Healing in the hills: Extending Christ’s ministry across Eastern Kentucky

Fall is a beautiful season in the hills of Kentucky, attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world. At AdventHealth Manchester, these scenic hills and hollers also draw the beauty of service, as missionaries from Tennessee, Florida, California, and Georgia come together to blanket the region—extending the healing ministry of Christ through our Global Missions Initiative.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, volunteers began each morning with a hearty breakfast (thanks to our Dietary Team), followed by a time of devotion, prayer, and planning in our chapel. Teams then traveled throughout the region to serve our community by building handicap-accessible ramps and porches, winterizing crawlspaces, installing new windows and doors, removing and replacing deteriorating flooring, and providing general cleanup.

Our mission was evident as teams worked on 14 homes while connecting with homeowners and occupants, listening to their stories. These included a surgical patient who had undergone a leg amputation weeks earlier and urgently needed a ramp, the widow of one of our employees struggling after the loss of her husband, an elderly gentleman referred by one of our board members—who taught us all the true meaning of a generous heart—and my personal favorite: the smile of a young girl with disabilities as she was wheeled onto her new covered porch for the first time. These are just a few of the many stories captured during the fourth quarter of 2025, all of which deeply touched the hearts of our dedicated volunteers.

This year also began with tremendous loss due to devastating floods and tornadoes across our region, prompting unprecedented hours of community service from our employees and volunteers. Through Global Mission Initiatives, teams worked on or supplied resources to more than 60 homes, distributing nearly $200,000 in supplies and household goods to those in need.

As the year draws to a close, a heartfelt thank you goes out to every person and partner who makes AdventHealth Manchester a true leader in missions. Thank you to each household that allowed us to extend His healing ministry, and above all, thank you to the Lord Jesus Christ for blessing this mission.