History
OVER FIVE DECADES OF SERVING GEORGIA’S VULNERABLE YOUTH
In 1967, a group of godly men and women saw the need for a children’s home in Dasher, Georgia where the “fatherless” could be cared for and loved in a Christian environment.
This passion to help troubled children sparked the birth of Georgia Christian Children’s Home. The mission was straightforward… to practice pure religion (James 1:26-27) by “visiting the fatherless and the widows in their affliction” and to bring children up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The process began with the purchase of land and the construction of Tall Pines Cottage.
This Christian ministry has faithfully served God by providing a safe community where vulnerable children get the love and education needed to change their lives for the better.
For nearly 60 years, the Lord has blessed our work as we have cared for orphaned, neglected, and abused children.
GROWING PAINS
By the early 1970’s, Georgia Christian Children’s Home (GCCH) had grown into a twenty-acre campus complete with three residential homes and an administration office.
Children lived in cottages supervised by house parents who provided daily care, guidance, structure, and support. House parents were members of the Church of Christ. They and the children attended Bible classes and worship assemblies in local congregations.
Also in the early 70’s, GCCH absorbed the operations of the Sowega Children’s Home in Albany, GA. Some of the kids from there moved to our home in Dasher. The flagpole from Sowega was transported to our campus and remains a focal point of our grounds today.
Throughout the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s, we focused on supporting orphaned and abused children.
G.R. Holton became the President/CEO in 1980 and served in that role until his retirement in 2007.
Through G.R.’s leadership, services expanded to help troubled children and teens who needed to be removed from their home due to family or behavioral issues.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Kenny Holton has served Raintree Village for over 20 years in different capacities. He was promoted to Executive Administrator in 2004 and then to Executive Director in 2008.
EXPANDING SERVICES
In 2004, a fourth residential home, a dining hall, and gym were constructed. With the additions to our campus also came an expansion in services… eldercare, maternity, independent living, transitional living, and trauma-informed care.
To reflect the growth, our name was changed to Raintree Village! This signified both a residential component and a specialized array of emotional and behavioral services designed to enhance a child’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Interestingly, there were two other factors that prompted the name change:
- People were getting us confused with Georgia Christian School. Although we are both supported by churches of Christ, no other connection existed.
- We attempted to establish an elder care program and began by building apartments on our property. The idea was to have older couples purchase their retirement homes as part of our “village” and work closely with the kids. Although this did not develop as hoped, the apartments now serve as an income stream for our work.
Although the name was changed from Georgia Christian Children’s Home to Raintree Village, we have always been (and always will be) a Christian organization.
ADDING FOSTER CARE
While residential services have been our “bread and butter” since inception, we recognized the need to serve children and youth outside an institutional setting or group home. We believe children deserve a “forever home” and a “forever family”.
So, in 2018, Raintree Village committed to renew our foster care license. We began to recruit and train foster parents and provide adoption and counseling services to the community. Foster parents were recruited within a 50-mile radius of Valdosta, Georgia.
ADAPTING TO THE NEEDS
Listen as Executive Director Kenny Holton discusses the history of Raintree Village with his father G.R. Holton, who served as President/CEO from 1980-2007.
CONTINUING THE MISSION
Today, our commitment “to help as many vulnerable children and teens as possible, making a real difference in their lives” is as strong as it ever has been.
Our Board and staff remain devoted to fulfilling our mission: Offering troubled children and teens an opportunity for a future by instilling strong FAITH in God, HOPE for a better tomorrow, and LOVE for self and others.
We thank the Lord for blessing this ministry for nearly 60 years! We’re proud of our history of serving Georgia’s children, families, and communities. With your help, we can continue to give these lonely kids the love and security they couldn’t get from their families… and a chance to simply “be children”.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
