Our Ministries
Visitation:
Five teams of ten to twelve
individuals rotate weekly visiting community members who are ill,
homebound, or need a contact by a caring neighbors. The teams are an
adjunct to Les Stine, our pastoral member, and are intended as an
assist to him in making all necessary contacts. A planning meeting is
conducted each Monday morning to prepare that week's team, with Les
providing the leadership and guidance. Each team has a captain to help
coordinate the contacts and report results. If you are aware of someone
who has a need or if you would like to be on one of the teams, Contact
Gladys Williams at 903-882-5422.
Prayer Chain: Our church is comprised of
proactive "prayer warriors" who are concerned and involved in the
welfare of members of the community. In a correlative and mutually
reinforcing effort to the visitation program, the names and needs of
those we have been asked to hold in prayer are circulated in the
community by e-mail and word of mouth. If you would like prayer for
someone for whom you're concerned, call Mary Richardson at 903-882-6000.
Adopt-A-Friend: This is another corollary to the visitation
program, aimed at providing reassurance to those who may be living
alone, or relatives nearby to help, or who may be living alone, or who
have no relatives nearby to help, or who just need a personal point of
contact they can call if they have a problem. Those with some physical
infirmity, in particular, may need occasional help to cope with daily
independent living. If you know of someone in these circumstances, or
if you wish to adopt a friend, contact Gladys Williams at 903-882-5422
or Jim Turvan at 903-882-7775.
Teaching At Health Care Facilities:
A number of volunteers teach Sunday School studies at the Colonial
Nursing Home and Lindale Health Care Center each Sunday.
Cancer Patients:
A great many families have been
touched by cancer, often with devastating results, and our church
family has not been exempt. Our volunteers are cancer survivors, with
special empathy and unique qualifications for care and counseling, and
for choosing material to provide to newly-diagnosed patients. They also
provide personal and continuing support, as needed. If you are aware of
someone in need, or would like to assist in this ministry, call Sharon
Havens at 903-882-1767 or Joe Stovall at 903-882-7277.
Grief:
This ministry provides a means for
those who have suffered a loss to find mutual support in exercising the
opportunity to discuss common problems and experiences, and to
socialize with others who have also suffered losses. A trained
counselor, and appropriate materials are available at the monthly
meetings. Attendance is variable, depending upon the need. Donna
White can be contacted at 903-881-8313.
Crown Ministries:
Finances are a universal concern, and
the dynamics can be drastically altered by any number of factors, such
as a death in the family or other unexpected event. Our volunteers have
extensive background and training qualifications to provide education
and counseling for those whose situations are a cause of concern or
anxiety, and can help arrange short term help and long solutions.
Additional resource material also is available in the church library.
Contact Omer Adams at 903-882-9698 or Nancy Motley at 903-882-1228.
Support to Caregivers:
Caregivers have special support
needs, particularly those who are caring for Alzheimer's patients,
regardless of the level of impairment. This ministry is meant to
provide as much support in the form of visits, calls, transportation,
reference material, respite, sympathetic understanding, referrals to
appropriate support groups, and psychic and spiritual encouragement as
is possible. The need is expected to increase dramatically. John Jack
is trained and experienced, and has been especially effective in
providing such support; he may be reached at 903.882.6940. Also, Les
Stine at 903-882-7863, has organized resource material on Alzheimer's
which is available in the church library.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Information on available research, drugs,
and medications under development or in current use, effective
treatments, and counseling on coping mechanisms may be requested from
the church office at 903-882-6966.
Provide-A-Ride:
Volunteers have committed to
providing transportation for those who cannot drive themselves to the
grocery, doctor, church or other required destinations. If you can make
yourself available on an as-required basis, contact church office at
903-882-6966, or Jim Turvan at 903-882-7775.
Homebound Library Books:
Reading and research material can be
delivered to homebound members by individuals who volunteer to do so.
If you would like to either receive or help deliver books from the
library, contact the church office: 903-882-6966, or Norm Walker:
903-881-0770.
Meals For Bereaved Families:
Meals are prepared and served in our
church for members of the community. Sunday school classes rotate on a
monthly basis to provide leadership in recruiting church members to
prepare and serve the meals. Two or three members of the class call
individuals who have volunteered to participate in this ministry.
Mary Miller at 903-882-6730 and Carol Springman at
903-882-1698, coordinate these efforts.
Quilters' Group: Quilts made by this group ("Pieces of God's
Love") of dedicated ladies are donated to those in need, such as
'Children's Village', a family with children who have suffered a fire
in their home, and such similar cases with special needs. The group
meets at the church on the first and third Wednesday of each month, and
is open to anyone who enjoys Christian fellowship, whether you can sew
or not, Contact Leigh Stine at 903-882-7863.