FEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me". Matt: 25:40
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home

We have just completed another month of “Praise and Worship” services at the four Nursing Homes. February was a month of challenges, as well as, many good things happening. The weather we have had, reminded us that we definitely have a human side as we wished a couple of times, we could stay home and not go anywhere.
We all have our human weaknesses and that’s o.k. as long as we don’t give in to them. The severe cold with the ice and snow is difficult when we have so much equipment to unload. However, we pressed forward and had a sweet sweet spirit within. What a difference Jesus makes in our hearts and lives. He certainly blesses us every time we go.
We had really good services at Rosewood and Lakewood with great attendance and great participation. Salem Village, however, had its problems. With two large elevators and one small one, we only had one elevator that was working for us and believe it or not, it was the small one that you could only fit one wheel chair into. It was a nightmare and we had some un-happy people who really wanted to come to the service and we were un-able to get them all down. We still had a good number of residents who made it down. I believe our attendance was 38, which is not bad.
On a more positive note and forgetting all those things that are past, two new names are written down in glory and they are Ron Smith Jr. and Madeline Thompson. I led Ron to the Lord on Thursday, February the 21st and Madeline Thompson, who has attended our services ever since we started, was saved the first part of February. Her son led her to the Lord. He and his wife attend the Bible Baptist Church of Romeoville and they have been attending our services at Salem Village with Madeline and what a Blessing it was, when he told us he had led his mom to the Lord.
I believe the angels in Heaven are rejoicing over these souls that have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It makes our labor all worthwhile. I visited with Madeline today during my regular Thursday visits, and she shared with me how she was enjoying reading her Bible.
Chris Stucke donated 50 blankets to the Ministry and we praise the Lord for this gift and for her thoughtfulness in contributing to the Ministry in this way. What a Blessing you are to us Chris and we “Thank you” from the bottom of our hearts. We have a good start for the Christmas season this year.
We just started a new year and the months are already flying by. At the end of March, we will have completed our 3rd year with the Nursing Home Ministry. A lot of good things have happened these past 3 years. Not only have the residents enjoyed the “Praise and Worship” services and we have had 9 people saved, but I believe all the volunteers have really grown in the Lord as we have served Him in this Ministry.
We have enjoyed the fellowship with one another and the exciting part of it all is the unity and love we all share, working together in one accord. It has drawn us all closer to each other and most importantly to the Lord.
We are constantly looking for ways to communicate the gospel more effectively and to reach more people for Christ and get more people involved in the work. We are working on several things as we began our 4th year. Please do not hesitate to volunteer your talent.
Perhaps you like to sing or play an instrument and if so, you can pick the Nursing Home you would like to go to and come join us.
Just call Ben Tan or I, so we can put you on the schedule. You may just want to push a wheel chair or pass out programs or name tags. There are many jobs to be done and you are always welcome to participate.
Our mailing list and e-mail list is growing. We have lots of people receiving the newsletter and if you know anyone who would like to get the Nursing Home news and keep up with what we are doing, please let me know and I will be happy to mail or e-mail the newsletter to them.
Please join with me and the Ministry team and let's all pray the prayer of Jabez in the days ahead. His prayer was, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me and that You would keep me from evil?" We all want God’s Blessings in our lives. Our Country, our churches, our homes, our children and grandchildren, the Nursing Home Ministry, as well as, our individual lives need the touch of God’s hand in our lives that He would bless us and that He would enlarge our territory that we may reach out into the community with the message of Jesus Christ.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him". Praise God for hearts that are soft and willing to serve Him. There is no greater blessing, than serving Jesus.
UPDATE:
Four members of our ministry team recently returned from a mission trip to Africa. Ron Lyngen, Kim Brinkman and Kevin and Marge Valade, along with some other members of their church at Grace Baptist, teamed up together and helped complete the basic structure of a church in Africa. What a great Ministry and we thank the Lord for their willingness to serve on the Mission field and also here at home with us in the Nursing Home Ministry.
NOTICE:
Easter Sunday services at Paradise Park have been cancelled as many of the residents will be going out to be with their families. This will give all the Ministry team a very special time to be with their families. We have never cancelled a meeting before, however, this is a different situation since the residents are able to leave the home and go out and what a Blessing that they are able to spend Easter with their loved ones.
Our schedule, for March, is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Mar 2nd, @ 2:30 p.m.
Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Mar 9th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Mar 16th @ 2:00 p.m.
Paradise Park , New Lenox - Cancelled
Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke
jmancke@sbcglobal.net
Tel: 815-351-7659