The History of Galilean Children's Home
To the unenlightened, turning onto the Galilean Home's gravel driveway is reminiscent of arriving at a summer camp. After mistaking the "Angel House" for prison babies (a stately structure with a full-width covered front porch) for an administration building, you pass a warehouse, carpentry shop and maintenance shop before reaching the main facilities.
The central parking lot is surrounded by wooden buildings housing DORMITORIES, AN ACTIVITY BUILDING, YOUTH CENTER WITH A NEW SCHOOL, KITCHEN & LAUNDRY AREAS, DINING HALL, CHAPEL, CEMETERY, GUEST CABINS, MARY MARTHA VOLUNTEER HOUSE, PRE-SCHOOL, STOREHOUSE, CARPENTER SHOP, BUS BARN, MAINTENANCE BUILDINGS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, OFFICE, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY and the ANGEL HOUSE.
Make no mistake about it, Jerry and Sandy Tucker's mountaintop retreat - where "normal" is the exception - harbors an unfaltered love that sets a pretty high standard to follow.
From the January day in 1963 when they eloped, the Tuckers' lives have revolved around a singular focus — raising children. After several unsuccessful years of trying to start their own family, the couple was able to adopt a three-and-a-half-month-old boy with medical problems who had been given up by his teen-aged mother. Since that time they have been unable to say no. Sandy Tucker (more commonly referred to as Mom) said, "I don't think God gave me time to think about it. We took every child God sent us - One person's pain is another person's joy. I just get joy out of it!"
The Tuckers moved to Kentucky from Michigan in the 1970’s. Years later, over 800 children, including more than 400 newborns that are housed in the Angel House where babies are cared for while there mothers are in prison, have been rescued from their fate by the compassionate and caring hearts of Sandy and Jerry Tucker, who founded the Galilean Home Ministries, Inc. in 1986, nine years after it was first envisioned. Ironically, the Tuckers have since been twice blessed with miracle children of their own, Becky - 31 and Jessica - 28, both still help with the mission of love. The name comes from an orphanage that operated in Corbin in the 1950s but that's as close as it has come relationship wise. Currently the family also includes 25 legally adopted children, ages 14 to 44, half of whom are now married.
Their physical and emotional strength comes from a "higher power". Jerry explains, "By ourselves, we couldn't do anything. It's like, why does a missionary leave the comforts of home? It's because God calls them. We have been called."
The couple always wanted a lot of children and had adopted several before joining the Mennonite faith. That led to a “calling” according to Jerry. The result of the calling is the Galilean Home and Angel House, started in 1991 to care for babies whose mothers are in prison. Amazingly, the organization runs and thrives with virtually no government aid. The 21 severely handicapped children at the home receive some limited assistance, but over 95% of the annual costs of operating the home, in excess of two million dollars, come from donations. Musician Charlie Daniels is among the many contributors.
On any given day, Galilean is home to 50 or more “unwanted” children. “We house, protect, feed, clothe, educate, nurture, and love children who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, are in need of medical treatment and children whose mothers are in prison,” the home states each year on its application for a Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program Grant (http://kycolonels.org/2008_Ky_Colonels_Catalog.pdf). Galilean is located on 20 acres in rural Casey County, Kentucky. The children are from all over the country and, in some cases, other nations. Since Sandy and Jerry Tucker founded the home in 1986, over 800 children have lived there. All 800 have been or are “victims of abuse, neglect or circumstances cast upon them through no fault of their own.”
The Galilean Home has been blessed to receive several honors. "The Tuckers set an example of Christian love and compassion that all of us should emulate," Fifth District Congressman Harold Rogers commented in 1988, when the Home received the national Caring Award from the Caring Institute of the Foundation for Hospice and Home Care. Galilean has been the recipient of an annual Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program grant since 1991, and President George Bush gave the Tuckers one of his “Point of Light Service Awards” in 1992.
There is always an open spot at the table at the Galilean Home. However, there is now a glaring vacancy at one end of the table. Sandy Tucker died June of 2007. She was 62, a victim of cancer. She is survived by Jerry, two natural children, 25 legally adopted children and the 800 or so that she cared for over the past two decades. “Years ago we had talked about when one of us would leave,” said Jerry. “… (We) talked about continuing the course we had set and by the grace of God that is what I and the children intend to do.”
Recently the Galilean Christian Academy has been moved into a brand new facility attached to the youth activities building giving more living space for the medical ward that houses 21 medically challenged "children". Children and young adults meander about the lawn, heading purposefully to nowhere in particular. There is laughter and plenty of friendly smiles. From the moment you are greeted it becomes obvious that this is no ordinary place. These "Lil' Lambs" are refugees from society; victims of abuse, neglect, or circumstances cast upon them through no fault of their own. These children are either castaways or come from homes whose parents are unable to care for them. A few were placed here by loving families who needed assistance in caring for their severely disabled child.
Another part of the ministry in which there is a contribution is the animals. The 100 or so chickens kept on the grounds have their work cut out for them. Breakfast alone at Galilean Children’s Home requires ten dozen eggs. The children learn how to take care of the animals and it teaches them responsibility. They also always have a couple of hogs on hand making sure none of the excess food goes to waste. All of the scraps are fed to the hogs, as we have plenty from the CHILDREN'S HOME and BREAD OF LIFE CAFE. This keeps the home much more efficient. They recently acquired many head of cattle to raise. They use the herd for food and they sell some at the market to raise funds for the home.
On the home’s web site (Gallileanhome.org), the home is referred to as a place “where normal is the exception.”
