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The Sunrise Name Means Everything
Sunrise Children’s Services began in 1869 when ladies from Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville formed the Louisville Baptist Orphans Home to care for orphans of the Civil War. Later, it would expand and be named the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. Today, Sunrise remains the child welfare arm of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, providing residential, foster care, foster-to-adopt, independent living, and family services programs across this state.
But why “Sunrise?” Is there any significance in that name? Quite a lot, actually. And an interesting parallel.
The Walnut Street ladies looked across the streets of downtown Louisville and saw hurting children, broken families, and unending despair. Eventually, somehow, they found a ray of hope. They discovered a new purpose for their lives and a way they could share their purpose and hope with those who needed it most. That was nearly 155 years ago.
More than 1,000 years before the ladies from Louisville began their hope-filled journey, another group of women began theirs. But honestly, it didn’t begin very hopeful. They were headed to the tomb of their dear friend, starting their walk early that morning. The sun was just beginning to rise.
The women who went to see Jesus’ crucified body at sunrise probably thought the morning would bring nothing new. Like the ladies from Louisville, they were dealing with despair and heartache. They weren’t yet able to see any hope. They were missing their friend, their Lord – their purpose in life. Why would they think this morning would be any different than the last? Why would they even venture the thought that on this day, hopelessness could be replaced with joy? But to their surprise, this sunrise brought unimagined hope and healing to anyone who would receive it.
Every sunrise brings the promise of a new beginning, new possibilities, and new hope. That’s what Sunrise Children’s Services’ name conveys, and that’s what this ministry has shared with hurting children and families in crisis since 1869.
Please pray that Sunrise’s name will continue to convey a new start to children and families throughout Kentucky, while its mission never waivers from the One whose “name is above every name.”
Article written by David Lyninger, Sunrise director of communications.
There are approximately 117,000 children in the U.S. currently waiting to be adopted. The need in Kentucky is also great, with more than 8,000 children in out-of-home care. It is fitting then, during National Adoption Month, that we highlight one of our former Sunrise foster parents who found great joy in adopting her two children.
Jen Potts, from Lexington, adopted Walker and Alonna in 2009. Back then, Sunrise was known as the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. At the time, Potts was a special ed teacher and Walker (known then as Geraldo) was her student. He was six, and his sister was five.
“I called several different agencies, and they (Sunrise) got back with me first, and I really liked the person that I talked to,” said Potts. “And I thought, ‘Okay!’ It was so convenient to do the classes and get going, and so I just started.”
There were special moments in her foster care and adoption journey that convinced her she made the right decision in pursuing her children. The first “God moment” came shortly before her father died. “His last words were to my son were, ‘I love you, Geraldo.’ It was just like a light beaming down there!” stated Potts.
The second moment also involved her son. As a child, Potts had picked out a name for her future son. The name was Walker Bennett. When she adopted her two children as an adult, she was told she could change Geraldo’s name if she wanted to because he seemed to have no connection to his current name. He was almost 10 years old, so Potts asked him what he wanted his name to be. He said Sky, for Luke Skywalker. “If you know my son, he is not a Sky. And so, I said, ‘What about Walker?’ And he said, ‘That is perfect!’” she shared. “The plan was to keep Geraldo as his middle name, but he wanted a family name. So, I said, ‘What about Bennett?’ which was my grandmother’s maiden name, and he said, ‘Yes!’ And I was like, how in the world did I get a child that was okay with a name I picked out as a kid?!’”
Potts said that there were many other moments like these that happened along the way that encouraged her on her decision to foster and eventually adopt. “It’s a sad story how they got here,” she shared. “But this is definitely where they’re supposed to be.”
And the journey was worth it. “It was hard, but by far, the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Potts said. “These are my kids! I cannot imagine life without them. They are the best things ever to happen to me.”
So how are her kids doing now? “Both of them are very successful in their lives. They are doing what they want to do,” Potts stated. “They are doing great, within their limitations of what they’ve been dealt. “
Potts can’t say enough about the support she received from Sunrise while she was a foster parent. “My worker was Kathy Castle. I could call (any of the workers) at any time, and they would get back to me. Even if it was after hours, they were always there,” she said. “I just feel like the support that is there (at Sunrise) is huge.”
Through her fostering and adoption experience, Potts has learned some important lessons that she would like to share with others. “My children still need that reassurance that they are wanted and loved even into their adulthood years,” she said. “(They need to know that) nothing’s going to change that.”
The second thing Potts want others to know is that fostering may not be easy, but the reward is great. “Basically, it’s hard. But if you can get through the hard, there is no doubt in my mind that it is worth it,” she stated. “You can’t gloss over how hard it is because you are dealing with kids with trauma. Even if they’ve come from the very best situation, they still have trauma. But if you continue to work with it, the good so much outweighs the bad.”
Jen Potts remains grateful for her family and the decision she made to choose fostering and adoption – and her decision to choose Sunrise. She encourages others to pursue Sunrise if they are considering foster care.
Today, Potts’ Sunrise worker Kathy Castle is now the foster care program director in Lexington, Elizabethtown, Mt. Washington, and Danville. If you are interested in fostering, and live in these areas, you can call Castle directly at 502-538-1039 or email her at kcastle@sunrise.org. All others can contact Sunrise at 502-538-1000 or email info@sunrise.org.
*Originally published in Kentucky Today.
At Sunrise, we do our very best to let our kids know they are loved and cared for by all of our staff. Recently, however, one of our residential boys discovered that there are many people outside of our agency who also love our kids.
Each year, the boys who live at Sunrise’s Spring Meadows Center in Mt. Washington take a trip to the Kentucky State Fair. Because it is considered a school activity, the boys are assigned to write a paper on something they learned, liked or found interesting during the trip.
One of our boys shared his paper:
THE FAIR
What I found interesting at the fair were the adoption and child welfare stands.
It was interesting ’cause they were there trying to find foster parents for people like us in Sunrise.
They didn’t even know the people that needed homes, but they cared, and they were there for hours. At first, no one in the middle school class wanted to go to this section of the fair, but I kinda made them, and I asked the lady there if she could explain what they’re doing and told the group that there are people that care abut the future and welfare that they don’t even know.
I thought it was cool to go there because it was a good learning experience for me and the group because it was beneficial.
I also liked the fact that at the fair, there were goats. I love goats, and seeing goats made me happy and made me feel like I was home.
I also liked how there were a lot of respectful people there. So, when you treated people with respect, they did the same. And they were helpful.
Also (one of the other Spring Meadows boys) told the cup guy that he only had $20, and if he can get the cup for $15, he can get food. The guy agreed. It was very generous of him even though he didn’t have to. And it shows that people are kind.
This paper basically brings my reason for writing it is ’cause people are kind and caring and want you to know that they want you to be happy and feel welcome.
Your continued support to Sunrise allows all of our boys and girls to have these kinds of experiences. Your support throughout the year truly makes a difference in the lives of our kids.
Written by David Lyninger, director of communications for Sunrise Children’s Services.
Sunrise Children’s Services has recently celebrated three high school graduates in its independent living program. One graduated in the Cumberland region, another in the Owensboro area. A third graduate, named Austin Burns, recently graduated from McCracken County High School.
Austin transitioned into Sunrise independent living in Paducah from a Sunrise foster home, also in the Paducah region. He completed his high school credits in December 2022, and officially graduated and walked in May 2023.
“Austin is currently working full time at FiveStar gas station, has transitioned well into the independent living program, and is in the process of enrolling in West Kentucky Community and Technical College for the fall 2023 semester,” said Sunrise Independent Living Specialist Misty Reynolds. “Austin is not 100% sure of course of study, but he is leaning toward something in the mechanical field, thus planning to attend the technical program in hopes to obtain a certificate of training and job placement within the next year.”
Reynolds also shared that Austin was first in his immediate biological family to graduate from high school and will be the first to attend college.
Austin and the other two graduates are just a few examples of many success stories in Sunrise’s independent living program. Through this program, Sunrise helps 18-to-20-year-olds find housing, jobs, and education by surrounding them with a care plan team that includes a Christian mentor.
To find out more about Sunrise’s independent living program, visit https://www.sunrise.org/venture-on/
Approximately 50 people gathered outside Sunrise’s Spring Meadows Center in Mt. Washington, Kentucky on May 1 to dedicate a newly-constructed gazebo called “The Prayer Place.”
This new structure is designed for boys currently living at Spring Meadows, along with the staff and visitors, to enjoy a time of prayer and even worship, if they choose.
The gazebo was dedicated in memory of Mike Dixon, former religious life leader for Sunrise/Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. Spring Meadows was located in Middletown, Kentucky, at the time Dixon was working at Sunrise.
Belinda Snider, current treasurer of the Spring Meadows Ladies Auxiliary, shared during the dedication program that Dixon dreamed a worship place would be constructed inside one of the buildings on Shelbyville Road in Middletown.
The Ladies Auxiliary began raising money at that time for this project. But in 2006, Spring Meadows moved to Mt. Washington, and in 2011, Dixon retired. The dream was put on hold – until just recently.
“Emmanuel Maize (current Spring Meadows program director) came up with the idea for an outdoor place for prayer,” said Snider. “We finally completed our longest-running project, being dedicated to the Lord and in memory of Mike Dixon.”
Unfortunately, Dixon would not see the completion of his dream, having passed in 2014. But his widow, Carla Dixon, attended the dedication and shared that Mike would be very thankful for an outside building that everyone could use. “Mike was an active, outside guy,” she said. “His heart was in Sunrise; he cried when he left. And he never cried!”
Fittingly, the dedication program for The Prayer Place began and ended with prayer led by Pastor Justin Walker of Salt and Light Baptist Church in LaGrange, Kentucky. “Amazing Grace” was led by worship leader Kirk Whitehouse, also from Salt and Light Baptist.
Ladies Auxiliary President Linda Bond welcomed guests to the dedication, and First Vice President Linda Morton performed the ribbon cutting, with Spring Meadows direct care counselors Latanya Germany and Stewart Haag assisting.
Maize concluded the proceedings with closing remarks. “Thanks to everyone who made this possible,” he said. “I know past auxiliary ladies are with Mike rejoicing in heaven today.”
Also in attendance were Mt. Washington Mayor Stuart Owen, Mt. Washington chief and assistant chief of the police department, Sunrise staff, and Sunrise supporters.
Special thanks to the Spring Meadows Ladies Auxiliary for raising money for this important project!
Written by Sunrise Director of Communications David Lyninger
I met Chuck* when he first arrived at Sunrise’s Spring Meadow Center (SMC) in Mt. Washington. As I began the admission process with him, I noticed he was a friendly, talkative boy who was – as most are at first – anxious about what his new life at SMC would be like. He seemed determined to get through the treatment program here, and he applied himself to his therapy work for a time. However, as time went by, he seemed to lose hope and motivation to keep moving in a healthy direction.
As a treatment team, we had considered starting a mentor program to help the boys with their motivation to work hard in the program, especially those that have little to no family involvement and support. We were able to partner with Orphan Care Alliance’s Life Coaching program in March 2022 to recruit and train several life coaches.
Chuck was the first to receive a life coach. After he began meeting with his life coach in October of 2022, he got much more serious about finishing his therapy, and he actually graduated the program in January of this year! He continues to meet with his life coach each week while he waits for a good foster family placement.
His life coach, Wade Pritchard, has this to say about him: “In the few short months I’ve been meeting with Chuck, it has been inspiring to watch him increase in his desire to get well. Chuck professes faith in Christ. As he looks to the future and earnestly desires life beyond Sunrise, I have encouraged him to ‘leave behind’ the attitudes and behaviors that have led him to this place in his life.”
Pritchard shared with Chuck a portion of the scripture verse from Philippians 3:13: One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on. “Chuck and I both enjoy getting together and have expressed interest in continuing our relationship beyond his time at Sunrise,” said Pritchard. “I look forward with great anticipation how God is going to help, guide, and bless this young man as he and I press on together.”
*Name has been changed for privacy.
Written by Suzanne Pritchard, Sunrise senior administrative assistant at Spring Meadows Center
In Part One, we met Jim and Martha Buchanan and heard of their love story for each other and the love they shared (and continue to share) with their community and even the world. In part two, that love story now shifts to the Buchanan’s love for God.
“When we first got married, we always said God was first,” stated Martha. “The first thing was always the tithe.” When they were attending Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, and Dr. Wayne Dehoney was pastor, the church had a very active children’s bus ministry. A part of the Buchanan’s tithe went toward this ministry. “We saw what the needs were for these children, and my heart just went out to them,” said Martha.
A few months ago, two of these former bus-ministry children (now adult men) came to visit the Buchanans. Both are now married, and doing incredibly well. One of the men asked the Buchanans if they would attend his wife and his 40th wedding anniversary celebration. Of course, they accepted. When they arrived at the church, the man gave Martha a corsage and said, “You’re going to be my surrogate mother tonight because you were always my second mother when I was a teenager.”
One Bible verse that always stuck with the Buchanans, particularly Martha, is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding.” One example of the Buchanans living this verse out occurred when Jim was in his early 40s, and he and his older daughter decided to go on a mission trip to Haiti. It was actually a combination of a mission trip and a medical mission. His daughter was a nurse, and Jim was a pharmacist. She was separated from her dad during the trip and placed in a village that had a clinic. Jim was paired with another nurse, and the two of them went up into the mountains with two others. Jim and his missions partner were the only medical people at this site.
The most important part of this trip actually occurred before Jim and his daughter even stepped on the plane. A wholesale warehouse in Louisville gave the mission team lots of medicine to take with them. “One of the things they gave us was a pound of Silvadene ointment. It’s for burns,” said Jim. “I don’t know that I would ever in a month of Sundays use it,” Jim stated. But in spite of Jim questioning taking the ointment, the nurse that would be Jim’s partner during the trip suggested that she fit it into her luggage, and she did. It didn’t take long before Jim would discover the importance of taking this particular medicine.
“The very first morning that we opened the clinic, they brought a young lady about 12 years old and, we don’t know how it happened, but she had fallen into a cauldron of boiling water. She had blisters all over her hands and arms,” shared Jim. “I went into my cache of medicine and got out the Silvadene.” Jim lathered the crème on the girl’s wounds. He told the girl through his interpreter that he needed to see her every morning for the rest of the time that he was there. At the end of about eight days, all the blisters were gone. Pushing through tears, Jim said, “If that’s not providential guidance, I don’t know what it would be.”
Jim and Martha Buchanan always chose to follow God, even when at first, they may not have wanted to – like the time they purchased one of their favorite houses. “We had bought my dream home,” said Martha. “I was never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever leaving my dream home! And then God called them both to St. Louis. Martha knew what she had to do: “Let’s sell the house.”
But that wasn’t the end of the house story. “We had said that whatever God gives us on this, we will tithe it,” said Martha. They were true to their word. From their tithe on the house, they paid for the furnishing of a mission house for a church in St. Louis. The rest of the tithe was given to mission work in Haiti.
To this day, the Buchanans continue to give to others, including Sunrise. As mentioned in Part One, they make regular trips to Sunrise’s Ministry Support Center in Mt. Washington, dropping off a vanload of needed supplies with each visit. Eventually, the boys who live next door at Sunrise’s Spring Meadows Center got word of what Jim and Martha were doing. So, the boys sent Jim thank you letters. Martha and Jim knew what they needed to do next: visit the boys in person.
When the Buchanans did make that visit to Spring Meadows Center, the boys were waiting for them. A cake was ordered in honor of the Buchanans, and they were given a tour by one of the young men living there. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed cake, and Jim took time to share some stories with the boys and answer questions. Martha also enjoyed talking with the boys and getting some suggestions on specific donations she would give in the future!
The Buchanans are grateful for the journey they have traveled so far. “It has been such a wonderful walk with God as our guide, and He has been so good to us,” said Martha. “He’s blessed us beyond anything we would have ever thought of.” Jim agrees. “The things that have happened in our lives that I am absolutely sure in my mind, that if it hasn’t been the Lord’s intervention to my own resources, I could never ever have done what I have been able to accomplish,” Jim said. “We have many, many things with providential guidance that came our way, and I’ve said many, many times that if I had to live my 85 years over again, I don’t remember doing anything different coming along.”
We wouldn’t suggest you change a thing, either, Jim. And on behalf of Sunrise, thank you both for your faithfulness to God, to those people He has placed before you on your path, and to the children and families of Sunrise. You have reached, and are continuing to reach, generations.
Today was bittersweet as I moved one of our young ladies from Sunrise’s Glen Dale Center in Elizabethtown to her own place. She has been a very special, sweet, kind soul and has left a lasting impression upon many staff and children during her stay.
She has shown us that no matter what challenges life brings, you get to choose your path. She has reminded me that your family is whoever you choose to be a part of your family.
I’m so proud of this young lady and so happy for her to start her new journey.
In addition to her new home, she adopted a senior dog named King. This dog has not had an easy life either and doesn’t warm up to people easily at all. He bonded and took up with his new dog mama so quickly!
I’m so happy for both of them! Please remember her in your prayers as she gets settled in.
Written by Rachel White, program director of Sunrise’s Glen Dale Center, Elizabethtown
The story of Jim and Martha Buchanan is a love story. Their love for each other is genuine, unchanging, and strong. But that’s only a part of their story. The other part is, well, another kind of love story. It’s about loving others: their community, their nation, and even the world. And yes, Sunrise has definitely benefited from their love and generosity.
The best way to understand both love stories is to first learn a little bit about who Jim and Martha are and how their journey together began. Here is an introduction:
Jim was born in 1936 in the small town of Artemus in Knox County. Jim was raised by two loving parents. “I guess I grew up about as poor as anything but did not know it because Mother and Dad lived on a farm, and they raised everything that we had,” Jim said. “They were both school teachers, and they taught in a mining camp.” Jim’s mother would use pot belly stoves in the schools to prepare meals for students between classes. Jim’s father was also a bivocational pastor and would eventually serve as assistant superintendent of the county schools for many years.
His parents’ love for God and for others certainly influenced Jim. At age 12, he had his first job working with the county missionary in Knox County teaching Bible School. Later on, in high school, Jim helped begin a Christian youth organization of all the youth in the county.
After graduating high school, Jim enrolled at Union College, a Methodist college in Barbourville. From there, he went on to pharmacy school at the University of Kentucky, enrolling a year ahead of schedule. While taking pharmacy classes in Louisville, it didn’t take Jim long to get connected to a church, settling in at Walnut Street Baptist. He was quickly selected as the president of the church’s Baptist Young Training Union, where they soon decided to have a hayride. That’s where Martha enters the story.
Like Jim, Martha was a member of Walnut Street Baptist. She explained that the church had a horseshoe balcony where students would fill the seats every Sunday morning. There was a section of high school students, Southern Baptist Seminary students, U of L engineering students, just to name a few, and of course, pharmacy students. From the floor level, Martha spotted Jim sitting with his fellow students in the balcony. She turned to one of her friends and said, “Get me a date with that young guy!”
Martha’s friend introduced Jim to Martha; but before he could go on a date with her, he needed to meet her parents. So, one Wednesday night after church, Jim drove the winding roads to Martha’s house, visited with her parents, and invited Martha to the hayride. She said yes.
Three short years later she said yes again, and the two were married on December 20, 1958. “It’s unusual, but she is the only girl in my life, that I ever dated,” Jim said. “I was his first kiss!” Martha added. “But here’s the fun part, I didn’t find out about that until last year. He never told me.”
There were probably not many secrets they would keep from each other over the years. Instead they eagerly and lovingly walked life’s path hand in hand, having three daughters and even traveling the world together, visiting every U.S. state and all seven continents. While a pharmacist, Jim joined the army reserve, serving just two months shy of 42 years of military experience. He spent eight years in the Pentagon, working for three different Surgeon Generals. He also spent many years serving as a deacon at Walnut Street. Martha worked as a travel agent and always was there to support and encourage her husband.
But as mentioned earlier, their love was not limited to each other or even to their family. They have taken every opportunity to share their love with others. Over the years, they cared for children in the bus ministry at their church and supported mission trips to Haiti and Brazil. Jim and one of his daughters actually traveled together on these mission trips. And then there was the time that they met one of our Sunrise boys . . . .
About 15 years ago, a deacon at Walnut Street Baptist heard about Sunrise and invited some of the Sunrise boys to their Deacon’s Christmas Banquet. One of the boys sat at Jim and Martha’s table. “He was probably 16 years of age,” said Martha. “He was a handsome young man. Very nice mannered. His mother was a single parent.” Martha and Jim learned from the young man that he had a girlfriend, she was pregnant, and he was wanting to marry this young lady, help raise their child, and join the military. “Mother was trying to do the right thing; the child was trying to do the right thing,” stated Martha. “And you just want to help somebody like that when they’re trying to do what’s right.” Jim added: “It really hit me that this was an organization that I needed to do something for.” And he has.
For many years, Jim and Martha have contributed to community missions, splitting donations to Sunrise and Walnut Street Baptist. “Every day that I’m home I’m collecting either from an office supply, or a school supply, or a drug store,” Jim said. “Right now, I have more than a van load if I put Sunrise and Walnut Street together. I don’t think I can get it all in my van right now!” Jim and Martha, who now live in Lexington, deliver these items personally to Walnut Street and Sunrise about once a month.
Jim explained why he and Martha do what they do: “Those attributes that were given to me, I can’t pay anybody back, so I have to pass it on. That’s how Martha and I have dedicated and determined that’s the way we will live our lives for the rest of time.” Martha added: “That’s maybe the reason we’re here so long!”
(To be continued . . . .)
Written by David Lyninger, Sunrise Director of Communications
