Spirituality and Dementia

One of my duties as a hospital Chaplain is to provide pastoral care for patients in the dementia ward. I have found that these men (no women so far) are incredible human beings who have lived unbelievable lives. In many ways, we as humans are a compilation of our experiences, which are stored in our memories. As these men and women lose their memories, they start to lose parts of their identity that make them who they are. We refer to this phenomenon as a “loss of self.” As those who struggle with dementia lose more of themselves, they start to be viewed differently by others including their healthcare team, friends, and family. This different view of those with dementia can sometimes lead to treating them with less honor and respect than they are due as our fellow brothers and sisters.

I believe that all people are created in the image of God and that image does not lessen with age or memory loss. I also believe that those who are worse-off in life are more blessed and favored in God’s eyes. We see this pretty clearly in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 in which Jesus proclaims that the poor in spirit, those in mourning, the meek, and even those who are persecuted are all Blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our brothers and sisters who suffer from dementia are recipients of God’s special blessing. They are the forgetting forgotten in our society, the “least of these.” As God’s hands and feet on this earth, we as Christians need to be open to ministering in a special way to our dementia brethren.


I have searched through the most recent research being done in the medical field to see how people with dementia have been spiritually supported throughout the course of their disease. Though this information is geared toward the healthcare community, it can easily be applied to our approach with friends and family who have dementia.


There is currently a major shift towards holistic care in the healthcare industry. Gaudet and Kligler describe this approach as “radical”, and “a total rewiring of healthcare” (2019, p.S8). Instead of focusing on the patient’s specific problem, we now have the opportunity to examine the patient as a whole human being with all the complexities and dimensions that entails: mind, body, and spirit. This holistic approach is particularly useful in dementia care because caregivers are already caring for the mind and body due to the unique needs of this population. Adding the third leg of spirituality onto the three-legged stool of whole health is a natural next step.


Defining Spirituality

The word spirituality has an ever-evolving and widening definition that has come to mean much more than just religious belief and practice, especially in the medical field. McSherry and Smith define Spirituality as:

"Universal, deeply personal and individual; it goes beyond formal notions of ritual or religious practice to encompass the unique capacity of each individual. It is at the core and essence of who we are, that spark which permeates the entire fabric of the person and demands that we are all worthy of dignity and respect. It transcends intellectual capability, elevating the status of all humanity to that of the sacred.” (2012, p.118)

Clinical Chaplains have found that the act of providing spiritual care is one that seeks to bring value, meaning, and purpose in life (Daly & Fahey-McCarthy, 2014). These are at the core of the human experience and are terms that we can use when speaking with those of other faith groups.


Importance of Spiritual Care in Dementia

By broadening the definition of spirituality, it becomes much easier to visualize the intersection of spiritual care and dementia. The World Health Organization states that “Dementia occurs as a result of a disease process that increasingly damages the brain over time” (WHO, 2019, p.3). With a diminishing capacity in mental function, those diagnosed with dementia will no doubt struggle to express their spiritual needs as the disease progresses. Caregivers should not interpret this as a sign that their spirituality is no longer important to them.


According to Daly and Fahey-McCarthy, spirituality is at the core of who we are. People with dementia not only have a spirit but continue to have spiritual needs, and therefore require spiritual support from others (2014). In fact, studies support those spiritual interventions in the care of aging and dementia patients reduce loneliness, depression, and stress, as well as improves the quality of life (Toivonen, Charalambous, & Suhonen, 2018; Tziraki, Santana, Lausen & Lionis, 2013). It is no wonder that spirituality has become such a strong focus under the holistic approach. If we seek to serve patients well, then spiritual care must become integrated into dementia care.


Although a Veteran’s faith, religion, meaning, and purpose all remain important as they journey through dementia, these features may not appear explicitly, which can make providing or their spiritual needs difficult. Studies show that the following points are central to spirituality in dementia patients:


  • Positive attitudes
  • Communicating values
  • Engaging in faith communities
  • Practicing spirituality
  • Connection with others
  • (Daly & Fahey-McCarthy, 2014).

 

Those who felt most spiritually supported participated in prayer, spiritual discussion, reminiscing about past religious experiences, reading spiritual texts, listening to music, and felt a sense of being connected with their religious community (Toivonen et al., 2018). 


When asked about what was most sacred to them, those with dementia reported hands down that relationships were at the core. These sacred relationships include God, the religious community, family/friends, and the self (McGee & Myers, 2014). In addition to these, “Enabling the discovery of meaning and hope through discussion and the expression of feelings” has been found to be an effective means of supporting spirituality (Wolverson-Radbourne, Clarke, & Moniz-Cook, 2010). If we can support these practices and sacred relationships, our Veterans will no doubt begin to exhibit the benefits of positive spiritual interventions mentioned above.


Challenges

Though supporting the spiritual needs of each Veteran is central to providing holistic care, there are many challenges in doing this well when it comes to dementia. Nursing staff have reported the difficulty of understanding what needs a patient has spiritually when they are no longer able to verbally communicate these needs (Toivonen et al., 2018). In addition to this, many nurses do not feel equipped to provide spiritual care in the first place (Ødbehr, Kvigne, Hauge, & Danbolt, 2015). These are probably the two biggest hurdles in providing holistic care that includes a focus on spirituality for dementia patients. Because of these barriers, regretfully, often those with dementia are not receiving the spiritual support that they desire (Daly, Fahey-Mccarthy, & Timmins, 2016).


The good news is that there are ways to overcome these obstacles in order to provide excellent spiritual care to patients with dementia. One study suggests taking time to learn the life story of each patient, either from the patient themselves (if they are capable) or family members and friends of the patient (McGee & Myers, 2014). The more care providers know about their patients, the better they are able to give individualistic spiritual care. For example, a nurse finds that one of his patients grew up going to church every Sunday and loves the old hymns they used to sing. The nurse could bring in an audio CD of the top 50 greatest hymns and sit with the patient and listen together. Or perhaps he could look up some well-known Bible passages such as Psalm 23 and read aloud to the patient. Relationships are key in spiritual care, and both of these examples demonstrate assisting the patient to connect with the transcendent, others (the nurse), and themselves (memories of their religious participation in childhood). The more one knows about the life of a patient, the easier it will become to provide care that is meaningful to him/her.


For care providers that feel incapable of providing spiritual care, caring for the spirit of a dementia patient can be as simple as treating them as a valuable human being and honoring their worldview (Toivonen et al., 2018). Some starting points could include letting nursing staff and other care providers feel comfortable in being open about their own spirituality. If a member of the care team has a common spiritual or religious background with a patient, they may be the perfect person to provide spiritual companionship to the patient. This could be as simple as sharing a memory such as their first communion, baptism, or Bar Mitzva. These could bring to the surface important spiritual memories for the patient and create an important sense of connectedness with others, which in turn can create a sense of meaning and purpose. Beyond this, it would not be hard to bring in a Chaplain to train the staff on providing basic spiritual care. This will increase the confidence of those providing care to feel they are empowered to give the spiritual care their patients are desiring. Studies show that there is a need for care providers and nurses to further their education and competence in the area of spiritual care (Daly, et al., 2016). Many hospitals have Chaplains that are prepared to provide such training for staff that request it.


Chaplains are a vital part of the interdisciplinary team covering the care of dementia patients. Chaplains are clinically trained to assess the spiritual needs of each patient and implement a plan for their spiritual care that is based on that patient’s unique spirituality. This includes assessing the spiritual needs of patients with dementia. In addition to assessment, Chaplains are able to provide direct spiritual care for those Veterans who practice the same faith as the Chaplain. They are also able to provide resources outside of their faith tradition that facilitates spiritual care for Veterans including contacting local faith leaders and clergy who could assist with the practice of specific rituals at the Veteran or family member’s request. As mentioned earlier, Chaplains can also be a valuable resource in training staff to provide basic spiritual care.


Conclusion

In conclusion, the best way to serve every Veteran holistically, including those with dementia, is to embrace an intentional plan for providing spiritual care. To some degree, each member of the care team is able to provide spiritual care to their patients through the very act of treating these incredible human beings with the dignity and kindness that they deserve. Though Chaplains are the subject matter experts on spiritual care in the clinical setting, patients will often seek this care from those they know and trust most: the nurses and staff that care for them throughout their day. Staff members, family, and friends should be encouraged to pray, sing, read scripture, and listen to memories as they feel comfortable and competent to do so. Dementia patients can benefit greatly from this type of individualized care. They may not be able to express it, but their soul is being fed by this intentional and loving care for their spirit.

 

 

 

References

Daly, L., & Fahey-McCarthy, E. (2014). Attending to the spiritual in dementia care nursing. British Journal of Nursing, 23(14), 787–791. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2014.23.14.787

 

Daly, L., Fahey-Mccarthy, E., & Timmins, F. (2016). The experience of spirituality from the perspective of people living with dementia: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. Dementia, 18(2), 448–470.

 

Gaudet, T. & Kligler, B. (2019) Whole health in the whole system of the Veterans Administration: How will we know we have reached this future state? The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2019 25(S1), S7-S11.

 

McGee, J. S., & Myers, D. (2014). Sacred Relationships, Strengthened by Community, Can Help People with Mild or Early-Stage Alzheimer’s. Generations, 38(1), 61–67. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=94912228&s…

 

McSherry W., Smith J. (2012) Spiritual Care. In McSherry W., McSherry R., Watson R, eds, Care in Nursing, Principles, Values, and Skills. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

 

Ødbehr, L. S., Kvigne, K., Hauge, S., & Danbolt, L. J. (2015). Spiritual care to persons with dementia in nursing homes; a qualitative study of nurses and care workers experiences. BMC Nursing, 14, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-015-0122-6

 

Toivonen, K., Charalambous, A., & Suhonen, R. (2018). Supporting spirituality in the care of older people living with dementia: a hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry into nurses’ experiences. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 32(2), 880–888. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12519

 

Tziraki, C., Santana, S., Lausen, B., & Lionis, C. (2013). Spiritual Care in the Integrated Care Paradigm: A Road Map for Physiological Aging and Chronic Illness. International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC), 13, 1–3. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=her&AN=97570564&site=ehost-live

 

Wolverson Radbourne, E. L., Clarke, C., & Moniz-Cook, E. (2010). Remaining hopeful in early-stage dementia: A qualitative study. Aging & Mental Health, 14(4), 450–460.

 

World Health Organization. (2019) iSupport for dementia. Training and support manual for carers of people with dementia, 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

Midwest Pastors Gathering

By Miles Larson • 08 May, 2024
On April 9th, over 20 pastors gathered at North Manchester for a time of encouragement and dialogue about their local ministries in their local Brethren churches. The day started with some simple and intimate worship led by Tom Schiefer, who reminded us that God can hear all of our prayers at once, which is a common way for people in other cultures to pray. Miles Larson then led those gathered through a time of celebrating one another, reminding us that we have a responsibility to encourage one another in the hard work of ministry, both with urgency and consistency, as the writer of Hebrews shares. Before moving into a time of identifying some of the significant local challenges we are all facing, elders shared a meal and discussed resources, books, and other tools that we use to inform our ministry, how we’re continuing our education, and staying committed to sharpening ourselves in ministry. In the final part of the meeting, Steven Cole gave an update on several efforts of The Brethren Church on the national level and many ministry developments to celebrate. Following that, about half of the pastors gathered went to golf on a beautiful spring day in Indiana. Our time together was encouraging and refreshing. There is much to celebrate in the continued efforts of The Brethren Church in the Midwest!

Northeast Missions & Ministry Day

By Miles Larson • 08 May, 2024
On April 20th, over 25 pastors, leaders, and families journeyed through the picturesque countryside of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, to spend a day of shared experiences, fellowship, prayer, and worship at Raystown Brethren Church. This event marked the Northeast Region’s fourth Missions & Ministry Day, and it was a powerful day for all involved. After a welcome time of coffee and donuts, the parade of awe-inspiring ministries began. Al Chamberlain, pastor of Raystown Brethren Church, started with a devotional word to remind us of the importance of having a vision and trusting God’s voice when we hear from him. Following that, Bryan Miller from Valley Brethren Church talked about how the “Seeds to Harvest” funds that the Northeast has made available to support the starting of new ministries are already proving fruitful in their community. The archery ministry that was started at Valley is blessing the children and adults in the community in surprising and powerful ways. Miles Larson, Director of Pastoral and Congregational Vitality, shared some of the exciting things coming out of the vitality office nationally, including the partnership with web company Postmodern Pulpit, the Brethren Pastors’ Orientation in June, the Certificate in Pastoring Transitions that will launch in September with Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS), and more. After that, Ben Frank, pastor of New Hope Church in State College, told stories of changed lives from their ongoing prayer ministry on Penn State’s campus and how a simple, consistent commitment to obediently position ourselves for service can bring transformation to desperate people. Scott Soden, Global Partners Coordinator, shared about his incredible 24-day trip around the world, traveling to the Philippines and South Africa. During the trip, he and several other Brethren Elders and pastors were able to gather, fellowship, and even ordain the first group of Brethren Elders ever in South Africa. He also unpacked some of the excitement about the new vision statement and how this is already shaping the future of The Brethren Church. Finally, TJ McLaughlin, Northeast Regional Resource Coordinator, and Richard Ringler, Director of Camp Peniel, rounded out our time with some camp updates and regional discussions specific to the Northeast. Perhaps most powerful was the time of worship and prayer after lunch. The Holy Spirit was heavy with the people gathered there as they sang and prayed. The Northeast Region Mission & Ministry Day is just one of the regularly scheduled opportunities people in the Northeast have to gather and fellowship in celebration and support of the works to which God is calling his people.

Camp Bethany "Tent Campers" Gather

By Lynn Mercer • 01 May, 2024
On Saturday, April 20th, beautiful Camp Bethany hosted a reunion of campers who slept there in the tents in Camp Bethany's earliest years! Those in attendance camped way back in 1959, the very first year that Camp Bethany hosted overnight campers. Some of the tent campers were ‘there’ via Zoom! Many brought in photos and other memorabilia from their camping days to share. Everyone had an opportunity to share their name, what Brethren Church they attended when they were campers, and a memory. Of course, much more was shared, tears were shed, and God received all the glory! Reflecting on the day, here’s a text from one of those who attended: “I can’t stop thinking about Saturday and just what a wonderful time I had. It was so very special in every way. . . . When I saw the invitation, . . . I had no idea what a wonderful time was in store for all of us; so many warm memories.” Sherry (Barnhart) Van Duyne and Sherry (Shannon) Fabian led us in singing some of the old camp songs! We remembered the Camp Bethany cooks and enjoyed a delicious lunch made by Paula Strickland. The names of many of those who volunteered as Camp Staff were mentioned. Ken VanDuyne gave a very interesting and informative presentation about Camp Bethany's early history, showing us pictures of the Camp in its earliest days! Following that, the Camp Board provided information about the many ways to support Camp Bethany, including IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, wills or bequests, retirement plans, investment accounts, life insurance, and more. Kenton VanDuyne, Camp Director, served as photographer for the day. We want to acknowledge that the Camp Bethany Board members & the North Central Region Leadership Team of The Brethren Church cooperated together to sponsor this event, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to both Camp Bethany and the North Central RLT. If you have questions, please get in touch with me, Lynn Mercer, who thoroughly enjoyed planning this Reunion (937-441-9771 or class_of73@yahoo.com ). We thank God for bringing each one of us to Camp Bethany when we were younger & we thank God for bringing us together for a great day of celebration! As a promotional article stated prior to the camp's dedication in 1959, “(This is) an ideal place to worship God. . . . We can rest assured that many will find Christ as Savior here.” True! True! True! Lynn Mercer Pastor, First Brethren Church of West Alexandria (OH) North Central Regional Leadership Team

Skilled Brethren Community-Builders

By Stephen Longenecker • 01 May, 2024
Brethren excel at community. Traditionally, Brethren emphasized a tight-knit community as an alternative to the corrupt world. During Threefold Communion, or Love Feast, the height of the Brethren church year, members demonstrated their commitment to the faith community, especially through feetwashing. The early Brethren were an intense, intimate community. The old Brethren, however, did little to enhance community in the larger society, which they considered soaked in sin and best avoided. They even steered clear of the temperance and abolition movements although they philosophically agreed with them. But later generations of Brethren became more active in the world. The branch of the German Baptists that evolved into The Brethren Church pushed the Dunker envelope on contributing to the global community, especially through temperance, mission, and, later, disaster relief. Enhancing the larger community became part of the faith journey. Thus, the old Brethren built community from within, and newer Brethren added an outward, activist perspective. Combining the two gives Brethren a special talent for community-building. Contemporary society needs the Brethren sense of community. The strains on our social fabric are painfully obvious. Pessimism, for example, has often become the default response, especially among young people. They are gloomy about their future, think that society is stacked against them, and consider success increasingly unattainable, often because outside forces suppress their aspirations. They feel alone, and whatever community they recognize, they consider hostile. From another perspective, we have become a society of angry, aggrieved minorities. Almost everybody, even many white people, regard themselves as a member of an oppressed subgroup. Some define Americanism so narrowly that they exclude numerous groups, while others come close to rejecting the concept completely. Surely, many minorities have legitimate concerns, but a countervailing commitment to American society has all but disappeared. On and on. Everybody has their favorite instances of an unraveling society. I hesitate to offer more examples, for surely almost every one will offend someone. The challenge, then, is to bring the Brethren sense of community to the larger society. True, we cannot change the world by ourselves, but normally that is a positive. When powerful individuals send seismic shocks through society, it’s usually bad -see Vladimir Putin. The call, then, is not for individual Brethren to single-handedly change the social trajectory but to keep their little corner of it clean and orderly. Do what we can in our own way. A friend has been organizing Sunday afternoon community programs at a public library for over ten years. She reasons that “if I can get my neighbors together once a month to talk and enjoy a program together, maybe it will help us see our community and neighbors as ‘people of value.’” Recently, a prominent liberal pundit (Mara Liasson) and a well-known conservative (Jonah Goldberg) appeared shoulder-to-shoulder at my home institution, Bridgewater College, to make the point that we can disagree with civility. But rather than supply quick suggestions, let me challenge Brethren to develop their own strategies. Pastors, give your congregants a list of concrete steps they can take to heal our society. Along with basic theology be specific. No bromides. We may not get Congress to work, but we can brighten the corner where we are. In sum, society needs us. Admittedly, the inward-looking old Brethren are a poor blueprint for ministering to the world, but their skilled community-building nevertheless inspires us. They treated all within the fellowship with love, respect, and equanimity. Later generations more aggressively applied this to the larger society. Hence, with a deep tradition—first inward, then outward—Brethren know community. May we share it with a world that needs us. Steve Longenecker is Professor of History, emeritus, at Bridgewater College (VA).

A New Library Developed in Pucusana, Peru

By Scott Soden • 01 May, 2024
Last Christmas, Your partners in Pucusana, Peru, began working on a new project that would not only update the building but also add more opportunities for children and their parents in the surrounding areas to work on their education and discover a love for reading and exploration. Thanks to an investment on your behalf, the library has been completely renovated and updated with new shelves, tables, desks, and more books. This Christmas gift for the community will impact not only families today but also families yet to be a part of this incredible ministry. Elena, Isaac, Alli, and Topher are thrilled to offer the library as a resource for children. While the kids are busy discovering all new worlds in the pages of so many new books, their parents are discovering better parenting strategies in specialized classes and learning to cook as Isaac takes groups of adults through the basics and beyond. These small things create real impact and transformation, bringing hope and love throughout the region. Your donations to the Brethren Church and Brethren Global Partners continue to have the real-world effects seen and felt for the kingdom each and every day! Thank you for making this happen! Please continue to pray for your partners in Pucusana and around the world! Scott Soden Global Partners Coordinator

Philippine Brethren Launch New Church in Caypombo

By Scott Soden • 24 Apr, 2024
Praise God for all the fantastic blessings he pours down on his people! Sunday, March 24 th, marks a significant day of praise and celebration as the Brethren Church in the Philippines officially launched a brand new church plant in the community of Caypombo! Pastors Rolly and Efren both set up new leadership in their previous churches so they could concentrate on this rapidly growing community. In fact, the church launched in Pastor Rolly’s own covered garage area. The opening day began with the inaugural message by The Brethren Church in the Philippines Executive Director, Gary Castro. It was punctuated by tons of praise, laughter, and joy as families gathered to participate in this new ministry! Our new church is not just a building but a community filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The people and the community are being transformed, and it's not hard to imagine that they will quickly outgrow their current location. Let us all pray that the spirit continues to use them to impact the lives of the community for Christ in miraculous ways!  By Scott Soden Global Partners Coordinator

Season of Lent and Easter Lead to Baptisms in India

By Scott Soden • 17 Apr, 2024
Easter is such a critical time for the church. Not only do we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus for our sins, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to share our faith with the world around us. In India, the season of Lent begins a 40-day period of significant prayer and fasting, during which many lift the needs of their neighbors, friends, and the world before the throne of grace. Each morning, groups of men and women come to churches throughout the region to pray and hear the word proclaimed. Lent is a serious time for your brothers and sisters, too. They pray for you and lift you in prayer as well. Each year during this season, many are convinced that Jesus is Lord and make a significant decision for themselves that will have profound implications here on earth and in eternity. This is especially important to note because once a Hindu chooses to profess faith in God and God alone through Jesus, his son, they take all other idols out of home and heart. This can lead to shunning, persecution, and even death, especially when their statement of faith is followed by entering into the waters of baptism. A decision to follow Jesus is never taken lightly. This year, we have the profound joy of announcing that at least 21 new brothers and sisters have joined the family! On Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, the services of your partners at the churches in Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam, India, served not only as a call to the world that Jesus Christ is King but also marked that fact with baptisms. Hallelujah! Praise God! Please keep your partners in India in prayer as they continue to serve the Lord with unwavering dedication and perseverance. They are witnessing lives being transformed daily through the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit. Despite the high levels of persecution in the country, their spirit remains unquenched, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for us all. By Scott Soden Global Partners Coordinator

Southeast Region Gathers at Maurertown Brethren

By Gail Heiston • 17 Apr, 2024
On Saturday, April 13th, Brethren from across the Southeast Region, representing Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky, gathered for the Southeast Region Annual Meeting. This year, the meeting was hosted by Maurertown Brethren Church of Maurertown, Virginia. Approximately seventy people were in attendance for a day of worship, teaching, fellowship, and service.  Our morning began with corporate worship and messages from Steven Cole, Executive Director of the Brethren Church; Gail Heiston, Southeast Regional Resource Coordinator, and Pat Gravatt, Chair of the Southeast Regional Leadership Team. Scott Soden and Miles Larson sent video updates on Brethren Global Partners and Brethren Church Vitality, respectively. Everence spoke of the partnership and opportunities for congregations, and Nate Riddle from Mt. Olive Brethren Church invited others to participate in a mission trip to Riverside, Kentucky, this coming June. After lunch, various breakout sessions were held. The sessions focused on regional networking and collaboration, church health, and church planting with the GSE (Gatherer-Shepherd-Elder) principles of Vision USA. This year, for the first time in many years, we invited our youth to attend. They were certainly busy, decorating cookies for our lunch, hosting a Jesus-themed egg hunt, and even undertaking a service project. The project was to package cake supplies and a card to be taken to local churches to be distributed to those in need in their local communities. Some of the youth spoke at the end of the day and did a wonderful job sharing about their morning. We appreciate those who attended for the morning; it was great seeing each and every one of you and those who came to share. And thank you to Maurertown Brethren Church for their warm welcome, generous hospitality, and delicious lunch. Gail Heiston Pastor, Bethlehem Brethren Church Southeast Regional Resource Coordinator

Bethlehem Brethren Celebrates Easter, New Members, and Baptisms

By Gail Heiston • 17 Apr, 2024
March and April were truly months of celebration for Bethlehem Brethren Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. As our family grows at Bethlehem, we had the joy of celebrating Easter together, both longstanding members of our church as well as new families we've been blessed to have added recently. Resurrection Sunday was filled with flowers and singing from our Bethlehem Kids. God's message of His death, burial, and resurrection over 2000 years ago resonated with us, reminding us of His continued work in our midst today. We were blessed to celebrate two baptisms in March! Praise God! What a moment of joy to welcome these souls to God's family! Thanks to the portable baptismal provided by the region for our regional churches, we were able to baptize in the church. Ten people were received into membership the following Sunday, and two Sundays ago we received three more people into membership! Three young boys were dedicated to the Lord in March as well. The week before Easter, we held an egg hunt and breakfast. Most of those attending were from our surrounding community. We had a packed house for breakfast, and the egg hunt (which we had to move indoors due to the weather) was a success as those children collected over 640 eggs in about ten minutes! We are grateful to God for how He is moving in our midst and look forward to what He has in the future! Gail Heiston Pastor, Bethlehem Brethren Church Southeast Regional Resource Coordinator

Everyone Needs a Good Doctor - Even a Church!

By Dan Acker • 09 Apr, 2024
I have a friend who says that every person needs to have a good barber/hairdresser and a good mechanic. Let me expand that advice to also include a good doctor. I thought about this piece of advice after having recently attended the Natural Church Development (NCD) training in Orlando, Florida. Finding a doctor is not fun. After all, who enjoys having to endure the tedious repetition of going from one doctor’s office to another, trying to find a doctor that is right for you? Answer: No One! And when you do find a doctor, it is often not a rip-roaring good time to go! However, it is necessary for our health and longevity. We need someone in our lives to share with us what we are doing well and what we could improve. Even if we are healthy, an occasional check-up is still a good thing. I believe this is also good for a local church to do. The local church needs a way to assess what it is doing well and what it could improve. Like people, churches can struggle with being healthy. As one author observed, “People do not drift towards holiness, and churches do not drift towards good health.” While there are certainly many church assessments to choose from, I want to share with you some compelling reasons why I believe Natural Church Development is a valuable tool for your church's health assessment. It is used extensively. NCD has been around for over 20 years and has been used in over 70,000 churches on six continents in 84 countries. Put simply: That’s a lot of churches in a lot of places! That means NCD has a track record and extensive data by which to effectively measure church health with a great deal of accuracy and reliability. It measures church health, not church growth. It is easy to equate church growth with church health, and along with it, assumptions such as if your church is growing you must be healthy, and if you're not growing, then you must not be healthy. NCD does not focus on church growth measurements but health measurements. Think of it like health vitals for the church. Here are the vitals the NCD measures: ● Empowering leadership: How well does church leadership empower others to become all that God wants them to be? ● Gift-based ministry: How well are people matched with their gifts to ministries in which they can use their gifts? ● Passionate spirituality: How well are people's faith actually lived out with commitment, fire and enthusiasm? ● Effective structures: How effective is the way your church is structured at achieving your church’s purpose? ● Inspiring worship service: Is the worship service an inspiring experience for those who attend? ● Holistic small groups: How well are people involved in groups where the Bible is studied and applied to everyday situations? ● Need-oriented evangelism: How well does your church identify and help meet the needs of pre-Christians? ● Loving relationships: How well do people in your church practically love one another? It is more than an assessment. Yes, the NCD is known most notably as a tool to measure church health, but it also offers much more. In addition to the church health assessment, Natural Church Development digs deeper into many of the eight factors described above. The NCD offers such things as a spiritual gift assessment, leadership assessment and practical ideas and ways to incorporate each factor into your church. My church has used it. What good would a recommendation be if my church didn’t use the NCD. My church has used the NCD assessment several times, and each time we have found it helpful in assessing our church health, including areas where we need to improve and areas where we are doing well. Recently, we have decided to utilize NCD more fully in helping us achieve our purpose. As I shared at the beginning, we all need a good doctor, and so does the church. It’s not always fun to see a doctor but it is oh so necessary for our health. We often find a doctor on the recommendation of a friend or family member. So, as a fellow church leader and co-laborer, let me recommend Natural Church Development. No doctor is perfect and neither is the NCD. However, I believe the NCD is a great option to help measure the health of your church!
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