Author: adminsunrise

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Donor Generosity

Giving with an Eternal Mindset

How to Give with an Eternal Mindset

An eternal mindset is a mind focused on the unseen realm, on things above rather than on the temporary things of life. The act of giving with an eternal mindset is the recognition that our gifts have the power to impact not just the here and now, but the things of eternity. When we give to a cause greater than ourselves, we are participating in an act that has the potential to outlive us. Jesus told the disciples that when they give to the needy they will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just. Somehow, we are eternally intertwined with our giving and the people we give to. In The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn wrote, “Giving is a giant lever positioned on the fulcrum of this world allowing us to move mountains in the next world. Because we give, eternity will be different – for others and for us.” God uses our giving for His eternal work. When we give we set a trajectory of impact that only God fully knows.

Giving with an Eternal Mindset is Giving to Advance the Kingdom of God

The story of Sunrise Children’s Services is a vivid example of how God can use the act of giving to shape eternity. A few women from Walnut Street Baptist Church in downtown Louisville gave their lives to care for orphans in 1869. I am sure these women could never imagine how their gift of service would outlive them, saving thousands of children over the course of 155 years. Not only did their generosity outlive them, it multiplied. Many were then inspired to also give of themselves. Through the selfless generosity of individuals, God has used Sunrise to rescue boys and girls from desperate situations and redeem them to the hope found in Him. Giving with an eternal mindset is trusting that God will use the tangible to further His kingdom work.

Giving with an Eternal Mindset is Giving with the End in Mind

Having an eternal mindset means wisely planning the best course for your contributions. This is often achieved by what is known as legacy giving. A legacy gift is a gift that can continue to make an influence even after your time on earth has passed. Through legacy giving, your memory, influence, and testimony will live on. This will make an impact for generations to come and potentially have an even greater eternal impact. Legacy giving does not have to involve a large amount; rather, giving with an eternal mindset means strategically planning one’s contributions with the end goal of maximizing impact. This type of giving can change countless lives and create a lasting legacy. Legacy giving does not have to wait until one passes away. To serve you in this important area, Sunrise has entered into a partnership with PhilanthroCorp. They are a national will and estate planning firm and provide Sunrise supporters with free confidential estate planning services. To learn more about how you can take advantage of this important opportunity, go to sunrise.org/legacy-gifts-and-estate-planning.

Giving with an Eternal Mindset is Modeling the Love of Jesus

The life of Jesus was characterized by generosity. Whether through His teachings or miracles, He gave freely. Even in death, Jesus gave and thus fulfilled the ultimate purpose of eternity. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, gave His life as a ransom for many, so that we might be made righteous. There is no greater gift than to give one’s life for another. God gave his only son so that we may have eternal life. Giving with an eternal mindset is participating in the divine narrative of love and redemption. This echoes Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Giving with an eternal mindset acknowledges that giving is a spiritual act that has the transformative power to change lives for eternity. Sunrise Children’s Services is a perfect example of this, demonstrating how generosity can perpetuate a cycle of hope and redemption that impacts countless lives. By supporting Sunrise, you align with a mission that is deeply rooted in the principle of eternal generosity. This concept goes beyond philanthropy; it’s about participating in a divine story that is still being written.

“IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A MISSION CLOSER TO THE HEART OF JESUS THAN ONE SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE OF CHILDREN. AS A FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF SUNRISE CHILDREN’S SERVICES, IT WOULD BE OUR HONOR TO HELP YOU CREATE AN ESTATE PLAN THAT REFLECTS NOT JUST YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR LOVED ONES, BUT THAT ALSO CAN HELP PERPETUATE THIS IMPORTANT MINISTRY FAR INTO THE FUTURE.” David Keesling Founder, PhilanthroCorp

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Vice President of Marketing and Advancement. To learn more about maximizing your contribution to Sunrise, contact Jake Pelfrey at jpelfrey@sunrise.org.

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Our Agency

Help Sunrise Comfort Children this Mother’s Day

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you . . . .” – Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)

Sunrise wishes all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day and recognizes the important roles mothers fulfill. One such role is providing love and comfort to their children. In doing so, they are modeling true love and comfort that comes from God Himself.

All children deserve a loving home where they can find comfort and protection. Sadly, this isn’t the case for thousands of children in Kentucky who have been removed from their homes. That is why the work of Sunrise foster parents is so important. They need your prayers. They need your support.

Will you remember our faithful and committed foster parents this Mother’s Day? We first ask for your prayers. Please pray that they will receive wisdom, strength, and patience to carry out God’s calling to provide comfort for the children in their care.

Consider also giving a Mother’s Day gift to Sunrise in May to help our Sunrise foster families. By simply giving a gift today, you are helping bring comfort to our Sunrise kids by letting them know they are valuable, cared for, and loved, in tangible ways. A gift to Sunrise will help our kids acquire emergency placement supplies, sports uniforms, equipment, musical instruments, and so much more.

Giving to Sunrise is easy. To make a Mother’s Day gift, go to sunrise.org/mothersfathersday. There you can also make your gift in honor or in memory of your mother, a special lady in your life, or any loved one.

Your gift this season to Sunrise can help bring smiles and comfort to families. It may even help our children find their forever homes!

Article written by David Lyninger, Sunrise director of Communications.

 

Categories
Donor Generosity Foster Care Foster to Adopt Independent Living Our Agency Residential Treatment

Remember Sunrise Kids on Mother’s and Father’s Day

Categories
Our Agency

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.

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Uncategorized

November is National Adoption Month!

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.

 

Categories
Donor Generosity Residential Treatment

Sunrise Spring Meadows Center resident discovers caring people at State Fair

The midway at the Kentucky State Fair. (State Fair photo)

*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.

Categories
Foster Care Independent Living

High School Graduates Celebrated in Sunrise’s Independent Living Program

Austin Burns, who is currently in the Sunrise independent living program, poses for his graduation photos.

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/

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Uncategorized

Spring Meadows Center Finds Its Prayer Place

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

Categories
Donor Generosity Our Agency Residential Treatment

Sunrise Reaches Out to Young People Through New Mentor Program

Two boys currently living at Sunrise’s Spring Meadows Center in Mt. Washington enjoy a painting class with their life coach mentors.

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

Categories
Donor Generosity

Sunrise Reaches Generations: The Buchanan Story, Part Two

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.