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Local Ministry

Ministering to the Shut-In

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak" (Romans 15:1).

Individuals who are shut-in have a variety of needs. Some live with family members, others live alone. Some are bedfast while others are mobile. Some are mentally alert while others are not. Women ministering to the needs of these precious individuals must be sensitive to their needs. Be cheerful, patient, and understanding. Allow time to chat and listen. This is important to shut-ins. Plan a set length of time for your regular visits; let the shut-in know your time schedule. Here are several ways to minister to the shut-in:

Provide housecleaning on a regular basis.Teams of two or three can clean a home and do some laundry.
Bring a sack lunch or casserole dish and share lunch with the person. Be mindful of any dietary restrictions she may have.
Offer to write letters or prepare Christmas or birthday cards.
Offer to read the Bible and pray with the shut-in. Play a tape of the Sunday morning service.
Go shopping or do other errands needed by the homebound.
Remember birthdays or other special days.
Occasionally bring cut flowers or a small fruit basket.
Sign up individuals to call to check on the shut-in on a daily rotating basis. Make the conversation brief, casual, and pleasant.
If the shut-in offers money in payment of services, explain that this is a
ministry for which payment is not needed.
If the person is physically able, get her involved. Perhaps she can make phone calls for the church. She can be involved in Women's Ministries projects, such as cutting and sorting stamps for the Library Fund, doing handwork items to give to missionaries, or participating in a fund-raising project to benefit the church. She will enjoy the fulfillment of being involved and needed.

This is just one of more than 100 ministry ideas found in the Resource Guide for Successfully Ministering to Women.

A Resource Guide for Successfully Ministering to Women

A Resource Guide for Successfully Ministering to Women was designed to complement A Leader's Guide for Successfully Ministering to Women. This product offers leaders a comprehensive tool kit. The Resource Guide provides state-of-the-art information on issues pertinent to leaders today including leadership development, organizational helps, finance, publicity and much more. In particular, this resource includes over 100 ministry ideas broken down into 15 chapters making it easy for a group to plan a balanced program. Also available in a Spanish language version.