stephen ministry Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

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

If you had the opportunity to sit down and really share about your pain, what would you tell the pastor of your church about your chronic illness and daily pain? Lisa Copen 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 … [Read more...]

New Study Finds Clergy Dismiss Depression, Anxiety The Most Often

This is a study that was released Sept 2009 that we are passing on to our readers. We have added the bold parts. New Study Finds Clergy Dismiss Depression, Anxiety The Most Often Released: 9/30/2009 11:50 AM EDT Source: Baylor University Newswise — In 2008, a Baylor University study found nearly a third of those who approached their local church for assistance in response to a personal or family member’s diagnosed mental illness were told by their church pastor that they or their loved one did not really have a mental illness. Baylor researchers have now built upon that research & have found that depression & anxiety are the mental illnesses that are dismissed the most often. Research consistently shows that clergy – not … [Read more...]

When You Need Help at Home Resources

Here is a listing of some of the at-home-care resources we have found to be helpful & professional. If you have other suggestions to add to this list, please add them to the comments section below. Visiting Nurse Associations of America The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) was established in 1983 as the official, national association of freest&ing, not-for-profit, community based visiting nurse agencies (VNAs). VNAA leads a profession that is more than a century old - a profession that VNAs actually helped create. Today, by linking leading not-for-profit home health care agencies from coast to coast & creating a comprehensive br& identity program, VNAA has created a powerful network for growth & development. One that … [Read more...]

Tools for Caregivers or Families to Share the Caregiving

Asking for help is so hard! But if you live with a chronic illness there will come a time when you or you & your family needs to ask for help from others. When you or a loved one becomes ill, it impacts the entire family... but it can also feel like it "takes a village." These are some of the resources we have found. Some are to help caregivers organize care for an ill person (such as getting the neighborhood together on who is bringing meals what day). Others are to help a person who is ill communicate with others, such as posting your hospital visiting hours, updates on your condition, or simply sharing. Here are some suggestions on ways to organize the help. Assist Guide Information Services Care Groups Organize help to provide … [Read more...]

A 2nd Vision Statement Example to My Church for HopeKeepers

Presenting to the Church of _____ committee concerning: Rest Ministries and HopeKeepers Chronic Illness/Pain Support Group Background of Rest Ministries Rest Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit Christian organization that serves people who live with chronic illness or pain by providing spiritual, emotional and practical support. They are based in San Diego, CA, founded in 1997, by Lisa Copen, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Lisa has been active in illness outreach since she began this ministry at the age of 27 in a variety of ways including serving on the Board of Directors of the Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities. Rest Ministries is an affiliate of Joni and Friends, the international disability outreach … [Read more...]

New Study Finds Clergy Dismiss Depression, Anxiety The Most Often

When You Need Help at Home Resources

A 2nd Vision Statement Example to My Church for HopeKeepers

A Blast From The Past Post

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