CHA--Homeless Final Draft

Vol. 2 No 2
July August, 2019 2020
Reunion
Here Am I, Send Me...
Even If I Stay 18-19
Erin
Goodman
Child Care, Foster Children, Adoption, Homeless
January 2019 CASA
Volunteer Group
Casa 15-17
New Pathways For Children 14
Traci Lawarence 4-5, Kay Moyers 6 & Jody O’Neiil 7
Our Journey-
Towards Adoption
pages 8-9
Favorite Teachers, Coaches, Principals,
Stories about Hills, Fuller’s, Barn, Youth Center
Sarah Martin 12-13

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Vol. 2 No 2
July August, 2019 2020
Reunion
Here Am I, Send Me...
Even If I Stay 18-19
Erin
Goodman
Child Care, Foster Children, Adoption, Homeless
New Pathways For Children 14
January 2019 CASA
Volunteer Group
Casa 15-17
Traci Lawarence 4-5, Kay Moyers 6 & Jody O’Neiil 7
Our Journey-
Towards Adoption
pages 8-9
Favorite Teachers, Coaches, Principals,
Stories about Hills, Fuller’s, Barn, Youth Center
Sarah Martin 12-13
As you will note in the contents, this magazine has been ten months in the
producing. What is really tragic is what is not in this magazine for Mayfield and
Graves County. There is nowhere for homeless youth, men, men with families,
women with children or abused women to go if the Lighthouse is full. There is no
one providing meals for the hungry and homeless. I am thankful for what we have
and there are more stories that could be told but under the circumstances they
would not be safe for those involved.
The purpose of this magazine is to share what is available that is helping the
needy and to share stories of those who are foster parents and adopting parents.
Hopefully you will be encouraged to get involved somehow/someway.
Our first article by Traci Lawrence shares how the Lighthouse began and
how it was always about the children as shown by
this picture taken in the first years of Lighthouse
ministry. I cannot imagine what it would be like if we did not have the Lighthouse.
If Traci had not stayed the course and see her dream come true. Many women and
children have been helped by this ministry. One problem is the Lighthouse has
never had adequate funding and continues to struggle. There are so many ways you
could help the Lighthouse with time, food, household supplies and yes money. I
would encourage you to contact Jody O’Neill, 270-247-9226 and become a monthly donor.
I feel there is a need for a (1) Men’s transitional housing, (2) kitchen and dinning hall to feed the hungry
and homeless, (3) housing for men with families, (4) additional housing for women (5) additional housing for
women with children (6) housing for abused women and children, (7) housing for homeless youth, and (6) hispantic
housing, and (8) counseling for all the groups. If you have any interest in getting involved with any of the
above mentioned please text your interest to 270-705-2743, Mel Doughty.
Available
24-7 at
cominghomemayfield.com.
or
King’s Publishers,
Inc.
350 West Farthing
2020 Mayfield/Graves Visitors and Business
Directory can be found at www.Mayfield-
Directory.com and has over 170 Businesses
listed Alphabetical on pages 4-8 and also
listed by Categories pages 8-12. Twenty-four
hours a day seven days a week you have access
to the Directory through the Internet.
Where ever you are you can find Mayfield’s
businesses. Printed copies also available.
On CatalogofHomesonline.com you can
find the latest edition of Catalog of Homes
for Mayfield, Paducah, Kentucky Barkley and Lake Barkley in Kentucky.
Also in Illinois you can find Southern Illinois, Williamson County and
Franklin County. Also pick up a printed copy at King’s Publishers, Inc.
3

Traci Lawrence Founder of Lighthouse
Mel Doughty called me and asked me to tell the story of the Lighthouse. He and I both
know we saw God do a miracle in the starting and opening of this ministry. I agreed to tell the
story. I first of all have to say that I believe that a child is the truest picture of innocence and
Joy. They are helpless, depending on those around them for everything. These little people are
shaped by the people in their lives. Sometimes they are loved, protected, nurtured and encouraged.
Many times the very people who are supposed to love and protect them are the ones who
neglect and abuse them. To me, the worst crime a person can commit is the abuse of a child.
There is nothing more heartbreaking and more damaging to a child.
These precious little people are our future, they are the doctors, teachers, preachers and
moms and dads of tomorrow. Unfortunately, some of these little people live in constant fear,
anxiety and severe pain, they are focused on just surviving they don’t get the opportunity to thrive and reach their full God-given
potential.
The Lighthouse Children’s Home in Mayfield, Kentucky was started because I just wanted to give a child a safe home. I wanted
children to feel safe and loved. I wanted them to know they were valuable and they mattered. I had no idea how difficult the journey
would be at times and, I had no Idea of the miracles I would have the opportunity to see God work.
The beginning of the Lighthouse started by talking to the director of Mayfield Graves County Child Advocacy, Cathy
Janes in 1998. She was a great resource and she referred me to an attorney who helped develop the Articles of Incorporation and
By-Laws for the Lighthouse. The late Susan Boeschel agreed to serve on the founding board. She was very generous and donated
her legal services and her office for board meetings, because she had a heart for children. Those also agreeing to serve on the
Founding Board of Directors were; Cathy Janes, Nicole Canter, Etana Hardee, Betsy Petty, Patience Stevens, Robert Hawkins,
Mike Perkins and David Vowell. Some of these individuals served for a few years and some served only a few months. Regardless
of the time they served, God used each and every one of them for a season and specific reason.
In 1999 Mel Doughty printed the first official story about the Lighthouse Children’s Home in his Coming Home magazine.
This article created great community awareness and more individuals volunteered to serve as board members and to help
hold fund raising events to provide safe housing for abused and neglected children.
In 2000 a local business man by the name of Keith Allred agreed to serve on the board. He owned a used car lot, he was a
fill-in preacher and he also did children’s ministry at his church. He served as a voice of encouragement. His love for God and for
children was strong, genuine and visible. He opened the door for me to share the mission of the Lighthouse. I had reached out to
numerous pastors to ask if I could just have 10 minutes to share our mission, not preach, but just to share how our organization
was going to help abused and neglected children. A few the pastors allowed me the opportunity, but most others refused stating
they didn’t share the podium with a woman, or they said they had their own missions to support. This was discouraging. How
were we going to get church support for our Christian ministry if we couldn’t let churches know about the Lighthouse? Keith
helped share the ministry. When he was called to fill-in he would share the ministry or he would allow me to share our mission
with the church. People were moved and many began to give and many offered to volunteer to help get the shelter open.
The board members looked at many, many, many homes and buildings. We looked in both the county and city in an effort
to secure a home. These were all dead ends, this became discouraging, not to mention very difficult because the organization had
very little money. In 2002 Mel Doughty agreed to serve on the board. He found a house, in need of much repair, but it was in our
price range. We made an offer of $30,000. and it was accepted. The house had to be
completely restored. New wiring, new plumbing, new floors, closets built, walls torn
down, new windows, sheet rock hung and finished, insulation blown into the walls,
painting, specific railing had to be put around the front
porch and to top it off it needed a new roof. The current
roof had four layers of shingles that had to be taken off
first. Richard (Rick) Downing and his wife Chrissy also
agreed to serve on the board. Rick Downing along with
retired carpenter Gene Hall, along with several other men volunteered to help complete and oversee
all of this work. We applied for and were awarded a grant from the Kentucky Housing Corporation to
cover all the repairs and updates. We were granted these funds because the initial Lighthouse was located
at 218 N. 6th Street, this was in a historic portion of Mayfield. In 2003 the home was completed to code and also as required
by licensing and regulation standards. This was a victory! However, the celebration ended quickly because the state had issued a
moratorium on all contracts for group homes and in fact they were closing down youth group homes around Kentucky. Here
4
Rick & Christy Downing
Graves County Economic Development
Ryan Drane, President 201 East College 270-247-0626 GravesCountyEd.com

we had a building completely remodeled and fully furnished. What were we going to do with it? How could we use it to protect
children? The answer came quickly, a local OBGYN heard about our empty house. He had a pregnant patient who was living
in her car and he asked if she could stay at the Lighthouse. The board voted to take her in and from that point the Lighthouse
became a long-term shelter for women with children who were homeless or victims of abuse. Within less than a month all three
bedrooms were full and we received calls on a regular basis from mothers needing a safe place for them and their children to live.
The completion of the second year was very eye opening because we kept track of the number of people we served and, also those
who could not be served because our beds were full. In one year we served 83 women and children but we turned away 160. This
was heartbreaking. One of the most difficult things to do is to tell an abused mom, who is standing at your front door, with her 18
month old baby on her hip that there were no beds available. This precious and scared mom starts crying and asks, “were are me
and my baby going to sleep tonight?” Many times we took them in with no beds and they slept on the couch or the floor. On one
occasion we actually had 17 women and children in this small 3 bedroom house.
The real struggle in running the shelter was the necessity of being the: counselor, taxi driver, grant writer, nurse, lawn
mower, plumber, fund raiser, public speaker, parent, principal, teacher and social worker. This was a 24/7 job. I was blessed to have
a wonderful and very skilled woman join the team and serve as the office manager. This lady was Lula Janes. She was brilliant! Also
coming on board was Cathy Stedum, she was a saint. The three of us also had other jobs outside of the Lighthouse but, we all felt
called to be there. These two ladies were sold out to the Lord and serving the women and children at the shelter, sometimes with
no pay.The search was on again, we needed a house, but it needed to be larger. I have lost count of how many houses and building
we looked at. One location in particular does stand out. The old Washington School building on Broadway. It had been vacant for
quite some time. When we inquired about buying it we were told at City Hall that we had to apply for a conditional use permit.
A community wide meeting was held at City Hall and the room was packed. People protested the shelter being there. Some even
threatened to contact lawyers if we persisted to purchase the building.
A local businessman was aware of our search and struggles, this was Larry Crouch.
Larry suggested that we just build what we needed. I thought this was impossible because we
had no extra funds, however, when we started going in this direction God provided what we
needed every step of the way. Nothing was lacking.
The first provision was the donations of some land. Next, The Baptist Builders agreed
to bring a group of 53 workers to help with the construction. Next, the architect firm, Luckett
& Farley agreed to design custom blueprints specifically for our shelter….for no charge. Their
design was perfect. It was a 9 bedroom 6 bathroom facility with plenty of meeting rooms, office
and storage. A retired surveyor volunteered to complete a survey, and a retired contractor
volunteered to oversee the building. I must remind you here that this project was started with
nothing. There was no big donation or grant. God was faithful to provided what we needed
when we needed it. The roofing material was donated by Dairyman’s Supply, Mr. Kenneth
Crouch donated 12 high quality doors for the bedrooms, offices and conference room. Paint,
windows and insulation was also donated. Several church groups from outside of Mayfield
Kenneth & Larry Crouch
came and helped. We did have some set-backs. Our project manager left. But God provided a fantastic man to serve in this position,
his name was Mike Duncan. He was very good at what he did and he worked with excellence. The next set-back was the
Ice Storm, so construction was halted for a while, but the building was completed and open for service in October 2009. The bids
for this building ranged from $630,000 - $840,000. Because of the generous donations and, the massive amount of donated labor
the final cost were actually substantially lower than the
bids. When it was finally completed the total cost for
the new building was only $225,000. Through God’s
provision, we did not have to get a loan to cover any of
the cost.
Seeing my desire to provide a safe home for abused
children come to fruition was miracle. I literally got to see God do a miracle. I know that God could have definitely found someone
more talented, more educated, more connected, more patient and kind and definitely someone with more money. He could
have found someone more influential and more sophisticated. Seeing Him at work confirms the verse in the Bible that tells us
“with God nothing is impossible.” He uses the least talented and the most unqualified. That way there is no doubt that He is the
one who did it. The Lighthouse continues to serve women and children today. They operate with no state or federal funds.
The mission of the Lighthouse: “To show the women and children in our care that they are valuable and loveable
human beings worthy of respect and protection and, to help them see the love and power of God through the facilities words,
teachings, values and deeds.”
5

Lighthouse is a homeless shelter
to mothers and children.
Kay Moyers
Director
In May of 2015 I was reading the local paper, the article stated that the Lighthouse was very close to having
to close the doors because there was very little donations coming in. I told my husband, Boby that we needed to
do something and he said that he could cut the grass since he had a lawn care business. I had retired at the end of
the school year, so I started to volunteer at the Lighthouse. At that time Melanie Stinson had taken over as director
and began to get the home stabilized. Thanksgiving weekend there was a fire in one of the bedroom wings. The
clints at that time were moved to a hotel and later to housing. There was a great outpouring of support from the
community at that time, and the building was repaired and refurbished. We reopened in March of 2016. Before
the fire Melanie and her husband took a vacation and I filled in for her. A while after she returned, she asked me if
I would be interested in the job as director, I said no that I had just retired but my husband and I would pray about
it. After abut two weeks of pray, I knew God was directing me here. In December of 2015 I took over as director.
Was I ever out of my comfort Zone!
We have faced many challenges, one of the biggest is the funds to keep the place running. It takes about
seven to nine thousand dollars a month to keep the place running when we are full, and we are full most of the
time. I have seen the homeless population explode in the five years I have been here. One age group that I have
seen rise is women between late 40’s and early 60’s, these women’s children are grown and there are not as many
resources for this age group. Another group are people with emotional issues, they come from backgrounds of
abuse and neglect and need to help to get stable.
We focus on women with children, but take some single women if space allows. One week I turned down
25 different people because I didn’t have room. The average I turn away is about seven a week. I get calls from
men too. Mayfield needs another shelter for single women. They have differend needs than women with children.
Finding funding is the big challenge, I know of a building if we had the money to buy and operate it.
Our goal for each lady is to help them learn to be self-sufficient. If that means getting their GED, we help
them get signed up for classes, getting jobs, parenting classes, money management,
spiritual growth. My moto is, without God and a job, you don’t have a future.
Without the goodwill and support of our community, we could not keep the
doors open and a log of hurting people would not be helped. Kay Moyers
Carrie Taylor (on left). She is house manager and will mainly focus on
case management. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Murray State
University. Carrie looks forward to serving needy families in Mayfield and the
surrounding region.
Kay Moyers served until April 30, 2020 and was replaced by Jody O’Neil.
6

My name is Jody O’Neill and I worked in a non-profit for over 22
years. The last 2 years of that 22 years I felt God was changing my ministry
mindset. He kept nudging me to do something different because I
had become stagnant like a bucket of water. I began to serve at a warming
shelter in Paducah and I was drawn to people who needed God’s love and
help.
My husband, Danny, and I decided it was time for me to leave my
job so with huge faith and no job to fall back on I left that position on
1/10/2020. God allowed me to rest, draw closer to him and pray for the
next direction he was leading me too. I received a call in April of 2020
that I never expected and that is how you know God is working even
when you can’t feel it or see it. This person asked me if I would be interested
in the Interim Director’s position at the Lighthouse because the
current Director was retiring. I was hesitant because of the unknown. However I kept hearing these words a former
Pastor told me when I went on my first international mission trip that God doesn’t call the equipped, God
equips the called. He stated if I was called then God would provide."
"My husband and I prayed about the position and my husband (who has more faith than I do) told me he
thought it would be a great position for me because of my love and compassion for people. I agreed to take the
position for 90-days and if the position worked out then great and if it didn’t then God had another plan for me.
I began as Interim Director on May 1, 2020. After six weeks of being the Interim Director the Board offered me
the position full-time and since then we have made some wonderful changes. We have a new mission/vision for
the Lighthouse which is to serve women and children by providing stability , restoring dignity and empowering
independence through the love of Christ towards a future filled with hope.
We have a six member Board of Directors and they are: Justin Carrico, Reanna Olive, Chris Cates, Gina
Smith, and 2 unfilled positions.
We have made a lot of positive changes at the Lighthouse and we are excited to see how God will change
each lady's life that enters these doors.
We have a program called “Path to Potential” which consists of morning devotional meetings, volunteering,
life skill classes, family dinner, and chores. We want the ladies to invest in themselves while they are here
but also learn how to function with others in a respectful manner. The handbook lays out the strict rules and we
expect each lady to follow the rules.
Our biggest hurdle is still the monthly financial obligations so we have established a sponsorship program
called “Partner for Potential. Each Partner will support one lady living at the Lighthouse. This amount can
be paid monthly for $150.00 or annually for $1,800.00
It doesn’t take much money to change a life.
We have a mission field here in Mayfield so please consider partnering with me and support the Lighthouse.
In His Service and with a grateful heart - Jody O’Neill"
7

Our Journey towards Adoption...
Lorane Smith
My name is Lorane and my husband’s name is Scott. We adopted a
three year old special needs girl from China in the summer of 2018. We
already had three biological kids who are awesome, but felt God calling
in our hearts that we should adopt. The article below describes our journey
towards adoption.
Our adoption journey didn’t begin 5 years ago or even 10 years ago.
Our adoption story began when God laid it on my heart as a late teen and
early adult that I needed to adopt from China. Our house was already
full with a 16 year old, Ethan, 13 year old, Olivia, 10 year old, Anderson,
but now it is even better with 5 year old Iylee Mei. It just took us a little
while to get her here into our family.
International Adoption, why international and not domestic adoption
some have asked us? Well my simple answer is we looked into ALL
adoption methods because I didn’t want to go with what I had always
longed for without investigating and asking God where he wanted us
to adopt. There was no doubt for us that China is where we needed to
adopt. I do not believe that one place is better than another. I believe
that all children are precious to God and giving a child a chance for a
family and a life where they grow and come to know the Lord is the most
important
While my older son and I were on a mission trip on an Indian Reservation in Arizona in July 2017, I called
my husband and told him I had felt God continuing to call us to adopt. We weren’t getting any younger as they
say, and thankfully my husband said YES and that we needed to start the process. Thank you Lord for FINALLY
putting us on the same page at the same time!
The adoption process is a paper pregnancy. In other words, if I took all of the paperwork it takes to adopt
and stuff that paper in my shirt; then by the end of the process I would have looked 9 months pregnant! The hardest
part for my husband and I was looking at the list of special needs and trying to decide which ones our family could
“handle.” I hate to say that because God can get you through anything but this decision is one of the things you have
to do. All Chinese adoption and many other countries only allow special needs adoptions. The more minor the needs
you choose the longer it takes the adoption agency to match you with your child.
Thank you Lord for giving me the desire and wisdom to look outside of my initial agency. After applying to
one of the most popular Chinese adoption agencies in the US we we were told that it would take about 2 years for
them to give us a child’s file to look through. I thought that was crazy knowing how many children were sitting in
orphanages waiting for a family. So I would look around on the internet for Waiting Children’s profiles. One night
my case worker had a link on her Facebook page for a two and half years old little girl that seemed to have some of
the special needs that we felt like we could take. I called the agency the next day in Texas and reviewed her file. I had
a doctor look at her file and he cautioned me her special needs may be more difficult than we would want to handle.
He also said the little girl would require more surgeries and therapy than our time or patient even would allow. So I
put it away and went to bed thinking he is right; we are over our heads. Luckily, the next day God had a friend who is
a nurse practitioner talk to me. When I shared with her the needs of this little girls file she said “her needs seem only
physical, most physical can be fixed.” That was all I needed to hear. I immediately got on the phone and called my
husband and said I think we found our daughter. Then I called the agency and said we want to adopt this little girl!
8

Nebraska
The process took nine months from the time we found our sweet Iylee
Illinois,
Mei til the time we traveled to China
to bring her home. The wonderful thing about traveling to China is we were Texas able to see where she lived, where she
slept, and the children she played with every day. Iylee Mei was in an orphanage Massachusetts in Changsha, the Hunan Province
that housed over five hundred children and young adults. This orphanage Louisiana had children with a wide range of
special needs. We saw children that were in regular classrooms learning and Colorado singing to children lying in an infant
room where they were unable to hold their heads up on their own. We walked Georgia through the orphanage and I wanted
to bring them ALL home with us.
Florida
While in China we traveled with other families that were also adopting West Virginia children in China. One child had
hydrocephalus and seizures, one child had deformed hands and feet. Iylee St. Thomas Mei was born with severe webbing to
Saipan
her toes, legs, fingers, eyelids and had cleft lip and palate that had not been repaired when she was a baby.
In Saipan (shown above) they spent three weeks putting
God answered our prayers when it came to physicians. I was told of a physicians the UK Hospital in Lexington
who worked on children with Cleft Lip and Palate. He spent two or three weeks a year of his time traveling
metal roofs on many homes after a devastating typhoon.
all over the world repairing these abnormalities in third world counties at no charge. I had emailed him pictures
and Iylee Mei’s file before returning from China and he gave me a game plan on how to proceed with her medical
care when she got to the states. He was a God send! He repaired her lip, palate, eyelids, and separated her fingers.
In
Freddie
a year and a half,
Rouse
she had four surgeries in Lexington. Additionally, she has had many hours of speech therapy
and will continue to have speech therapy for years. There will be additional surgeries in her future, but they are a
few years out.
Into Missions
Denise Rouse
The above picture is St. Thomas Group
Anyone with a servant’s heart looking for somewhere
to use their energy, check out Disaster Relief of
Freddie Rouse never thought about being active
in mission until one Sunday night at FBC, Mayfield a trip
Kentucky! You will stay busy, meet new people, and share
was announced going to Grand Isle, La after Hurricane
the Gospel all at once. The blessings go both ways.
Katrina. He felt a tug on his heart, and in 2006 he went
on his first of many mission trips. Then in 2007 he went
to Honduras with his daughter’s church from Tupelo, Ms.
He had a heart for missions but didn’t know how to put
it into action. In 2013 FBC Mayfield sent out a group
to train for Kentucky Disaster Relief. In 2015 he began
working in God many has areas blessed for this us organization. in the United Some States of the with
areas unbelievable of service medical are: Cooking care. units This is very different compared
to China because Shower when trailers families in China or other
countries see their Laundry newborn trailersbabies born with any
abnormalities they give Child them care up. We were told that
DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING
Water purification
healthcare is not the same in China as it is in the US. I wish I could hug New and Volunteers thank will attend training from
Chainsaw trailers
Iylee Me’s mother for choosing life. I know that God had a plan
9 a.m.
for her
to 4
before
p.m. Registration
she
fee: $40 includes
Mud-out trailers
lunch, manual, background check and photo ID
was formed in the womb
Roof tarping
of that sweet momma in China. He September had already 14, written 2019--Franklin--Lifepoint Church
her story and I am so Chaplaincy blessed to be part of her story. God has given January us the 11, 2020--Barbourville--FBC
sweetest,
funniest, and happiest Many little others girl. She may not look like us but she February is Ours 8, 2020-- and she Nicholasville--Edgewater
is much our little girl as our
The three organization biological works children. in conjunction The incredible with the thing Kentucky is that our older children March 7, 2020--Paducah--FBC
adore her and they would do anything for
Baptist her. She Convention is precious and and the I Cooperative pray that if Program. God has laid They it on your heart
April
to
4,
adopt
2020--Hawesville--Hawesville
then I pray you do. Is
Baptist
it hard, yes. Is
September 12, 2020--Glasgow--Calvary Baptist
are it messy often aided sometimes, by American yes. Red Is it Cross worth and it, OH FEMA. YES! Some
502-489-3527 dr@kybaptist.org
places Fred has traveled are: Without Iylee Mei our family would be missing a www.kybaptist.org/dr
blessing.
Odom’s Lifestock Supply, Inc. 270-247-2704
3349 St. Rt. 45, Mayfield, KY 42066 Since 1992
10
9

First Baptist, High Point, Northside Baptist Church
Joined Sunrise Children’s Ministry To Promote
Foster Care/Adoption
October 20, 2019
Al Chandler
Northside
Bryan & Krista Grigg
Macedonia
Darrick Holloman
High Point
Misty Reynolds
Sunrise CM
Tara & Wes Fowler
First Baptist
Dale Suttles
President
Jack Henshaw
Western Region
Advancement Director
“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.” – James 1:2
Who We Are: Sunrise Children’s Services provides care and hope for hurting families and children through Christ-centered
ministries. Sunrise Children’s Services , Inc. is a historic 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1869, this nonprofit
ministry has continuously affiliated with Kentucky Baptists. Today, the Commonwealth of Kentucky licenses Sunrise as a
Behavioral Health Services Organization (BHSO) which provides foster care, residential, therapeutic treatment and community-based
services statewide.
Missions and Values: Sunrise Children’s Services provides care and hope for hurting families and children through
Christ-centered ministries. Sunrise Children’s Services has been at the forefront in the fight to protect Kentucky’s children
since 1869. Today, Sunrise is a home for children who have been abused and neglected — children whose lives have been
scarred by unspeakable physical, sexual, and emotional abuse — and who have been removed from their homes. From the
president of our organization down to our direct care staff, our goal every day is to provide a place of refuge, of hope, of love,
and of healing to these children whose lives have been devastated. For these children, Sunrise is a place where they can begin
to feel safe, a place where they encounter adults who give unconditional love, a place where they can begin to learn that the
world can be a good place.
10

Answering made man’s God’s mouth? Call: Who God makes directs him His church mute, or to accept deaf, or the seeing, magnificent or blind? responsibility Is it not I, and the mission Lord? to Now stand therefore in the trenches, go, and
fill I will the be huge with gaps your in child mouth welfare, and teach and reach what out you to shall the most speak.” vulnerable So I find among myself us. resting We must in care the truth for those that who He cannot is the great speak I
and AM- protect in sovereign themselves control- in a world and it plagued was not with in what selfishness, we would self-destruction, do or not do and or say absolute but the despair. power of the Holy Spirit that
would work Through in the Christian girls’ lives. foster And care, we Sunrise witnessed Children’s Him do Services just that. has answered Me and Katie the call were to help very individuals blessed with who the join group in this of
very girls special we had. ministry They were of blessings very responsive and servanthood, and were and able be to His connect word Paul in action. and the Sunrise book Children’s of Philippians Services to their ministry own allows lives.
our Not team just during of dedicated, small group, professional but throughout staff to fully the connect whole our week history of camp of helping it was evident children that in crisis God to was the working present in the order lives to
build of individual our future students. in accordance with the Lord’s directive in James 1:27.
I We asked believe around no one from is some more exceptionally of our mission equipped team to and give gifted me some to take examples an active of how role they in the witnessed lives of our this. Commonwealth’s
most First abused of all, a and couple neglected of girls as God’s that stand church. out God to me has came mandated with this no role desire to us but and left we with are called a burning to represent desire Him to know and
show Him more. true life One testimony of them to being the fact Aricelli, His grace who is actually sufficient made in weakness, a profession and of that faith His on mercy the last and night grace of will camp. bring The the fullness other was of
peace a sweet during girl named the most Lilia. tragic I had times her in in life. my group at kids camp last year and was as shy and reserved as ever. This year, as
one of the We youngest are seeking students families there, to surround was raising a child her and hands invite in him worship her to and experience said “I can a community just feel God that changing is the church me.” made She
real followed in action, up by not making just in a word. profession Coming of faith to the the defense week after of the also! broken, Then showing we had the four love students- of God to the helpless, creating an
environment Castor, of love Javi, and Sonya, support and Wrethy for the forgotten prayed in and front seeking of the justice whole in group the midst who of had chaos never is the prayed very calling like that of the before. church, On
my and team, Sunrise aka works Gold to team, fulfill aka that the calling winning every team, day. we had two girls memorize whole chapters of Philippians, one of which
comes Minimum from Foster a family Parent that Requirements
is Mormon, so that makes it that much more exciting.
Be at least
And
21
then
years
we
of age.
had Fonzy, who has been coming to camp for as long as I can remember, very closed off until the
Be a Kentucky resident.
last day when he began memorizing blocks of scripture on his own and if he messed up one word he’d want to go back
Have a valid Commonwealth of Kentucky Driver’s License.
and memorize it until he got it perfect.
Have reliable transportation and automobile insurance.
A kid named Tyler, came to camp as crazy as ever and left as crazy as ever but he was memorizing scripture
Mentally and physically able to care for a child/children.
with a want to and asking deep questions during small group and commenting about large group. And these are just
Rent home that is safe and free from hazards.
a
Have
few
space
examples!!
for a child
Yet,
or
when
an additional
most people
child
think
in your
of missions,
home.
the first thing they think of is not usually North America.
But Willing guys, to the complete need for criminal the gospel background is everywhere. and child Not abuse just checks. on that reservation but here in the community surrounding
us, Willing it is urgent. to complete Some the things pre-service the students training brought and participate up at camp in a that home they study. are faced with daily are broken families, alcohol,
drugs, If you are gangs, married, all forms you have of child you abuse, been continuously teens raising married and providing to, and living for their as a younger family with siblings, your current self harm, spouse and for suicide. a minimum
students of one year. we were Co-habitating working with, couples these are things not permitted. were normal.
To
the
Not just them but the ones right here Mayfield. Right now, Satan is trying his very best to destroy the souls
of those 6th -12th graders Why for eternity. we are But adding they desire to something our family more! They and long how for that we not went to be the about norm! it. As we
witnessed from our week in AZ,
It was
they
a
have
fun-filled
a desire
Friday
to dig
night
into
when
God’s
our
Word.
youth
They
group
have
met
a desire
to have
to
a
memorize
Christmas
scripture.
party in
They have a desire to praise
mid-December.
Him openly.
About
They
fifteen
long for
youth
a spark
attended.
of hope
We
in
ate,
the
played
darkness
games,
they
and
live
exchanged
in daily.
gifts.
That is
Several
of them needed rides home, including Adrienne (name changed). She was the last one on the
why
most of them claim that this youth camp was the best week of their lives. These students actually hurt thinking about
bus when she began to divulge information related to an assault that had taken place that day at
having to leave camp and go back to their everyday culture. From what I have seen over the past three years, I believe
the hands of her own father. We turned the bus around, and we returned to the church.
it is one of the biggest hurdles the students face when deciding to follow Jesus with their lives. Romans 12:2 says, “ Do
After multiple rounds of interviews by the county, city and state police, it was 3:00 am. That’s
not be conformed to this world…” but these students see that as almost impossible sometimes. They fear what they
when the officer looked at me and asked if I would take her home. In that moment, I didn’t need
have to go home to… they don’t see how they can follow Jesus when they are constantly surrounded with evil in their
to pray for the Lord’s will. He put the need right before me, and by God’s grace, I quickly agreed.
homes and feel like they have no way to escape it. So I just urge you to be in constant prayer for these students and their
For the next 6 weeks, Adrienne stayed with my wife and me, along with our toddler and infant.
families as well, because there are multiple that are weighing the cost. The truth is starting to speak louder than the lies
During that time, we celebrated Christmas & her 13th birthday with a homemade pizza and candles. There were two
in
things
their
I remember
life, and they
when
are
looking
open to
back
hearing
seven
the
years
gospel.
later.
This
One
showed
memory
by
I
the
have
dozen
is the
of
blank
students
stares.
who
She
followed
was often
up
speechless.
our week
of
She
youth
sat and
camp
just
by
watched.
attending
It
VBS
took
the
some
next
time
week.
for
Overall,
me and my
I learned,
wife to
my
process
eyes were
her actions,
opened
but
to,
Adrienne
and I was
was
convicted
just trying
of a lot
to
from figure this out week how our in AZ. home worked – a home filled with love, respect and consistency. She had never been in a home like
that before. Majority The second of us in thing this church I remember don’t was have the to deal difficulty with in what letting these her students go. I grew do. I protective don’t hold of back Adrienne in saying during that that we
all time, extremely and I often blessed wonder with what the difference circumstances, we could community, have made family, with a church, few more and months people of God influence. allows When us to be it was surrounded over, my
by. wife Yet and we I sometimes concluded that lack this the was desire a calling to dig into from God’s a God. word, It was have only a hard a matter time of giving time until up our we comforts would foster to share children the gospel, in our
and own look home. past the urgent need for the gospel to be shared among our country and our nation. There are souls out there
in desperate Since need then, of we’ve the truth grown of from the Gospel a family & of as four Christians to a family that’s of five. our But job. we So are I urge confident you to that step the out time of your is now, comforts and we and feel
love, like there share, is still and room maybe in our even home go. I’ve and been hearts able to care to witness for a few the more. way During God works the summer, and the we fruit reached that came out to as Sunrise a result Children’s of God’s
work Services through through us Jack in AZ Henshaw & guys and it’s so their worth Lone it. Oak office. In a matter of weeks, training began with Bruce Treon. The training
has been in a group setting and has served The world to not needs only equip the gospel us, but and also we to have answer it. the dozens of questions that come with
making the change. Soon our home will be open to receive Share two more it. children. Bro. Darrick Holloman, pastor of High Point
Baptist Church.
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11
13

Everybody Has A Story to tell...( Part Two of Three)
Sarah Preston Martin
When I got married we tried to have children but it just never happened.
We were both healthy and nothing was wrong however, God had different plans
and His plans were much better than mine. I have always wanted a big family. My
moto was there is always room at the table for one more or ten more.
I now have six children that are all through the State Foster Care System and
room for more. I am asked a lot how I manage my job, my store, and six children…it
is only by God’s grace. It has not been easy. There have been challenges,
there have been tears, and there has been a lot of joy.
Being a foster parent is not for the weak of heart. There are children
that will push your every button and make you want to give up. Then there are
children that you just want to hold forever. Each child is a part of signing up for
the journey. You take the good with the difficult. However, children don’t behave
badly because they are bad; they behave badly because the environment they
came from. Imagine being a child that does not know when you will eat again
or having to sleep with roaches in your bed. Imagine sleeping and wondering if
you are going to wake up to being sexually assaulted by someone you trust or
physically injured because your parent is angry. Children are not put into foster
care because Social Workers are mean or bored. Children are removed from their
homes to protect them from bad unspeakable things.
It has hurts deeply to pour your heart into children that leave and go
back to home. However, we are given a moment in time to love them, encourage
them and show them a new way of living. Yet, we are given a life time to continue
to pray for them. Some children never go home and need forever homes. Imagine
being a child and not having a place to call home or a forever home. Becoming a foster parent allows me to provide love
and family to children FOREVER. Giving a child the knowledge that they will always have a place at my table for Christmas,
their birthday and all the other Holidays to celebrate life is
priceless. Everyone wants to be loved and belong to a family.
There are times that I come home just want to sit alone
in a quiet room yet it is chaos with toys everywhere, kids
fighting over kid stuff, and the noise of 8 people in a home
together. On those days I am exhausted but the Lord gives
me strengths because this life is temporary and all I have is
today to love the children God has given me. If I can be HIS
love to them then it’s all worth it.
I am not sure if it is my current position in Law Enforcement
or my husband’s 20 years of Law Enforcement that has
made our hearts open to foster care. We saw firsthand what
children are exposed to in homes without Jesus. I would
encourage anyone considering becoming a foster parent to
take the first set and get certified. The classes do take time
but they are beneficial. Once you get certified you can just
help other foster parents with their children on weekend to
give them some “self ” time. Just because you get certified
does not mean you have to take a placement. However, you
cannot take a placement without being a certified home. I
am currently with Omni Vision out of Mayfield, KY. They
have been wonderful to us and I would love to answer any
question you may have about the process of foster care. If
God is calling you to open you heart and your home then
don’t wait. The need is real and the need is growing.
12

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13

Ricky Burse, D. Min, Executive Director
P.O. Box 10, Melber, KY 42069
(270) 674-6061 (270) 705-6191
New Pathways for Children began in 1990 with the support of Tennessee Children’s Home and numerous Christians
primarily in churches of Christ across west Kentucky. The vision was to care for hurting children and share the love of God with
them. Hundreds of children and young people along with their families have been blessed by the services provided by the agency
over the last 30 years.
New Pathways for Children exists to minister to the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of at-risk children in
a Christ-like atmosphere in order to bring them hope. Many children experience trauma because of poverty, homelessness, drug
use and abuse, or a parent who is incarcerated. Tragically, even more children are the victims of neglect, abandonment, or abuse.
Estimates are that by the age of 18 one in six children will suffer some form of abuse.
New Pathways for Children operates two group homes located in northern Graves County, Kentucky. One home has a capacity
for ten girls (left) and the other has space for nine boys(right). New Pathways cares for children in their program twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Children are provided all their physical needs, emotional support, and live in
a Christian home. New Pathways receives no government funding! All revenue comes from private sources such as individuals,
churches, businesses, civic groups, private foundations, and fundraising events. There are no charges to the families for services
provided. The ability of New Pathways to care for children is in direct proportion to funds donated.
During the last year New Pathways has been blessed and entrusted with the privilege of serving twenty-four children in
their program. Children stay from a few months to two or more years depending on family circumstances and progress addressing
issues that affect children’s safety. Currently there are sixteen children in their care ages 5 to 13 that includes 8 girls and 8 boys. The
children have been busy this past year. They visited the Memphis Zoo in April thanks to some good friends who paid for entrance
and they attended a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game in May courtesy of the Cardinals organization donating tickets. During the
summer children attended vacation bible school at churches in Paducah, Mayfield, Murray, and Hardin all in western Kentucky.
Ten children attended two different church camps in the summer and three boys participated in Uplift at Harding University.
One of the boys had the opportunity to travel to the southwest United States on a mission trip with the youth group at
Lone Oak church of Christ in July. Several boys played basketball in the winter and baseball in the summer while the girls enjoyed
participating in a gymnastics class during the spring. One of the most enjoyable trips for the year was in June to Discovery Park in
Union City, TN. Robert and Sandra Pruitt covered the cost of admission and at the end of the day provide a delicious home cooked
meal for all the boys and girls and the staff at their church.
Last school year (2018-19) New Pathways had eight children selected as “Student of the Month” and during the end of
year school program in May, 2019, New Pathways’ children received 22 academic awards. Already during the 2019-20 school year
there have been four New Pathways children, two boys and one girl in August, and one girl in September, selected “Student of the
Month.” New Pathways is extremely proud of these children who have been recognized since many of them were behind in school
when they came into the program. New Pathways has a year round reading program to help children continually improve their
reading and comprehension skills. Children gain confidence with school success that translates into other areas of their lives.
Christians who have been blessed are always needed to help provide the resources for New Pathways to continue providing
quality Christian child care. Additional information about donating can be found at www.npfc.net or by contacting the office
at (270) 674-6071. New Pathways can be followed on Facebook at New Pathways for Children.
14

CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY formally Graves
County Child Advocacy Program has a new name but its
efforts to keep children safe remains the same. For 30 years
the agency has provided services aimed at protecting children
and advocating for their best interest.
The agency was born out of community concern for
rising reports of child abuse and neglect in Mayfield and
Graves County. In the first 10 years the agency focused efforts
on prevention education utilizing volunteers to deliver
body safety messages to children within Mayfield & Graves
County schools. By 1999, planning began to provide CASA
(Court Appointed Special Advocates) services in partnership
with the 52nd Judicial District Court. After successfully
completing the National CASA membership process, the agency started recruiting, screening, training, and supporting
volunteer advocates that were then available for court appointment by Graves County’s District Court Judge to serve children
who were involved in court as a result of dependency, neglect, or abuse.
Our CASA program has grown tremendously in the past four years. Until 2017 our CASA program operated with
one staff and an average of 8 volunteers serving Graves County. Today, we are a program of 2 staff and 30 volunteers serving
Graves, Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton Counties. We hold pre-service training 3 times a year in the winter, summer, and fall.
Over the past 30 years our vision of children being provided the opportunity to grow up in a safe environment has
remained the same and our mission has only changed slightly. Today our mission is to provide trained community volunteers
for court appointment to advocate on behalf of dependent, abused, and neglected children in Graves County and
Southwest Kentucky.
CASA is a program of the court and is provided in jurisdictions that have a vested interest in the program. CASA
is unique and cost effective. One paid staff can support up to 30 volunteers or 75 children. CASA volunteers make a difference
in the lives of children who have almost always been removed from their home, their family, their “normal”. And, even
though their “normal” may not have been safe, healthy, or even provided for their basic needs; it is what the child knows, it’s
their parent(s), it’s their home, and they want to go back.
So, what is a CASA? What does a CASA do? These are some of the questions frequented at the CASA of Graves
County & Southwest KY office here in Mayfield. CASA is an abbreviation, it stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.
A CASA is an ordinary person from our community who volunteers their time to advocate for the best interest of children
whose cases are being heard in juvenile court. These cases are birthed from neglect, abuse and/or dependency, sometimes
all three at once. As a CASA, you play a unique role in where you form a special bond with the child(ren) and voice their
concerns, needs and wishes to the court as well as make recommendations to the court as to what you think is in the best
interest of the child. A CASA’s duty does not end there, they also meet with everyone who shares a connection with the child,
gathering information for the judge. This information will also be used by the judge to make informed decision on what is
best for the child, and most importantly permanency decisions.
CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY has an array of volunteers from all backgrounds; this mixture of experiences,
professionalism, and perspective
January 2020 CASA Volunteer Group
creates an inclusive environment. A
quality of CASA Volunteers that Graves
County’s Judge Deborah Hawkins
Crooks has expressed that she values
is their “common sense.” What makes
a CASA Volunteer an outstanding advocate
is their strong desire to make a
direct impact on a child’s life and their
belief that all children should be kept
safe, nurtured, and loved, they should
have a place to lay their head at night
so that they are rested for the next day
and provided nourishment so they can
think, grow, and develop, they should
be treated with respect and dignity.
15

program first as the Family Coordinator providing family strengthening and mentoring programs and then as the Program
Coordinator administering the overall delinquency prevention program. The agency provided after school programming.
Each staff of the program saw it as their responsibility to see the potential in each child and then to help them to see it in their
self. My work with this program helped me to develop appreciation for diversity and respect for the qualities and characteristics
that make us unique. Working with children and families from varied and diverse backgrounds, I learned that poverty
and oppression are very real factors that can affect a person’s ability to succeed.
In my role as Executive Director for CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY, I recognize that a number of risk factors
contribute to the abuse and neglect of children including parental stress, untreated mental illness, drug abuse, excessive
use of alcohol, or parental engagement in unhealthy or violent relationships. I also understand that child abuse and neglect
can be reduced by making sure each family has the support they need to raise their children in a healthy environment. I read
or heard somewhere that parents don’t always deserve their kids but kids always deserve their parents. I’ve learned that most
of the time, despite circumstance for removal, children want to be home with their parent(s). As CASA we ensure that the
child’s wishes are known to the court and we advocate for their best interests. Over and over again, I have seen the difference
that our caring and compassionate volunteers make in the
lives of children that are most vulnerable. CASA is built on
the foundation of volunteerism. Ordinary people that want to
make a direct impact on the life of an abused/neglected child.
If you have a heart for children and have the time to give then
consider becoming a CASA volunteer. Doing so will bless
your life with great purpose. For more information on how
to join our cause and become a CASA volunteer call 270-251-
2060. Anyone age 21 or older is welcome to apply. All candidates
must successfully complete interview and background
screening process, 30 hours of training, and commit to at least
Pioneer Award 2017
one year of service.
CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY is a member of
the Kentucky CASA Network comprised of 23 programs across the state of Kentucky as well as a member of the National
CASA Association. CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY, Inc. operates on grants, donations, and fundraising events
each year. Your contribution can help us reach the children who need CASA Services. Tax-deductible donations can be
mailed to CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY, P.O. Box 5200, Mayfield, KY 42066 or can be made online by visiting
www.casagravesswky.org. CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY is a BBB Accredited Charity.
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16

How To Become A Casa Volunteer
Since we are still practicing social distancing, we are offering guided learning training. This means, I’ll be
sending you training materials via e-mail that you can do on your own time and then we will meet via ZOOM online
for a couple hours on Saturday mornings for 5 sessions to discuss the on-line training you did on your own,
in the comfort of your home.
I recently had 5 new CASA volunteers go through this Guided Learning process in April and they have
recently been sworn in by the judge and are now officers of the court. They will be assigned their 1st case next week
Keep in mind, that a CASA volunteer spends an average of 5 hours per month advocating for abused, neglected
and dependent children. A child is waiting for you to be their voice!
If you are interested in going through training to become a CASA (court appointed special advocate) or
know someone who would be interested, please apply on-line at www.casagraesswky.org
Since COVID-19 there has been a rise in domestic violence and child abuse cases. We are in desperate need
of CASA volunteers in Graves, Fulton, Hickman & Carlisle Counties.
Let's support survivors,
strengthen families and
remind our neighbors
WE ALL have the power to
hope, heal and grow.
Lotus is a non-profit organization providing free services to all-age survivors of sexual violence and child
abuse across the 8 counties of the Kentucky’s Purchase Area region. We have three primary programs aimed at
supporting survivors, strengthening families and empowering communities to end violence.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESOURCE CENTER: Our sexual assault response team is focused on providing a
safe space for sexual violence survivors. As a state-designated sexual abuse center, we provide support and advocacy
services to individuals of all ages who have been impacted by sexual abuse and assault. Regardless of when
the victimization happened, Lotus is here to help. Advocates assist survivors and their loved ones to define needs,
explore options, understand reactions, and strengthen coping skills. Some of our services include medical and
legal advocacy as well as specialized therapy and restorative services for children and adults.
CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER: When police or child protective services receive a report that a
child may be abused, our Child Advocacy Center offers all the necessary services by a skilled team of professionals.
The child is brought to our safe, child-friendly environment by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. The child tells
their story once to a trained interviewer. Based on the interview, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes law
enforcement, child protective services, medical, mental health, victim advocacy, and prosecution make decisions
about how to best help the child and family. Lotus provides a wide range of services including family advocacy,
medical exams, specialized therapy, court preparation, and more.
COLLECTIVE EMPOWERMENT: We are a collective who believes we can spark and create lasting change.
Our Collective Empowerment program strives to create a unified community dedicated to supporting survivors
and ending violence. Let’s work together to change the way people think about, talk about, and act around child
abuse & sexual violence. Through collaboration, outreach, education, and social justice advocacy, we are working
to deepen understanding and inspire action. Let’s grow in understanding. Let’s grow in resilience. Let’s grow in
strength. Let’s stand together against every form of violence.
During this COVID-19 crisis, Lotus is working diligently to ensure the continuity of our critical services
while maintaining the safety and health of everyone as our top priority. We are providing emergent in-person
services at our Paducah office by appointment only. All other services are being provided over telephone and
telehealth. Please call 270.534.4422 for assistance or our 24-Hour Helpline 1.800.928.7273
17

18
Here Am I, Send Me…Even if I Stay
PADUCAH
OPEN HOUSE
& RIBON CUTTING
October 16th 1:00-3:00
“Bringing Hope & Healing to Children and Families in Hard Places”
Erin Goodman, CSW, MSW, Interim Director/Therapist,
The Papillion Center, 130 John E. Robinson Aveune, Paducah, KY 42001
The first time that I heard about missionaries I was a preschooler. I started
out in Mission Friends and then GAs and then Acteens: age appropriate groups that
learn about missions in the Baptist Church. We prayed for missionaries every week
and we gave money to missions and our church sent people on mission and all of
those involved people who lived far away from me. I was fascinated with the extent
to which those men and women on mission gave their lives away for the Gospel of
Jesus. My heart was burdened for the lost and I grew up hoping the Lord would send
me, too.
I graduated from Lone Oak High School in Paducah, Kentucky and earned an associate’s degree at the
local community college, where I became involved with the Baptist Student Union (BSU) and participated in
various mission activities. While I had wanted to go away to a university somewhere, God kept me home. I felt so
forgotten! Nevertheless, I was encouraged through the BSU to identify and use the gifts I had been given to make
a difference and I often continued to pray Isaiah’s words, “Here am I, send me!” In the summer of 1998, I found
myself in Arlington, Texas at Mission Arlington where, ironically, I learned that missions start at home. Afterall,
how could I have expected the Lord to send me away on mission when I wasn’t actively giving my life away for the
sake of the Gospel at home? That was when I started praying that the Lord would use me even in my own town and
when my prayer became, “Here am I, Lord, send me…even if I stay here in Paducah.”
Now, over 20 years later, I’m still here…still asking the Lord how He might put me to work in my own town. The
years have been full of hard work and surprises, but God has continued to invite us to participate in the life-changing
work of the Gospel in Paducah. My husband and I have been married for 18 years and have 4 kids. Our two
youngest kids are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and although the adoption process took 4 years,
they have now been home for 6 years.
When our kids came home from Congo, we joined an adoption support group here in town and began to
learn about Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) from the CEO/LMFT therapist who came monthly from
The Papillion Center in Gallatin, Tennessee
to facilitate our meetings. TBRI was developed
by Dr. Karen Purvis primarily for parents
and caregivers of kids from hard places,
encouraging them practically to model the
way Jesus taught and cared for his disciples.
Our family grew and was strengthened by
the community and education we received
from the support group, and we began to realize
that, other than that group, there were
no specialized services for adoptive families
in Paducah. Again, I asked the Lord how He
might use me here and I decided to become
the resource that didn’t already exist in Paducah
for adoptive families. In August of
2018, at 38 years old, I enrolled in college for
the third time, and two years later I earned a
Master of Clinical Social Work degree.
Jeremy and Erin Goodman with Abby, Sam, Lincoln and Piper

I was hired by Chris Troutt, LMFT,
CEO of The Papillion Center, Gallitin,
Tennessee to help open a new branch for
counseling services in Paducah in order
to serve families, like my own, that have
kids from hard places. I specialize in attachment
and trauma related disorders
and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
through play therapy and sand tray therapy
with a TBRI perspective and I have
my trained, certified, and insured Goldendoodle,
Honey, with me in sessions.
The Papillion Center, Paducah, is a nonprofit
center that depends on grants and
donations to make services available and
affordable for everyone. The Center is located
behind the Parlor, in Lone Oak, and
Erin & Honey
our team is already growing and looking
to hire another therapist this Fall. The Papillion Center is now the only nonprofit
agency of its kind in our area and is surely one way the Lord is reaching our town
for the Gospel.
As believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are called to be missionaries,
and missions start with the people around us at home. In my life, the Lord used
people on mission to share the Gospel with me, teach me about missions, encourage
me in my own spiritual growth, invest in my family, and invite me to be part
of sharing Gods love with others in my town. I am so grateful for those that have
been faithful to the call to missions because they inspired me to find where the
Lord would have me go…I mean, stay.
130 John E.Robinson Avenue, Paducah, KY 42001
Left is the Staff of The Papillion
Center. Most are in Gallitin, Tn at the
home office, except for Erin Goodman,
Honey and Chris Troutt.
The Papillion Center is open
and to make an appointment or with
questions about the services call 270-
933-1908 or email erin@papillioncenter.org.
www.papillioncenter.org
Chris Troutt, LMFT, CEO
co-founded the Papillion Center
in 2010. She is a Christian
family therapist who brings a
unique background to her clients.
She and her husband, Burt,
are parents to twelve children
and have twenty-two grandchildren
and one great-grandchild.
Chris is a biological mother, an
adoptive mother, a stepmother,
and a foster mother. She brings
both education and personal
perspective into the therapy
session. Chris believes strongly
in systems theory and in the
power of God working in a person’s
life. It is her desire to help
others during their journey.
Chris specializes in working
with families for pre/post-adoption
counseling for adoption
adjustments, trauma, attachment
related issues, and helping
families cope with FASD/
FAE and other family-related
adjustments. Her work with
FASD is especially meaningful
to her as a parent of a child
with FASD. Chris has a Master’s
Degree in Marriage and Family
Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene
University in Nashville,
Tennessee. She is a Trust Based
Relational Intervention (TBRI)
practitioner through the Texas
Christian University Institute of
Child Development.
Email: chris@papillioncenter.org
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