In this dark and cynical world there is a light shining in the darkest places where human beings are often shut away and forgotten; a smile hidden in the corners of an unlit building too often passed over by an uncaring world.
Places that house the elderly, developmentally disabled, handicapped and unwanted, our nations nursing homes and related care institutions are often just dumping grounds for members of society who have lost their ability to become useful to the rest of the community. These individuals could be our grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. They could be us. People live in facilities because they have lost the ability to care for themselves, not because they choose to.
Family members, staff and care-givers are often perplexed in finding spiritually enriching activities to fill the time and stimulate the senses of residents who still have the same needs you and I do for social inter-action, activity, spiritual nourishment and most of all, the love we all need to give us a sense of belonging and a place in God's universe.
Renaissance Enterprises, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a light to thousands of care facility residents around the country. Founded in l987 by Christian singer, songwriter, Bob Rowe, Renaissance has a staff of over 25 artists, artisans, and performers, who travel the globe bringing a sense of hope and joy, through the arts, to many who would never have access to it otherwise. Even in the metro Nashville (Tennessee) area, which is ripe with musicians, no ones seems to have much time to go into the nursing homes, so they bring Renaissance down to do the job!
One of the artists who has been with Renaissance since almost the beginning, Rendal Wall, says, “my father, the late, Rem Wall, and I looked forward to each and every performance through Renaissance as a time to give back to the community some of the blessings we have realized throughout our life. It is very moving for me to see how an old familiar song can bring a big smile to someone who is brought into the room slouched down in their wheel-chair, with a frown on their face, it's truly magical to see the transformation and witness the power of God's love in action!”
Michael Northrop who does both Karaoke performances and art demonstrations is a former pastor and lay minister. “This work gets down to the basics of the Gospel message for me, 'if I speak with the tongues of angels, yet have no charity, I am a clanging gong, and a clashing cymbal!' (1 Corinthians). Too often in today's religious world we are too concentrated on the Christian rituals and debating theology, yet we forget the most basic of the commandments from Jesus, to go forth and preach to all nations, by our deeds, as well as our words!”
Rowe remembers one of the deciding factors that influenced him to pursue the formation of Renaissance Enterprises as a formal 501-c-3 charity to do this work on a full-time basis. “In one of the first facilities I visited, way up in Northern Michigan, I will never forget one little lady who was all bent up in her wheelchair, and her face almost in her lap, totally alone and dejected. The residents were all placed in a circle and I stood in the midst of them determined to get this lady to look at me and come out of her shell as I could tell she was the victim of many lonely hours and much neglect of the spirit. After about ten minutes of 'This little Light Of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine,' she raised her head, ever so slowly, looked around the room, and gave me the biggest wink and smile you ever saw in your life, it lit the room. The activity director and nurses were dumb-founded as they told me she had not responded to anything in weeks, not even her family visits! In weeks after, I received letters from the staff marveling at the lady's transformation as she continued to wheel around the nursing home, singing, 'This Little Light Of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine!' It was in that one instant that I knew I had seen the face of God and could not turn back!”
The artists of Renaissance Enterprises provide over 150 enrichment programs per year and travel constantly to bring the light of God's love to the most forgotten in our country, yet the organization is staffed entirely by volunteers. All funds donated go directly toward travel expenses. Board president Deb Howard says, “We decided, from the beginning, to maintain focus on our mission and not to become too focused on fundraising, administrative costs, or anything that takes away from the reason we are doing this!” All funds to provide these important programs come from individual donations, churches, and private foundations and are greatly needed and very much appreciated.
In this ever darkening world, where cynicism, doubt and greed seem to be getting a stronger foot-hold by the year, Renaissance Enterprises is truly a light in the darkness and an inspiration to us all. In the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, “The fruit of love is service, and the fruit of service is peace. If you want to know why we do this, come and see.”
If you want to know why you should care and why you should believe, come and see and you will never be the same!
To contact Renaissance Enterprises write to P.O. Box 473, Portage, Michigan, 49081, call 1-616-381-4887, or visit their website at www.visioncouncil.org/
