News

Oct 31, 2023

Ministry to help those who age out of foster care being built on faith

Managing Editor Richard Carter wants to make the old school at Paint Lick the

Managing Editor

Richard Carter wants to make the old school at Paint Lick the home for a ministry to help young adults who age out of foster care.

PAINT LICK, Ky. (KT) – Richard Carter gave up a lucrative sales job to follow the Lord's leading about a dozen years ago. He has faithfully followed that message by downsizing his life and starting a ministry to help young men and women who have aged out of foster care.

"I was in sales and marketing for 20 years and won a trip to Europe," he said. "While there I felt the Lord tell me, ‘When you stand before me what will you tell me about those you told about me?’ I came home and told my wife I think we’ve been building the wrong kingdom."

FBC Richmond had an "underground church" experience at the Paint Lick schoolhouse last summer.

His wife had just given birth to their sixth child and six months after quitting his job, he began downsizing his life. Carter was working for donations as a handyman as his way to make a living. Seven years ago, while driving through Paint Lick – a small town between Richmond and Lancaster - he had another clear message that he was supposed to "pursue that building."

The building was an old schoolhouse in Paint Lick. "I told the Lord, ‘I don't need a building, I don't want a building. You told me to get rid of stuff.’ That was a Friday and Saturday I woke up to ‘pursue that building’ on my mind," Carter said.

He called a real estate friend who told him that he and his wife - and that building - were on her mind that morning. She called the owner and set up a meeting for the following Monday. Carter almost reluctantly went hoping at the least he could have a gospel conversation with the owner but with no expectations about the school.

They toured the building, and it was clearly bigger and more expensive than the Carters could afford. "But six months later we signed papers to lease it for three years," he said. When the lease was up, the owner came back and asked if he wanted to purchase it and they agreed to a land contract - $10,000 down, five years of monthly payments and then a balloon payment at the end. That balloon payment – a whopping $160,000 – comes due Thursday.

"That building itself has been a ministry," Carter said. "We’ve had a lot of different church groups here and recently had 45 young men from Denmark here with us through a connection in Berea. The young men, two groups of 22, were not believers, and we had some good gospel conversations with them.

"We had a bunch of beds, but didn't have enough," he said. "Two days before they came, the head purchasing person at Berea (College) called me and asked if we needed bunk beds. We had 60 college bunk beds set up."

Carter marvels at how God has showed up for him at every turn.

The Carter family lives in the school building and the ministry – Old Schoolhouse Ministries – has no additional staff. He has made some connections through Sunrise Children's Services and Kentucky Baptist churches, including First Baptist Church in Richmond and Sand Springs Baptist in Lawrenceburg.

"Richard, I think, has kind of a George Muller philosophy," said Richmond FBC Pastor Travis Farris, referring to the Christian evangelist from England in the 1800s whose unwavering faith is well documented. "As the Lord has led, he wants to be faithful and obedient. He literally lives by faith with his income, finances and what the vision of the ministry will be.

"He lives by faith and prayer and that part is a little refreshing. What he lacks in structure, he makes up for in faith."

Last summer, about 150 from FBC Richmond came to the schoolhouse for an experience as an "underground church." They were only given an address and those who came were told not to bring Bibles. They would learn what it was like to have to rely on memory verses and to sing without instruments.

Richard Carter, far right, with Richmond FBC youth pastor Steve Coleman, middle, and another friend at the old Paint Lick School.

"That was a vision from (youth) pastor Steve (Coleman). Basically, no Bibles, no screens, no instruments," Farris said. "What you have in your mind and heart scripturally was all you had. It provided the atmosphere of what an underground church is in persecuted areas. It was very hot in summertime. They shared testimony, pastor Steve taught and it got really good."

Carter's unwavering faith in the face of all obstacles has been inspiring to many.

"He's the most obedient person I know," said Barry Atkins, a missions committee member at Sand Springs Baptist in Lawrenceburg. "He is a huge testimony and has a lot of things in life that have led him to this point. He's totally dedicated to what he's doing. Not that many people have his discipline and obedience."

Atkins has also worked alongside Carter at several Kentucky Changers events and Sand Springs has sent workers to help with projects at the school.

The goal for the Carters is to provide those who age out of foster care at 18 years old with a place to live and learn more about the gospel. The training would include some job training as well. He said they have had between 90 and 100 over the past seven years but that would have to grow exponentially to be a self-funded ministry, which is the goal.

He is hoping to get sponsors for those coming into the program through churches. Carter has been an assistant crew chief with Kentucky Changers and works well with his hands.

Carter has spoken multiple times to Sunrise Children's Services officials for advice, including Rick Burslem, about his ministry plan to help those who have aged out of foster care. The location of the school presents some hurdles since most independent living programs want closer access to work and educational opportunities for residents.

Burselm said Carter has a "huge heart" for helping those who have aged out of foster care and wants to help them continue to grow in a Christ-centered way.

"He has an incredible entrepreneurial spirit and has dedicated his life to the schoolhouse ministries," Burslem said. "He has no lack of energy and has always been on top of whatever he has done in life. He has a huge heart and he wants it to happen."

Mainly, though, Carter wants to follow God's leading in whatever happens, including if he can't make the $160,000 balloon payment due this week. Asked what would happen if he cannot make the payment, he said: "I’ll give the owners the keys and see what God has in store next for us."

That next will be at least another three months after a generous donor come forward with a donation on Wednesday to extend the deadline of the balloon payment another 90 days.

God had provided again.

Reach Richard at 859-339-2237 or by email at [email protected] to learn more about the ministry or ways to be involved.

Managing Editor

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Have the latest local news delivered every morning so you don't miss out on updates.

If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.