On Thursday, September 24, Josiah White’s was honored to host its Annual Spiritual Life Benefit Dinner, themed “Hope Grows Here.”
The evening brought together friends, supporters, and community partners to celebrate the lasting impact of Spiritual Life and the many ways God works through the people and relationships surrounding the children, teens, and families we serve.
The theme, Hope Grows Here, reflects a simple but meaningful truth: our responsibility is to plant seeds.
We may not always see growth happening beneath the surface, but that doesn’t mean change isn’t taking root.
Seeds of hope can be planted in chapel, through a teaching moment with a vocational coach, in a safe place for healing provided by a foster parent who said “yes,” or in a meaningful conversation with a Family Teacher. Each interaction is an opportunity to nurture growth, build confidence, and point young people and families toward new possibilities.
Stories of Hope and Transformation
Throughout the evening, guests heard stories that illustrated the impact of consistent support, meaningful relationships, and people who are willing to walk alongside others through every season.
The Leslie Family shared their journey from foster care to a forever family of six after adopting their twin daughters. They spoke about the importance of the village that surrounded them and provided support throughout their fostering journey.
Their story was a beautiful reminder that caring for children is something we do together.
Guests also heard from Family Teachers Chris and Tasha, who shared the story of a student whose time at Josiah White’s helped him develop greater confidence and self-respect. Through everyday moments, encouragement, and consistent relationships, seeds were planted that helped him begin to see himself differently.
Spiritual Life was also represented through a video from Alex Smith, who shared how knowing Jesus has shaped his life and given him a desire to minister to others.
Josh Atkins, a Josiah White’s Foster Care Advocate, opened the evening with a devotional drawn from his own experience as a child in foster care. He reflected on what it meant to have people and a place that never gave up on him—and how those experiences helped shape the man he is today.
Together, these stories reminded us that growth doesn’t always happen all at once. Sometimes, it begins with a single conversation, a person who refuses to give up, or the steady presence of someone willing to walk alongside a young person or family.
And sometimes, we may never know the full impact of the seeds we helped plant.
A Little Something to Take Home
One of the evening’s most memorable moments began as guests arrived.
Each person was invited to plant a seed in a small pot, symbolizing the seeds of hope planted throughout a young person’s journey.
By the end of the evening, those seeds had seemingly “miraculously” grown into sprouted olive trees, ready for guests to take home.
Of course, there was a little event-day magic involved. But the message behind the experience was meaningful: growth often happens in ways we cannot immediately see.
The pots originally planted by guests will find a new home at 50 East Garden Center & Café, continuing the evening’s theme of nurturing new possibilities.
An Evening of Fellowship and Gratitude
The evening also gave guests an opportunity to experience some of the vocational opportunities found right here on our residential campus.
Dinner featured Mississippi-style beef tips harvested from Josiah White’s own cattle, highlighting the connection between the resources of our campus and the hands-on learning opportunities available to young people.
Musical performances by Andrea and CJ Mills added beauty to the evening, culminating in a moving rendition of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
As voices throughout the room joined together in song, the moment served as a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness through every season of growth.
Throughout the evening, student servers welcomed guests, provided refreshments, and shared their experiences. These interactions created opportunities for attendees to connect personally with the young people whose lives are impacted by the generosity and partnership of this community.
Growing Together
An evening like this doesn’t happen because of one person or one organization. It takes a community of people willing to plant, water, nurture, encourage, and trust God with the growth.
We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors, whose partnership helped make the evening possible:
Brotherhood Mutual, Do it Best Wabash Hardware, Jeremy & Emily Boardman, Maple Run Friends Church, Insurance Management Group, and Trucordia.
To everyone who attended, served, sponsored, volunteered, shared their story, or helped bring this evening together—thank you.Your support helps create spaces, relationships, and opportunities where seeds of hope can take root.
At Josiah White’s, we know that growth takes time, care, and faith. We may not always see what is happening beneath the surface, but we trust that God is at work.
We plant. We water. God grows.
And because of a community willing to plant seeds of hope alongside us, hope grows here.
