Nashville Rescue Mission is like a lighthouse in a stormy sea for some people who fly below our radar much of the time. The dispossessed, the forgotten, the shunned, the ones who carry around a pain in their hearts that few of us can identify with.

I feel that God gave a special talent, infinite patience, and copious compassion to the people on the front lines of ministries such as Nashville Rescue Mission.

I have known such people and it’s almost as if they have an extra gene that enables them to see past the superficiality of appearance and demeanor, past the addiction or affliction, and see a human being God created and Jesus died for, a precious soul adrift in an uncaring world, where even the most basic of needs are hard to come by and helping hands are rare.

So few of us are uniquely suited to do this job, to be exposed daily to those whose lives have come off the rails for one reason or another—to the broken hearts, the broken spirits, the broken bodies, and those who are qualified and willing are special to perform a godly service, and at the very least, deserve our support.

My hat is off to Tracy Lawrence, who for years has championed the cause with his annual Turkey Fry supplying much-needed funds and raising awareness of the Mission and its ongoing needs.

That’s how I got involved. One year Tracy invited me to play a couple of songs with his band at the event. I wholeheartedly endorse the Mission and the work they do, loving the unlovely 365 days every year.

I can’t go into the streets and find those who so desperately need help, I can’t extend a hand to the hopeless or comfort the destitute or feed the hungry or speak solace to the brokenhearted, not on my own, but by making a donation to Nashville Rescue Mission I can do all these things. Would you join me?

God bless those who really care.

From his Dove Award-winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor, and still a road warrior at age 81, Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children, and others in need.