WINCHESTER, Ky. (KT) — Sunrise Children’s Services has launched a new effort to meet the needs of Kentucky’s hurting children. It broke ground, Monday, on the Solid Rock Children’s Ranch.
Sunrise President Dale Suttles called the ranch a “Hill of Hope” at the Monday groundbreaking ceremony.
“We see it as a therapeutic village where kids and foster parents support each other — and it’s a great place for church missions,” Suttles said.
“We feel it is something special, and it has taken a lot of people to put this together.”
Speakers throughout the event praised God’s provision and faithfulness — that included the donation of 128 acres of land and the start of construction on two houses designed to accommodate sibling groups.
“On this mountaintop we (Sunrise) will continue to take care of hurting children,” Suttles said.
Judy Singleton, who donated the land for the ranch, said it is a fulfillment of a vision from years ago.
“As a teacher, I watched kids and parents not being parents. God stirred my heart that I could do more for them than just be their teacher,” she said.
“He began to build the vision in me to have housing with enough bedrooms so that sibling groups could stay together in foster care. Many times, they are closer to their siblings than they are to their parents.”
Singleton said she semi-retired from teaching in 2011 and began working to make her vision a reality.
“I soon found out it was too big for me, and I started looking for help,” she said.
Eventually Singleton connected with Sunrise.
“It took a while for me to be submissive to God’s will to give my farm. It was not easy, but I don’t regret a minute of it.
“I am so happy to be at this point today. Before this year is out, we’ll see kids here and we’ll be making a difference. It’s amazing what God has done in just the last year.”
Singleton thanked God for seeing her through when she had doubts about the project.
“When I have had my down times; when a lot of things looked like they weren’t going to happen, and I really got scared — God has been there. He has been so, so faithful.”
Even as the ceremony was taking place, hammers and other construction equipment could be heard in the background as the homes began going up.
Mississippi Nail Benders, a volunteer group, is spearheading the construction. It plans to have both houses completed in the next five to six weeks.
Jack Honea and his twin brother started Nail Benders in 1994 and now includes volunteers from many states. It has been involved in building churches, youth camps and foster homes.
He said there will be 100 volunteers from the organization on site this week, and others will rotate in during successive weeks, including young people.
“God uses everyone who is willing in some way. We have someone in a wheelchair and an 84-year-old man who wants to be on the roof,” said Honea.
He pointed out that Week 4 will have volunteers from three states — and none of them will be from Mississippi.
“It’s a blessing to work with this group. Thank you for allowing us to be part of it.”
Michael Cabell, the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s assistant to the executive director for convention relations, emphasized that Sunrise and KBC churches are “still helping broken families and hurting children. We applaud the Sunrise board, staff and volunteers serving as well as 2,400 Kentucky Baptist churches who believe we are better together.”
KBC President Randy McPheron, who is the associational mission strategist for the Rockcastle Association of Southern Baptists, has been a strong supporter of Sunrise and Solid Rock Ranch.
“We have met so many inspiring people —we believe God can use anybody,” McPheron said.
He is founder of Baptist Bikers, and recalled how three bikers rode to the farm and on the side of the road had a prayer meeting. It also helped raise funds for the project.
“We asked God to help this and show us how he wanted to use us. This is not the work of man, this is a vision and is given by God — a heaven-sent vision, started in the heart of God and He moved on Judy Singleton,” said McPheron.
“He moved on the Sunrise folks who have so much experience — and who better to turn to than faithful, reliable brothers and sisters in Christ who know how to help hurting children.”
Todd Rader, pastor of nearby Ephesus Baptist Church, has partnered with Sunrise for years to minister to children.
“We heard in 2017 that Sunrise Children’s Services was now involved in Judy’s vision, and I knew right then and there that is something our church needs to get behind,” he said.
“That was on a Sunday evening, the next night at our association it just so happened that the guest speaker was Randy Greene from Sunrise Children’s Services, who was there to tell us about this vision … This is a God thing, there are no coincidences.”
David Lyninger and Staci McLaughlin spoke on behalf of Sunrise, expressing gratitude for those who prayed and donated.
“Everybody plays a part,” said McLaughlin.
Lyninger, referencing Jeremiah 19:11, said “There are children we have not met who will be living in homes that have not yet been built, because God has a plan. That plan is for a future of hope.
“When kids come to live in those houses, they will prosper in a way they cannot imagine or dream of at this moment. God has a plan — for a future of hope. We believe every child deserves a home, and now large sibling groups will live in these homes.”
