6 Ways Your Church Can Minister To The Chronically Ill

1 in 3 people in the U.S. have a chronic condition. If it's not you, it's someone sitting next to you or a friend who has yet to reveal her greatest personal struggle.

Chronic illnesses are often invisible. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 96% of the people who have an illness do not use an assistive device, like a wheelchair or cane, and may not show any effects of the illness. Pain from a car accident, or the pain and fatigue from an illness such as lupus or fibromyalgia, is nearly always undetectable. But many of these people who suffer still get up and get to church, despite the chronic pain because they desire to stay a part of the church body.

As someone who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, I remember standing during worship and grasping onto the pew in front of me to balance. My knees both need joint replacements and my feet are somewhat deformed. And then the worship team began singing a song that had the lyrics, "I will stand in spite of pain." I rolled my eyes and my husband said, "It's just an expression." Of course, I knew this, but the timing was ironic.

Even as I was surrounded by people in a church I loved, I still felt as though no one understood what I was going through-physically or emotionally.

Churches already feel pushed to the brink, trying to fulfill all the needs that are obvious. Even large churches lack the amount of volunteers they need to rock babies in the nurseries or visit the elderly who are unable to attend the weekly service. So, if the people who have a chronic illness aren't even speaking up about their needs, then that must evidently mean that they are having all of them met, right? Pastors often ask, "If they don't ask for what they need, how can we even know what it is? It sounds to me as though they must be coping perfectly fine if they aren't calling us or asking for more prayer. They have their faith and that should be enough during the dark moments to carry them through."

Let's look at some stunning statistics:nn- Despite what we are led to believe by our media, 60% of the people who suffer with daily pain or illness are between the ages of 18 and 64. - 75 percent of marriages that have at least one person with a chronic illness end in divorce. - Depression has been found to be 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than it is for the average person. - Various studies have discovered that physical illness (not mental illness) or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides.*

So there is a cause for concern. Whether a pastor or church leadership can see it or not, those church pews are packed with ailing bodies. And the suffering bodies are filled with broken spirits. These are the broken-hearted that Jesus promises blessings for.

So, one of the first hurdles to overcome is to find out what people with chronic illness need if they are being vocal about their situation. How do we help them?nn(1) Perform a survey about what people may desire that they are not mentioning to the church leadership. This is especially vital if you belong to a large church. People are less likely to ask for help when they don't know the church staff intimately and reluctant to mention their illness. They are afraid they will be bombarded with all the scriptures about healing. A recent Barna group study discovered that larger churches were the least likely to have congregational care ministries listed as a priority (Church Priorities for 2005 Vary Considerably).

Ask, "If a van was provided, would you be able to get to church more easily? Would you listen to church on the internet if you were too ill to attend? Do you feel you can call and ask for occasional personal assistance (especially if the illness is chronic and not acute)? Do you know who to call? Would you like the worship song lyrics in the bulletin and not just on an overhead? Are the seats comfortable or would you prefer a few rows be saved for you with cushions?" Brainstorm with a group of people who have a chronic illness and ask them for a wish list. Then sit down and prioritize.nn(2) Provide a small group/Bible study setting for those with illness. For example, Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization for the chronically ill, has a small group program called HopeKeepers which provides a wide variety of resources, Bible studies, and leader support for this purpose. You may find that although people enjoy the small groups they are in, they can start to feel that talking and praying about their illness week after week is a burden to others in the group. They often enjoy having a specific place where everyone "speaks the same language" and even giggles at the same jokes. It can be invigorating. And if only a few people come, that's okay. It brings people comfort to know the church has this oasis when they need it.nn(3) Ask special guests to come and speak at your church. There are many people who have physical disabilities that go to churches and share their testimony; they will encourage everyone in your church. Allowing them to stand on the stage and share what God has accomplished in their lives, despite physical challenges, demonstrates to the people in your church, especially the chronically ill, that you do recognize their needs. They will feel you care, and perhaps most importantly, that you believe they are still worthy to be used by God. People such as Nick Vujicic, Lisa Copen, Joni Eareckson Tada, and many others, minister to the masses, not just those with disabilities.nn(4) Discuss the possibility of adding a parish nurse to your church staff. The number of parish nurses in United States is estimated to be about 6000, according to the Marquette University College of Nursing. If you church has a lot of seniors this may be an obvious need and she will help organize the ministries to this group of people. There are a lot of retired nurses who are discovering this kind of ministry engaging and parish nurse certification can be found at most hospitals. The parish nurse position description includes a variety of duties, depending on your church's needs and goals. For example, the role of the parish nurse may include going to homes of church members to monitor high blood pressure or diabetes, organizing health screenings and fairs, starting walking groups, and even assisting with chronic illness and disability ministries. The parish nurse would network closely with the congregational care pastor.nn(5) Stock up on caring resources that are available for people to borrow. Lots of people with chronic illness are on a fixed-income but they truly want the encouragement. Your church library should carry your many books on living with chronic illness such as "Why Can't I Make People Understand?" or "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend," by Lisa Copen or Joni Eareckson Tada's amazing book, "When God Weeps." Purchase a few subscriptions to magazines such as "HopeKeepers", "Guideposts" and even "Fibromyalgia Aware." Don't forget books on tape, audio presentations and large-print materials whenever they are available. Put up flyers or have brochures available about chronic illness or disability ministries. These include Joni and Friend's "Wheels for the World" program or Rest Ministries' annual outreach, "National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week." Recruit a volunteer to assemble binders of information about national ministries and local resources. Also include Christian organizations, magazines and newsletters on topics of interest to Christian seniors, those who live with disabilities and illness, and caregivers.nn(6) Finally, and this is an important point, recognize that people who live with illness want to serve others. Not just be served. Proverbs 11:25 tells us that "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." So when a woman tells you that she must resign from the church choir because she can no longer make rehearsals, make sure that she understands that your church body will miss her in that area, but that there are other areas you will welcome her service when she is ready and able. For example, she may find that writing notes of encouragement to members of the church who live with illness and feel alone, may be a way to share her gifts on her own schedule. A man who can no longer commit to leading a weekly small group may find that he enjoys mentor another man one-on-one, perhaps even one who lives with illness and feels there is no one to be authentic with. People in the church need to know that the church body values wounded healers and that the church believes that God comforts us "so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Roughly twice a month someone shares their broken heart with me because, after much prayerful consideration, they have gone to their pastor to ask him to consider allowing them to start a HopeKeepers small group. The response is "You can minister to others once you are healed." It makes me so saddened to see people who believe they are no longer useful to their church-or God-until they are healed from their illness.

In the parable Jesus shares in Luke 14:21, a man asks his friends to come to a great banquet he has prepared. But his friends turn him down. Upset with their lack of graciousness he orders, "Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." This is still a directive to us today. Too few of our churches have recognized the needs of the chronically ill in their own church, much less their community. We must focus on providing a place where we offer unconditional hospitality. We need to "go out" into our own pews and ask the chronically ill to help us provide a place of refuge. And then these people will become the comforters, who, with the support of their church, will be able to go out into the community and offer to walk alongside the hurting with understanding.