Fall 2007 - Christian Care Communities

The Inside Story 

Fall 2007 

A Publication of 

Christian Care Communities

Christian Care 

Communities 

Board of Directors 

Donald L. Asfahl 

Chairperson 

Louisville, Kentucky 

Charlotte Tharp 

Vice Chair 


Chadwick Gardner 

Secretary 


Edwin K. Binford, Jr. 

Treasurer 


Nelda Barnett 

Owensboro, Kentucky 

Jeffrey W. Bell 

Paris, Kentucky 

Donna Blackburn 

Bowling Green, Kentucky 

Jane W. Burks 


Odis Clark 

Danville, Kentucky 

Tracey Clark 

Hopkinsville, Kentucky 

Scott Coburn 

Georgetown, Kentucky 

Louise Cornell 


John Dundon 

Grayson, Kentucky 

David Emery 


Alan Parsons 


Paul Schulte 


Marie Smart 

Paris, Kentucky 

Elizabeth Wachtel 

Lexington, Kentucky 

Debra Walton 


John Wesley 


Carla Whaley 

New Castle, Kentucky 

Inside This Issue 

President’s Message.................................................1 

Christian Care and Sunrise Discuss the Future 

of the Program for Children and Families................2 

The Hidden Graces of Aging....................................4 

Where Your Treasure Is, 

There Your Heart Will Be........................................6 

Bringing The Green House to the Bluegrass.....Insert 

Partners in Ministry: A Portrait of a Giver................7 

Edge of Eden Garden...............................................8 

Acknowledging Our Partners In Caring...................9 

On The Cover 

A collection of photos taken recently at Christian 

Care’s Louisville Campus adorns our cover. 

Pictured: (upper left) Bobbie Martin, a resident of 

Friendship House, provides musical entertainment at 

special events; (upper right) Ethel Simpson (left) and 

Cuba Hines (right) are sisters who live at Friendship 

House; (lower left) Florence Hodges, (left) Chapel 

House resident and member of Shelbyville Christian 

Church enjoys a “Fifties” party with Campus 

Activity Director Terri Reinscheld (in sunglasses) 

and Lucille Baker, volunteer from Shawnee Christian 

Church; (lower right) Howard Foster, Friendship 

House resident, reads the newspaper. 

Our Mission 

“In response to the call of Jesus Christ, we reach 

out as responsible stewards through a caring and 

loving ministry to persons with a diversity of needs. 

In celebration of each one’s unique gifts, talents 

and life, we provide opportunities that promote 

independence, encourage self-fulfillment, nurture 

spiritual well-being and retain personal dignity.”

Reaching Out to the Most 

Vulnerable – No Matter the Season 

Once again, a change 

of season is upon us, and 

autumn brings the gifts of 

vivid colors, crisp days 

and cool nights. No matter 

the season, Christian Care 

Communities, with the 

support of donors and our 

partners, provides affordable housing and 

quality long-term care and services for 

older adults, many of whom are the most 

vulnerable in our society. 

In this issue of The Inside Story, we’re 

pleased to report that 14 new garden homes 

on Christian Care’s campus in Hopkinsville 

will open in November – expanding housing 

alternatives for older adults in western 

Kentucky. We’re also pleased to share with 

you how volunteers from Edge Outreach 

Ministries, along with other community 

partners, created a beautiful new garden 

for Alzheimer’s residents at our Christian 

Health Center in downtown Louisville. 

Inspired by what “blossomed” between the 

youthful volunteers and residents, Chaplain 

Doug Harvey shares some insights on 

the hidden graces of aging and spiritual 

journeys. 

We also are moving forward by 

exploring a unique opportunity to strengthen 

the Children’s Program in Danville and 

Henderson. On page 2, you will find more 

about our talks with Sunrise Children’s 

Services. As Christian Care discusses the 

possibility of transitioning our Children’s 

Program to Sunrise, be assured that our 

primary purposes are to ensure the wellbeing 

of children and families in crisis, 

and strengthen and expand our program 

for Older Adults. 

In addition to these feature stories, 

Dr. Keith Knapp, Christian Care’s chief 

operating officer and visionary for our 

Older Adults Program, introduces his recent 

findings on the innovative “Green House” 

model for older adult care, and how this 

concept may impact Christian Care’s 

future plans. 

As always, thank you for your 

prayers and support – and for sharing our 

commitment to providing quality care to 

older adults in Kentucky. 

Dr. Kirk G. Alliman 

President and CEO 

1

Christian Care and Sunrise Discuss 

the Future of the Program for 

Children and Families 

Since 2006, Christian Care Communities 

has been working to expand and strengthen 

its capabilities to care for the growing 

number of Older Adults, particularly those 

without sufficient means to pay for the 

services they need. 

“Our long-range goal is to lead the 

way in providing affordable housing and 

long-term care to Older Adults throughout 

Kentucky,” said Kirk Alliman, president 

and CEO, Christian Care Communities. 

“In partnership with our supporters, we are 

working to expand services and facilities 

on our campuses, develop new campuses, 

and launch programs that will enable us to 

partner with churches to help pastors and 

families find solutions to issues related to 

the care of Older Adults.” 

“We believe that the best way to 

honor the history and tradition of 

our Children’s Program is to put 

it in a position where it has the 

greatest opportunity to grow 

and expand.” 

--- David Emery 

Pastor, Middletown Christian Church 

Board Member, Christian Care 

Communities 

As Christian Care grows its Older Adult 

Program, it also has a unique opportunity 

to strengthen and sustain the Children’s 

and Families Program, based in Danville 

and Henderson, Kentucky. This past 

summer, both Christian Care’s Board 

and Sunrise Children’s Services Board 

signed a “Letter of Intent” for Sunrise to 

formally explore acquiring Christian Care’s 

Children’s Program. These negotiations 

are in process. 

Christian Care and Sunrise Children’s 

Services have much in common, including 

their not-for-profit, faith-based missions 

and strong financial positions. Christian 

Care was founded in 1884 and Sunrise 

in 1869, both with a focus on caring for 

orphans. In 2006, Christian Care served 

514 children and families through its 

specialized treatment programs. Sunrise 

serves more than 2,200 children annually 

in communities across Kentucky and 

provides a broad range of specialized 

services, including residential services, 

family counseling, foster care, and 

adoption services. 

The decision to enter into discussions 

with Sunrise was made after extensive 

strategic planning, a discerning selection 

process, and much discussion and prayer. 

Sunrise is uniquely positioned to provide 

high quality services for children, while 

also growing the Children’s Program. 

In turn, this would make it possible for 

Christian Care to focus its mission and 

resources on growing its ministries to 

older adults. 

2

Q: Why is Christian Care considering 

transitioning its Children’s Program to 

Sunrise 

First, transferring our Children’s Program 

to Sunrise Children’s Services would ensure 

that the children and families we serve are 

in the hands of a highly experienced, faithbased, 

mission-driven organization that has 

the resources and capabilities to operate the 

program at a higher and more financially 

viable level than Christian Care. Second, 

knowing that children are being well served, 

Christian Care would be able to devote its 

resources to growing and strengthening our 

ministry for Kentucky’s Older Adults. As 

Sunrise is Kentucky’s leading provider of 

services for children in crisis, Christian Care 

would focus its full efforts on developing 

innovative solutions for the growing number 

of older adults in Kentucky. 

Q: Is Christian Care in financial difficulty 

No. Christian Care’s financial situation 

is solid. This transaction is not being considered 

because of any financial weakness. 

This transition is being considered to allow 

the Children’s Program to grow to serve more 

children in crisis, and Christian Care’s Older 

Adult Program to grow to serve the soaring 

number of Older Adults. 

Q: Why Sunrise 

Christian Care decided to talk with 

Sunrise Children’s Services for a number of 

reasons. First, Sunrise’s sole mission is to 

care for at-risk children. Sunrise Children’s 

Services is five times larger than Christian 

Care’s Children’s Program, making it possible 

for Sunrise to operate the program more 

efficiently. Sunrise also receives $1.2 million 

in contributions each year from supporting 

churches, and every dollar is used to fund its 

Children’s Program. In 2006, Christian Care 

received $233,000 from supporting churches. 

These gifts were used to support many ministries 

in addition to our Children’s Program. 

In addition, Sunrise’s endowment is eight 

times larger than Christian Care’s. More 

funding and greater focus would make it 

possible for Sunrise to operate a stronger 

and more viable program. 

Q: What would happen to the Woodlawn 

Campus in Danville 

Christian Care would sell all buildings 

on the Woodlawn Campus – but only the land 

that surrounds them. Christian Care would 

retain the majority of the 70-acre campus, 

for possible development of future services 

for Older Adults. 

Q: What would happen to gifts given to 

Christian Care’s Children’s Program 

As the gift givers intended, these gifts 

would remain with the Children’s Program. 

Q: What is the one thing that Christian 

Care wants ministers, church members 

and all its friends and supporters to know 

Our sole purpose in entering into discussions 

with Sunrise is to assure that the facilities 

and programs Christian Care operates 

in Danville and Henderson will continue to 

serve children and their families in the best 

possible way and for as far into the future as 

we can imagine. It is no longer possible for 

one organization to meet the rapidly changing 

needs of all families. Just as Sunrise is the 

“safety net” for children, Christian Care will 

focus on providing the safety net for older 

adults, many of whom have outlived family, 

friends, 

and resources. 

Q: When will a final decision regarding 

Sunrise be made 

Any definitive agreement would require 

approval of both boards. It’s likely a 

decision will be made later this fall. 

3

The Hidden Graces of Aging 

By Chaplain Doug Harvey 

As youth groups worked this summer 

on Christian Care’s Louisville campus 

to expand an outdoor patio garden for 

Alzheimer’s residents, more “blossomed” 

than just a beautiful garden. 

As these young people spent time with 

our health center residents, they began to 

see the Older Adult residents in a new way. 

These young people realized, as one middle 

schooler succinctly put it, that “being older 

is really not so bad.” 

So much of 

life, after all, is 

about perspective. 

And for 

anyone who 

may need a new 

perspective on 

aging, I highly 

recommend 

Spiritual Passages: 

Embracing Life’s Sacred Journey by 

Drew Leder, M.D. It was in reading Dr. 

Leder’s work and recently meeting him at a 

conference on aging sponsored by Christian 

Care at the University of Kentucky’s Annual 

Summer Series on Aging, that I was inspired 

by his perspective on Older Adults and 

late-life spirituality. 

Awakening the 

Spirit Within 

Much of the work of Christian Care’s 

pastoral care team centers on helping 

residents and families see the spiritual 

potential that resides in each of them and the 

hidden graces of aging. 

Older Adults, being blessed with long 

life, are guardians of our traditions. They 

have much to teach all of us on how to move 

forward in life, 

with purpose and 

meaning. They 

hold a wisdom that 

speaks of knowing 

and seeing. And as 

Dr. Leder writes in 

Spiritual Passages: 

“the proximity 

to death is seen 

not as a mark of 

limitation but of 

closeness to the 

divine.” 

As we age, 

there is more time 

for contemplation: 

Christian Health Center resident Dorothy Gibson visits less doing and 

with Chaplain Doug Harvey in the Edge of Eden Garden. more being, to 

begin to appreciate 

a more centered and still kind of living. But 

that doesn’t mean that we must grow older 

with absolute seriousness and rigidity. 

The transition from adulthood to Older 

Adult brings with it the opportunity to 

relax from so much work and revel in the 

mysteries of life, without having to always 

have the answers. There is time to play and 

experience a light heart, to be granted the 

freedom again to be who you really are and 

4

not what others expect. There is time to 

celebrate the joys of family and friends and 

the uniqueness of nature and the quirkiness 

of all of God’s creation. 

Yet, we all know that life’s sacred 

journey is not without its pain and struggles. 

We certainly see how quickly and easily 

aging adults can be uprooted and how often 

they experience loss. But, in the midst of 

those life storms, the Older Adult – as a 

“wounded healer” – can learn to accept and 

even sometimes embrace those experiences 

and search for the hidden graces to awaken 

the spirit within. 

Finally, Spiritual Passages reminds all 

of us that Older Adults can serve as “wise 

guides.” These are the Older Adults who 

recognize that they are part of a sacred circle 

of people who have a responsibility to the 

folks around them and the generations that 

follow them. These are the storytellers and 

those who read the sacred writings and the 

classic novels. It’s the woman who does not 

let etiquette die or the man who continues 

traditions of chivalry. They know from 

experience that aging brings freedom, but 

that there are still tasks to be accomplished 

and contributions to be made. And all this is 

done with compassion from the soul and not 

to feed the ego. 

Each of these expressions has purpose 

and meaning for the individual as well as 

those they encounter. To be fulfilled in any 

of these ways, can bring a life anew. 

Chaplain Doug Harvey joined Christian 

Care Communities’ Pastoral Care program 

in 2006 and ministers at the Christian 

Health Center in Louisville and at Chapel 

House and Friendship House in Taylorsville. 

He can be reached at (502) 583-6533. 

Older Adults 

Program Directory 

Adult Day Program 

Lexington, Kentucky 

Assisted Living 


Chapel House Apartments 

Friendship House Apartments 

Christian Health Centers 


Corbin, Kentucky 



Independent Living in 

Garden Homes & Apartments 


Village Manor Apartment Homes 

Corbin, Kentucky 



The Village Garden Homes 

Grayson, Kentucky 






Chambers Court, The Village, 

Cox Mill Court Garden Homes 

Owensboro 

Maplebrook Village Garden Homes 

Taylorsville, Kentucky 



For more information about our programs, 

call (800) 662-1738 or visit our website: 

www.ChristianCareCommunities.org 

5

Where Your Treasure Is, There 

Your Heart Will Be . . . 

The compassionate and generous hearts 

of friends and supporters truly make it 

possible for Christian Care Communities 

to fulfill its Christ-centered mission of 

providing much-needed housing, care, 

healing and hope to the most vulnerable. 

In fact, as a result of gifts, particularly 

estate gifts, so generously given to Christian 

Care through the years, individuals are 

never turned away from our health centers, 

communities or programs because of their 

inability to pay. 

“So many of the individuals who 

remember Christian Care through wills and 

bequests do so out of gratitude,” said Kirk 

Alliman, president and CEO. “Most often, 

a meaningful and poignant personal story 

comes with each estate gift, along with the 

sincere wish that the ministries of Christian 

Care will always be there for individuals and 

families in need.” 

In fact, in 2006 alone, 

80 percent of those served 

by Christian Care were unable 

to pay the full cost of the care 

and services they received. 

Estate gifts to Christian Care arrive in 

all sizes. During recent years, Christian Care 

has received gifts ranging from $1,000 to 

$1.3 million. Gifts designated for specific 

purposes or programs are always honored. 

But whenever possible, estate gifts are 

placed in Christian Care’s Endowment Fund 

– where they can grow to sustain programs 

and services – while earnings from the fund 

are put to work. 

Endowment Fund earnings are used to 

ensure that when individuals and families 

turn to Christian Care, the care, services 

and support they need is there, regardless 

of ability to pay. In fact, in 2006 alone, 

80 percent of those served by Christian 

Care were unable to pay the full cost of the 

care and services they received. Earnings 

from the fund also are used to purchase 

specialized equipment and to sustain the 

work of Christian Care’s chaplains, as they 

support residents and individuals in our 

programs as they cope with grief, illness, 

loneliness and the end-stage of life. 

“The generosity of our supporters truly 

allows us to continue to serve those in need, 

and we are exceedingly grateful that our 

supporters’ hearts are with Christian Care, 

often for a lifetime and beyond,” 

said Alliman. 

6

Partners in Ministry: 

A Portrait of a Giver 

By Jeffrey W. Bell, Senior Minister, First Christian Church, Paris 

There was a man who always sat in 

the back row of my church in Somerset. 

He never wore a tie or had a really fine 

haircut. His shirts were not pressed and 

crisp. He was quiet and unassuming. Bill 

Cundiff blended into the background, just 

a member of the crowd. I thought he was 

one of the men from the old rooming house 

next door to First Christian, where men 

went to live when they had no where to go. 

Then one day, when we were getting 

ready to send kids to camp, he came up to 

me. His voice was low and his words were 

few: “Jeff, if there are kids who cannot 

afford to go to camp, please let me know, 

and I will pay for it.” 

Turned out this humble, unassuming 

man had been an officer for Texaco and had 

made his fortune by his early 40s. Through 

wise investing, he was able to retire early, 

and he and his wife enjoyed skiing on Lake 

Cumberland. He regularly skied the 40-mile 

length of the lake as his wife drove the boat. 

He was never a deacon or an elder; 

never served on the Board. But, he took 

care of his mother, and when she needed 

a nursing home, he brought her all the way 

from Somerset to Louisville – to Christian 

Care Communities’ health center. Nettie 

Cundiff was well cared for by Christian 

Care. Bill chose Christian Care because he 

sat in the back pew and listened when the 

church talked about this wonderful ministry. 

Out of his gratitude, Bill Cundiff made 

provision for Christian Care in his will. 

My dad, Charlie Bell, an elder at First 

Christian, knew Bill and visited with him 

and his wife. When Bill died, my dad 

continued to visit Mrs. Cundiff who was 

in a nursing home. The staff said that 

when Charlie Bell was coming to visit, 

Mrs. Cundiff insisted on being in a chair, 

with makeup on. It was a highlight of her 

day. Dad visited simply because he wanted 

to, and the Cundiffs had no children. 

Christian Care recently received 

$771,000 because of one man, sitting in a 

church pew, listening to what was said about 

the work of Christian Care. And, through the 

years, found it to be true by experience. 

7

Edge of Eden Garden 

With an outpouring of community 

support, Christian Care Communities’ 

downtown Louisville campus has created 

a little piece of “paradise” for its residents 

with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

Over a seven-week period, youth 

volunteers from Edge Outreach Ministries 

removed old fencing, built a retaining wall, 

dug up stumps, moved dirt and gravel, 

created a safe and secure waterfall, planted 

trees, shrubs and flowers to create a new 

outdoor garden area for the residents. 

“Residents just do better when they 

can get out in the fresh air and feel the sun 

on their face,” said Ceci Young, executive 

director of Christian Care’s downtown 

Louisville campus. “And with this new 

garden area, residents can now go outdoors 

anytime they desire.” 

Grants from Hilliard Lyons, Etscorn 

Foundation and the Louisville Metro 

Housing and Families provided the “seed 

money” for the new garden. In addition, the 

Christian Care Auxiliary donated proceeds 

from its on-campus boutique for residents. 

Contributing supplies and time to the 

project were a number of local businesses 

and schools, as well as Christian Care 

employees. 

“The teenagers and adult youth leaders 

from Edge Outreach put their heart and 

soul into this project,” said Young. “We 

originally were just thinking about extending 

the patio area, and what we got was a piece 

of paradise – thanks to Edge and so many 

other generous hearts.” 

Designed especially for residents with Alzheimer’s 

and dementia, the new Edge of Eden garden 

is peaceful and quiet but visually stimulating. 

Chapel House residents Florence Hodges (left) 

and Clora Campbell (right) enjoy the 

garden dedication. 

With residents, employees and guests looking on, 

Edge of Eden Garden was formally dedicated. 

Guests enjoy the new garden. 

Frequent visitor to the Christian Health Center, 

Congressman John Yarmuth and resident Charlie 

Johnson previewed the garden. 

8

Gratefully Acknowledging 

Our Partners In Caring 

On behalf of all the families we serve, Christian Care gratefully acknowledges the 

following donors for their gifts received between June 1, 2007 and August 31, 2007. 

For more information on gift-giving opportunities, please call us, or visit our secure 

website at www.ChristianCareCommunities.org to donate and to learn more about our 

outreach. 

Honoraria 

Many individuals chose to honor their 

friends and loved ones through a gift to 

Christian Care Communities. 

In Honor of Roberta Beam 

Mrs. Naomi Terry 

In Honor of Rev. Jeff Bell 

Mrs. Susan Bell 

In Honor of Friendship House 

Staff - Hopkinsville 

Ms. Anne Hughes 

In Honor of 

Chaplain James Hazelrigg 

Mr. Julian Hazelrigg 

In Honor of Rev. Bill Schiphorst 

Eminence Christian Church 

In Honor of Marianna Waldron 

Mr. William Detwiler 

Memorials 

In Memory of Rosemary Block 

Ms. Eleanor Sammons 

In Memory of Dorothy Burrice 

Mr. James Burrice 

In Memory of Mary Carroll 

Ms. Connie Carroll 

In Memory of Leslie & Anna Chilton 

Mr. and Mrs. William McGhee 

In Memory of Patsy Coley 

Ms. Nadine Howard 

In Memory of James Compton 

Mr. Dave Powers 

In Memory of Richard Davidson 

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Brueggmann 

In Memory of Arthur Dixon 

Mrs. Garnet Dixon 

In Memory of Marvin Farris 

Ms. Elizabeth Farris 

In Memory of J. Hollan Geoghegan 

Mrs. J. Hollan Geoghegan 

In Memory of 

CMSgt Robert Gielow (Retired) 

Mrs. Neva Gielow 

In Memory of 

Mr. & Mrs. Fred Greer 

Mr. Jim Greer 

In Memory of Dorothy Griley 

Ms. Delores Hollensead 

In Memory of John Henwood 

Christian Village Residents 

Mr. & Mrs. Almont Dawson, Jr. 

Ms. Rosetta Embry 

Ms. Anne Hughes 

National Active and Retired 

Federal Employees - Chapter 1730 

Ms. Frances Segler 

Ms. Elizabeth Spencer 

Mr. & Mrs. Harold Wilson 

In Memory of Daryl Hyatt 

Mrs. Doris Hyatt 

In Memory of George Jaeger 

Mrs. Jane Klosterman 

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Brueggmann 

In Memory of 

Charles "Charlie" Jones 

Centerstone 

Mr. James Combs 

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Waggoner 

Ms. Marcellina Melvin 

In Memory of Frank Lacy 

Christian Village Residents 

In Memory of Allene Lancaster 

Dr. & Mrs. Henry Hanna 

In Memory of Margaret Main 

Mr. Fred Main 

In Memory of Valera "Kitty" Parks 

Ms. Imogene Bradley 

Ms. Carole Jones 

Mr. & Mrs. James Nelson 

Mr. & Mrs. Earl Wilhelm, Sr. 

In Memory of Howard Rankin 

Volunteer Bible Class 

First Christian Church 

Monticello 

In Memory of Tyler Rott 

Mrs. Mildred Rott 

In Memory of Anna Mae Sallee 

Ms. Margaret Horlander 

In Memory of James Sanders 

Mrs. Virginia Sanders 

In Memory of Carol Schultz 

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Racke 

In Memory of George Silverton 

Ms. Bernice Bucalos 

In Memory of Reathel "Rea" Simmon 

Mrs. Mary Coomer 

In Memory of Cate Taylor 

Ms. Sissy Seay 

In Memory of June Traver 

Mr. Raymond Traver 

Memorial gifts can 

create a lasting tribute 

to your loved ones. 

If you would like to 

make your gift in 

honor of loved loves, 

we will gladly send gift 

acknowledgments as 

directed by you. 

9

The Cumberland Building 

12700 Shelbyville Road 

Louisville, Kentucky 40243-1596 

(502) 254-4200 

(800) 662-1738 

www.ChristianCareCommunities.org 

Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Permit No. 1500 

Louisville, KY 

The Inside Story is a quarterly publication 

produced for friends and supporters of 

Christian Care Communities. 

Suellen Brill, Editor 

(502) 254-4277 

suellen.brill@ccc1884.org 

Address Correction Requested 

Community Events 

Highlights of the Louisville Campus’ Health & Services Exposition 

Legends of Kentucky Sports Golf Tournament 

In September, Christian 

Care’s Louisville Campus 

hosted a Health & Services 

Expo which featured 26 

vendors that provided 

screenings and a variety 

of solutions for dealing 

with the challenges 

of aging. Over 400 

individuals attended 

the event. 

The annual Legends of Kentucky Sports golf outing 

benefiting Christian Care was a tremendous success. 

Pictured: the winning team led by former University of 

Kentucky basketball player Cameron Mills. 

Dr. Clifford Kuhn, noted 

psychiatrist, comedian and 

“laugh doctor” gave tips on 

“How to Age Gracefully.” 

The Senior Bells provided musical entertainment, 

and the crowd also enjoyed a seated line-dancing 

performance.

Fall 2007 - Christian Care Communities

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