Meet the Families.

In a small Tennessee town, Kachina grew up in a world of uncertainty, moving in and out of foster care. Despite the chaos, Kachina’s heart remained hopeful, dreaming of one day creating a family filled with the love and stability she had always yearned for.

Kachina met and married Russell, a man who shared her dream of a loving, stable home. Together, they’ve built a beautiful family with two wonderful children—Zadok and Ezekiel. Their home is filled with laughter, love, and the stability Kachina had once longed for.

Yet, Kachina’s heart held another dream. She wanted to provide a loving home for a child in need, just as she had once needed. Russell wholeheartedly supported this vision, and together, they began the journey to adopt.

As they began sharing their heart for adoption, Russell was introduced to Luke and Together As One. After meeting for coffee, Russell could sense the heart that Luke and the ministry had for adoption, the birth family, and those endeavoring on the adoption journey. The Roddens are thrilled to have TOA walking alongside them in prayer and support as they seek to find the little girl to make their home complete.

Russell and Kachina’s story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. By supporting adoption grants, you can help families like theirs provide loving, stable homes for children, ensuring that every child knows the warmth and security of a forever family.

-Rodden family

Since before we got married, we both knew adoption would be a part of our story. The Lord has placed a call on both of our lives to bring a child into our family through adoption. For the last 4 years we have gone back and forth about when the right time was to make this move. Through prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord and those around us we quickly realized there was no better time than now! As soon as we said yes we have felt such peace in this decision and how God has already blessed us so much in this process. Since finding out about Together As One, we are so excited that they will be helping us along the adoption process and we are so grateful for them! We cannot wait to see the child that God has planned since the beginning of time to be a part of our family! 
-Olerud family

Hello everyone, my name is Katie Mingle, and my husband Cody and I are currently in the process of trying to start our family through adoption. I am an elementary special education teacher who has the honor of working with students with severe and profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. I also serve at our church every Sunday as a one-on-one buddy for a student in the children's ministry with autism. When I was still in utero, I was diagnosed with a genetic abnormality called Turner Syndrome, where ninety-nine percent of pregnancies result in the baby dying. Thankfully, I survived and was born a healthy and happy child who has grown into a young woman with an amazing husband and career she loves. My Turner Syndrome has no effects on my daily life or health; however, it does cause me to be unable to have biological children. My entire life, I have known that adoption would be how I would grow my family. I am beyond thankful that the Lord sent me an amazing husband in Cody, who did not hesitate when I told him very early on into dating that adoption was in my future and asked if that was something he would be ok with. I entered that conversation firm in the fact that if he was unwilling to adopt that he was not the man God had planned for me, and Cody blew me away by immediately talking about how excited he was about the prospect of adoption. Cody is a Histology Technician who cuts patient tissue onto microscope slides that are interpreted by pathologists to reach diagnoses for patients. Cody is an amazing leader and loves the Lord with all his heart. He serves on the tech team at church operating cameras and directing the live stream service. Cody has a passion for audio/visual work as well as a passion for the lab.

We got married in July of 2024 at our church, and want to express
how important our faith is to us and how we will raise our future
children to love the Lord and to treat everyone they encounter with
respect. Cody and I are eagerly awaiting God’s timing for the start of our family. We are beyond grateful and humbled to be going through this adoption journey. There have been many nights filled with tears, anticipating the start of our family, and many days of praise and thankfulness for how God has already provided through the love and support our community has shown us.
-Mingle family

We’re Ben and Katelyn! Our story began in 2011 through what we like to call a God-written whirlwind. From a camp crush in 2007 (with a surprise twist), to long-distance dating, a Chick-fil-A parking lot engagement, and finally marriage in 2014—we’ve seen God’s hand in every step.

Even before we were married, God placed adoption on our hearts. Katelyn felt this calling early in life, and when she shared it with Ben during their dating days, he embraced it wholeheartedly—having experienced himself how love extends far beyond biology. Adoption became part of our shared dream from the start.

After finishing our degrees and diving into ministry, we began the adoption process in 2019. The journey took unexpected turns with COVID delays, but God faithfully guided us. In 2023, we received the incredible gift of being chosen by our daughter’s birth mother, a blessing we treasure deeply.

This journey has been marked by the love of community from the start. Friends, family, and organizations like Together As One have surrounded us with prayer, encouragement, and financial support that made adoption possible. Their generosity has not only carried us but also inspired us to keep moving forward.

Now, we are thrilled to be a waiting family again—excited to see how God will grow our family and hopeful that our children will one day share a beautiful bond through their adoption stories. We are so thankful for every person who has walked with us and continues to walk with us on this journey.

-Ben and Katelyn