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Have you ever thought about ministering in a unique place?  A place that is often neglected, where lonely people can be found and where people really appreciate your company. 

I have such a ministry and have been doing it for nearly 20 years off and on.  The place where I go is a local nursing facility.  I minister three times a month for one or two hours on Sunday afternoon to a group of around 20 residents.  We sing the old songs, preach from the Bible, and pray together.

I count it a real privilege to be able to do this for my Lord and his people.  You should try it. All it takes is a willing heart, a little time, and a love for people.  The rewards are great.

Hi Mtnpreacher,

Welcome to Christians Unite.

Nursing homes, retirement homes and many more such places are indeed wonderful places to minister in. In fact anyplace that you happen to be is also a wonderful place to minister to someone.

I look forward to seeing more of your posts and having some wonderful Christian fellowship with you.

Brother:

You sure do get up early?  4:30 AM  post time?  I like using the net but I'm not going to get up that early to do it. 

Anyway, thanks for the reply.  You never know who you will meet in a nursing home facility.  I remember seeing a table group at lunch once where there were ten elderly people sitting around the table.  Out of the ten, seven were over 100 years of age and not one was under 90.

Think about the history they could share, the things they have seen in their lifetime. The greatest joy and sadness to me is when a person of that age accepts the Lord.   It is a great joy because they receive HIM, but it is sad that they have lived so LONG without him.

Mtnpreacher

That was 3:30 AM my time.  ;) :D  I'm up at all hours of the day and night. I'm handicapped and don't get out much anymore and when I do it isn't for very long at a time. There are times that I am unable to get out of bed but I still can be on the internet doing something for the Lord.

Yes, I love to listen and learn from those older than I. I have a lot in common with many of them so it is like old home week. Growing up without running water, having to hand stoke a fireplace or a coal furnace in the winter. Running to the outhouse and back in the cold. Many "conveniences" that kids today simply could not cope with.

It is a joy to see anyone accept the Lord no matter what their age.

I'm one of a group of men from area churches who take turns preaching at a local assisted living facility. It's a great opportunity, not so much to evangelize but to encourage people in the faith. (Most who come are already believers).

It also may have other positive effects - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6332883.stm.

You're correct, nursing homes are not always a good place to evangelize as much as to encourage others.  Most residents that come to my services are already saved or at least "religious".  That does not mean, however, that I don't preach salvation or witness to them when the opportunity arises. 

I have led 3 precious ladies to the lord this last year.  One of them died about 3 weeks afterward.  Some one told me that she probably "did not hear a word I said" to her but I know what I heard when she prayed and asked the Lord to save her.  She was hard of hearing but she could read lips and she prayed out loud  with me to  ask for salvation.

When we were finished, I asked what the Lord did for her and her reply was that  he saved her.  I asked her where she would go if she died, and with a smile on her face she said HEAVEN.  Praise the Lord she made the trip three weeks later.  She was 94 years young.

Most people think that people in nursing homes are "too old" or "too set in their ways" to change, but I find the that some are ready and waiting, the only thing they need  is someone to ask.  Some one to lead them to the saviour.

Mtnpreacher

I have heard many say that people "are too (something)" as an excuse not to witness to someone. Only the Lord knows if that person is or is not ready to accept Him or if they have or have not accepted Him already. It is not our place to make such decisions. It is our place to witness to all every chance we get.

 Amen!  Our mission is to spread the word.  We are to tell others regardless of their status, age, wealth, person, attitudes, or anything else about the good news contained in the gospel of grace.

Acts 1:8 still reads " Ye shall be witnesses unto me...."