Creativity leads to reaching more individuals with special needs
As Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) programs continue to return to hosting regular meetings, leaders have been noticing trends taking place across most programs. Many programs had JCM participants who resided within the same group home would often attend together. With fewer staff members and transportation problems, group home residents are often unable to attend.
Jill Kirk, who heads up the JCM program at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minn., has been focused on finding new ways to keep in touch with these individuals. The program at St. Mark’s has approximately 55 participants, but averages between 18 and 20 individuals at monthly in person event.
To ensure individuals have access to God’s Word, Jill and other JCM volunteers, prepare a lunch bag full of goodies for anyone unable to attend. The bag includes:
- Dear Christian Friend lesson
- Snack
- Craft project
- Small gift
“The snack will be based on the person we’re serving. Sometimes we have people who can only eat soft foods like pudding or applesauce, or we know a favorite snack of a few individuals. We try to make the craft something easy for a caretaker to do with a student. The small gift may be stickers or bubbles,” Jill explained.
From there, Jill and her husband will travel to the local group homes and nursing homes to drop off the bags.
“We make it a date. We have a cup of coffee, a nice chat, and we drive around and deliver,” said Jill.
Jill’s experience at each front door is a little different. Sometimes a new staff member has answered, and she can share about JCM in Bemidji, or she is invited inside to pray and sing worship songs. If no one answers, she leaves the bags on the front step.
“Hearing how creative Jill has been to ensure that God’s Word is being shared is inspiring,” explained Pastor Patrick Feldhus, JCM Consultant. “We are blessed to see how hard our volunteers work to be sure everyone is being reached.”
We are sharing Jill’s story because we hope all JCM program leaders consider different possible options to reach individuals who may have stopped attending events in person. If your program could benefit from a brainstorming session with your JCM leader, email jcm@tlha.org.