"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
The month of April started out with great services at Lakewood. The choir from First Baptist Church presented the Easter Cantata and we had record attendance for Lakewood with a total of 55 present. It was a very inspirational service. At the end of the service as we were getting ready to have the closing prayer, a resident who has Parkinson disease, raised his shaky hand and in his un-steady voice he ask if we could sing a song with him and he began singing “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand” and Barb Brennewald, being the great pianist that she is, picked up on the tune and began playing softly as the congregation joined in as well, and it was a wonderful ending to a great service and a great day. The ministry continues to grow and the people are such a Blessing. So many people tell us, it is the one thing they look forward to each month and many people have told us that we are the one thing that remains consistent in their lives of uncertainties.
We lost another dear friend and brother in Christ from Salem Village. Kenneth Partin, who always attended our services, passed away a couple weeks ago. He was a great Christian man and a wonderful person, he will be missed. When we brought him down to the services in his wheel chair each month, his oxygen always came with him and we had to make sure we placed him near an electrical outlet, in order to plug the oxygen in. Praise the Lord, he no longer needs the oxygen and he is free from all aches and pains. His body has been made whole. We rejoice in knowing, he is with Jesus. What a day that will be when we all see Jesus.
We continue to have new volunteers join us and we praise the Lord for you. Thank you for all you do. We appreciate Aaron Czerkies who has played special music at our services this month and helped us in other areas as well. Our young people are so important to the ministry and to the residents.
Every one of us are different, our personalities, our heart beats, our shape, our size. God made us all unique but each one of us can be used of God regardless of what your talent is. I thank the Lord for Kevin Valade, who comes to our service and sits with the residents, what a Blessing he is. The ministry team is running around trying to get everything set up and moving and we don’t always have time to do the thing that is needed most, and that is, just be their friend and listen to them and he has that gift. He and his wife, Margie, are so faithful to the ministry. All of our volunteers are very important to the ministry, we all have different gifts but we all work together as the body of Christ. We love and appreciate you all.
I was visiting with one of the residents after the service on Sunday at Paradise Park and I asked her about her family and she began to tell me her story. She had several brothers and sisters. She was married and had two sons. All her brothers and sisters passed away and her husband, who was a very young man, died in 1966, her mom died in 1967 and her dad died in 1968. A few years later one of her sons died and now the last of her family, a son, is in Manteno hospital, unable to visit or do anything for him. She shared with me how happy she would be when it comes her time to go to heaven. She has no one left down here, just lonely days and long nights.
Don’t you think someone like her needs a friend to talk with, someone who cares. She is just one of many that we see and visit every week in the Nursing Homes. That’s why we feel the Ministry is so important, if we can spread a little cheer or give a little ray of sunshine to someone, and then all our efforts have not been in vain.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE: Due to continuous problems with elevators being in use at the time we need them, we will be starting our service closer to 2:15 p.m. and may go to 2:30 in the months ahead. This will allow the workers to get all the dinner trays back to the kitchen and free up the elevators. They have been locking 1 or 2 of the elevators in order to get the trays back to the kitchen and it is a problem for us to get the residents to the meetings. Hopefully, this will eliminate the problem. (The 2:30 time change for the months ahead, depend on whether the new activity director gives us the o.k. to do so. She has not confirmed a definite “yes” as of the date of this newsletter)
PLEASE NOTE:::: The Sonshine Outreach Ministries has set up a checking account in the name of the Ministry and any and all future contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail them to c/o Joyce Mancke, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. if you are a member of First Baptist Church of Lockport, and would like to give through the church, just indicate on your offering envelope the amount you want to designate to the ministry. All other gifts should be made payable to Sonshine Outreach Ministries. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.
The story was told of a man who died and upon entering Heaven; an Angel met him and begins showing him around. They walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with other Angels. His Angel guide stopped in front of the first section of the room and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here, all prayers and petitions to God are received”
The room was terribly busy with many many angels sorting out petitions from people all over the world.
The angel then moved on down a long corridor until they reached the second section and he said “This is the Package and Delivery Section. Here the Graces and Blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them”. This was a very busy section as well, since so many Blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
Finally, at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at a door of a very small station and only one Angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. “This is the Acknowledgment Section,” my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed “How is it that there is no work going on here? I asked. “So sad,” the Angel sighed. “After people receive the Blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.” How does one acknowledge God’s Blessings? He asked. “Simple”, the Angel answered. Just say, “Thank you, Lord”.
God has been so good to the SonShine Ministry and He just keeps Blessing and Blessing. Please remember to set aside a special time each day and just say “Thank you Lord for all You do and all You continue to do in my life and the life of this Ministry”. He and He alone deserves all the Praise and all the Glory. We are not looking for Praise or a pat on the back, our reward will be, when we see Jesus and we hear Him say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. Keep looking up and stay focused, He’s coming back soon.
Our schedule for May is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – May 4th ,, @ 2:30 p.m.,
Salem Village, Joliet – May 11th @ 2:30 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - May 18th @ 2:00 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox – May 25th @ 2:00 p.m.
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. Phone No: 815-351-7659
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me. Matt: 25:40 (KJV)
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home
What a beautiful month we have celebrated, the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Cantata that was performed by our church choir was beautiful, entitled “Alive in Christ” and the words of each song was a beautiful picture of all He has done for us as it proclaimed the true meaning of Easter. It was a great day.
Several of the choir members joined us at the Lakewood Nursing Home in Plainfield on the first Sunday of March and we sang several songs from the Cantata. The residents really enjoyed it and the Ministry Team was excited to have so many participate. It is such a Blessing to be with people who have willing hearts to serve the Lord and the fellowship is as sweet as we serve the Lord together.
One of the residents at Lakewood enjoys singing and she has teamed up with Karl Darley several times and sang a duet and it is beautiful. She is scheduled to sing again on the first Sunday of April. What a Blessing and they sing so beautifully together.
We had a record high attendance at both Lakewood Nursing Home in Plainfield and Rosewood Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Joliet during the month of March and that was really exciting. We have been getting a few calls from various people who have loved ones they would like us to visit and what a joy that is. We want your calls because that is what we enjoy doing, we love sharing Jesus Christ with them and fellowshipping with them. That is what our Ministry is all about, we have been called to serve the Lord in this way and we want to answer the call and be found faithful so if you have someone you want us to visit, please, give me a call or e-mail me.
The story was told of an elderly gentleman in his 80’s that had a doctor’s appointment to have some stitches removed from his hand from a previous accident. The appointment was at 8:30 a.m. and upon arriving at the doctor’s office, he told them he was in a hurry because he had another appointment at 9:00 a.m. The nurse knowing that it would be over an hour before the doctor could see him, took his vital signs and had him take a seat. She noticed him watching his watch and getting very anxious and nervous. She decided to see what she could do to help him and after evaluating the wound, she saw it was well healed so she talked with the doctor and got his approval to remove the stitches so he could be on his way. While she was removing the stitches, she ask him where his next appointment was and he proceeded to tell her that he needed to go to the Nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife who was the victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As they talked, the nurse asked him if his wife would be upset if he was late. The gentleman replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in over five years now. The nurse being surprised asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are”??? He smiled as he patted the nurse on her hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is”.
This is a beautiful picture of love and reminds me of the Love of God. It doesn’t matter who I am or what I’ve done, Jesus loves me unconditionally. I’m just the clay and He is the potter that is shaping me into the image that He wants me to be. I trust and pray daily that others can see His image in me. The testing and the valleys we go through are refining us into His image and His likeness.
I heard a preacher give a great sermon illustration of how, when we go through times of trials and testing, times when we can’t feel God’s presence and he said “Imagine you sitting in a classroom with other students taking a test. You will notice the teacher is always silent when you are taking a test. It is very quiet, so quiet you can hear a pin drop. It doesn’t matter how much you would like to ask the teacher to give you the answer, he remains silent, and however, it is an open book test. So when you have conflicts and times in your life when things aren’t going right, and times when it seems that God is silent, all you have to do is read the BOOK, the “Bible” has all the answers. It is an open book test.
The Nursing Home Ministry is a great way for all the high school students to earn their credits for community service that is required by the high schools. If you are a student and you would like to serve with us in the Nursing Home Ministry, please get in touch with one of us so we can help you achieve your credits as you help us in the Ministry. There are many things that you can do and we would love having you join us.
We have had 2 weeks off in March and I felt like something was missing. Many of the residents at Paradise Park in New Lenox went out to be with their relatives on Easter Sunday and because of that, we cancelled the service. Then we had a 5th Sunday in March and we are always off on the 5th Sunday, so we are looking forward to the first Sunday in April where we will be at Lakewood in Plainfield.
We continue to visit weekly and have had some great visits, meeting many new people and continuing to minister to the ones we have known for a long time now. Imagine yourself in that situation, in a Nursing Home, just waiting for someone to care; someone to come along that you could talk with. They are lonely and discouraged, they are people just like you and I, but who are at the end of their life. They have so many things to share and we can learn so much from them and at the same time, we are Blessed because we have obeyed the call.
Our schedule for April is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – April 6th, @ 2:30 p.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – April 13th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet - April 20th @ 2:00 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox – April 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
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. 815-351-7659
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home
What a beautiful month we have celebrated, the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Cantata that was performed by our church choir was beautiful, entitled “Alive in Christ” and the words of each song was a beautiful picture of all He has done for us as it proclaimed the true meaning of Easter. It was a great day.
Several of the choir members joined us at the Lakewood Nursing Home in Plainfield on the first Sunday of March and we sang several songs from the Cantata. The residents really enjoyed it and the Ministry Team was excited to have so many participate. It is such a Blessing to be with people who have willing hearts to serve the Lord and the fellowship is as sweet as we serve the Lord together.
One of the residents at Lakewood enjoys singing and she has teamed up with Karl Darley several times and sang a duet and it is beautiful. She is scheduled to sing again on the first Sunday of April. What a Blessing and they sing so beautifully together.
We had a record high attendance at both Lakewood Nursing Home in Plainfield and Rosewood Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Joliet during the month of March and that was really exciting. We have been getting a few calls from various people who have loved ones they would like us to visit and what a joy that is. We want your calls because that is what we enjoy doing, we love sharing Jesus Christ with them and fellowshipping with them. That is what our Ministry is all about, we have been called to serve the Lord in this way and we want to answer the call and be found faithful so if you have someone you want us to visit, please, give me a call or e-mail me.
The story was told of an elderly gentleman in his 80’s that had a doctor’s appointment to have some stitches removed from his hand from a previous accident. The appointment was at 8:30 a.m. and upon arriving at the doctor’s office, he told them he was in a hurry because he had another appointment at 9:00 a.m. The nurse knowing that it would be over an hour before the doctor could see him, took his vital signs and had him take a seat. She noticed him watching his watch and getting very anxious and nervous. She decided to see what she could do to help him and after evaluating the wound, she saw it was well healed so she talked with the doctor and got his approval to remove the stitches so he could be on his way. While she was removing the stitches, she ask him where his next appointment was and he proceeded to tell her that he needed to go to the Nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife who was the victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As they talked, the nurse asked him if his wife would be upset if he was late. The gentleman replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in over five years now. The nurse being surprised asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are”??? He smiled as he patted the nurse on her hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is”.
This is a beautiful picture of love and reminds me of the Love of God. It doesn’t matter who I am or what I’ve done, Jesus loves me unconditionally. I’m just the clay and He is the potter that is shaping me into the image that He wants me to be. I trust and pray daily that others can see His image in me. The testing and the valleys we go through are refining us into His image and His likeness.
I heard a preacher give a great sermon illustration of how, when we go through times of trials and testing, times when we can’t feel God’s presence and he said “Imagine you sitting in a classroom with other students taking a test. You will notice the teacher is always silent when you are taking a test. It is very quiet, so quiet you can hear a pin drop. It doesn’t matter how much you would like to ask the teacher to give you the answer, he remains silent, and however, it is an open book test. So when you have conflicts and times in your life when things aren’t going right, and times when it seems that God is silent, all you have to do is read the BOOK, the “Bible” has all the answers. It is an open book test.
The Nursing Home Ministry is a great way for all the high school students to earn their credits for community service that is required by the high schools. If you are a student and you would like to serve with us in the Nursing Home Ministry, please get in touch with one of us so we can help you achieve your credits as you help us in the Ministry. There are many things that you can do and we would love having you join us.
We have had 2 weeks off in March and I felt like something was missing. Many of the residents at Paradise Park in New Lenox went out to be with their relatives on Easter Sunday and because of that, we cancelled the service. Then we had a 5th Sunday in March and we are always off on the 5th Sunday, so we are looking forward to the first Sunday in April where we will be at Lakewood in Plainfield.
We continue to visit weekly and have had some great visits, meeting many new people and continuing to minister to the ones we have known for a long time now. Imagine yourself in that situation, in a Nursing Home, just waiting for someone to care; someone to come along that you could talk with. They are lonely and discouraged, they are people just like you and I, but who are at the end of their life. They have so many things to share and we can learn so much from them and at the same time, we are Blessed because we have obeyed the call.
Our schedule for April is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – April 6th, @ 2:30 p.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – April 13th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet - April 20th @ 2:00 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox – April 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
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. 815-351-7659
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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
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
Friday, February 15, 2008
SONSHINE MEMBERS SHINE THE SON IN AFRICA!
Folks!
What a blessing it is to report that three members from our Sonshine Outreach Ministries are on a divine appointment in South Africa! The Lord has led Margie, Kim and Ron from Grace Bible Church, Minooka, Illinois (www.gracebibleshorewood.com) to this fantastic mission to build a church!
Please visit http://safrica.squarespace.com to see the most amazing photos of this Mission and the handiwork the Lord has assigned our team! They have taken up the Acts 1:8 challenge! When you go to this website, you will notice how fast the church is going up for a small fraction of what it costs to add a single room here in America!
This church will be instrumental in many being led to the Lord, in these last days. Please pray for our members - Margie, Kim and Ron and ALL the South Africans who are assisting in this work of Supreme Love! PRAY, PRAY...PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
"I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18b (KJV)
What a blessing it is to report that three members from our Sonshine Outreach Ministries are on a divine appointment in South Africa! The Lord has led Margie, Kim and Ron from Grace Bible Church, Minooka, Illinois (www.gracebibleshorewood.com) to this fantastic mission to build a church!
Please visit http://safrica.squarespace.com to see the most amazing photos of this Mission and the handiwork the Lord has assigned our team! They have taken up the Acts 1:8 challenge! When you go to this website, you will notice how fast the church is going up for a small fraction of what it costs to add a single room here in America!
This church will be instrumental in many being led to the Lord, in these last days. Please pray for our members - Margie, Kim and Ron and ALL the South Africans who are assisting in this work of Supreme Love! PRAY, PRAY...PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
"I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18b (KJV)
Monday, February 4, 2008
JANUARY 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
Dear Lord, so far today, I think I am doing all right. I have not gossiped or lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, or used bad language. I haven’t even eaten chocolate or charged anything on my credit card. But Lord, I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then.
That prayer certainly describes me; I need Him every moment of every day. He is my strength and my stronghold. It is so important that we stay in the Word daily and communicate with Him with a constant prayer in our hearts and minds, and enjoy the fellowship with one another.
The New Year has started out with just a whole bunch of Blessings, and for each and every one of them, we just want to lift our hands toward heaven and Praise the Lord. The 19th of January, was our quarterly fellowship and if you missed it, you certainly do not want to miss the next one. Speaking for myself, I had a great time. I love Praise and fellowships services like this. As the songwriter says, “Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul”. Lots of special music, testimony and prayer time. Our quarterly meetings the past three years have consisted of a few of us that started the ministry, however, this month, we decided to open it up to anyone who wanted to come and we had great participation. There were seven churches represented. What a Blessing it was and I can’t wait for the next one.
The first part of the month, Salem Nursing Home called and requested our services for one of the residents who was celebrating her 88th birthday and she said the only thing she wanted for her birthday, was for our group to come sing gospel songs to her. We will be completing our 3rd year in March and she has never missed a service. She is a real inspiration to us all. We formed a choir of nine volunteers and celebrated her birthday with her. It was a fun time of fellowship. Ian Tan, who was home from college for the Christmas break, went along with us and played the violin. It was beautiful. We enjoyed his talent at several of our services while he was home.
Our group keeps growing at Lakewood in Plainfield. We had 33 present at the January service and lots of great comments. We appreciate so very much Barb Brennwald coming each month and playing the piano for our service and “thanks” to Scott Brennwald for reading the scripture for us this month. What an encouragement when our young people participate and the Nursing Home residents love the young people.
We appreciate all our volunteers. We could not do this without you. You are such an important part of the ministry. Many of you have been a part of the ministry since the day we started 3 years ago and your faithfulness is such a Blessing to me, but most of all to God. Thank you for all you do and for new people who are joining us, we welcome you and your talent. Please pray for three of our ministry team members, Margie, Ron and Kim, as they will be leaving on a Mission trip to Africa on February 6th. God is still speaking to hearts and what a Blessing when His children are sensitive to His call. God Bless the three of you as you go. We will be praying for you.
Our schedule for February is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Feb 3rd, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Feb 10th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Feb 17th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Feb 24th @ 2:00 p.m.
Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it!! Yes He will!!
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net
Telephone no: 1-815-351-7659
Matt: 25:40
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home
Dear Lord, so far today, I think I am doing all right. I have not gossiped or lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, or used bad language. I haven’t even eaten chocolate or charged anything on my credit card. But Lord, I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then.
That prayer certainly describes me; I need Him every moment of every day. He is my strength and my stronghold. It is so important that we stay in the Word daily and communicate with Him with a constant prayer in our hearts and minds, and enjoy the fellowship with one another.
The New Year has started out with just a whole bunch of Blessings, and for each and every one of them, we just want to lift our hands toward heaven and Praise the Lord. The 19th of January, was our quarterly fellowship and if you missed it, you certainly do not want to miss the next one. Speaking for myself, I had a great time. I love Praise and fellowships services like this. As the songwriter says, “Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul”. Lots of special music, testimony and prayer time. Our quarterly meetings the past three years have consisted of a few of us that started the ministry, however, this month, we decided to open it up to anyone who wanted to come and we had great participation. There were seven churches represented. What a Blessing it was and I can’t wait for the next one.
The first part of the month, Salem Nursing Home called and requested our services for one of the residents who was celebrating her 88th birthday and she said the only thing she wanted for her birthday, was for our group to come sing gospel songs to her. We will be completing our 3rd year in March and she has never missed a service. She is a real inspiration to us all. We formed a choir of nine volunteers and celebrated her birthday with her. It was a fun time of fellowship. Ian Tan, who was home from college for the Christmas break, went along with us and played the violin. It was beautiful. We enjoyed his talent at several of our services while he was home.
Our group keeps growing at Lakewood in Plainfield. We had 33 present at the January service and lots of great comments. We appreciate so very much Barb Brennwald coming each month and playing the piano for our service and “thanks” to Scott Brennwald for reading the scripture for us this month. What an encouragement when our young people participate and the Nursing Home residents love the young people.
We appreciate all our volunteers. We could not do this without you. You are such an important part of the ministry. Many of you have been a part of the ministry since the day we started 3 years ago and your faithfulness is such a Blessing to me, but most of all to God. Thank you for all you do and for new people who are joining us, we welcome you and your talent. Please pray for three of our ministry team members, Margie, Ron and Kim, as they will be leaving on a Mission trip to Africa on February 6th. God is still speaking to hearts and what a Blessing when His children are sensitive to His call. God Bless the three of you as you go. We will be praying for you.
Our schedule for February is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Feb 3rd, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Feb 10th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Feb 17th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Feb 24th @ 2:00 p.m.
Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it!! Yes He will!!
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net
Telephone no: 1-815-351-7659
Monday, January 21, 2008
SONSHINE'S 3rd ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
In a subzero January deepfreeze, scores of volunteers and supporters of Sonshine Outreach Ministries turned out to fellowship in faith at First Baptist Church, Lockport, Il. They all celebrated by lifting up the Name of the Lord in song, prayer and speech. Excellent hot chili warmed up the cold night where nine different churches were represented. These churches included Ridgewood Baptist; Grace Bible; Bible Baptist; First Baptist Redbud; Springfield Bible and the ministry homebase - First Baptist, Lockport.
The 3rd Annual report was delivered by Joyce Mancke, one of the founders of the ministry with her husband Verlin Mancke and Ben and Betty Tan - all of Lockport.
The rapidly growing group now ministers every single Sunday of the month at four different Nursing homes to seniors and shut ins. These homes are Salem Village NH; Rosewood Care Center; Paradise Park Assisted Living and Lakewood Nursing Home.
The ministry brings Christ to our lovely seniors weekly, at a different home each week.
Above are some of the warm memories of the anniversary celebration!
Above are some of the warm memories of the anniversary celebration!
Ministry Song Leader and Music minister/co founder Gui Ben Tan (top photo) directs the old gospel songs, with Brian Morgan on keyboard (background).
DECEMBER 2007 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
Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, He had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.”
“Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it.”
Many people have a hard time believing that God can do anything. He can do anything, but fail. Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God that is all powerful and all knowing and nothing is impossible with Him? I love the song, “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, every day with Jesus, and I love Him more and more”. It’s such a comfort to know He is always with me in everything I do, even though I have failed Him in so many ways. The following poem says it all.
When I say I am a Christian, I’m not shouting I’m clean living, I’m whispering, I was lost, Now I’m found and am forgiven. When I say I am a Christian, I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say, I am a Christian, I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say, I am a Christian; I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not holier than thou. I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow. And His grace is sufficient for every need I have ever had.
December was a great month and we celebrated at each of the nursing homes by giving a lap blanket to every resident who attended the services. We gave out 98 blankets and received many smiles and hugs. Thanks to all of you who participated. Whether you sang, played an instrument, passed out programs, pushed a wheel chair or just came and supported us, we appreciate each and every one of you. We also appreciate the gifts of money we received from many of you and several of you have asked how you can contribute to the Ministry, so we have made it easy. We have set up a bank account in the name of “SonShine Outreach Ministry” and anyone who wishes to give in the future can make your checks payable to SonShine Outreach Ministry and they can be mailed to my address at 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 60441. Your contributions are tax deductible and you will receive an annual statement for your tax records. Contributions are all used for the on going expenses of the Nursing Home Ministry. Hundreds of tracts, several Bibles and devotional books were given out this year. We want to do even more in 2008.
Our schedule for January is as follows
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Jan 6th, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Jan 13th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Jan 20th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Jan 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
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. 815-351-7659
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home
Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, He had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.”
“Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it.”
Many people have a hard time believing that God can do anything. He can do anything, but fail. Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God that is all powerful and all knowing and nothing is impossible with Him? I love the song, “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, every day with Jesus, and I love Him more and more”. It’s such a comfort to know He is always with me in everything I do, even though I have failed Him in so many ways. The following poem says it all.
When I say I am a Christian, I’m not shouting I’m clean living, I’m whispering, I was lost, Now I’m found and am forgiven. When I say I am a Christian, I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say, I am a Christian, I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say, I am a Christian; I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not holier than thou. I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow. And His grace is sufficient for every need I have ever had.
December was a great month and we celebrated at each of the nursing homes by giving a lap blanket to every resident who attended the services. We gave out 98 blankets and received many smiles and hugs. Thanks to all of you who participated. Whether you sang, played an instrument, passed out programs, pushed a wheel chair or just came and supported us, we appreciate each and every one of you. We also appreciate the gifts of money we received from many of you and several of you have asked how you can contribute to the Ministry, so we have made it easy. We have set up a bank account in the name of “SonShine Outreach Ministry” and anyone who wishes to give in the future can make your checks payable to SonShine Outreach Ministry and they can be mailed to my address at 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 60441. Your contributions are tax deductible and you will receive an annual statement for your tax records. Contributions are all used for the on going expenses of the Nursing Home Ministry. Hundreds of tracts, several Bibles and devotional books were given out this year. We want to do even more in 2008.
Our schedule for January is as follows
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Jan 6th, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Jan 13th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Jan 20th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Jan 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
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. 815-351-7659
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