Meet the founders

A surprising new journey

Faithful Friends Kentucky began not as a strategic plan, but as a simple Sunday commitment.

Long before incorporation papers and nonprofit status, Todd and Marla Carter were spending Sunday afternoons inside a local nursing home—leading church services, singing hymns, praying with residents, and forming friendships that would change their lives.

Todd and Marla were married in 1998. Both are lifelong Kentuckians and graduates of Western Kentucky University. Todd earned a degree in Healthcare Administration, though he has always been a business owner and entrepreneur. Marla earned a degree in Elementary Education and devoted years to raising and homeschooling their two children.

Though Todd always had a natural affection for older adults, Marla assumed she would spend her life working with children. Instead, God gently redirected both of them. What began as church outreach grew into deep relationships with residents across multiple nursing homes — and eventually into the formation of a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to consistent presence and spiritual care.

Today, the most treasured part of their lives is the time spent inside nursing homes listening to stories, praying with residents, and building lasting friendships.

From church outreach to an incorporated 501(c)(3)…

God was faithful to bring along just the right people at just the right time. Before the pandemic, you could find us at the nursing home every Sunday afternoon, offering Sunday school, singing hymns, praying with residents, visiting with residents, and helping residents and staff any way we could. It wasn’t long before we thought, “Why aren’t more churches doing this?” And then we started to get questions and comments like, “Do you go to other nursing homes too? My dad’s nursing home really needs this.” 

We used the time of the covid lockdowns to start the process of incorporating and becoming a 501(c)(3) with the goal of expanding our outreach and helping other churches or groups get involved. We also got creative with how we could still help nursing homes without going inside their facilities. This is how we started many of our printable resources for activities directors.

We Value:

The dignity and worth of all residents of long-term care, not based on their age, actions, or abilities but based on their worth as an image-bearer of God.

Life from the womb until natural death and understand that “quality of life” can be a relative term unless grounded in the truth that God has created and numbered all our days.

Person-centered care as opposed to facility-centered care; care communities that feel like home where residents have autonomy, community, purpose, hope, and fun!

The wisdom and experience that comes with age, and we seek to honor and respect the aging residents of long-term care and throughout society.

Relationships that treat the elderly and disabled as co-equals, not as weaker, lesser, or child-like.

The faith traditions that have shaped residents as well as the rights of all residents to choose their own religious beliefs but encourage them to find hope and peace in the One true friend, Jesus Christ.

The demanding work that goes into caring for residents of long-term care and the individuals who provide it, recognizing that these care providers are often over-worked, under-paid, and under-appreciated.

“Do what you believe. The rest is just conversation.”

Sen. John Kennedy
Man Assisting Person with Walker