I recently had a chance to visit Soaring Wings Ranch for a tour and spend some time with Andrew Watson, the founder and executive director. Soaring Wings is a Christ-centered home for children that helps provide long-term resources to those needing a chance to “soar.” They aim to empower families through personal healing and child advocacy with a Christ-centered approach that includes resources and support for everyone involved.
Soaring Wings currently needs houseparents to serve as “missionaries” to the children that need to be cared for at Soaring Wings. While there is an immediate need for houseparents, the goal is to have a list of those ready to serve in this mission field to make a difference — often, an eternal one — in the lives of children who need help as they develop and grow. House parents are Christian husbands and wives. The wife is employed full-time by Soaring Wings in a salaried position (with benefits), while the husband serves in a volunteer capacity while maintaining daytime employment off-site. Houseparents must demonstrate strong character and embody the values of Soaring Wings — “Act Justly, Walk Humbly, Love Mercy” (Micah 6:8).
Soaring Wings is located on 195 scenic acres in Central Arkansas. There are currently four homes on the property, designed to provide comfortable, spacious and safe places for the children needing care. In each home, they can enjoy meals together, movie nights, board games and other activities that provide the environment to help the children “soar.”
They accept children who are not delinquent but need a new environment to thrive at a critical time in their lives. Children are admitted as young as birth and as old as 17. Once admitted, a child adapts to the program and may stay until age 18 or until they graduate from high school. If a child graduates while at Soaring Wings, they are helped through the next stage of life, such as vocational training or college. Typically, children are at Soaring Wings for 12 months or longer, depending on the needs of the child and family.
The children that live in the homes at Soaring Wings are supported in various ways. The campus director works to provide educational specialists, a case manager and interaction with the local community, along with the house parents who serve as the year-round parent figures for the children. Everyone involved focuses on helping the children develop and reunifying them with their families.
Regarding the need for houseparents, Andrew shared, “We see houseparents as missionaries working as part of a team to meet the needs of the precious children God entrusts us to care for. We meet the children where they are and provide what they need immediately, with our ultimate goal for them (and their families) to come to Christ. He is the One who breaks the cycles of abuse, neglect, dysfunction and crisis. If you want to learn more. I’d love to talk with you about houseparenting and take you on a tour of the campus.”
If you feel this missionary opportunity could be something you are called to do, reach out to Soaring Wings at (501) 849-2253 or through their website at soaringwingsar.org/contact. You can also email Andrew at andrew@soaringwingsar.org.
