By Debra Moerke
Four-year-old Ben arrived at our door one night, escorted by a police officer.
He wore only a T-shirt, shorts, and stained socks. Lines of dirty, dried tears streaked his cheeks.
Soft blue eyes stared up at me. The officer brought Ben into our home, carefully turned the boy around, and lifted his shirt. Ben’s back and legs were covered with red welts from neck to ankles from the wire end of a fly swatter wielded by his mom’s live-in boyfriend.
The Faces of Abuse
As a foster family for over 18 years, this was not the first time we had received a child so abused.
We fostered many children removed from abusive or neglectful parents. Almost every child we welcomed as foster parents was being raised by a single mother. One year, we received a family of five siblings—ages ranging from four days old to seven years old. A four-year-old girl seemed to be the constant target of abuse from her mother and the revolving door of boyfriends.
After a year of love and care in our home, they were sent back to their mother, who wasn’t ready to care for them.
Tragically, the abuse continued, and the little girl’s life ended too soon.
An Open Door
In the aftermath of this tragedy, God called me to forgive—not just the mother who had caused so much harm, but to extend grace and help where I could.
It became clear that we couldn’t sit idly by while single mothers and their children suffered.
In Wyoming, we saw the critical gap: there was no place for mothers to go—no safe, supportive community where they could rebuild their lives and learn to become self-sufficient, independent, and healthy parents.
The Birth of McKenzie Home Project
The McKenzie Home Project was born from this need.
Women were staying in abusive relationships simply to avoid homelessness. They lacked the resources to build a better life and the education to break the cycle of poverty and abuse.
It became evident: we had the opportunity to respond. We knew we could create a place of refuge for these women and their children.
The McKenzie Home is named in honor of a little girl who was born to a single mom and adopted by a loving couple.
Unfortunately, McKenzie was diagnosed at 14 months with leukemia and passed away at age five. The home is an eighteen-million dollar project, and we are halfway into the first phase.
A Crucial Response
The need is now, and communities can boost their efforts to support and strengthen single moms.
As we work toward completing the project in Wyoming, we have been partnering with fellow board members in local towns and cities to help single moms now. We invite moms and their kids to brunch at a local church, where they receive a brief message of encouragement.
A local nonprofit also gives a short presentation on the support they offer. We provide gift cards to local restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and gas stations to help single moms who are struggling. And in turn, they become supports to one another.
With God’s help, the McKenzie Home will provide single mothers and their children the support they need to thrive and expand even further.
No matter where we are, we can all help build strong foundations for single moms with love, support, and biblical encouragement. Helping them changes lives—and shape the future.
Christian author and speaker Debra Moerke fostered over 140 children. Her heart is for single moms and their children.
