Our Story

Rooted in Faith. Grounded in Science.
Planted in Belize.

A small mission with a simple conviction. The first four years of a baby’s life are the most important. The brain is 80% developed by age four. Faith and science point the same direction. The brain is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

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Our Mission

Every baby, a book — and a beginning

“To provide every baby aged 0–4 years old with a Gospel-centered book to stimulate brain development and establish a spiritual foundation in God’s Word.”

The first four years are the most important window a baby will ever have. Most of the brain’s architecture is built before age four — reading aloud in these years accelerates language, focus, and the formation of neural connections that learning is built upon.

But we believe the heart matters as much as the mind. A Christ-centered book, read night after night, plants a spiritual foundation early – one that takes root deep and lasts a lifetime. Brain development and faith, working towards a solid foundation, all through life, and eternal life.

Our Origin

How it began

Bedtime Stories Ministry grew out of a simple idea shared among friends who were involved in distributing Dolly Parton Imagination Library books. Through this process they found how impactful a single book could be to a young family.

What started as bringing storybooks on mission trips became something more deliberate: a coordinated, sustainable program focused on the years that matter the most.

Today the ministry is run by the Bedtime Stories Ministry team, led by the board of directors. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, with our National Director in Belize, our ministry works hand in hand with local churches and organizations across North America and Belize.

Meet the Board of Directors

The people behind the mission

Mac Kelton

Co-Founder

Mac Kelton born and raised in Baton Rouge and moved to Nashville in the early 1970’s. Reading to his sons was such a great experience, and they eagerly looked forward to the time each night. As a grandfather now, Mac loves reading to his grands. When Mac began a ministry in Belize in 2005, he saw and learned of the huge need for books, and then became aware of how important reading to babies is. Mac shared “In our time in ministry, we did many different projects. All of them good. However, the most loved and impactful project by far was when we tried to take the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Belize. The people loved it! It grew so fast, and actually too fast. We couldn’t keep up.”

Roger Greenup

Co-Founder

Roger first traveled to Belize with his wife and fellow Rotarian Mac Kelton in May 2009. On that trip, they met members of the Rotary Club of Punta Gorda and began a 10-year partnership working with schools and communities in the Toledo District. Through that joint effort, they assisted schools throughout the district by providing school gardens, kitchen equipment, and constructing cafeteria and dining buildings.

After a few years, they transitioned to providing water and sanitation projects throughout Toledo that included classroom water filtration units, submersible water pumps in rivers, holding tanks, and water catchment systems. Through all of that work, Roger made many friends among the Belizeans and came to appreciate the challenges they faced.

Later, he joined a Christian nonprofit organization which Mac Kelton was instrumental in founding. This organization provides humanitarian, educational, and other assistance in the northern part of Belize. This work has been an extremely rewarding experience and has deepened Roger’s love for the Belizean people and his desire to continue helping improve their lives.

It is now an honor for Roger to serve as a co-founder and board member of Bedtime Stories Ministry, an organization where he can help families educate and nurture their children, as well as their families, in the Christian faith.

Ken Leggett

CO-Founder

Ken Leggett has served as a pastor for more than 34 years in South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. He now directs The Free Range Pastor The Free Range Pastor, a nonprofit ministry committed to shepherding the wandering, wondering, and weary—outside the boundaries of the Church, on behalf of the Church.

As a Co-Founder and Board Member, Ken serves as a pastoral, missional, and strategic advisor, helping guide the organization’s vision, mission, and direction.

Our Partners