Bringing God’s Word to our residents’ front door
At The Lutheran Home Association (TLHA), our care communities depend on the hard work and dedication of the direct caregivers who help with our residents’ essential and personal needs. In a culture of care where sharing the love of Christ is an essential part of daily life, they are truly the hands and feet of Jesus.
At a much deeper and more personal level are the direct caregivers of the soul—our chaplains. They are not only the hands and feet of Jesus but also His voice. The lifeblood of our ministry is carried out by chaplains who nurture hurting hearts, calm fearful nerves, wipe tear-stained eyes, and speak to these children of God as though Jesus Himself were saying, “I love you. I forgive you. You belong to me.”
These seniors and individuals with special needs belong in a place “where the care of the soul is the soul of care.” Here are some of their stories:
- Todd is a resident at the TLHA Campus in River Falls, WI, where Pastor Kenley Mann met him. Pastor Mann shared God’s message and saving grace with him during their numerous visits. Pastor Mann’s message differed from Todd’s Mormon faith, which teaches that each person must earn salvation and God’s saving grace is absent from Mormon theology. “We both have our Bibles open as we study together. That is the source for what Todd believes now and the Holy Spirit is doing His miraculous, ongoing work of giving Todd trust in Christ as his entire reason for heaven,” Pastor Mann said.
- Rev. Mark Bartsch, a chaplain at our Heritage Homes campus in Watertown, WI, is “all things to all people” as he works to share God’s word where it is needed most. He shared, “You sometimes assume people of this generation have a connection to Jesus, but that’s not always the case. Chaplains can get to know people where they’re at. At other facilities, you can’t do that.”
- Amber is part of our team at St. Michael’s Assisted Living in Fountain City, WI. Working at a TLHA facility means Amber can offer Christian care: She can sit down with a widower who is missing his wife and talk about her place in heaven and her salvation through Jesus. Or Amber can sing “Jesus Loves Me” to a resident with dementia who wanders and becomes agitated. “The resident just stops. She gets a smile on her face. She starts singing right along with you. I feel like that speaks to her heart,” Amber said. “That’s really special to be able to share my faith.”
- Alan Hairsine enrolled in the WELS Chaplain Certificate course through Martin Luther College to learn how to better communicate the saving message of Christ and be a comforting presence to those who are hurting. As part of his education, Alan is shadowing Pastor Ed Fredrich, chaplain at The TLHA Belle Plaine Campus in Belle Plaine, MN.Visiting residents is a highlight for Alan: “It is a privilege to share in the joy of the happy life stories and at times to hear about the difficulties and disappointments. The opportunity to share the Gospel is always a blessing.”
Many residents who live in our care communities have similar experiences. Stories of how lives have changed are depicted in our new “Care of the Soul” video, which is available here.