August 27, 2025​

 

Dear Friends,

 

On August 1, Soaring Wings celebrated 18 years of serving children. From the very beginning, our mission has been to provide safety, hope, and healing to children who are in crisis through no fault of their own. God has kept us faithful to the calling He placed on our hearts.

 

One truth has become increasingly clear: we are not just serving children; we are serving families. 84% of the children who have been in our care were being raised by a single mother. Nearly all of these mothers share similar stories of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and dysfunction from childhood that has followed them into adulthood. Most are doing the best they can with few resources and little support. Our team has walked alongside these families, but there’s a limit to what we can accomplish when mothers and children live separately.

 

Changes in philosophy regarding residential care for children – both in Arkansas and across the nation – have also challenged us to re-evaluate how we serve vulnerable families. This led our staff, Board of Directors, and I to ask ourselves a hard but necessary question: “How can we provide better care for the families God entrusts to us?” After months of prayer, we believe the next step in our mission is to invite single mothers and their children to live together on our campus rather than using the houseparent model of childcare. Soaring Wings will be able to serve eight families with up to 24 children in our four existing homes.

 

We will continue to coach mothers with the same biblical, common sense parenting model that we have developed over the past 18 years. We can more quickly and easily help them create healthy home routines, learn financial skills, and prepare for careers that support long-term independence. Additionally, each family on campus will be paired with a Christian family to mentor and encourage them in their spiritual growth. By serving the whole family from the beginning, we believe we can more effectively reach our goal of establishing a stable, Christ-centered future for these families. 

 

I am looking forward to the season of growth ahead and am excited to share that construction of the Welcome Learning and Counseling Center (WLCC) is 75% complete. The WLCC will greatly enhance the quality of services we provide to these children and families. The Learning Center will provide the staff and resources to help children grow academically and physically. The Counseling Center will allow licensed professional counselors to do individual counseling as well as family counseling to help families heal from the deep wounds of their past. The WLCC will also open the door for us to serve families beyond our campus. Children and families in the community who are struggling can access the same practical and spiritual support services offered to those living on campus.

 

Because of your sacrificial giving, Soaring Wings remains debt-free and independent of government support. Funds previously designated for houseparent salaries will be reallocated to meet the daily needs of the families God sends our way. Please pray for our staff, those already in our care, and those who will come into our care.

 

As we grow, we’ll be able to help more children and families overcome generational cycles of brokenness. We want to help them reach their God-given potential. Instead of living in dysfunction, they will be taught how to be strong and stable. Instead of living in poverty, they will be taught how to provide for their children. Instead of a life of faithlessness, they will be taught about the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Our goal is for children and families to soar!

 

If you have any questions, I’d be glad to talk with you. You can call me at 501-849-2253 or email me at andrew@soaringwingsar.org. God is faithful. I am truly thankful for your generosity and your friendship.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Watson

Executive Director and Founder