs. “When a meltdown happens, there’s no shame — just grace. We have all been there.” Foster and adoptive parents added: “We lean on each other — this is more than support; it’s family. At Mercy Hill, you’re never alone.”

“I don’t know how to word it, but for me, it’s always been the saddest thing to see a child going through life, never being loved, never being wanted, and that’s what makes me wanna do it,” explained Mike Broughton. “I want every child that comes around me, no matter the good or the bad that they have been through, know they’re loved and they are wanted.

When it comes to loving the orphan, mercy isn’t just in the church name — it’s who they are.

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Donor Generosity Solid Rock Childrens Ranch

Baptist Bikers of Kentucky raise money for Solid Rock Children’s Ranch

Baptist Bikers of Kentucky

On May 10, the Baptist Bikers of Kentucky rode from the Rockcastle Baptist Association building in Mt. Vernon to Ephesus Baptist Church in Winchester for their annual Ride to the Ranch to raise money for Sunrise Children’s Services’ Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. Located in Winchester, the ranch will consist of two homes that will care for large sibling groups in foster care. Approximately 120 bikers attended, along with representatives of Sunrise and members of Ephesus Baptist Church.

Solid Rock Children's Ranch

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon, and the only thing brighter were the smiles on the faces of the bikers. They all gathered in the church parking lot to enjoy the sunshine and the fellowship, while guests from the church and Sunrise joined them. Randy McPheron, president and founder of Baptist Bikers of Kentucky, welcomed the crowd. “We are just so happy to be here,” said McPheron. “First of all, I want to thank my Lord for getting us here safe.”

The big announcement, though, was how much money was collected for Solid Rock. McPheron proudly announced the total: $8,714. Immediately, Baptist bikers and others in attendance came forward to give more. “The offering is swelling!” exclaimed McPheron. There was now a new total: $8,944. Not quite $9,000. Again, people came forward to give even more.

While the donations were still coming in, Sunrise President Dale Suttles stepped up to address the crowd. “We don’t know what kids we’re going to get up there (at Solid Rock), but I will tell you, and I can promise you this – because God’s been with us and taken us through this process – we’re going to change lives,” stated Suttles. “This is what we’re looking for, and you can pray for this: We’re looking for some special people that will give a two-year mission commitment to keep sibling groups together and take care of kids up on the hill. Once we get these houses done, then we’ve got to find the right people. So that will be the prayer.”

Suttles went on to share that One Bridge to Hope (OBTH), Sunrise’s newest residential facility will open soon in Springfield on the old St. Catherine College campus. OBTH will care for girls who have been sex trafficked. “We’re going to get them out of that life because sometimes they get used to that life and they think that’s the only life there is,” said Suttles. “God is acting and showing these young girls a better way. We’re going to get that done.”

Next, Suttles talked about Sunrise’s plans to renovate an old building on its Woodlawn Center campus in Danville and add nine more beds there. “That doesn’t sound like a lot,” he said, “but that is nine more kids that will be served.”

Suttles concluded by announcing that Sunrise had recently celebrated 702 adoptions since the beginning of its foster-to-adopt program in 2006. The crowd erupted in applause.

Up next was Clark County resident and former educator Judy Singleton, who had the vision for Solid Rock and who donated her land for this project. “It’s been a long journey because I gave the land in 2016 but (the dream) started way back before I retired in 2011. It’s been a long time coming,” explained Singleton. “I know God has great plans for every child that’s going to be there at the home. He wouldn’t have brought this to my vision if He didn’t have great plans.”

After Judy, Dr. Todd Rader, pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church, addressed the crowd: “When we first heard what was happening down the road from us, it was almost too good to be true. Sometimes we feel like we’re kind of stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, and to see that God was bringing Sunrise Children’s Services down the road from us, it was just a privilege and an honor for us to be on board and to help out over the last several years, doing whatever we could do.” Rader continued by saying: “This dream is about to become a reality, and the Baptist Bikers of Kentucky are a major reason why God is bringing this to fruition.”

Sunrise Director of Communications Stacie McLaughlin echoed Rader’s words, saying, “We found a great group of people in the Baptist Bikers who stepped up and said, ‘We will help you.’ That’s pretty amazing.”

McPheron had one last announcement to share. “We’re going to present this money to Dale and Ms. Judy,” McPheron said, as he handed off the donation. “We got $9,265!” His pronouncement was followed by tremendous cheering, celebrating, and applause.

But as one might expect with this group, there was more money to come. Additional donations totaling $40 were received from those in attendance that day, and a check for $200 that was mailed a month earlier was also brought to the event. In addition, the Baptist Bikers of Western Kentucky held a ride a week later, raising $1,420 for Solid Rock. So, all total, The Baptist Bikers of Kentucky brought in $10,925 for Sunrise’s Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. Randy McPheron said it accurately: “The offering is swelling!”

Once the speeches and announcements had concluded, Dr. Rader led a prayer of blessing for the food and a prayer of thanks to God for Judy Singleton’s dream of Solid Rock. His prayer included these words: “You have called us for this task, and You have equipped us for this. It is much bigger than any one of us. It is much bigger than any group. Bigger than any church. It’s God-sized, and we recognize that.”

Many people echoed Rader’s “amen,” and slowly, steadily, everyone worked their way into the church, grabbing a T-shirt and materials supplied by Sunrise before enjoying a delicious meal provided by Ephesus Baptist Church, Church of the Living God, Spears Mill Baptist Church, and Boones Creek Baptist Association. After the meal, many bikers rode down the street to see for themselves the progress made on the two houses being built on Solid Rock.

At the end of the day, the bikers roared their engines and rolled out, even as donations continued to roll in. This day was a reminder that God’s blessings are still pouring into the Sunrise ministry and into the children and families they serve and even into the children they are not yet serving, but one day soon will. This is the hope and dream of Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. As Dr. Rader said earlier, “This dream is about to become a reality.” Because of the Baptist Bikers of Kentucky, Ephesus Baptist Church, Judy Singleton, and the staff and friends of Sunrise, dreams are coming true. All of them helped make a bright Saturday afternoon just a little bit brighter.

Article written by David Lyninger, director of communications at Sunrise Children’s Services.

Categories
Our Agency Residential Treatment

Sunrise offers new hope to hurting Ky. children

One Bridge to Hope

What do our Sunrise kids desire most? In a word: hope. Hope for a loving family. Hope for a brighter future. Hope for a home free of abuse and neglect.

Sunrise is committed to providing hope to Kentucky children by creating new programs and expanding existing ones.

We believe there is hope for large sibling groups. For these kids in foster care, being separated from parents and home is unthinkable; being torn away from their siblings is unimaginable. They need new hope.

That is what Solid Rock Children’s Ranch will provide. Last year, we broke ground on the Winchester property donated to Sunrise by Clark County resident Judy Singleton. Today, drywall has been completed on the two houses on this land as we move even closer to providing two homes that will allow two different sibling groups to stay together with loving and caring foster parents.

We believe there is hope for boys experiencing severe emotional and behavioral problems. These young men need new hope, and that is what Sunrise’s Woodlawn campus in Danville has been providing for years for boys ages six to 18. Because Woodlawn is always at capacity, we decided last year to expand our beds from 27 to 36. And just like Solid Rock, Woodlawn is getting closer to seeing this expansion become reality. As new boys enter our program, we are providing new hope.

We believe there is hope for girls who are victims of human trafficking. According to the Department of Education, human trafficking affects all communities in all areas across the country, including Kentucky. That is why we will soon be opening Sunrise’s One Bridge to Hope on the former St. Catharine College in Springfield, Ky. This program will care for female adolescents who are referred by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice which will include young females who are victims of human trafficking. We will offer new hope to young ladies who desperately need it.

Sunrise can’t stay the same. We must change to meet the needs of hurting children in Kentucky. Our kids deserve it.

New needs. New programs. New hope.

Every child deserves a home.

Categories
Foster to Adopt

From foster care to forever family: the Beasley family journey

In February 2022, Taylor and Austin Beasley — then 23 and 24 years old — took a leap of faith that would forever change their lives. Unable to have biological children, the young couple decided to open their hearts and home through fostering. “I had a dream, and I was like, you need to foster,” Taylor recalled. “I felt like that was God telling me.”

That calling led them to Sunrise Children’s Services, where a reassuring conversation with staff member Terry Frazier set the course for their journey.

After several placements that ultimately fell through, the Beasley’s received a life-changing referral: two little boys, Leo — almost 2 years old — and Oliver, just 9 1/2 months old. “They looked so much like us that people couldn’t believe they weren’t our biological children,” Taylor remembered, a sentiment that captured the instant connection the family felt upon their arrival.

The road to adoption was anything but easy. Over the course of 895 days in the foster system—with 859 of those days spent in the Beasleys’ care — the couple navigated unpredictable weekly visits and the constant uncertainty of whether the boys would ever be theirs. Amid the heartache and anxiety, Taylor’s belief in God’s calling and the support of Sunrise Children’s Services kept them going. “If not us, then who would care for these boys?” she reflected.

Thinking back on their difficult yet rewarding experience, Taylor offers advice to anyone considering fostering: “These children deserve love. I mean, literally, Christ died for us because of that love. If we can go through all the struggles we did, imagine what these kids have endured.”

With the support of Sunrise Children’s Services, who helped secure the adoption, the Beasleys finally brought Leo and Oliver home for good.

“These are our boys,” Taylor said. “Their story is far from over, but opening our home and hearts to Leo and Oliver truly saved them and completed our family.”

Written by Jake Pelfrey, vice president for marketing and advancement at Sunrise Children’s Services.

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Children's Champion Business Impact Donor Generosity Foster Care

Sunrise Children’s Services Receives $10,000 Grant from Park Community Foundation

Park Community Foundation

Today, we were honored to welcome representatives from Park Community Foundation to our campus for a tour and their presentation of a $10,000 Pathways to Prosperity grant! This generous funding will directly support our efforts to recruit and train foster families who can provide safe, loving homes for children in need.

At Sunrise Children’s Services, we believe that every child deserves a place to belong. Many of the children who come into our care have experienced trauma, and some require therapeutic foster care to support their medical or behavioral needs. Others arrive as part of a large sibling group that need to stay together. Through specialized training and support, we ensure that our foster families are fully prepared for this life-changing responsibility.

With more than 8,000 children in Kentucky’s out-of-home care system, the need for dedicated foster families is urgent. Thanks to the Pathways to Prosperity grant, more children will have the chance to experience stability, healing, and hope in a nurturing foster home.

We are incredibly grateful to Park Community Foundation for investing in the future of Kentucky’s children and for believing in our mission to provide hope and healing to those who need it most.

Photo credit: Samuel Cardine

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Independent Living Success Story

Some Success Stories Get Even Better

Independent Living Success

In the summer of 2023, Sunrise celebrated three high school graduates in its independent living program. Austin Burnes was one of those graduates. Austin completed his high school credits in December 2022 and officially graduated and walked in May 2023. He was the first to graduate from high school and the first to attend college. At the time, Austin had recently entered the Sunrise independent living program in Paducah and had just enrolled in West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC).

This was just the beginning for Austin. Sort of. Austin’s time with Sunrise actually began when he was placed in Sunrise foster care at age 14. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have parents to teach me. I needed to find a way and support. But I didn’t have anybody to give me that,” said Austin. “Sunrise gave me support. They helped find a way.”

Austin also found support from another source. “My past life was rough, having to survive on my own – I even had to teach my sister – but God always supplied a way.”

By following God, trusting in Sunrise, and believing in himself, Austin made a major life decision. “It wasn’t in my heart to get adopted. I was very independent,” he explained. Instead, he chose to enter Sunrise’s independent living program. Over the two years that he was in the program, he graduated from college, earning a construction degree from WKCTC; obtained and maintained full time employment for more than a year at Plaza Tires in Paducah; purchased a truck and maintained auto insurance; and opened a savings account.

Austin has recently moved into his own apartment outside of independent living and has bigger dreams. “I want to buy my own home eventually,” he said. “Also, I’m remaining in college to start my own tinting business and clothing brand.”

Austin recognizes that he couldn’t have accomplished all of this without Sunrise. “Sunrise is a good program. Without Sunrise, I wouldn’t have changed,” he stated. “They have opened those doors for me.”

Two things that Austin enjoyed most from being a part of Sunrise’s independent living program were attending the life skills classes and attending an independent living event in Louisville. The life skills classes were especially significant because that is where he learned, and is still learning, money management skills. At the Louisville event, he was able to hear exceptional motivational speakers. “I love hearing how God has worked in peoples’ lives,” said Austin.

Austin wants what he learned to benefit others. For anyone interested in Sunrise independent living, he has this to say: “Allow Sunrise to help you. Take advantage of independent living as much as you can. They are there to help you, not break you.”

Through his faith and persistence, and through help he found at Sunrise, Austin is determined that life will not break him. And now he, like the people he heard speak in Louisville, is an example of how God can work in peoples’ lives. For Austin, one success has led, and is leading, to many more.

 

 

Categories
Residential Treatment

Sunrise Residential Facility Helps Mother and Daughter find reunification

Glen Dale Success Story
A woman and a girl representing a happy mother and daughter. (blue screen)

At 13 years old, Sarah’s* journey took a remarkable turn. Her early years were marked by instability as her mother struggled with addiction. During that time, Sarah lived with extended family, but eventually, she entered the foster care system. Despite the challenges, Sarah always longed for a stable home and a relationship with her mother.

While Sarah was at Sunrise’s Glen Dale Center in Elizabethtown, her mother made significant strides. After a difficult battle, she recovered from her addiction and maintained her sobriety. Sarah, too, was responses, learning healthier ways to cope with the emotional scars left by years of uncertainty.

As Sarah progressed, the possibility of reunification became more than just a dream. Both Sarah and her mother participated in family therapy, which proved to be a pivotal moment in their relationship. Sarah’s mother learned essential parenting skills, and together, they began to rebuild the bond that had been fractured by years of separation. Therapy sessions not only helped them grow individually but also taught them to communicate and understand each other better.

When the time came for Sarah to transition back home, it was a moment of both joy and nervous anticipation. But with the support of the Glen Dale Center and their family therapy sessions, they navigated the process smoothly. Today, Sarah and her mother are thriving. Their home is filled with love, understanding, and the promise of a bright future—a true testament to the power of healing, recovery, and resilience.

Sarah’s story is one of hope and transformation, showing that, with the right support, families can overcome even the most difficult obstacles and rebuild their lives stronger than before.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual.

Article written by Rachel White, Sunrise program director at Glen Dale Center.

Categories
Donor Generosity Our Agency

Sunrise Thanksgiving Offering Makes a Difference.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27 (NIV)

There is a reason that James 1:27 resonates so much with our staff at Sunrise. That wonderful passage of scripture reminds us to take care of the orphan in their affliction. The orphan is one of the most vulnerable segments of our population, and to care for them is one of the purest ways to show the love of Christ.

Many of the orphaned children we care for have faced atrocities that one can only imagine. They are like the dented can of peaches on the shelf at the grocery that is passed over time and time again because of the damage to its outside. But we know those peaches taste just as sweet if we only put a little more effort into opening the can.

Today’s most vulnerable children in Kentucky are being overlooked time and time again, to the point of having to sleep in state offices because they have nowhere to go and no one who understands what they have experienced. Because of our annual Thanksgiving Offering, Sunrise is able to show these children the healing power that only Christ can deliver.

This offering truly makes a difference in the lives of hurting children and their families. By giving, you can provide hope to a child who has lost all hope. You can build a brighter tomorrow for a child who fears there is no future. You can help a child find a loving home.

That’s why we are asking again this year for 1,000 churches or organizations to give $1,000 to Sunrise’s Thanksgiving Offering. Will your church or organization commit to being one of these 1,000 groups helping thousands of children find a home?

You can give today at sunrise.org/thanksgiving (Please put “Thanksgiving Offering” in the comment section on the online donate form).

We know that your Thanksgiving Offering may be given any time throughout the year, but it is most helpful when we receive that gift between the months of November and April.

It’s a critical time for our Kentucky children.  Will you prayerfully consider giving to Sunrise’s annual Thanksgiving Offering this year? – because every child deserves a home.

 

Article written by Dale Suttles, President of Sunrise Children’s Services

Categories
Children's Champion Business Impact Donor Generosity

Bayou Bluegrass Catering: Serving More Than Meals at Sunrise Children’s Services

At Sunrise Children’s Services, we are continually blessed by the generosity of our community. One such shining example is Bayou Bluegrass Catering of Lexington, led by owner Trevor Johnson and his wife, Shanna, who regularly donate meals to the children and staff at our facilities. Their dedication goes beyond just providing food—it’s about giving back in a deeply personal way.

“When we pull up with the food, you should see the kids’ faces,” Trevor shared. “They are so excited. It makes it all worth it.” For Trevor, his commitment to Sunrise is rooted in his own journey. Having faced a difficult past, he understands the importance of support, love, and second chances. His personal experiences have driven him to give back to those who need it most, ensuring that the children at Sunrise not only receive delicious, home-cooked meals but also a message of hope.

Trevor adds, “My faith in Christ is the real reason I do all this. Because of what He’s done in my life, He has transformed my heart to love and want to serve others. Every time I get the chance to help someone, I do it with gratitude, knowing how blessed I am to be able to make a difference.”

Every meal from Bayou Bluegrass Catering is filled with warmth, care, and the belief that every child deserves to feel valued. Trevor and Shanna’s story is a testament to the power of transformation and the impact one family can have on the lives of many. We are beyond grateful for their continued support and the joy they bring to our Sunrise family.

Thank you, Trevor, Shanna, and Bayou Bluegrass Catering, for making a difference. One meal at a time.

Categories
Our Agency Residential Treatment

Empowering Youth: Sunrise Children’s Services Clients Give Back Through Partnership with Mark12 Ministries

Mark12 Thrift Store

Sunrise Children’s Services and Mark12 Ministries are both located in Bullitt County, and their paths sometimes cross unexpectedly and sometimes not. For example, a teenage boy receiving care at the Spring Meadows Campus in Mt. Washington shared with staff that his father was homeless. It turned out that the boy’s father was being cared for by Mark12 Ministries. When the boy graduated from Spring Meadows, he wanted to give back and began working at Mark12 Ministries. Knowing that Mark12 had helped his family, he wanted to contribute in any way he could to help others in similar situations.

This incident was one of many factors that sparked a conversation between Mark12 and Sunrise Children’s Services about additional ways they could partner. Mark12 operates the Outreach Thrift Store in Shepherdsville, which not only helps cover operational costs for their ministry but also provides much-needed items to those living in Bullitt County. However, the thrift store is always in need of volunteers.

The staff at Sunrise recognized that they could help meet this need while also providing the youth they serve with an opportunity to develop career-related skills and give back to the community.

Mary Edmondson, Sunrise Program Director of Vocational Rehabilitation, was thrilled about the potential partnership. She worked closely with Perry Cooke, Executive Director of Mark12 Ministries, to envision how the teenage boys and girls at Sunrise could volunteer at the thrift store. The youth rotate their volunteer time based on their schedules, and they eagerly look forward to getting away and contributing to something positive. According to Mary, “Mark 12 has been a godsend! The kids love it, and I enjoy watching the Lord work through them. They volunteer their time and the talents the Good Lord has given them, and in return, they have also helped themselves.”

Perry Cooke and his staff share this enthusiasm: “We are excited to partner with a wonderful Christ-centered ministry that shares our mission to care for the least of these. When the boys come in to volunteer, they experience a sense of normalcy, doing what other kids their age are doing after school. Our team looks forward to loving on the boys and making them feel valued and special.”

Many at Sunrise acknowledge the importance of giving back as part of the healing process. “When we give to others, we are actively reflecting on the need to be servants of God through our actions,” said Emmanuel Maize, program director for the Spring Meadows Center. “This is a humbling experience that allows us to connect with others as God would have us to do. Partnerships like these allow our boys to experience the joy and personal growth that come from giving back.”

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Vice President of Marketing and Advancement.