10 Tips to Avoid Your Illness Support Group Becoming Depressing

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If you live with a chronic illness or chronic pain, the odds are that you have at least tried a support group once since your diagnosis. Did the situation go something like this? You felt awful the entire day but you decided to get in the car and go to the support group anyway. You thought it would be good for you. It took forever to find the building at the hospital and then you ended up parking what seemed like a mile from the suite number. You found a chair that smelled like old sweat and smoke and hoped somehow you would find some encouragement. But an hour later you're ready to make dash for the door. Everyone seems to be so depressed! And too many people want to either sell you a juicer that is sure to cure your problems, or … [Read more...]

Find a Church That Understands Disabilities

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If you are looking for a church that is more likely to understand your physical limitations, including illness, cancer, or disabilities, Joni and Friends is an excellent resource. This international Christian ministry has an updated list of churches around the USA who have shared their desire to create an environment that welcomes those who may be "differently-abled." To enter your zipcode into the search engine click here. You may also want to visit our HopeKeepers map to see if there is a church near you who has a HopeKeepers group that serves the chronically ill. … [Read more...]

What To Do For Those Who Are Hurting When You Don’t Know What To Do

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As the holidays approach more people than usual are looking for ways to reach out to help a hurting friend. Sadly, this shouldn't be a seasonal event, but something we do all year round. But most people just don't know how to do that reaching out! Well, thanks to a wonderful book we don't have that excuse any longer! One of my all-time favorite books is The Art of Helping: What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting by Lauren Littauer Briggs. In fact, I am very honored to have a section in it for those with chronic illness. But the whole book is helpful for those of us who, well, care. And it is one of the few books I believe should be on the desk of every pastor and church secretary! So much so that when it was first published we … [Read more...]

Joni and Friends Starting San Diego Chapter

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If you live in the San Diego area you may be interested to know that Joni and Friends is putting together a satellite office. The first step is to gather together the people who would like to be involved. Joni and Friends is the disability ministry of best-selling author Joni Eareckson Tada who was paralyzed following a diving accident in the 1970s. Rest Ministries is an affiliate ministry of Joni and Friends and I (Lisa) have had the honor of speaking and exhibiting at various Joni and Friends events for years. It is an amazing ministry that has changed the lives of millions of people, from those in third world countries who have received a wheelchair through Joni's Wheels of the World program, to the thousands of families who have … [Read more...]

How Do You Explain Living With Illness to Your Church?

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"I want to be able to share the ups and downs but not sound like I am complaining. . ." "I've read about people who are presenting to their church staff about chronic illness, but that makes me too nervous. . ." "A deacon came by to visit me last week and she told me I looked fabulous and that the tests I had to have later that day were 'no big deal.' I wish I could gracefully give her some tips, but I don't want to hurt her feelings." We have a wonderful new tool! A DVD with 24 tips of 2-3 minutes each that are perfect for a church staff to watch. You could give a copy of this DVD to the women's ministry director, perhaps the pastor's wife who you heard is chronically ill. Encourage your congregational care team to watch a couple of … [Read more...]

Testimony: Why Do Churches Need HopeKeepers Small Group Ministries?

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In coming months I will be sharing more of your testimonies about your involvement in small groups, the Sunroom, on Facebook, daily devotionals--wherever Rest Ministries has touched your life. Print, audio, or videos are all welcome if you're interested in sharing. Lisa From a woman we will call Samantha, who has been a part of a HopeKeepers in Southern California that has met for over 10 years. I was a young Christian woman, just starting my career, newly in love, and full of hopes for the future. Then, one day, chronic pain entered my life and set up a long-term stay. Now, over 20 years later, I live in constant severe pain. Do I have many moments of questioning, tears and frustration? If I said I didn't, I'd be giving false … [Read more...]

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