Ministry from Home Base

by Nell Westbrook

Every member can participate in the ministry of the congregation, even those confined to their homes.

People are living longer. As the average age of church members gradually inches upward, pastors are finding much of their time is spent attending to the needs of elderly persons. Some may even see this as a time drain, taking away from efforts to build a growing and vibrant church. They may be missing a hidden resource.

For a church to be reaching its potential, all members need to be involved, even those who are shut-in or homebound.

Prayerful Possibilities

God's work flourishes when it is accompanied by the prayers of his people. Some of our homebound members can be great prayer warriors. Many who can no longer attend services are eager for news about what is going on with the congregation. As a counselor, I hear of epidemic depression among the elderly. Mentioned most often are feelings of isolation and uselessness.

A lifetime of experience has its worth. Historically, most cultures respected old persons for their wisdom. In Africa, the elderly are called "gray-olds" and it is considered their obligation to share wisdom with future generations. Pastors might be surprised at the insight and suggestions they could receive if their ministry to shut-ins included sharing concerns and listening.

Rather than limiting pastoral calls to reading a few verses, possibly offering communion, and praying, consider a call where the pastor asks the member to be more active in the life of the church. If the pastor arrives with a list of current needs of members in the fellowship, the homebound member could be asked to pray for specific situations; during follow-up visits, progress reports can be shared.

My father is unable to walk without assistance, and his speech, affected by illness, is difficult for most people to understand. But his mind works. Always a man of action, it is difficult for him to be confined to his mechanical lift chair, often alone for two or three hours. But who has more time available for prayer than he? He enjoys hearing details of our family's activities and those of members of his church congregation. The church that is located next to his house and has been the center of his life for over ninety years is experiencing a period of growth; knowing the needs and lifting them up in prayer helps fill his time and provides prayer support for many.

Communicating with Others

Many people who are homebound or even those in nursing homes can use the telephone. Imagine the time that could be saved if a list of names and numbers were provided to a senior volunteer who would remind people of committee meetings and other special events at the church, or welcome to church persons new to the community.

So many things can be done with the telephone. One 95-year-old woman who lives alone in her home and uses a walker has made a list of six other people who live alone (all are younger than she is). She calls to check on each one every day. She doesn't talk long but reminds them that she cares; her friends report that receiving her calls is a blessing.

If there are mailings to be sent, certain homebound members can feel needed and be productive in preparing these mailings. If your church's budget allows, a small stipend might be appropriate. Dropping off the letters, labels, and stamps provides an additional contact; not having a staff person do the actual hands-on labor frees up time.

Living in a nursing home, a teacher who can still read enjoys having a young girl come by each school day afternoon for an hour visit, during which time she reads to her young friend. The child loves the reading sessions. The parents have nurturing after-school care for the hour before they return home from work; the nursing home resident has a visitor and a purpose.

Another nursing home resident enjoys having a teen stop by regularly to read to her; in exchange, she shares her wisdom built up over a lifetime of experience.

These are just a few suggestions. Your local committee on the aging probably can come up with a list of ways homebound persons can be productive in the spiritual growth of the church, but none is more important than keeping them informed so that they can pray for specific needs.

Ideas for Home-based Mission

To maintain the connection between your congregation and members who are homebound, consider the following:

• Designate a caring committee to monitor the status of persons in the congregation who are homebound.
• Develop a visitation committee so that each homebound church member is visited weekly.
• Establish a buddy system so homebound members can check on each other.
• Educate your congregation by compiling and disseminating a list of resources on issues related to homebound people and caregiving.
• Arrange for young adults to take flowers remaining from a worship service to persons who are homebound.
• Develop a bulletin board to be used throughout the year that focuses on older adults and gives information concerning volunteer service opportunities.
• Host an Older Adult Week at your church, which can include education, speakers, and a gathering of stories from older adults and homebound persons.
• Invite children in the congregation to "adopt a grandparent" or be part of a "secret pal" program to connect with members who are homebound or in nursing homes.