Did you know that Sunrise Children’s Services, formerly known as Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, is the earliest Baptist orphanage in the United States still operating under Baptist ministry? The work began in 1869 as women from Walnut Street Baptist Church saw children on the streets of Louisville orphaned from the Civil War and knew they must do something to help.
From that humble beginning, Kentucky Baptists, through the Cooperative Program and special offerings, gave more than $1.8 million last year to help offset the cost of caring for some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children. These gifts go a long way in Sunrise’s $28 million annual budget.
Why must Kentucky Baptists continue to support the work and ministry of Sunrise Children’s Services? Here are four reasons:
1. Because caring for children is our mandate: God instructs his people in James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” God-directed compassion requires us to care for orphans, no matter the cause. Sunrise helps us care for 1200-1500 of Kentucky’s abused and neglected children each year. When your church gives to Sunrise, whether through the Cooperative Program or a special offering, you are caring for children who need help.
2. Because caring for children honors Jesus: Jesus’ words about children can be found in Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” Praise God for churches that offer robust children’s ministries and for those that intentionally reach out to unchurched children in their communities. But many of the children in our foster system will never be able to attend worship services and hear the good news of the gospel without an organization such as Sunrise, which recruits foster families from local churches who will live and model a Christian life in front of children in their care.
3. Because caring for children opens doors for the gospel: When children in the foster system are placed in a Christian home, then Christian parents can love those children, provide for them, pray for them and invite them to attend church with them. Forty-two children connected to Sunrise Children’s Services gave their lives to Christ last year. We are advancing the gospel together through Sunrise Children’s Services.
4. Because Sunrise genuinely cares for children: Dale Suttles, president of Sunrise, says every child deserves a good home. No child in Kentucky should have to worry about having food to eat, a bed to sleep in — or fear suffering abuse. If their own family is unable to provide those basic needs, then Sunrise wants to be there to connect those children to a loving family.
While many agencies care for children in the foster system, no one does it quite the way Sunrise does. Sunrise works to see children who cannot return home move out of the foster system into a loving and caring family. Since 2009 Sunrise has assisted in 709 adoptions.
Most of what we spend our money on is temporary. But when your church gives to Sunrise, that is a kingdom investment that can make an eternal difference in the lives of those children. Thank you for supporting Sunrise Children’s Services.
Dr. Todd Gray 