Nursing Home Ministry Update - October 2017

Jenks

I've just acquired another facility - Grace Living Center in Jenks. I start in November. I'm excited.

Barnsdall/Sapulpa

It sure was good to be back in Barnsdall this morning. (This time last month we were in Minnesota celebrating my mom's 100 birthday.) The meeting room was already lined with residents and staff as they were  preparing to praise and worship the Lord. And, what a time we had. We are looking at the 3 B's of the Bible. 1-Be Saved 2-Be-Filled 3-Be Led. People are really getting excited about this!

Muskogee/Muskogee

This morning we were family. There were probably 45 - 50 of us. There was lots of activity with staff busy doing what they do and 2 emergency vehicles with gurneys. Yet, we focused on Jesus and His Word. With all the activity, there was much opportunity for prayer, and we did. It's easy to feel alone, even in the middle of a crowd. I make sure I touch and make eye contact with each resident in the room. Then, we pray. God is soooo Good!


I hardly know where to begin. We started looking at what I refer to as the 3 B's of the Bible. 1) Be Saved 2) Be Filled 3) Be Led. We got to the "Be Filled" and camped there for the next 1 1/2 hours. The residents are very, very hungry. We will pick up on that the next time I come.

Broken Arrow/Pawnee

Forest Hills care facility is going through some building renovations. The room we normally meet in was not available. That can cause a little confusion for the residents. We ended up meeting in a room that is larger. It was great. I hope we can meet there again. Any time we can get together, praise the Lord, and look in the Word it's a good day. I continue to travel the roads of eastern Oklahoma: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost.

Inola/Vinita

Inola
There are times when I have to remind myself this is not always about numbers. It is about results; no matter how many or how few residents come. Several years ago the Lord said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Then, the results come from preaching God's Word. The Bible says, His Word will not return void. So, I had to remind myself: 1) Be led by the Spirit. 2) Preach the Word.

(Oh, by the way, we started out with a few but ended up with a lot. :))

On the road: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Vinita

Residents, Staff, and Family filled the room this afternoon. These people were hungry for the Word. Prayer becomes a very vital part of this ministry. After the service there are many who want prayer. Many times it is for some form of sickness or disease. We can be healed in the name of Jesus!

Okema/Wewoka

We had one of the largest groups this afternoon. Many of the staff brought in many of the residents. We had a wonderful time in the Lord. The last time I was scheduled to be here we were in Minnesota celebrating my mom's 100 birthday. They didn't like me to miss, but they understood. Now I'm off to Wewoka. (2 services in the same afternoon.)

Claremore/Nowata

There had been some changes to some of the living areas at this facility so I was ushered to a new location. The residents were waiting and ready to sing. It's always a thrill to watch the power of God work with Alzheimer's residents. The more we pressed into the Word the more they responded. Now it's on to Nowata.

Pryor/Jay

There are some residents in nursing homes that look repulsive. I know that may sound cold. But, it is the very reason many people do not come to visit. Residents are in nursing homes because they are not able to care for themselves. Sometimes the love of God, the compassion of God, is so strong I just want to hug them and not let them go. This morning there was a young resident in the room. She comes as often as she can. She appears to have birth defects that have caused her to be in a nursing home her whole life. I put my hand on her shoulder and hugged her as we were singing. She is in a wheel chair so she put her head on my waist. We just staid there for a while as we were singing. Then, we both began to cry at the same time. The compassion of the Lord was overwhelming. At that moment I was her dad and she was my daughter. This is the family of God. This is who we are. And, this is what we do.

Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Tulsa/Stillwater

There were many smiles this morning. Smiles are a good thing, especially in nursing homes. As we started to sing there were smiles. Then, when we looked into the Word there were even more smiles. Jesus said in John 4, "In my Fathers house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you." As Christians we have more of a future than we do a past. That is very good news!




There was a staff meeting this afternoon which included the activities director. I was asked if I would be comfortable taking the group with no supervision. I said, Yes. (I guess I have earned their trust.) We had a great time in the Lord.

Stigler

This morning we had revival! There was an excitement in the air. We were all ready to lift our hands and praise the Lord. When you live in a nursing home it's good to know you still have a future, you have a purpose in this life and the next. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. . ." That is really Great News!

Muskogee

This morning, when I walked into the nursing home, there were no residents anywhere to be found. I wondered what was going on? The front room, where we normally meet, was being prepared for fresh paint on the walls. All of the residents were in the cafeteria. So, that's were we had our service. (Flexibility is a key to successful ministry.) It really was a wonderful service. We have become family at this facility. We sang, we prayed, we looked into the Word of God, and we were blessed this morning. Jesus said, He is coming back for His church and we are getting ready.

Tulsa

I had several residents come to me, in tears, asking for prayer. It just re-reminded me of the need for Christians, who know how to pray, to come to nursing care facilities on a regular basis. The Lord is so gracious and loving. He wants to meet the needs of people. But, it requires people to ask in faith based on the Word. We had an amazing service and then prayed with many. I was very grateful to be here today. Lives were changed.

Wagoner

We had several residents and family this morning. When family comes to visit, it's a very special time. We took a little break to get the visitors settled. They wanted to stay in the service with their loved ones so no one would miss the service. This morning we looked at the rapture of the church. We are closer to the rapture than any generation has ever been. This is an event I don't want anyone to miss. It requires accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Get ready, get ready, get ready!

Holdenville

Many times when I walk the halls of nursing homes I will meet one resident after another who is not able to communicate with me for one reason or another. That was my experience this afternoon. (I find that different nursing homes seem to specialize in certain types of care.) Once we started focusing on Jesus and His Word that all changed. When people hear the name of Jesus and the power of his Word minds can be cleared and bodies can be healed.

Eufaula

It's not to often I see a man cry but this morning one of the male residents just burst into tears. We were singing some of the old familiar hymns and I had my hand on his shoulder. All of a sudden he looked at me and had a look like he just could not contain himself any more. Then, he just burst into tears. God is at work wherever His Word is honored. There were several who rededicated their lives to the Lord. Now it's on to Holdenville.

Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Muskogee

It's always a thrill to watch people who love the Lord. This morning was one of those times. Shouts, hand claps, smiles, and tears as we worshiped the Lord. These residents are not only hearers of the Word but they are also doers of the Word.

Warner/Fort Gibson

It is wet out here today! I have seen a lot of accidents, many vehicles in the ditch. People are in a hurry to get somewhere but there not taking the time to counting the cost of going to fast. I arrived at the nursing home 10 minutes late but I arrived. Life is like that. Every-day living is like that. We find ourselves wanting to complete something, or get somewhere, without taking the proper measures to complete the task safely. Here is my question, Have you taken the time to count the cost of death? Death can come quickly (I've seen that today.) And, it comes at a very high price. Jesus paid the price for our death when He died on the cross. There are 2 terms that everyone needs to understand: 1 - eternal life 2 - eternal death. In the Bible Jesus said, "I am come that you might have (eternal) life." Without Him there is simply no eternal life, only eternal death. God made us as choosers and wants us to make that decision for ourselves. He wants us to want Him. Please, accept Him as your Lord and Savior today!

This is the very reason I do what I do. There are residents, staff, family, and friends who are closer to eternity than they know. Do not wait until tomorrow.

Romans 10:9Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Tahlequah

I'm not sure I can really understand the kind of loneliness that comes from living in a nursing home. This morning I had a lot of residents that were: down, depressed, and lonely. It required ministry in all 3 areas: spirit, soul, and body. We looked at the Word, we renewed our minds, and I gave multiple hugs to everyone. It worked! By the end of the service we were having a wonderful time. We continued to say, "I love the Lord and He loves me. He is always with me. And, He will never leave me."

Chandler

Is it possible that God would send someone 85 miles just for one person? Yes, I believe that is true. I believe God would send someone around the world for one, if it would make a difference. That's what it seemed like happened this afternoon. Oh, there were several in the room, but there was one that stood out. And, that was the one that was touched by God. He was touched physically and emotionally. We continue to travel throughout eastern Oklahoma: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost.

Glenpool

The highlight of my morning was to visit with a former resident. This is a gal who had been in the nursing home for years. She had multiple health problems, one of which was cancer. She got a hold of the word of faith and was totally healed. Now, she lives with one of her sons and is joying both her health and her freedom. God is so good. She comes back to the nursing home to visit and share the Good News of Jesus.

Nursing Home Update - September 2017