Being in the right place
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minn. has been blessed to host a Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) program for approximately 25 years. Despite the challenges of recent years, the program continues to thrive and gain more participants for their program.
There’s no secret recipe to understand what has allowed this program to prosper but the increase in participants is often due to current attendees inviting their friends.
“Some of our newer participants, their friends have been inviting them for a while,” explained Pastor Adam Pilarski. “After joining us, they often say things like ‘I should have come so long ago, but this is great.’ They really enjoy it, once they do come but it can take a long time.”
Program leaders often encourage participants to invite their friends because they can share what they enjoy about the program and why it works for them. As a part of each JCM meeting, participants make a craft which they bring home.
“They always take the craft home and that’s an easy way to help them remember Jesus Cares throughout the month, and to be able to talk about their experiences with their friends,” said Pastor Pilarski.
This program is located in a town near to Hope Residence and High Island Creek Residence, disability care communities which are part of the ministry of The Lutheran Home Assocation.
“We are blessed to have connections like these,” said Pastor Pilarski. “It makes things a lot easier especially when we hear about programs struggling to get people to church. Sometimes it’s just a matter of being in the right place.”
Approximately 80 percent of people with special needs and their families report feeling unwelcome in church. More of these precious lives God loves are being welcomed with open arms through JCM programs. To find a JCM program near you, visit myjcm.com.