Using on-demand services to minister to people with special needs
Without a dedicated pastor to support their Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) program in St. Mark Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights, CA., is continuing to meet with help from our Worship at the Cross online services and Pastor Joel Gaertner, National Director of JCM.
The program began in April 2019, hosting a monthly Worship at the Cross with their pastor leading in person. Due to the coronavirus, the group transitioned to meeting online with a pastor joining the call.
In the meantime, Jesus Cares Ministries launched live-streaming Worship at the Cross services and hosting services on-demand. During a few of the group’s meetings with a pastor, the group would watch an online service.
“During the video, we asked participants to put their prayer requests into the chat,” explained Melissa Hioco, JCM coordinator. “When it came time for the actual prayer during the service, we paused the video and did our own prayer requests with the pastor.”
Following the video, the program engaged in fellowship. Unfortunately, for their program, the local pastor was called to another church, leaving the church and program without a pastor.
Despite not having a dedicated pastor, the program continues to meet each month by watching a Worship at the Cross online service. Often, Pastor Gaertner joins online to offer prayer requests to program participants.
“We thank God that we have a way to access to the services,” Melissa said. “If we didn’t, then we wouldn’t have been able to carry on the way we did. During the pandemic, we used technology to stay connected with the Word of God.”
As restrictions from the pandemic lessen, program organizers hope the group can meet in person once again, but they are considering rotating between in-person and online formats, as not all participants are comfortable meeting in person.
The on-demand services allow our JCM programs to be flexible and access God’s Word, no matter where they are.
“Our ministry is passionate about equipping programs with resources to share God’s work,” said Pastor Gaertner. “Live and on-demand resources enabled programs to continue through the pandemic, and now it’s part of their programming. We strive to develop resources that sustain and grow programs.”
We continue to hear different ways Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) programs are using online resources to benefit their participants. How are you using our resources? Share your story with us by emailing info@tlha.org.
Join us in the comments section! Worship at the Cross ONLINE services are hosted at 6 p.m. (CST) on the second Tuesday and fourth Sunday of each month on the Jesus Cares Ministries Facebook page. Previously streamed services are available on-demand at myjesuscares.com or the Jesus Cares Ministries YouTube page.