PASTOR OF PERSONAL MINISTRIES

The title given to me at Sevenoaks Alliance Church was pastor of personal ministries, which was basically pastoral care.  It encompassed the entire congregation.  Youth pastors, there were three of them, ministered to the families of the youth.  The pastor to seniors cared for the seniors.  The choir members and all those involved in the music ministries  received pastoral care from the music pastor.  However, I was still responsible to make certain that members and adherents received pastoral care and that no one was overlooked.  The pastor to seniors visited in the Abbotsford hospital Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I visited Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 Dan visiting a church member in hospital

People lying flat on their back, sometimes with a terminal illness, are often open to the gospel.  That's not always the case, but sometimes.  Let me share a couple of incidents which I experienced.  One day, while visiting a member, I saw another patient in the room that I recognized as an elderly man that lived around the corner from us.  I did not know him personally and I don't recall that I had ever had a conversation with him.  I went over to his bed and chatted with him and asked if I could pray for him.  He immediately declined my offer.  He died soon after.

Another day, when visiting a member in a four bed room in the old MSA hospital, an elderly lady in the opposite corner called to me as I was about to leave the room.  She said, "Would you come and pray for me?"  I walked over to her bedside and chatted with her.  I inquired as to her relationship with God.  She had none.  She was not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I shared the gospel with her, as simply as I could, explaining to her what it meant to be a Christian.  I then asked if she would like to receive Christ as her Saviour.  She responded in the affirmative.  I led her in a prayer.  A couple of days later, as I visited every other week day, I went to her room to see her.  She was not in her bed.  I inquired at the nurses desk.  She had died, either the day after I led her to the Lord or the morning that I stopped by to see her.  

One way in which we connected with the entire church family, and there were approximately 2,500 people that called Sevenoaks Alliance Church their home church, was through the ministry of the shepherding elders.  When I assumed the role of pastor of personal ministries in 1990, there were forty-nine couples that served as shepherding elders.  The church was divided into about sixty geographical zones.  When I arrived there were a dozen or so zones that did not have a shepherding elder couple.  One of my first tasks was to enlist couples that would serve in this ministry and help fill some of the vacancies.

The shepherding elders connected in a variety of ways with the people in their geographical area.  Some shepherding elder couples had a few people/families, at a time, over to their home.  Some had a barbecue or an open house for their entire group.  The shepherding elders were encouraged to phone their people from time to time and visit them when they were  hospitalized.  These elders served as the first contact and were to regularly report to me.  When a pastoral visit was recommended  to me by a shepherding elder, than Leona and I would make that call.

I met with these elders in various ways, to hear their concerns and to encourage them.  Sometimes it was a meeting at the church with all of the  elders and their spouse.  At other times we would have a half dozen couples to our home for refreshments and sharing, etc. I wrote a quarterly newsletter, which was given to the shepherding elders, with pointers and pertinent information re their shepherding ministry.

I was responsible for two retreats for the shepherding elders.  The first one was at Cedar Springs Christian Retreat at Sumas, WA.  I was unable to attend, at the last minute, as I ended up in the hospital with major surgery.  The next year I planned a shepherding elder retreat at Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center at Stanwood, WA.  I had a special speaker for both of these.  However, a few weeks before the Stanwood retreat, the senior pastor told me that they were going to cancel the shepherding elder ministry and focus on small care groups. That meant cancelling the scheduled speaker.

When the shepherding elders arrived at the Stanwood retreat, they were given the news that their ministry was no more.  I led the first session, a devotional hour, and then turned it over to the staff pastor who was in charge of small groups.  Most of those elders did not buy into the ministry of small groups. Being a shepherding elder was their ministry, not leading a care group.  Unfortunately, the care group ministry did not multiply as it was hoped.

Sonshine Fellowship, another ministry under my care, was a special ministry to those home bound, shut-in or in a care home.  This was a ministry that was started by my predecessor, Jack and Shirley Diamond. I was going to say that I had a great group of volunteers that assisted me in a variety of ways, but I really should say that Leona had a great group of volunteers.  I  give her the credit for the success of the Sonshine Fellowship.  Leona graciously looked after most of the details re this ministry.  She enlisted the volunteers, as needed.  She loved doing it and I must say here, if I haven't already said so, that Leona worked by my side in ministry all of our married days.

We had several different people that served in the Sonshine Fellowship ministry over the years that I was on staff.  When I  retired, we had thirty-five volunteers serving in this ministry.  Some of these volunteers had one or two people under their care.  Others had three or four.  These volunteers became friends with those under their care.  They would phone them regularly, send them a birthday card, etc., visit them as often as possible, sometimes take them flowers and many volunteers would take those under their care to a doctor's appointment, etc.  These volunteers reported to us and as with the shepherding elders, if the report indicated that a pastor should make a visit, Leona and I followed through with the same.  In addition to following through on any recommended visit, we, as a pastoral couple, did a fair bit of visitation in homes as well as care homes and hospitals.

About twice a year we had a special noon luncheon, in the church gym, for all of these folks. That was an enjoyable time for the many who seldom, if ever, got out of their place.  These all had to have a ride to the church.  Some were in wheel chairs and one was on a bed.  That meant making arrangements with BC Transit and the handy-dart buses to pick up these folks in time for the luncheon and also to take them back to their care home.  Those not so invalided were picked up by their Sonshine Fellowship volunteer, or a family member or friend.

The faithful service of the shepherding elders and the Sonshine Fellowship volunteers played a vital part in the caring ministry of Sevenoaks Alliance Church.  Pastors certainly need to model a visitation ministry, but they cannot begin to care for the flock alone.  Volunteers are needed and I was blessed with a host of committed people, who reached out, caring for others.