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Christian Concourse Newsletter of the Month September 2008 Dear Friends of Christian Concourse, In 1996 author and researcher, Jack Langhorne wrote: “Like the tsunami, the waves of a disaster in health and nursing care are already building just below the horizon. Who will be wiped out? Will we listen? Does anybody care? Will history characterize us as barbarians because of our lack of planning for elder care? Will we procrastinate to the point that eventual solutions will be far too late to do any good for those in serious need during the next 15 - 20 years? “Why is this dirty secret about the potential crisis in long-term nursing being avoided by the press and the politicians? Is it possible an imminent nursing home crisis will dwarf the monetary crisis dominating political debate today? Could tens of thousands of citizens soon be abandoned on the streets, too weak and too sick to fend for themselves, without proper meals and care, disoriented and disabled by disease? We think this scenario is possible!” [from Seniors-Site.com, © copyright 1996, used by permission.] Mr. Langhorne’s observation plainly outlines for us the issues facing nursing home ministries in the coming years. It was written in 1996 which makes the 15 year projections in the article three or four years away! Though current reality may not exactly reflect his expectations, he passionately addresses the baby-boomer effect on our demographics from a secular point of view and, if you overlay it with our heart to reach the lost and the hurting in the long-term care setting it really clarifies the situation. The world’s solutions to this problem include “every-man-for-himself,” “only-the-rich-survive,” and euthanasia for the unfortunate and unproductive. We are the body of Christ - we know that there are at least 25 regional and national ministries and untold thousands of independent Christian volunteers and small church groups now active in nursing home outreach. It is our prayer that God will give us some practical mechanism for working together as one body to face this potential national catastrophe looming on the horizon with compassion and effectiveness! We invite you to join us in that prayer. We must not put our head in the sand and hope it all goes away. We believe there are many more thousands of Christians who are not involved and could be envisioned by God to enter this field of mission. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest, that He touch their hearts and they respond with faithfulness and dedication! Love, Jerry and Dar Johnson We gratefully acknowledge the generous donations made to Christian Concourse in memory of Jerry’s mom, Gwendolyn E. Johnson – 1922-2008.
Annie Johnson-Jones |