Ripple Effects of Respite

At Grace Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, Brad Lee, a retired Army chaplain and licensed marriage and family therapist, launched a rEcess site to tangibly love families experiencing disability—something he knows the importance of firsthand through his journey with his son, Kaydan. After receiving respite from another rEcess site in Tennessee, Brad felt called to bring the same support to his own community. Not only has it been something he deeply cares about, but it has shifted the entire narrative of the church.

Grace Church's lead pastor approached the 99 Balloons table at the Disability & the Church Conference to share the impact it had on the church, its families, and himself. He had heard such beautiful stories and was so grateful to be a 99 Balloons site.

Brad shared this: "A most powerful and collective moment occurred when I asked a couple who were picking up their child what they had done with their time during respite. The wife said to me, 'We actually got to go on a date for the first time in two years.' Needless to say, Grace Church is looking forward to our next rEcess event!"

Brad is pictured above with Lakyn Whaley, co-site director, and members of their leadership team.