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.
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.
