Minneapolis, MN
AUGUST 22-25, 2007

Our fellowship gathering began about 3PM on Wednesday, August 22, 2007. We met at North Heights Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN (Jerry & Lin Fagerland’s home church). Although Jerry and Lin were dealing with many issues regarding a funeral for Lin’s mother, they, and their daughter Katy did a fantastic job at hosting this event.

Back row:

Jerry David-Gentle Shepherd Ministries, Jerry Johnson-Christian Concourse, Edna Welbourn-GLEAM Ministries, Jerry Fagerland-Home Free Ministries, Don & Sharon Henning-Phoenix First Special People Ministry, Patrick Ballard-Mountaineer Ministries

Middle row:

Gary & Carol Barnes-We Care Ministries, Dar Johnson-Christian Concourse, Lin Fagerland-Home Free Ministries, Mary Ann Goodrich-God Cares Ministry, Paul Faulkowski-Desert Ministries, Frank Oertel-SonShine Society, Dave Tack-Sounds of Joy

Front row:

Dave Petrry-Sounds of Joy, Doug Lee-Outreach for Christ to the Nursing Home, Bill Goodrich-God Cares Ministry, Rod Thorp-Dayton Care Teams

We began with a time of fellowship and a brief overview of each others ministries. We were blessed to have Dr. Mel Kimble, Professor of Luther Seminary, a veteran advocate for senior adults, Author of Aging Spirituality and Religion and Director of CARS, share in our first evening of fellowship. His wife Joanne also joined us in this discussion. After a nice dinner at the church, Dr. Mel gave us a special address. Some of the important points he shared are summarized below from Bill’s and Sharon’s notes:

He commended us, sharing that we are all part of a significant work and we are forerunners in it.

He shared a number of points regarding Physiology and aging.

Ø    Stages of aging and the loses people experience in later years.

Ø    Does your faith match your age?

Ø    Hopefully it grows and matures.

Ø   What can we do to help others grow in Christ through the aging stages

Encouraged the use of “Life-review” as a method of Pastoral care

Ø   Hehas taught his students to interview seniors asking them to share:

v      Their life-experiences in faith and relationship to Christ

v      Their experiences in the church through the different stages of their life

v       Who introduced them to Jesus

v       The experiences they had in keeping their commitment to Jesus

Ø    Students found that the seniors told them things about their lives that they have never told, because they were never asked.

Ø    He had the students record and share these interviews with the class.  Later, these were given back to the people interviewed.

Ø    This practice was life-giving to the senior, their families and the students; helping them to get in deeper touch with themselves

Ø    The students were able to identify and understand some of the life cycle issues people go through

During a sabbatical, Mel developed a curriculum, focusing on physiology and aging

Ø    Mel wanted to give a greater emphasis on the spiritual and religious side of gerontology

Ø    He offered this program to Luther Seminary

Ø    He received a grant to begin the curriculum

Ø    The program became known as the Center for Aging, Religion and Spirituality. (CARS)

Ø    The course addressed teachings on

v       Aging, worship, music, preaching, systematic theology, creeds, doctrines, and how they relate to people who are aging

Ø    Mel sought to connect other departments of the seminary to build strength and visibility to the curriculum

Ø    He also produced a book called Aging, Spirituality, and Religion: A Handbook

v       It was difficult to find a publisher. The original publisher wanted them to leave out the theological material

v       The Lord gave him favor and support from several others who are in the field of gerontology

v       They finally found a publisher willing to “risk” the publication, Fortress Press

Ø    Mel attended a lot of Aging Society meetings to learn and encourage the spiritual dimension as a part of the whole person

Ø    Later, Mel co-authored Volume II of Aging, Spirituality, and Religion: A Handbook.

v       This book picked up where volume I left off.

Ø    CARS now has over 200 alumni around the world.

~~~~~ Networking ~~~~~ Unity within diversity were key factors to the success of this work!!! Ø   God has a way of providing resources and people needed Ø   When you go thru the little crack in the door it leaves the door wide open for what God can do.

Mel expressed concern regarding how the churches are dropping the ball in senior adult ministry.

Ø    People who made significant contributions to educating and encouraging the Church in aging and spirituality are not being replaced after retirement or death.

Ø   The church, in spite of the demographics, ignores the missional mandate to embrace this responsibility. There are only a few denominations that have an aggressive plan to address the spiritual needs of seniors.

Ø    Only 5 seminaries teach gerontology.

Ø    There is very little sensitivity to this ministry by churches and pastors

v       We need to work on this as we develop the CFCCM network

v       We need to keep asking pastors and church administrators what they are doing for this population

o        What is going to happen to our senior adults?

o        Who knows what to do?

o        What resources are available to minister to them?

Most gerontological organizations are only seeing the physical side to aging – Spirituality is another dimension that we must bring to light

Ø    How can we get beyond the biomedical model of aging

Ø    Seniors are being bombarded with medication to cure everything.

Ø    They need to be asked questions and given opportunities to grow spiritually in Christ

Ø    People fear aging! The dark and empty place in the soul.

Ø    We are not human beings having a spiritual experience sometimes in life. We are spiritual persons having a human experience (this is a quote that I do not remember from whom)

Mel was asked the question: How do you help seniors understand the value and difference between religion vs. relationship and spirituality?  He replied:

Ø    I used to ask students to define religion and to define spirituality; what’s the intersection?

Ø    Spirituality must have a faith community attachment; and that is the Church.

Ø    And that is where we discover the rights and rituals and so forth of the Church in a religious way; and nurture our spirituality.

Ø    The spirituality has to be nurtured; it can not be out there by itself.

Ø    It’s that experience we have of the holding of the Transcendent, but that has to be attached to something here that allows us to continue to grow in appreciation to that.

Ø    That’s the role of the church.

Ø    I think persons need to arrive at the place where they have a spiritual thickness of their lives to face the challenges, losses, . . . all the things that are a part of older adult’s lives.

Mel encouraged us to “write up your ministries”

Ø    It important that CFCCM meets and does what we do, but we need to let others know what we are doing in our ministries.

Ø    Mel offered to forward to Hayworth press any appropriate materials.

Ø    Do not keep what you are doing a secret

After some other discussion, Mel ended with the following comments:

Ø    Luther had a lot to say about the reaffirmation of baptism. Maybe this is something we can help Christians with, who are living in nursing homes. Maybe they need a reaffirmation of their faith.

Ø    Martin Luther said, “This life, therefore, is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness. Not health, but healing. Not being, but becoming. Not rest, but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it in Christ. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end of the road, but it is the road.”

Ø    Helping Christians in nursing home settings to commemorate certain birthdays or anniversaries of a confirmation or spiritual milestone can reaffirm the faith commitment they made. To do this in the latter stage of their lives may help them, to again, arrive at some freshness to their faith and some spiritual thickness can be developed at this stage of their life.

 We concluded our evening together by praying for Dr. Mel and Joanne.

Thursday morning’s devotion was led by Frank. We also spent time in worship and prayer, led by Dave P., Dave T. & Paul.

The rest of the morning and much of the afternoon was devoted to open discussion regarding the principles found in Henry and Richard Blackaby’s book, Spiritual Leadership. Our discussion focused on the following topics found in the first four chapters:

v      The Leader’s challenge:

v      The Leader’s role:

v      The Leader’s Preparation:

v      The Leader’s vision

This was a very enlightening discussion. I suggest every leader read this book and share the principles with other colleagues who might pray with you about embracing the Biblical principles shared.

Thursday evening, we planned a significant portion of free time and decided to go to The Music Box Theatre, a Christian comedy club in downtown Minneapolis. It was great clean fun and a time of much laughter that many of us needed.

Friday morning’s devotion was led by Doug. We also spent time in worship and prayer, led by Patrick and Paul.

We then entered into open discussion regarding this question,

v       “What new / wonderful things do you see God currently doing in the care center mission field?

v       What are the challenges before us over the next five years?

Much of our discussion referred back to the principles we shared from our Spiritual Leadership book overview.

Friday Afternoon, we shared in an open discussion regarding evangelism in the nursing homes.  Most everyone shared what we are doing to help residents put their trust in Jesus. There are a lot of different approaches that hold to the primary fact that the people in the care centers need the Word of God; and the Word must be shared with them in a Spirit of Love. We were exhort to not forget the people who are in their rooms and not able to go to our group services.

During dinner time and for a short period after, we had small group discussions. There were three groups:

Ø      Care team development

Ø      Chaplaincy ministry development

Ø      The advisory team met during this time to review some of the administrative issues.

v      Bill has again mentioned that he thinks it might be healthy for CFCCM to have a different person from the fellowship become the Facilitator.

v      It was suggested that Bill document the practices and operations of CFCCM and the principles that were embraced as we developed. This will allow for continuity if we should change leadership.

v      Bill would remain on the advisory team during the first two years of transition

v      At this point, there are no names submitted for facilitation, but we are committed to pray and prepare for such changes

Friday Evening, we spent a little time summarizing administrative points which included:

Ø      Plans to hold the next fellowship meeting in Portland. OR

o        Dave Compton and Don Debore have already agreed to host this gathering

Ø      Plan to elect Facilitator and Advisory team members, which we did Saturday AM. They are:

o        Facilitator: Bill Goodrich

o        Advisory Team: Patrick Ballard, Carol Barns, Jerry Fagerland, Jerry Johnson & Rod Thorpe

Ø      Each ministry is encouraged to review / update their profile on the CFCCM.net website, and the annual renewal fee is a suggested donation of $10.

o       All ministries are required to respond to this annual update to keep their ministry on CFCCM.net.

Saturday morning, we shared a time of communion facilitated by Lin, Jerry and Dar. As always, this was very a beautiful and sacred time for us.

After a time of prayer, we talked about the importance of deepening our relationships with each other

All present committed to intentionally investing into at least one ministry of CFCCM. The following were suggested:

Ø     Call at least one CFCCM Participant each month to encourage and pray

Ø     Invite a CFCCM Participant to participate in one of your ministry projects / events

Ø     Visit a CFCCM Participants ministry to and share in one of their services / programs

Ø     Don’t forget that there are a number of CFCCM participants that are not at this meeting; lets stay connected with them too

It was reiterated that CFCCM is part of an important work that the Lord is directing. Our unity, sacrifices and perseverance are essential to participating in this mission field. Jesus wills that the people living, working and visiting in care centers come to know and love Him. He will give us success (Much Fruit) as we abide in Him (John 15:1-17).

As a Christ-centered fellowship, we are committed to gather to provide encouragement for leaders of care-center ministries. We do this through spiritual renewal, networking, fellowship, and sharing resources.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Goodrich

CFCCM Facilitator