Mark Baker can feel it. So can his wife, Nina.
“God called me to serve people, to love people. We love people,” Mark said.
“We feel an intimacy,” Nina added.
There’s something special about the cozy community inside Good Samaritan Society – Heritage Place of Roseville in Minnesota.
“That’s one reason we believe God has brought us here is to love on people and encourage people,” Mark said.
Mark’s love starts with his faith – and Nina, of course. And it flows through music, including the grand piano that sits in the dining room.
“We go down kind of a little bit early. We just are sitting there at the table and we’re all chatting, but he’ll get up and go over and just do some light background music,” Nina said. “(Residents) really enjoy that. They just always are so thankful.”
Added Mark: “I always feel like music just fills the empty space.”
Connection through caring
Music was among the many things that drew Mark and Nina to Heritage Place.
“He asked if that was something that he could play, and that’s how it kind of started,” said Jen Foehse, a senior living sales specialist in Roseville. “It brings a new level of warmth and welcoming to people that live here. People that are visiting, people that are touring.”
Mark has a way of finding fellowship through music. The retired pastor recorded seven albums – ranging from vinyl to cassettes to CDs – including a song he wrote for Nina for their 50th anniversary.
“(Music) has been a major part of my ministry where we’ve been to lead worship,” said Mark, who has ministered in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.
He also hosts an activity known as “Music with Mark” in the dining room.
“I want to bring joy to these people. Put a smile on their faces,” Mark said. “And we have an opportunity to pray with some of them and to care for them and love them.”
And while Mark appears center stage, Nina often shows her love for neighbors behind the scenes.
“She’s the same person that cares a lot about everyone around her, but it’s not as upfront,” Foehse said. “I’ll randomly hear that she went over to someone’s apartment to help with something.”
“It doesn’t have to be much,” Nina said. “Just check on somebody, you know.”
‘God has woven people into our tapestry’
Through their life of service, Mark and Nina have found community and connection in Heritage Place.
“God weaves us together. And tapestry, if you look at the back, you’ve got threads sticking out and everything all over,” Mark said. “But when you turn it over, you have this beautiful tapestry. And God has woven people into our tapestry.”
Added Nina: “I think, for myself, it has just filled a void.”
And that’s music to everyone’s ears.
“To see that play out, especially with new people, they were looking for something, they found us,” Foehse said. “And then to see them be able to live the life that they were looking for, it’s super fulfilling.”
Learn more
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- Minnesota nurse leads with laughter and love for residents
- Retired music director helps to unlock forgotten feelings
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Posted In Community, Senior Services
