The Carpenters' journey of joy at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

Greg and Teresa Carpenter, local owners of Specialty Lighting, agreed almost at once when I asked if they’d speak to an adult Sunday School class about their involvement with the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center.

Greg’s been trying to encourage more of our First Presbyterian Church members to help transport wheelchair-bound residents to the center’s chapel one Sunday morning a month and to worship with residents.

“I think people will be in for a surprise,” Teresa told me.

Their history with the center began in 2008 when fellow church member Lewis Rigsbee asked Greg, a new member of the missions and outreach committee, to join him.

Greg went and brought Teresa, and their teenaged daughters, Peyton and Carly, with him.

“The rest,” Teresa said, “is history.” The Carpenters have chaperoned dances, taught Sunday school in the dorms, and assisted with vacation Bible school and Special Olympics.

They’ve participated in color runs, an untimed and non-competitive 5-K run with two rules: Wear white shirts. Have fun.

At each station on the campus, entrants are doused with non-toxic colored cornstarch and after finishing enjoy an epic dance. This year, Peyton and Teresa will judge the JIRDC Christmas parade.

I’d seen the Carpenters at the center, particularly when my brother with Down’s syndrome was alive. He preferred the Sunday chapel service to the traditional, much longer service at our church.

He enjoyed going forward at the end of each service to sing “Jesus Loves Me” with the residents. He liked the Carpenters.

The residents like them, too. Before Carly married and moved away, she got lots of smiles, especially when she helped with artwork during vacation Bible school.

One resident has made no secret of his ongoing love for Peyton. The last time I went two months ago, he announced with sheer joy to all “Peyton’s here.” Later, during the prayer, he mentioned her again by name.

Greg and Teresa might not get as much individual attention but are quite popular with the residents even when the girls are unable to come.

The morning of the Sunday school class, they arrived early, Teresa carrying papers.

Greg began with Lewis Rigsbee’s long-ago invitation to the center. Greg’s first thought was “No! He couldn’t do that.” He wasn’t qualified. He prayed about it. He went with his family.

I was quite familiar with the initial negative to any request I get, but Greg? Always smiling and comfortable with even the resident who prefers driving his wheelchair at his own speed.

When Teresa took her turn, she began with their first visit after the Covid lockdown was lifted. The residents recognized “Peyton and Carley’s parents” immediately.

Teresa passed out the familiar-to-me Order of Worship bulletins. She read them slowly, and I saw as if for the first time: the pictures, the ASL signs, the simple words.

I realized the work that had gone into making them accessible and the amazing fact that they covered everything we did in a much longer service.

Both Carpenters appreciate the chaplain, who surely holds one of the most inter-active services in town, who knows everyone by name, who passes out instruments for even the most silent of residents, and who keeps her sermons short — very short — but meaningful.

The Carpenters told us that our church had been awarded the Volunteer Group of the Year in 2024 at the JIRDC Volunteer Celebration, which was news to me.

They reminded us that another church member Julie Dickinson had won the 2025 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for her work and dedication to JIRDC.

In the meantime, the work continues, the Carpenters now working on getting our youth group involved.

The Carpenters then discussed changes taking place due to new government regulations and the center’s resulting increased needs.

Though the center will continue serving present residents as long as they’re living, it eventually will become a temporary home that keeps residents for no more than 90 days as smaller homes are found for them.

Teresa passed out to everyone a paper with “10 Ways to Volunteer.” The center needs personal items, outdoor and indoor games, art supplies, posters of hope, and money for activities.

People can send cards with their signatures, for residents who all love getting cards. Anyone can sign up to become a one-year sponsor of one resident, remembering them throughout the year, particularly on their birthdays.

The first time I’d gone back to the chapel at Greg’s invitation, I was grateful to offer my help to residents again. But as the Joyful Noise Choir sang, signed, or yelled perhaps incoherently that Jesus loved them, I realized it was they who were helping me as they taught me something they knew that I didn’t: How to praise God with abandon.

(Anyone interested in volunteering at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center is asked to call Alicia Lorenzo Wilson at 828-608-6000. Her email address is alicia.lorenzo@dhhs.nc.gov.)