Restoring hope, transforming lives

FLAT ROCK – The Rev. Nancy S. Hull, president and CEO of the Flat Rock Care Center, the area’s premier residential facility for the severely developmentally disabled, will soon begin a well-earned retirement. Rev. Hull has guided the care center for the past 18 years through some of its most progressive years of growth.

She has been a powerful voice for the disabled, educating people the country over on the ministry of Flat Rock, which is currently attempting to stave off misguided efforts to close the doors by people who feel all such clients should live “in community” – meaning group homes. What they do not seem to realize – or care about – is that the young people who reside at Flat Rock have disabilities much too severe to be able to function safely in a small group home setting. But that fight goes on.

Rev. Hull was honored on Sunday, April 24, with “A Celebration of Ministry” – a term which beautifully sums up her 18 years of dedicated service to Flat Rock and the youth who reside there. Several hundred people attended the festivities, held in the newly dedicated Nancy S. Hull Family Life Center – the multi-purpose area of the care center now identified with large outdoor and indoor signs bearing her name.

The Rev. Gary Olin, chairman of the Flat Rock joint boards of directors, echoed the invitation terminology honoring Nancy, “whose legacy of caring for all people of Christ has restored hope, transformed lives and demonstrated living faith.”

Through her leadership, the facility, which was started nearly 150 years ago as an orphanage, has continued to demonstrate and reflect its mission statement: “To provide outstanding services which transform lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and persons with critical needs through a dedication to caring and excellence that demonstrates Christian values.”

It takes a special person to be a care giver to the developmentally disabled. The more severe the handicap, the tougher the job, physically and emotionally. Nancy has guided the staff through the many years of transition, from the previous non-handicap accessible buildings when residents had less severe disabilities, to today’s beautiful, fully accessible, homelike campus in the village of Flat Rock.

An ordained United Methodist Church minister, she has tirelessly worked to make the lives of the residents more complete and filled with growth on so many levels. It was under her guidance that the facility purchased the former Seneca East school on Bismark Road south of Bellevue, turning it into a school for the Flat Rock residents, ensuring their continuing education and personal development.

Similarly, Rev. Hull proposed and promoted the development of Adult Advantages next to East of Chicago Pizza in Bellevue. In that facility, residents of Flat Rock – along with people from the community – learn skills and perform tasks which can expand their potential far beyond their youth years.

Numerous tributes were given Nancy during Sunday’s celebration, including by Dan Jones, a parent of a Flat Rock resident, who saluted her “compassionate heart” leadership, and by three board members who presented her with a variety of gifts marking her new beginning, including a candle, which, it was stated, represents her “bright light of God’s love.”

In accepting the many accolades, Nancy said, “It has been my great honor to serve here… I thank the parents who have trusted our children to our care,” and credited the success of the organization to the staff who are charged with the loving care and education of the residents. “I am just the one who corrals people together,” she laughed.

Perhaps the Rev. Dan Drew, a member of the Flat Rock board, best summed up Nancy’s years of service to all Flat Rock residents – including those in the numerous group homes it also operates – by saying her life philosophy could be taken from the lyrics to “The Impossible Dream” from 1972’s play, Man of La Mancha:

“To dream the impossible dream

“To fight the unbeatable foe

“To bear with unbearable sorrow

“To run where the brave dare not go

“To right the unrightable wrong

“To love pure and chaste from afar

“To try when your arms are too weary

“To reach the unreachable star…”

Have a blessed and enjoyable retirement, Nancy. Thanks for your dedicated service and the love you continually shared with the youth of the Flat Rock Care Center. Their lives have been so greatly enriched because of the years you have shared with them.

I know they all join me in a huge group hug – just like the ones they shared with you every single day. Their smiles and the joy and growth you have brought to their lives truly have made all the difference to them and their families.

There can be no greater ministry than to lovingly care for this nation’s most vulnerable citizens. Kudos, Nancy, for a job well done!

Sally Boyd may be reached at gazettesal@gmail.com.