A Condensed History of  Nikki and Buck Ministries

     He took a small, $85 keyboard into a nursing home, punched the rhythm button and danced among the residents, telling them, "You are somebody.  Jesus loves you.  You are precious in his eyes."  What he saw next amazed him: toes began tapping, mouths broke into smiles, hands began clapping, and depression fled.  He saw the miracle working power of Jesus' Spirit transforming people's lives, and knew he had found God's calling for his life.

     Buck Stanley had become a Christian in a horse pasture in Texas in 1987.  Filled with Jesus' Spirit, he had zeal to share the Gospel message with others.  God led him to Florida, where his marriage to Clarice Stanley was restored, and the two of them dedicated their lives to serve Jesus wherever He led.

     Soon after their first experience in nursing home, God spoke to Buck and told him, "Feed my sheep."  Knowing God meant his people in nursing homes, Buck asked for a sign as to whether he was to quit his job and minister in nursing homes full-time or not.  When a little church in Jacksonville gave him a $500 offering, he had his sign.  He and Clarice sold most of their possessions and lived on their savings as they went into nursing homes in Florida.

     They traveled and lived in a pickup truck, carrying a small sound system and keyboard with them.  Later, they bought a motor home, hooked the pickup behind, and continued their monthly rounds to 21 nursing homes.

     They began to see the need for a separate organization that would serve spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of nursing home residents, so N.B. Ministries, Inc. was born.  The State of Florida chartered the ministry in 1991, and credibility grew; more homes requested the monthly activity.

     The vision grew.  Why not draw together a group of Christians whose sole purpose would be to minister to the needs of their local nursing homes?  And so, the N.B.M. Mission Church to Nursing Homes was founded in Grandin, FL.  Each Sunday, the people of that church drove three cars and a van 21 miles to pick up nursing home people and bring them to church.  A wooden ramp was added for the van, so that a few people in wheelchairs could attend, also.  Then, the group bought an old bus, refurbished it, and put in a wheelchair lift so that 14 people could see the countryside and worship the Lord in a church.  The group experienced great joy when they heard one of their passengers exclaim, "Cows!" (her first word in a long time).  As the Sundays rolled by, they saw lives change.  Nursing home people gave their hearts to Jesus.  They grew in self-esteem.  They began to reach out to others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ when they returned to their homes.

      In 1993, Clarice was diagnosed with cancer.  Despite intensive treatment, she and Buck continued their monthly tour of the homes whenever she was able.  When she died in 1994, Buck married Nikki, and the ministry grew.  Buck's associate pastor, Ron Penrod, and his wife, Linda, took over the Grandin mission work and 14 of the homes Buck and his wife had been ministering in.  The Lord called Nikki and Buck to move to Jacksonville in order to help the ministry expand.  Over the years, the Lord added many more nursing homes, and, at present, they are ministering on a bi-monthly basis to 53 nursing homes in Florida and twice a year to 16 homes in North Carolina.  They take the Gospel message; the old, familiar hymns in an upbeat, joyful way; lots of hugs; stuffed animals and gifts to let the people know they are special and not forgotten.

     There is also a bus ministry.  Nikki and Buck take nursing home people on outings.  Groups have been taken fishing, to the movies, out to lunch, to get an ice cream treat, shopping, and to the zoo. 

     In July 2003, the vision to start a nursing home church in Jacksonville came about.  While the church is being built, they are meeting in a rented facility, busing people from seven nursing homes and assisted living homes for a 3pm Sunday service. 

     Nikki and Buck also speak in churches in order to encourage others to reach out to the elderly and handicapped in nursing homes.  If their spiritual needs are not met, they have nothing.  Jesus is the Salvation and Hope of the whole world. 

     Update:  In June, 2004, the first, and only, nursing home church was completed in Jacksonville, Florida.  Services are held each Sunday at 3 pm.  We are busing people from seven different homes.  What a difference it makes for people to be able to get out and come to their own church!  Everyone is welcome to come and worship.  We need transportation helpers and bus drivers, so that we can bring more people to church.  We're praying that God will put it on people's hearts, who know about this church, to come and be a part of something wonderfully new in Jacksonville.