There are seasons of difficult times in our lives: family members are hospitalized, friends receive an unwelcome diagnosis, marriages are strained, natural disasters strike, or personal problems seem insurmountable. Hurt and suffering threaten to engulf and leave us hopeless. That’s when the Care Ministry wants to step along side and share hope in the midst of your crisis.
Care is a ministry of compassion that meets the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the Prairie Lakes Church family and surrounding community. The Care ministry brings God’s hope and comfort to hurting individuals through listening, practical assistance, and offering hope to demonstrate God’s love.
The Parkersburg tornado and floods of 2008 provided invaluable opportunities to learn at the feet of those with extensive experience in providing God’s compassion, hope, and comfort in the midst of pain and loss. Through these disasters, we learned that often the mere presence of a caring individual is an encouragement to those in the midst of life’s storms. As we assist to meet the physical needs of hurting individuals, doors are opened that allow for emotional and spiritual support to be shared.
Through these open doors, we move God’s love outside the walls of Prairie Lakes Church. We begin to influence by being “Jesus with skin on” meeting the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of individuals in our world. We have opportunities to influence our world locally, nationally, and globally through partnerships that provide opportunities to pray, give, and go through volunteering. Ultimately, when we “influence the world,” we pursue opportunities to share God’s love and encourage others to take next steps in their faith journey.
Caring and influencing—the ultimate ministries of compassion to individuals in our Prairie Lakes Church family, our local communities, our nation, and our global community.
