Laborers in the Harvest Series

Church Ministry

Nursing HomeMinistryBy Richard C. Hobbs

Laborers in the Harvest Series

Church Ministry

Nursing HomeMinistryBy Richard C. Hobbs

Published byMercy Street Ministries

PO Box 121Alma, AR 72921

www.mercystreet.comCopyright © 2006

The use of short quotations or occasional pagecopying for personal or group study is permitted

with the written permission of the author.All scripture quotations are from the King James

Version of the Bible, unless otherwise noted.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ...............................................1

Introduction .........................................................3

Chapter 1The Journey Home ..............................................5

Chapter 2The Challenge......................................................9

Chapter 3Ministering to the Elderly..................................12

Chapter 4Speaking to the Heart ........................................15

Chapter 5Scriptures of Comfort and Hope........................17

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Arthur Blessitt, the man whocarried the cross around the world and to everynation, for spending so many hours of his time toshare his heart with me. The burden that Arthur hasfor this world and the love he has for all the peoplehas touched my heart in such a way that I will neverbe the same.Arthur has taken time to be a friend anda motivating force in my life.

Most of all, the Holy Spirit has quickened my heartand has given me love for all people. I love peopleand enjoy the opportunity to share the gospel. Also,the Holy Spirit has opened the doors for ourministry to train laborers in the harvest all over theworld. For the love, favor, and mercy the Lord hasgiven me, I give Him my life to train laborers in theharvest and share the gospel to the lost.

I am thankful for the many intercessors that pray forour ministry daily. They have spent many longhours and many tears praying for us in the streetsand for the lost. Only God knows what their criesand prayers have accomplished.

Lastly, I am thankful for my wife Kay and mydaughters Sally and Sarah. Also, I thank CaseyCoble for assisting our ministry. They have helped

me with the many tasks that needed to becompleted. My family has shared the call the Lordhas on my life and has been part of this ministrysince its beginning.

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Introduction

Every time I walk the halls of a nursing home I seeso much need that I feel overwhelmed. Next, Ibegin to wonder what can be done to bring hope tothose that are there. The longer I am away from thenursing home I begin to forget the need that iscontained in the walls of these facilities. We mustnot forget and must remind ourselves of those whocannot rescue themselves from their own fears orloneliness.

The Body of Christ is alive on this earth throughthose who follow Christ and know Him as theirLord. We have been commissioned to assume theresponsibility of caring for the elderly, disabled,and those in need.

God has shone into the hearts of those that know HisSon as their Lord and called all to serve Him. HisWord proclaims His call for us to visit the widowsand fatherless. The Scriptures record in James1:27 the words of the half brother of Jesus,challenging all of us when he said, “

It is as if God is seeking to clarify to us what isimportant to Him. That is to go and visit those who

Pure religionand undefiled before God and the Father is this, Tovisit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,and to keep himself unspotted from the world.'”

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are often neglected. He seeks hearts that would notonly serve but ones that would be filled only withthe things of Him. The halls and rooms of manynursing homes are filled with people who are soonto step into eternity. Some have no assurance of arelationship with Christ. How tragic it would be tomiss the opportunity to share the Words of Christwith them and bring them salvation and an eternityin heaven.

Until you have heard the screams at night in anursing home or spent many hours with those whoare there, you will never know the loneliness andfear others experience. I have seen that wordsspoken to a lonely heart will find comfort. Thewords you speak and the love you share will be usedby the Holy Spirit to enter a heart and touch the verysoul of the person. Take time to visit those who arein nursing homes and show them your heart whilelistening to them and showing them value. Some ofthe most valued times in your life will be found inthe halls and rooms of these homes as you visit theelderly and fulfill yet another chapter in the GreatCommission that God has for your life.

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Chapter One

The Journey Home

Psalms 48:14

Many people will wait until later in life to considerthe reality of their own mortality. Few people havea Living Will with advance directives prepared oreven funeral arrangements prepared. Some waituntil it is too late to consider the destiny of their ownsoul.

I have led many people in their 90's to Christ, and Ioften wondered if someone else would have helpedthem find Christ or if they would have never foundtheir way home to God. I was in an airport and meta lady who was traveling home to see her mother forMother's Day. When the plane boarded I foundmyself sitting beside the same lady. I asked herwhat she wanted for her Mother's Day and she said,“All I want is my mother saved.” I asked her whereher mother lived and she said that she was in anursing home in Ft. Smith,Arkansas. I told her thatI am an evangelist and would go and visit her. Shesaid her mother is elderly and becomes angry whenshe talks about Christ. I said that I did not believethis was a coincidence and we would leave it to God

For this God is our God for ever andever: he will be our guide even unto death.

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to make a way for her to find Christ before the endof her journey. She gave me her email address andasked me to let her know what happened.

My wife Kay and I went by the nursing home andthe following is a transcript of the email we sent thedaughter that I had flown with on the plane:

“We will see Dolly in heaven someday. My wife andI went to the rehab center and met Dolly. She is sosweet and was able to communicate and understandthe message of the Gospel. I shared the salvationScriptures with her and offered her the opportunityto receive Christ into her heart and she did. Shetook my hand and prayed clearly and understoodwhat she did. I asked if she got to heaven before mewould she save me a place and she said she would. Isaid if I go to heaven before you, then she said, "Youwill save me a place." She smiled. I went back overthe question of salvation and she was assured shewas saved and Christ was in her heart. My wife andI feel that God brought clarity to her mind tounderstand what she was doing. About fiveminutes later she was not as alert and more difficultto understand. Several times Dolly kept reachingfor my hand and we stayed with her awhile. Sheknew we cared and appreciated us coming. Iprayed for her and asked God to place His angels toprotect her and then such wonderful peace of Godseemed to sweep in. Dolly acknowledged that shefelt His presence. We gave Dolly a large book of

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John and a book that I wrote on healing. She is sosweet and will make heaven a better place someday.Thank you for the opportunity to meet her.

We stopped at the next bed and met Dolly's roommate named Virginia and she was unclear of hersalvation. We showed her the Scriptures and sheprayed for Christ to come into her heart. WhileVirginia had more understanding of salvation shestill wanted to be sure. She asked us to return againand we will and we will see Dolly also.

I do not think it was an accident that we met in theairport and on the plane. I think God arranged it allfor Dolly and the desire of her daughter. God gaveyou your Mother's Day present. Share your faithwith others. There are many who will never knowhim unless you share Him. Ricky and Kay Hobbs “

Dolly and Virginia are now ready for their journeyhome to heaven. My wife and I wondered that dayjust how many lived in this rehabilitation center ornursing home who did not have assurance of theirsalvation. We also talked about what had justhappened as we saw Dolly come into a wonderfulstate of mind to hear the Scriptures and make adecision with clarity of mind. We knew we had justseen a powerful act of grace that day and a specialtouch from God. Since that day my wife and I havehad an even greater burden to teach others to do thesame and help people find the way Home.

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My father-in-law waited until later in life to acceptChrist as His Lord. Within a year after I led him toChrist, he was diagnosed withAlzheimer's. We hadprayed for him and for his soul for over 20 years,and my wife and daughters nearly fainted when Rayacknowledged that He had accepted Christ that day.He had nearly waited too late and somehow God, asa sovereign act of grace, had arranged anopportunity for Ray to find Christ before his mindwould be overwhelmed with the effects of thedisease. Ray's journey is certain as His Lord cameinto His life to carry Him home at the end of thejourney. God had not left him in old age to perishwithout an opportunity to accept His Son as Lord.

Take time to help those in the nursing home to havecomfort, friendship, and assurance of salvation inChrist. It is my prayer that many will respond to thecall for nursing home ministry and let God use themto help the elderly find their way home at the end oflife's journey.

Psalms 7118 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God,forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strengthunto this generation, and thy power to every onethat is to come.

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Chapter Two

The Challenge

Some seniors find themselves with a greaterdependency upon others and need for specializedcare through rehabilitation centers or nursinghomes. In time, some seniors can no longermaintain their home, drive a car, or perform basictasks to maintain their comfort. The aging processfor some will begin to shrink the world around themwhile their body begins to experience the effects ofimmobility, loss of sight, hearing or even memory.

NIV

Some will require assistance and specialized care ina nursing home, a place where they may neverleave. Without friends, family, and spiritualsupport, their own fears and loneliness couldoverwhelm their lives. Many of the same stressesare upon the family as they often assume the role ofa caregiver. In time, those providing care to theirfamily member will become weary and stressed.They will over time withdraw from giving care to

1 Kings 11 When King David was old and well advanced inyears, he could not keep warm even when they putcovers over him.

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the one in the nursing home. The resident will findthemselves alone in a world that continues to closein around them.

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In Psalms 71, we can see the struggle over the souland the feeling of loneliness. Without God, we areat our weakest times. David was looking forassurance that God was with Him in his later years.The elderly and those stricken in years will need tobe reminded of the promises of God and Hisassurance that He will not forsake them. God's ownWord says in Deuteronomy 31 that He will notforsake us.

Let God reach into your heart and share the love Hehas for all people including the elderly. While you

Psalms 719

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Deuteronomy 316

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake menot

mine enemies speak against me; and theythat lay wait for my soul

Saying, God hath forsaken him

when my strength faileth.For

take counsel together,: persecute and

take him; for there is none to deliver himO God, be not far from me: O my God, make

haste for my help.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor beafraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is thatdoth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsakethee.

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honor them, you are honoring Him. Every time Ivisit a nursing home, I see the need and see thedifference that a simple visit makes in the life of onethat will soon find the end of their journey. Helpthem find their way Home to their Father in Heavenand to have comfort as they await this long journeyHome.

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Chapter Three

Ministering to the Elderly

Churches can organize and recruit volunteers fromtheir congregations to minister in the nursing homesof their community. The greatest hope on this earthis the Church ministering through the Holy Spirit.The Church must reach outside its walls and extendits heart to others. There are many other ministriesthat may be more sought after, but ministering to theelderly is close to the heart of our Lord.

Volunteer to be a team leader at your church andprepare yourself and others to minister in nursinghomes. Begin by visiting members of yourcongregation who have become homebound orbeen placed in a nursing home. As you becomecomfortable visiting the elderly you will soon findyourself inviting others to assist you. SomehowGod has created all of us in a way that when we helpothers in need our own heart responds with joy andwell being. Hearts that give and hearts that receiveboth experience the same emotion of wholeness.

You can establish a ministry of visiting residents ora congregational-based service in a meeting room atthe nursing home. Many in your church havemusical abilities and can be instrumental inministering to the residents. You will need to gain

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permission from the nursing home to use a meetingroom and to establish a service. Announce yourservice in advance through brochures and throughthe nursing home staff. They will assist you ingathering residents into the meeting room used forthe service.

Seek to have services that are not geared toward aspecific denomination so that residents of anydenomination will feel welcome. The scheduledservice will place the nursing home in expectationof your ministry. Take time after the service to visitothers in their rooms who were unable to attend.You may also establish a ministry that will simplytake you from room to room visiting residents whomay have no one to visit with them. Take time andmake friends with the staff as they will work withyou to find those who need ministering. Rememberthat one of the most powerful gifts we all have islistening. Also, read to them from the Book ofPsalms and the New Testament while usingdiscretion. The Word of God will bring themcomfort and understanding.

Others in your church can participate in thisministry by making quilts, sweaters, blankets, andother items to bring the residents comfort. Theelderly residents like stuffed animals and otherspecial gifts like socks that would also bringcomfort and joy. You can collect Christian booksand magazines that can be used by residents. I

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remember one resident who was blind and had readall the Braille books he had many years prior. I wasable to take him Braille Christian materials given tome by another person who was blind. He was soexcited to have this new material. This simple actmeant so much to him and in a later service he gavehis heart to Christ. He said that he thought he wassaved when he was one year-old but when he heardthe message we delivered at the nursing home, hediscovered that he must be saved as the Holy Spiritministered to His heart. You will soon discoverthat giving something in the Name of the Lord willprepare a heart to receive from Him.

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Chapter Four

Speaking to the Heart

After ministering in the streets to people in allsituations for many years, I have noticed that if youcan speak to the heart of someone you will besuccessful ministering to the person. When I beganministering in nursing homes, the same principlewould produce results. Someone's heart will beginto respond when you speak first from your heart totheirs. Let the words you speak be uplifting andencouraging to their soul.

One night in a convenience store, a man expressedhate toward my wife and me, and then tried to reachand get her billfold out of her purse while she was atthe check out. He was a very angry person andbuying more alcohol for himself and a friend.When he walked out of the store, I placed my armbehind his shoulder and said, “I love you as JesusChrist does.” He fell to his knees and shoved hisalcohol away from him and said, “What hashappened to my life?” A few words that day,spoken to his heart, somehow instantly changed hislife. It was as the conversion of the Apostle Paul.We have seen lives changed and hearts open whenwords filled with compassion and love areexpressed to someone.

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One night I found myself able to speak to severalpatients on the Alzheimer's wing that could nototherwise communicate. When I spoke to theirheart with faith filled words of compassion, theywould respond. A medication nurse saw me doingthis one day and was amazed when the patient wascommunicating with me. She saw the principle andthe Holy Spirit at work in the life of someone. Thenext night that I was on the floor, the man spoke tome and thanked me. It seems that while aging ordisease can rob a mind of their ability tocommunicate, they still can respond when it is fromtheir heart through faith and trust in God.

We must use the Words of God to truly speak to aheart and see an eternal effect upon a life. TheWord of God contains the very essence of life.Minister Words into a life that you want God totouch. Speak His Words from your heart with HisLove.

Expect God to touch hearts as the Holy Spirit usesyou to minister to lives.

Hosea 1012 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap inmercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time toseek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousnessupon you.

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Chapter Five

Scriptures of Comfort and Hope

My daughter Sarah has prepared a list of scripturesthat may be useful when sharing with nursing homeresidents. We pray that through your efforts and theScriptures that you will bring much comfort andhope to others.

NIV

2 Corinthians 416

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Philippians 312

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Therefore we do not lose heart. Thoughoutwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we arebeing renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles areachieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighsthem all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but onwhat is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, butwhat is unseen is eternal.

Not as though I had already attained, eitherwere already perfect: but I follow after, if that I mayapprehend that for which also I am apprehended ofChrist Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to haveapprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting

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those things which are behind, and reaching forthunto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the highcalling of God in Christ Jesus.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man beborn when he is old? can he enter the second timeinto his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, hecannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and thatwhich is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be bornagain.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thouhearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whenceit cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one thatis born of the Spirit.

Even to your old age, I am He, And even to grayhairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear;Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,believe also in me.

n my Father's house are many mansions: if it

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John 34

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Isaiah 464

John 141

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NKJV

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were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare aplace for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I willcome again, and receive you unto myself; thatwhere I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; andwhether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether welive therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, northings present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of God,which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, which according to his abundant mercy hathbegotten us again unto a lively hope by theresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven foryou,

Who are kept by the power of God through faithunto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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Romans 148

Romans 838

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1 Peter 13

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2 Timothy 46

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Matthew 1128

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John 1622

John 1633

Psalms 234

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time ofmy departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished mycourse, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown ofrighteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,shall give me at that day: and not to me only, butunto all them also that love his appearing.

ome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for Iam meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find restunto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will seeyou again, and your heart shall rejoice, and yourjoy no man taketh from you.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in meye might have peace. In the world ye shall havetribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcomethe world.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of theshadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with

C

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me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence

of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all thedays of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLORD for ever.

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It is my prayer that God will use you to bringsalvation, comfort, peace, and healing to those thatare ill and in the nursing home. You are not alonewhen you minister as the Holy Spirit will be withyou as promised in God's written Word. May Godbless you in all that you do for Him.

Richard C. Hobbs M.Div., is founder ofMercy Street Ministries, a ministry devotedto training laborers in the harvest and churchministry. He has spent thousands of hourstraining churches to share Christ in allsituations. He hopes that this book will helpothers to bring comfort and assurance tothose in need.

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Published byMercy Street Ministries

PO Box 121 • Alma, AR 72921Copyright © 2006

Accept the challengeto minister to others!