Ministry Update Archives

August 2025 

Relationships are essential to our ministry and we want people to know that no matter what stage of life they are in, their spiritual, emotional and physical well being matter and they have value! Jim, a man living at an assisted living home, had his laundry taken one day. When he returned to the machines to change the load, his bedding and clothing were gone! Through connections with residents due to the senior church ministry on site, people from a local church were able to come together to get clothing and bedding to replace what was taken from Jim. He was overwhelmed with gratitude and feelings of love, that people who did not even know him would get him things he needed. He has said he looks forward to coming to “check out church” one day soon. 

Joni is a 77-year-old woman who lives in a senior community and was grieving the loss of her sister who lives hours away. She had been communicating with her niece and trying to help her coordinate a service for her sister at a local cemetery, per her sister’s wishes. When her niece asked could officiate a service and help with coordinating that, Joni went to Christine as the pastor of the senior church ministry where she lived. Christine was honored to connect with Joni’s family from out of town and help coordinate, plan, and officiate the service for Joni’s sister, at no charge. Through connection and conversations leading up to the service, Christine was better able to know how to meet the spiritual care needs of the family and be attentive to them on the day of the service, which brought family together from out of town. Furthermore, both Joni and her neice receive continued grief support from Christine. Joni’s niece surprised Christine the other day by sending a “Gratitude Check-in” text unexpectedly, which demonstrated the transforming work God is doing in her life even in the midst of grief. Connection and community help to facilitate transformation in the lives of others!

Bob had seen people coming and going on Sundays at his senior residence for months when he finally responded to the invitation to join them at church. Being present and consistently showing up is often just what someone needs to see before they are willing to trust you or check out what you are doing! When Bob came to his first church service, he heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. He saw others taking communion, and at the end of the service, he said he had a lot of questions. He admitted he had never heard the gospel before, and he liked what he had heard and he wanted to come back. Brad ended up attending consistently, welcomed Jesus into his life, received his first Bible, and was able to have visits with Christine and a friend to receive prayer as his health was declining. Only a few months after starting his faith journey with Jesus, Bob's health began to rapidly decline. He already had many health issues and was confined to a wheel chair and experienced chronic pain. Before Bob passed from this life into his eternal resting place, He encountered and knew the love of God for him through Christ Jesus. 

Every time we go in to share the Word and the love of Jesus with the seniors, Aiko, (who is almost 100!) always says that she is so thankful for church service. She said she looks forward to Sundays because gathering with others from her community to sing, pray and hear the scriptures reminds her that she is not alone and that God is with her. Singing the hymns brings her peace and she is always asking for prayer for her health and for her family. She says that since she cannot drive anymore or leave for church, it makes her so happy to know she has a church that will come to her at her assisted living home. Relationships like this extend beyond the Sunday church service, as the team has frequently been able to visit with Amy when she is ill or unable to come to Sunday services. We strive to maintain loving and caring relationships and show the seniors that we are there for them beyond the Sunday service.