Beginning of Miracles
Beginning of Miracles
The miraculous story of Sunshine Acres Children’s Home encourages and inspires people all over the world.
Rev. James and Vera Dingman (Uncle Jim and Aunt Vera) opened Sunshine Acres in 1954 with a desire to give their lives to caring for children who are hurting and faith that God would provide all they needed. The Dingmans had spent their entire lives serving those forgotten by society: the sick, the poorest of the poor, migrant families and people in prison. For 17 years they had prayed for a place to take care of homeless children. In 1953 they sold their home and with the help of the Mesa Optimist club made the down-payment on 125 acres of Arizona desert with a few run-down buildings. They were grandparents with no income, 11 years of mortgage payments, no electricity and a well with broken pump. Aunt Vera writes, “That day we both felt that we should never solicit money, or a board, or a brick, and that no child would ever be turned away for financial reasons. God impressed upon us very strongly that this was His work. We were to take care of the children, and He would take care of the finances.” This was the beginning of the Miracle in the Desert.
Still today children will not be turned away for financial reasons. We do not receive government support for the children and though we are donor funded, we do no fundraising/solicitation for ourselves. Many friends, businesses, churches and volunteers contribute and host fundraising events on behalf of the home, and God is still working miracles.
To hear the amazing stories of the angel with wool blankets, water from a rock and other miraculous ways God has provided, read the eBooklet “The Beginning of Miracles,” (available online soon) or visit us for a tour and receive a free copy for yourself or to encourage a friend.
The greatest miracle is still a life that is changed!