How has Raleigh’s Place impacted your life?
This is a question that means a lot to us. We have been blessed to work with many different people over the years. Therefore, this page is solely dedicated to hearing the stories of some of those people who have been impacted by Raleigh’s Place. Please take the time to read how these individuals or families are Living the Gospel by Loving the Fatherless.
“At the end of May last year I felt strangely unsure about what to do with my summer vacation. Every year since I was 15 I’d known what my summer would hold: Girl Scout camp. I loved it and I knew the application was due soon and still I stalled. I had this feeling that God wanted me to wait. It was so unnerving to feel this confusion. I thought, “Maybe I’m losing my passion for helping kids.” But then Mike came to speak at the Baptist Campus Ministry at my university. He talked about the kids that I grew to love so much this past summer but didn’t know yet. And while I listened to him talk I heard a voice say, “This is it!” So I grabbed a pamphlet on my way out! This led to one of the most rewarding few weeks of my life. The joy that came every morning I was there was nothing short of incredible. The kids I got to lead were so special. They made me a Christian that desires a closer relationship with God because I got to see how much a relationship with God was impacting them. The sheer number of times I watched God work in unexpected ways to help me and the kids grow to trust in Him made it evident I was in the right place. From just making a kid feel special to watching one of my campers accept Christ, every minute was meaningful. I’m so grateful to God for asking me to serve at Raleigh’s Place. It is a gift I don’t deserve.”
“My journey as a foster parent began in the summer of 2014. My husband and I attended a Sunday School class entitled “Project 210.” This class was designed to answer two questions, “Why am I here?” and “What does God really want me to do with my life?” The class had us delve into many activities, based off of Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” During this class, there was a questionnaire to fill out individually. It consisted of many questions to find out exactly how God has gifted each of us, and how we can walk in them through our daily actions. Both my husband and I filled out this questionnaire separately and two weeks apart. When we gathered to discuss our results, amazingly, we both found our answer to be fostering. We quickly set up a meeting with Tim and Sharon King to discuss what fostering would look like in our family, what would be required of us as foster parents, and to secure their guidance through this journey. We were both frightened to move forward and give our life away, but we felt the hand of God moving us towards this service. After much prayer, meeting with our Pastor and the Elders in our congregation, and having the King’s to guide us, we decided to faithfully jump into fostering, and signed up for classes through Chilton County DHR.
While still in classes to become foster parents, we attended an Easter egg hunt hosted at Raleigh’s place with our church, Grace Fellowship. There were two little girls that were taken into care the day before, and placed at Raleigh’s Place. We (as a family) were able to meet them that day. Little did we know God had big plans for those two little ones, and used the King’s to help place them in our home. We became licensed in May 2015 and those two little girls moved to our home as our family’s first placement. It was a difficult transition. I went from a mom of two healthy well adjusted children to a mom of four children, of which two had been through unspeakable things. Parenting children with a trauma background is completely different than anything I had ever encountered. There is a balance of love, discipline, fighting for these children, not allowing your sorrow for their story to overtake your emotions while you parent them, and continuing to point these little lives towards Christ. God used Sharon to help me understand behaviors, she gave me so much advice on how to handle the children, bio parents, DHR, court, and she was always there if I needed to call and ask a question. The Lord provided wisdom, peace, endurance, love, guidance, and put many people in our lives to help navigate this time. I failed many times and struggled a good deal and the one consistent thing I was shown was that the moments of failure were the moments I relied on myself instead of looking towards Christ for my strength.
Fast forward to Fall of 2017, our family adopted those two little girls. They are happy, loved little ones and have added much to our family. Over the years, we have continued to take placements and help those children in need. Raleigh’s Place has been a constant source of support over the years. They provide clothes from Katie’s Kloset for our children whether they be foster, adopted, or biological. Clothing children who come into your home with almost nothing is not an easy task. This ministry is instrumental in helping families like ours continue to take placements and fulfill their needs. Raleigh’s Place also gives food items biweekly to foster families and this has blessed our family tremendously. Feeding our family of 7, that can fluctuate to more sometimes, can be difficult on a budget. God has used the King’s and Raleigh’s Place to bless our life and provide tangible items to allow us to continue our ministry, to foster and serve children in need.”
“When I was born I only weighed 2 lbs. 9 0zs. I came 15 weeks early since my birth mother was using drugs. The doctors said I might not live and would probably not be able to walk or learn if I did. But after many surgeries and three months in the hospital I was able to leave the hospital and go to my first foster home. They tried to care for me but my issues and behaviors were not good so I was moved to Raleigh’s Place on my 3rd birthday.
Tim and Sharon King soon adopted me and became my Mom and Dad. When I was very little I liked to throw things like food and rocks. I had a hard time stopping and would get in trouble for throwing food but my Mom made me a rock throwing place where I could throw all the rocks I wanted. My Mom homeschooled me and worked very hard to teach me how to read and many other things. I wanted to learn to read the Bible so I would know God’s plan for me. I loved history. It was my favorite subject. I went to Chilton County High School for my last year and graduated this past May.
I have gotten my permit and hope to have my drivers license soon. I have worked as a Junior Counselor at Camp 1:27 for the past 4 years and even as a Counselor once. I am working part time at Raleigh’s Place doing grounds and pool maintenance. I hope that we get a thrift store soon so I can work there too. Thank you for supporting Raleigh’s Place where I have learned to do more than walk and learn.”
“I have experienced a hard upbringing. My biological mom raised me as a single parent and struggled to make ends meet, sometimes resulting in homelessness. She eventually was diagnosed with cancer and was no longer able to give me the care I needed so I was put into foster care at the age of fourteen. My first time at Raleigh’s Place Camp 1:27 came after entering foster care and while my mom was dying from cancer. I felt isolated as if I was the only person who had experienced what I had growing up. While at Camp 1:27, I was able to meet other people who had experienced similar things in life. When my mom passed away after camp was over, I had a peace within me because of the encouragement and love I felt from the staff and other campers.
I have continued to come to Camp 1:27 for the last seven years. Raleigh’s Place is my favorite place to visit! I love the pools, the beautiful land, the big house, and horses. I also love making new friends, socializing, and hearing everyone’s stories. Most importantly, I love hearing God’s Word as it is preached and taught throughout the week. I am now 20 years old and have recently been emancipated from DHR custody. I am currently pursuing certification as a patient care technician at Wallace Community College, but my dream is to be an actress.”
“As of 10-16-19, the Chilton County Department of Human Resources has 140 children in foster care. Raleigh’s Place is a tremendous support to our agency in providing for these children. At its core, Raleigh’s Place is two licensed foster homes and can provide care to a total of 12 children. This is a tremendous resource for DHR. The foster parents are specifically chosen to live in these homes based on their character and Christian commitment.
We have even had a foster family at Raleigh’s Place take custody of one of our teens who did not want to be adopted but who also did not want to remain a “foster child.” And of course, when Tim and Sharon King were the foster parents at the Raleigh’s Place, they adopted 9 children when reunification with their families was not possible.
Tim and Sharon and the other foster parents at Raleigh’s Place have also taken the children’s parents under their wings and helped them get on their feet and learn to be parents for their children in foster care. Even when children return to their own homes, the Kings maintain contact with the children and the families and provide an informal support system.
When the agency has a need Raleigh’s Place is always ready to help. Once we had a family of 8 children needing placement, Raleigh’s Place stepped up and took placement of several of the teens in the family and then they took two more of these children who had disrupted their other placements.
In addition to the foster homes, the clothing closet, Katie’s Kloset, is a wonderful resource for our foster and adoptive children and families. And the summer camp at NO COST to the state or to foster parents is a Godsend for foster/adoptive children from Chilton County and the entire state to have a normal summer camp experience with a Christian emphasis.
The leadership of Raleigh’s Place is always looking for ways to meet the needs that foster children have in the county. One area which we hope will come to fruition in the future is a resource for teenagers aging out of care to have a place to begin living independently. All of the staff at Chilton County DHR are so thankful for everything that Raleigh’s Place is able to do for foster and adoptive children.”
“Personally, Raleigh’s Place impacted in various ways. One of the main ways that Raleigh’s Place impacted me was having more compassion not only for children but for everyone. I never heard of Raleigh’s Place until last semester when Mike came and shared with us about camp and what they’re all about. I honestly was just looking for a job to do in the summer that I’m very passionate about. But, that was not the case. The experience was very humbling and inspiring as well because hearing the kids’ testimony about what they’ve been through humbled me and reminded me that I had it good growing up, which compelled to be more compassionate and open-minded about their situations and how the handled it as well. Not only did it teach me compassion, but it helped me to get out of my comfort zone to share the gospel with the kids and to help them understand what the gospel is all about and who Jesus Christ is. The camp is very special to me and those kids really made an impact upon my life because of the joy that they bring coming to the camp and how the camp helps everyone to feel welcomed as if they were their real family. I pray that this camp will continue to be a representation of who Jesus Christ is and what being a Christian is all about. I thank the Lord for sending Mike to invite us to share the Gospel with the kids and for allowing me to be apart of what God is doing through them into children’s lives. I pray in the Lord’s will that I will be able to come back and share The Gospel with them once more.”
“When I buried my daughter Raleigh, not long before her 12th birthday, I felt a deeper pain than what I thought was possible. Yet believing God had a plan and a purpose and seeking His direction, He began a vision to replace that pain with unimaginable joy.
Leading me to begin fostering children and seeing the things that they experienced put my loss in a new perspective. I was thankful that I could understand how they felt being without someone they loved and I could help them move forward. As the vision expanded after seeing the needs of so many children, God moved us here to Chilton County to begin Raleigh’s Place. We have been foster parents to over 210 children. These are children who have watched one parent kill another in front of them, who were left for dead, who had to choose between hunger or sexual molestation, who were burned with cigarettes, who were physically abused, who never learned to read or write, who were homeless, who were kidnapped, and other unimaginable horrors. Remember, these were CHILDREN.
I have seen God bring healing and restoration to so many of these children in the eighteen years He has allowed me to serve in this ministry. God increased our family by allowing us to adopt nine of our former foster children. I have seen many of the other children go to their forever homes, even children I brought home from the hospital. I still see some of these children today and it brings me great joy to see them doing well. I love spending time with the children who attend Camp 1:27. Their smiling faces and laughter are a reminder that God is doing an amazing work at Raleigh’s Place.
I’m forever thankful both to God and those who have helped make Raleigh’s Place possible. It is to me and to so many others a place where deep pain becomes unimaginable joy.”
“I have been a Counselor at Raleigh’s Place for two years and have loved every minute. I come from a family that has foster children and so I already know a lot of what these kids are going through. Raleigh’s Place has impacted me by first of all allowing me to come and be a counselor and to love and minister to these kids who might have felt like they have been forgotten. This camp has also opened my eyes to where the real needs in this world are. Since I have been a counselor for two summers my favorite part of camp is seeing and remembering the campers that have been to camp the previous year and have returned with big smiles on their faces. A lot happens in a year so some of my favorite stories have been, “Miss Mallory, guess what? I’ve been adopted” or “I’ve found my forever family.” I might have shed a tear or two just because I get so happy for these kids when they find their smile.”
“Going to Raleigh’s Place was a big experience for me considering little kids weren’t exactly who I saw myself working with. It was a leap of faith, one that I debated on over and over again because I knew I would be out of my comfort zone. When I first came for training week it was awkward because I didn’t know anybody and I don’t feel comfortable talking if I don’t know you. It wasn’t until we started the sessions and really going over how to be there for these kids and how to pour into their lives that I started to open up a little bit more. I’ve had a rough past, not as rough as some of those kids, but I could still relate to what a few of them were going through.
In order to do Raleigh’s Place I had to put myself and my pride aside and completely trust in God and the plan he had. I learned a lot about not just myself but the kids. The kids taught me a lot while I was there. They taught me what it was like to be a little kid again, how to show compassion, and how to have complete strength in the toughest of situations. I don’t expect to see the fruit but I do know a lot of seeds were planted and God is faithful; He will do the rest.”
“We have been involved with Raleigh’s Place since the very beginning. We went over with a tractor and helped run a water line when there was nothing but raw land. It has been amazing to see what God has done at Raleigh‘s place. The property has grown, bloomed and blossomed in so many ways through the help of so many people.
Our primary involvement since then has been through the camp and lake days. For the last eight summers the kids at camp have come down one day each week to enjoy a fun filled day at the lake at G.R.A.C.E.’s Marina. They get off the vans and buses so excited they can’t wait to get their towels hung on the wall and get swimming, playing, fishing and boating. By the end of the day they are so tired they practically fall asleep before they leave the property. Lake day is one of the highlights for most kids each week of camp, especially since many of them have never been to the lake or on a boat. It is also the highlight of our summer getting to spend this time with these children. Many of them would not have this type of opportunity if it were not for Camp 1:27 and the generous help of so many people who make it happen: individuals who provide boats for fishing and tubing, and churches that provide meals for lunch and dinner.
I believe that as God blesses you, if you do not use what He has blessed you with to bless others, you are truly missing what life is all about. Life is not about gathering more for me and mine. He first loved us and we are called to love.
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:2 NLT
What sacrifices of time and resources are you making for Him? Who better to love on than these innocent children?”
“It is a miracle that I am able to write my story today. I should not be here but the Lord has been gracious to me. I was born to a 16 year old girl and a 20 something year old man. They were married for a short time but divorced when I was in the 1st grade. I do not remember much about that time except that my biological dad was an alcoholic and abusive towards my biological mom. Life was not easy. My biological mom loved two things: drugs and sex. It started with lesser drugs but progressed to the heavy hitters like crystal meth. We moved a lot when I was a child. It seemed like every new drug led to a new man which led to a new house. From kindergarten to 6th grade, I went to more than 10 schools in multiple states. I never really had friends but somehow managed to keep good grades. Things changed dramatically after I turned 12. One night my biological mom dropped me off at my great-grandmother’s house and disappeared for about two weeks. One day we received a phone call from a hospital where she tried to kill herself by overdosing on drugs. We went and picked her up and she was told by my great-grandmother to call DHR. I was taken into custody that night. I was placed in a group home for about 8 months. During this time, my heart was hardened. I was influenced by older guys who made terrible choices and ended up learning some bad behaviors.
Everything changed at the end of this 8 months when I moved to Raleigh’s Place. Tim and Sharon King showed me love and care for the very first time. I had never experienced the kind of love they loved me with. I was eventually adopted into their family and became a King. They also led me to Christ. In the 15 years that I have been a King my life has been radically different. I can honestly say that I do not remember much of my childhood because my life has been so good since I arrived at Raleigh’s Place. I have accomplished much in these last 15 years: I graduated college with honors, married my wife Kyla, served in many different ministry positions, and have a huge blessing in my son, Fletcher. One of the greatest things I have done during this time is serve as the Camp Director at Raleigh’s Place Camp 1:27. Mom told me when I was 19 that we were going to have camp and we have never looked back. I have seen God do great things at Raleigh’s Place throughout the years. I have seen lives transformed by love that can only come from Christ and the Gospel. I have seen God provide for this ministry time and again. I have been able to meet many great people and share my story with hundreds. Of course, this is not just my story; it is God’s story. I would not be here if it were not for His providential leading and good will for my life. I hope my story is an encouragement to you. Please consider partnering with us so that other children will be able to have a story similar to mine.”