A Pastor’s Perspective on Loving and Caring for Others
Ever been asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It took me a while to understand that it wasn’t just about what I wanted, but what God wanted me to be: a pastor. I love being able to serve my congregation, training others to help, and loving people into a relationship with Jesus.
At Mt. Bethel, I’m responsible for recruiting volunteers who share a passion for serving others and I am part of a team of Compassionate Care Ministers. This team visits people in the hospital and rehab, and when they return home, offers healing prayers, comfort, meals, and support to help them get back on their feet. We also have a group of widows and widowers who have chosen to stay in their homes, and our CCM team reaches out to them with phone calls, cards, and personal visits. For those in assisted living, independent living, and memory care, teams of three visit them monthly to provide fellowship, prayers, and care. They also offer communion to those who can’t come to church.
My heart aches for the members of my congregation who are hurting, feeling forgotten, or lonely. I’m praying that we’ll be able to have forty CCM’s by the end of this year. If you feel God calling you to serve, Mt. Bethel is the perfect place for you. We will have another training class this fall. Serving others and following Jesus’ command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul and love your neighbor as yourself” brings a wonderful feeling of satisfaction.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill Floyd, Pastor of Congregational Care Ministry