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Christian Concourse Newsletter of the Month March 2008 Dear Friends of Christian Concourse, We greet you with great joy and gratitude for your kindness to us. Oh how humbling and how encouraging is your generosity and your care for this ministry. Each of you effect glory to God, because you honor Him by your faithfulness, your unselfishness, and the godly love you show. We have special news and special prayer requests. There are two major events in our life this month. First, we are currently living with Jerry’s mom in her home. This was necessary because we are doing extensive work on our house to accommodate her moving in with us. Our resources in time and finances would not allow us to continue maintaining two households. Also, she is getting up in years and she wants us to be with her as much as possible. It is a wonderful privilege and an honor to be able to bless her in these special years of her life as we become her primary care-givers. And what a blessing she is to be with! She is a joy and a witness for the power of the love of God. Her example of simple faith in Jesus continues to strengthen and inspire us. We ask for your prayers as we embark on this new leg of our journey in ministry – all of our skills and learning in the care center arena will be called upon. Incidentally, 70% of all long-term care in America is done “in-home” primarily by relatives, neighbors and friends. We have joined the quiet main-stream of long-term care up close and personal. Second, we will be speaking at the annual conference of the Virginia Association of Activity Professionals this month. They have given us two time-slots of 90 minutes each. This will be a tremendous opportunity to impact the lives of thousands of care center residents throughout our great state. The topic of our presentation will be “Christian Ministry in Long-Term Care.” We say, “Throw us in the briar patch!!!” Our preparations for the conference are significantly complicated by the work on our house and the changes in our life-style. We need special prayer for wisdom and guidance in this. Also, there are unique, one-time expenses for the conference that we need extra help on (and to add to the spice of life, our copy machine is on the blink!) If anyone can send a little more than usual this month we would be grateful. There are exceptional considerations for conducting “Christian” ministry in nursing homes. Many opportunities for offences and misunderstandings are all along the way, for we are not ministering at a public meeting place or a street corner, but the facility is the private home of the residents. It takes special wisdom from God and favor from the staff to be effective. We have enjoyed both throughout the 17 years we have been in this arena. Pray that the Lord give us a great anointing as we seek to minister along this line to the activity directors at the conference. To God be the glory!!!
Love in
Christ, P.S. We want to acknowledge a special gift in loving memory of Bill Johnson by his wife, Minerva Johnson. May God comfort and sustain.
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