A new childcare center opened in February in Buhler, Kansas, as the result of a collaboration between three Christian organizations dedicated to meeting a need in the community.
Central Christian Child Care at Buhler is a new daycare facility operating out of the Buhler MB Church building. It is run by Central Christian School of nearby Hutchinson, with food service provided by Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler.
Keith Pankratz, CEO of Sunshine Meadows, says that before the COVID-19 pandemic, he became aware of a need for more childcare options in Buhler from his employees who were parents. After the pandemic, interest surfaced again, and he decided to reach out to John Walker, superintendent at Central Christian School.
The school has operated a daycare and preschool facility in Hutchinson since 1980, and Pankratz asked if the school might consider opening an additional facility in Buhler.
“We know that childcare is an issue, and we’ve always wanted to be seen as being on the leading front of helping solve issues in Reno County,” Walker says.
Church joins collaboration
During their discussions about possible locations, they considered Buhler MB Church, where Pankratz attends. Walker and Pankratz brought pastor Curt Vogt in on their conversations.
“For any of us to do it on our own probably wouldn’t be very workable, but with this arrangement it should work out really fine,” Pankratz says.
Buhler MB Church’s children’s wing needed to be remodeled and brought up to code to host the daycare. The church received a grant from the Buhler Community Foundation to help cover the cost of the remodel, which began in April 2024. Vogt says they had a lot of volunteer help from church members to complete the project.
They also considered the logistics of having church activities on weekends and evenings and the daycare operating during the weekdays.
“We’re optimistic that we can work that all out,” Vogt says. “We really are committed to having this be a ministry in our community.”
Walker says: “One of the coolest parts of the entire thing, truly, has been the test of faith for all of us to continue to pursue the next step, and the Lord providing for our needs each and every time.”
Center focuses on faith
The center hosted an open house on Feb. 13 and had a “soft opening” on Feb. 20, with two infants being the first enrolled. The center has a capacity for 24 children, from infant through age 3.
Each day, hot lunch is delivered to the center by Sunshine Meadows staff, as well as snacks and a continental breakfast for the next morning.
Pankratz says he hopes there might be opportunities for intergenerational connection, such as retirement community residents visiting the center to read to children, tell stories and eat together.
Walker, Pankratz and Vogt all especially emphasize the center’s focus on faith, which they see as a unique opportunity for families in Buhler.
“(The) childcare program is not just about keeping people alive and healthy; we sincerely seek to instill traditional biblical values in the hearts and minds of people even at a young age,” Walker says.
Jessica Vix Allen is a freelance writer living in Blue Springs, Missouri. She and her husband, Joel, are both graduates of Tabor College. The couple has three children.
