What Would Your Church Do? Illness Scenarios Teaching Tool

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By Lisa Copen Have you seen the T.V. show, "What Would You Do? With John Quinones"? In it, they have actors set up a situation and then wait to see if anyone gets involved. Do people stand up for the "underdog"? Will adults buy teens beer? Will people stop a drunk parent from driving? Results are very interesting. Below are some scenarios to help church leaders think, "What would our church do?" We always hope that we will do the right thing. We believe our church will make the best choices for all involved. But sometimes the lines get buried. Phone calls don't get returned because no one has an answer for the hurting person. Too often I hear from people who have called their church with stories like the ones below and the … [Read more...]

The Top Christian Books About Grief and Loss

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Grief. It is such a simple word yet it holds sooo-o-o much emotion, doesn't it? A few months ago someone at Rest Ministries asked me what books I would recommend for some different areas of grief, and in looking at my list from years past, I realized sadly that many of them had gone out of print. So I started compiling a new list. To add to the books I was aware of, I asked a group of Christian women authors of a group I am part of, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). They eagerly told me what books they recommend to people (many of them are also counselors), and what books they had written of specific areas of grief. Some of these books we have even carried in our Rest Ministries bookstore over the years such as, The … [Read more...]

New Book In Store: Stronger Still: A Woman’s Guide to Turning Your Hurt into Healing for Others

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This book, Stronger Still: A Woman's Guide to Turning Your Hurt into Healing for Others (Deeper Still), by Edna Ellison is an amazing workbook to hold in your hand and work your way through if you are trying to figure out how to use the pain in your life to encourage other people. We have it available now at the Rest Ministries shop. I am happy to be able to call Edna a friend through a Christian women writers organization, but even I didn't know all that she had experienced in her life until I read this book. This woman has every right to write about her journey with suffering and how to use it for God's plans. This is an interactive 6-week Bible study that helps guide the reader through her pain and to a point where she can see how … [Read more...]

What I’d Like to Tell My Pastor About Living with Illness

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Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us what we need; in fact, sometimes, the people say things that hurt us even more. "Everything will work out fine. Just keep praying." "If you just came to Bible study I am sure … [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...]

New DVD From RM Helps Communicate Our Needs to Churches

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"I just wish there was a way I could help my pastor understand what it's like to live with a chronic illness." If you've ever felt this way, we have a new and fabulous tool we think you will love! I have been working on this since late 2010 and am excited it's all ready! … [Read more...]

Bible Study by Joni Eareckson Tada On Suffering Can Be Downloaded

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Whether you are looking for a personal Bible study or something fresh for your HopeKeepers group, Something Greater Than Healing study by Joni Eareckson Tada is available as a download for just $4.95 and you can make up to 1000 copies for your church. Christianity Today says, Joni Eareckson Tada dispensed with the superficial healing narrative decades ago. Paralyzed in a diving accident, Tada was forced to trust a God who doesn’t always heal, who doesn’t always prevent or alleviate our suffering. In her interview with Christianity Today, “Something Greater Than Healing,” Tada describes her hard-won understanding of God’s purposes and sovereign care for his peoplein the midst of their suffering. The 5 teaching points … [Read more...]

Winners Announced for Lisa’s New Small Group Book

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It was hard but I've chosen 3 winners of my new book, "How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry." (By the way, we are currently having a special on it till 5/1 - Buy a copy & get a copy of the book Beyond Casseroles for free!) The entries are: Jennifer Servantes shared, "I suffer from Lyme disease & with that “honor” comes many stigmas & non-support from medical professionals & regular folk alike. Many people do not realize that Lyme can masquerade as a multitude of other diseases including mental health issues. I have been afflicted for many years with depression & anxiety/panic attacks thanks to the Lyme disease I contracted as a small child. Though I have not suffered a panic attack in a while, my biggest fear is … [Read more...]

Buy Our New Book, Get Beyond Casseroles for Free! Expires 5/1

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A HopeKeepers Prayer

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Creator, Almighty One, May today there be peace within each of us. May we trust that You are have called us to be here & that this is where we are meant to be. May You help us to remember the infinite possibilities that are born of faith, not only in You, but in ourselves & those around us. May we, even in our brokenness, use the gifts that You have given us, & pass on the hope & love that we find in Your presence. May You teach us to be content with ourselves just the way we are & to recognize You in everyone we meet & in all creation. Lord, let the wisdom & grace You provide settle into our bones, & allow our souls the freedom to sing, dance, praise, hope & love even when our bodies ache. Grant us the grace & underst&ing to share … [Read more...]

We’re Giving Away 3 Copies of Our New Small Groups Book!

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We're giving away 3 copies of this new book by Lisa Copen! If you are even thinking about starting an illness support group, you won't want to miss this book. It's packed full of 320-pages of all the answers RM Director Lisa has given group leaders in emails for over 10 years. It also includes a chapters on Suffering, Healing, & How Churches Can Make a Difference. Here are some of the other things you will find in this new book! What a chronic illness is & does it matter if it's invisible A brief history of illness ministry in the medical community Benefits of small group ministry for the individual & the church How to lead when you are ill Steps to formulate the purpose of your small group, the logistics, … [Read more...]

Carved Dove is Perfect Comfort Gift

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This beautiful hand-carved dove is one of the newest items we have added to our Comfort Zone Bookstore. It is the design of Kathy Myers Nave who has lived with multiple sclerosis. The dove is similar to the much-loved Clinging Cross. One holds it in his or her hand; even for those who have hands that are somewhat deformed (like our director Lisa Copen) it still works with ease. It's a wonderful way to feel God's peace when praying or for those times one does not know when to pray. It comes packaged in a sheer lavender gift bag & then that is in a clear plastic triangle-shaped box, ready to give as a gift. It would be a great item for those who are support group leaders, elders, parish nurses, etc. to have on hand. It would be … [Read more...]

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