Nursing Homes Nursing homes have changed over the years. They used to be short term where people went to die. Now they are often short term for therapy and then residents return to their homes, though some may live there for up to ten years or more. Far fewer die in nursing homes these days. There is a great need for workers to minister to those in nursing homes. Many are away from family, friends, and familiar surroundings. Many are no longer able to take care of themselves or do many things they used to do, either temporarily or permanently. In addition, many of those there are facing death and need to deal with it. Like young people, they are facing a transition and are making decisions that will impact, not only the rest of their life (short as that may be), but where they will spend eternity. Many are open to hearing the hope of the Gospels. Many have lost loved ones who may be Christians but they themselves aren’t. Also, many have no family or friends nearby and have no visitors. They welcome those who come to visit. Many enjoy visits from children (though some don’t so be sure and check first) It’s a good way to teach children to minister to others and children often enjoy it as well. The government has recognized the bonding that children and the elderly develop and has begun pairing nursing homes with Day Care Centers for inter-generational programs.
Posts Tagged ‘church ministry’
Fifth Sunday of Pentecost-July 6
College Students-Students, brought up in the church, are often away from home for the first time when they leave for college. The decisions they make will affect the rest of their life. They are bombarded with secular teaching causing them to question what they believe and often do not get any support for their Christian beliefs. Without support from their parents, many drift away from church and their Christian beliefs. It is important for them to connect with a church near campus and a Christian organization on campus to support them in finding adequate answers to support their faith. Parents can research what organizations have branches on campus and what churches are nearby. In addition, parents can notify a church near campus and Christian organizations on campus that their child is on campus so they can attempt to contact their child. You can support Christian organizations on campus and churches that are near a college campus can provide Christian activities for students. Liberals are trying to prevent Christian organizations on many college campuses from using campus facilities and such organizations may soon have to turn to churches near campus for facilities to meet.
Fourth Sunday of Pentecost -June 28
Trailer park/apartment complex ministry-When I was first starting out, I was asked to help a Presbyterian Church that was dying. After I got the church back on its feet and it felt it could call a full time pastor, my wife and I bought a small trailer and moved into a nearby trailer park while we sought the Lord for direction. Several in the park knew I was a pastor and asked me to start a Bible study. We started visiting those who lived in the park and within three months, we had three small house churches started. Many residents have no friends or family nearby and are seeking fellowship but there is nothing for them. Families living in the park or complex can start small groups in their home by getting to know their neighbors and inviting them to join them. Children in such parks and complexes often have little to do and eagerly attend outside Bible Stories. However, residents and managers are often very suspicious of groups outside the park who come in and try to get residents to come to their church so it helps to have someone living in the complex. Such parks and complexes now often have community rooms available for residents to meet in when the group outgrows an apartment or trailer or when residents want to hold activities for children or families.
Third Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 22
Para-church organizations–Ministry beyond the church In the beginning, para-church organizations to minister to the community were supported by the churches which provided oversight as well as supplying funds and volunteers. As a result, many church members were able to get training and experience through the programs. However, many churches no longer support the parachurch organizations and the organizations get very little support from individual churches, so they are often forced to draw their support from the community at large. As a result, churches often see them as competitors for money rather than as avenues for ministry and church members are finding few avenues to serve and no training in how to serve. Many para-church organizations can provide volunteer opportunities for members to serve God and often provide needed training. (see “The Important I”-LULU Press) If you are interested in serving Christ beyond the local church check with the local Salvation Army or other church related ministries to see what volunteer opportunities are available in your area.
Third Sunday of Pentecost-A-June 22
Parachurch Ministries– Ministry beyond the church In the past, many members learned to minister to others as they ministered to other members and to those who came to the church for help. Today, church members are so scattered they rarely know each other well and few people come to the church seeking help anymore. As a result members get little experience in ministering to others and few church members have the experience to help. Many problems in small churches do not warrant separate programs to deal with them, however many problems formerly associated with the inner-city are moving to the suburbs as the poor move to the suburbs where rent is cheaper, housing is better, and there is less violence. Many suburban and rural areas do not know how to deal with the problems and many problems are too big for individual churches to handle. As a result, many churches today have withdrawn from ministry to those around them so many community needs are not being met. Parachurch organizations have grown up to help, such as Habitat For Humanity, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, etc. to carry on ministries and to meet the unmet needs in the community.
First Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 8
Organizing For Ministry–We often think that the church cares for its members and decades ago that was true in small churches but today, even small churches have problems ministering to their members. Previously, small churches usually drew from a small area and everyone knew each other outside church as well as in the church. In addition, many members were active in a lot of church activities. As a result, they felt free to call on each other in times of need. Now churches draw from a wide area and few know each other outside church. In addition, because of the distance, few members are active in church outside of Sunday morning. As a result, many do not feel they know other members enough to call on them in times of need. The church needs to group its people by area and provide activities in the small groups where members can socialize outside Sunday morning.
First Sunday of Pentecost-A-June 8
Not just for Pastors-Many people think that only preachers can lead people to Christ, but Jesus said to His disciples, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. While there have been times when evangelists like George Whitefield and Billy Graham have risen to call God’s people to repentance, the main response has come mainly from within the body of believers. Few outside the church responded until revival had swept through the church and unbelievers saw the change in the life of believers and wanted that life. When the church has had a highly trained and highly paid clergy, the church has generally not been very effective in reaching the lost because members leave evangelism to the clergy. The greatest inflow of unchurched people occurred during the early church before they had paid clergy, during the Wesleyan revival when Wesley organized small groups of converts under lay pastor’s, and in the American wilderness when believers gathered to pray and study the Bible while waiting for the Lord to send them a pastor. Although John Wesley and George Whitfield preached extensively and circuit riders rode throughout the American wilderness establishing churches, members of those churches continued to reach out to those around them, inviting unbelievers to hear the traveling preachers. It has been said that church isn’t a haven for saints but one beggar telling another where to find bread.
Fourth Sunday of Eastertide-May 18
Seek Gifts Eastertide is a time of preparation for ministry. The disciples prayed together for the power (Holy Spirit) Jesus had promised. The church should be united in prayer as we seek the gifts that God has given us and where God would have us use our gifts. Although it is a personal search, it should be undertaken together with the church, seeking guidance and feedback from our fellow believers. We need the support and direction of the body of Christ to help us locate our individual gifts because we often confuse where we want to serve (because of the prestige) with where we are gifted to serve and would enjoy serving. Those who know us can help us explore various areas of service to see where we can contribute our gifts. Too often the church pressures people to serve where there is an opening even when the person does not enjoy it or have the needed gifts. (See “The Important I” which I wrote to help those seeking God’s will for their life).
Third Sunday of Eastertide-May 11
You shall receive power-Acts 1:4-12-Jesus’ appears to the disciples in Jerusalem-Jesus promised He would not leave them alone but would send the Holy Spirit. He promised that the Holy Spirit would be with them until He returned and would guide them and strengthen them. He then commanded them to stay in the city until they received the Holy Spirit. We are not to set out to be His witnesses until we receive the Spirit for we cannot do it effectively without the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit.