Who Are We?

The mission of We Care Ministries is to meet the spiritual, emotional and other needs of the elderly, the handicapped, the needy, and their caregivers by sharing the love and salvation that are found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We Care believes in:

Location
We Care Ministries serves sites in the Greater Kansas City Area in both Kansas and Missouri.

Leadership
We Care is led by Reverend Gary Barnes and his wife Carol Barnes, RN. Prior to founding We Care ministries, Gary performed missionary work with the Campus Crusade for Christ Organization's Here's Life America ministry.

In addition to many community services, Gary has served as the Prayer Committee Chairman for the local Family Life Conference and the Christian Management Association. Gary also served as a Planning Committee Member of the Christian Management Association, Kansas City Chapter. Currently, Gary is a planning committee member of the National Association of Evangelicals' (NAE) Senior Adult Ministries Commission (SAMC). Gary also serves on the advisory council of the Kansas Non Profit Association (KNPA).

While serving in Vietnam, Gary received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. In July, 1999, Gary returned to Vietnam with 40 other Americans to participate in a Reconciliation Rally with former enemy soldiers at the Presidential Palace in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Joining the veteran participants were Vietnam’s Vice President, the US Consulate General and other dignitaries. In June, 2000, Gary, his wife, Carol, with 12 other Vietnam veterans and spouses and seven singles, returned to Vietnam to help further the efforts of this special Reconciliation Ministry.

Carol Barnes, co-founder, has several years experience in patient care as a registered nurse. She currently works part time at an adult daycare center in south Kansas City. Carol also leads Bible studies, prayer/sharing groups, and trains volunteers to provide one on one visitation with residents and clients in the nursing home and adult daycare center environment.

Gary and Carol are both certified adult care home operators, social services designees, and activity directors.

Staff



Ken Schmitz (left) visits with a caregiver.


Volunteer staff includes individuals who participate weekly in worship services (as song leaders, pianists, etc.) and one on one visit. Churches are recruited and trained to provide Sunday afternoon worship services. Anywhere from 5 to 30 people are active in each of these church groups. Special events (i.e. garage sales, fund-raising dinners) use volunteers as well. A volunteer CPA donates accounting services.

Board of Directors



Carol Barnes meets with board members.


A volunteer board of directors governs the non-denominational organization. It is a well-rounded board of directors, several of whom have had many years of professional experience in health care settings that care for the elderly. Others have strong financial backgrounds. An architect on the board has designed several care centers and has been helpful in coordinating the daycare project.

Officers/Directors:Director: Roger Freed, Pastor

Advisors:
  • Legal Counsel: John Calvert, Attorney at Law, Lathrop & Gage, LC
  • Accountant: Charles L. Mills, CPA,Puritan, Chance & Co. LLP


Funding
Since its inception, We Care has operated on contributions from individuals, churches, small foundation grants, fundraising events and consultant fees. By far, the largest percentage of funding currently comes from individual giving. Individuals give directly, through pledges, or through the use of the United Way Campaign Donor Choice option and Combined Federal Campaign funds.

Population Served

We Care serves and equips others to serve elderly and younger adults who are infirm from disease or disability and are living in nursing homes, retirement care centers, or those served by adult day care centers. Since 1991, the organization has served small to medium-sized care facilities that do not have a paid chaplain on staff. We Care has provided spiritual and emotional support to these clients at no cost.

Over 100 persons at several centers in the greater Kansas City area benefit weekly from contact with We Care Staff. While many others are faithfully served by church groups getting involved through We Care's Church Link Program.

Organizations
We Care is a member in good standing of the following organizations:
  • Kansas Non Profit Association (KNPA)
  • Affiliate member of the Missouri Adult Day Care Association (MoADCA)
  • National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
  • Senior Adult Ministries Commission of the NAE (SAMC)
  • Community Association of Nonprofit Business Executives (CANBE)