Unscripted Magazine Spring 2024 - Flipbook - Page 50
“I'll keep giving for as long
as I'm able. It's a small
way to give back what God
has given to us.”
“We lived a good life,” John said.
When John learned last year that Messiah Lifeways
was pursuing a partnership with Central Penn College
to provide continued dementia education to team
members—particularly those working in memory care
neighborhoods—he felt compelled to contribute to
the cause.
“My whole life’s emphasis was on helping people with
disabilities and aging,” John said. “Part of the incoming
training is mental illness and dementia, and mental
health is such an important part of living a normal life.
I endorse it 100 percent, and I’m glad we’re talking
about it—pioneering and making progress.”
A sweet symbol of his financial support and deep
personal connection to this initiative, when the first
group of team members completed their training,
earning their dementia practitioner certifications, John
handed each graduate a carnation. This interaction
alone, and the subsequent smile shared between two
people—resident and team member—who are both
invested in adding meaning and value to the lives of
others, encapsulates the universal power of giving that
has long radiated in John.
“I’ll keep giving for as long as I’m able,” he said. “It’s a
small way to give back what God has given to us.”
48