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Most of us think of ministry in terms of public platforms and visible efforts: preaching, singing, teaching or mission work. All of those things certainly qualify, but I’ve seen firsthand the ministry that happens when ordinary people give their time and resources to love on people that others sometimes forget.
The Veranda is a nonprofit
respite care ministry
in Gallatin, Tennessee, which
meets the needs of patients
and families affected by
Alzheimer’s, dementia and
other medical issues. Three
days a week, the Veranda
welcomes in clients to
participate in activities
and enjoy the company of
friends who extend Christ to
them, while their caregivers
enjoy much-needed time
to rest and recharge. The
Veranda serves delicious meals, organizes
fun outings, and holds church services for
the sweet folks who have been robbed of
memories, freedom and dignity. They also
provide support for the families of their
clients. It is not uncommon to find one of
the Veranda staff members (all of whom
are volunteers) visiting their clients in the
hospital or their homes. Sometimes
they are the only ones who
are there. No one is turned away
from the Veranda — families who
cannot afford professional care for
their loved ones are not charged.
The Veranda has found ways to
put a smile on their clients’ faces
and laugh in the face of otherwise
painful circumstances.
The Veranda has a lot of friends
in the gospel music world, and in
September 2016 at the National
Quartet Convention, many of
those friends came together for the first-ever
Celebrity Dunk Tank Challenge, with all
proceeds benefiting the Veranda. I recruited
my friends Michael Booth, Tim Lovelace,
Josh Singletary, Scotty Inman and my uncle Kirk Talley to ask their fans to donate online,
and fans were all too eager to help send
those guys underwater. I also challenged my
social media followers
to raise $1000 to get
me in the dunk tank.
We were all drenched by the end, but enjoyed a lot of laughs. The
event raised over six thousand dollars, and
a lot of folks fell in love with this amazing
ministry. The outpouring of love from people
who didn’t previously know of the Veranda’s
work, but blessed them wholeheartedly,
touched all of us deeply.
My grandmother (I called her “Mamaw”) suffered the last 10 years of her life with Alzheimer’s disease, and it was a very challenging time for our entire family, especially my Papaw. He stood by her side and cared for her faithfully every day, but I wish so much that we could have benefited from the Veranda’s ministry at that time. My hope and prayer is that other families will find help, peace and joy in their struggle. The folks at the Veranda will tell you it’s possible. Because of Christ, the Veranda is a happy place.
For more information, visit Verandaministries.org.
