Introduction
Homebound members often feel disconnected from the Church due to the lack of fellowship through television. It’s difficult to feel “seen” when you’re not. Therefore, if you want to have a television ministry, I think it’s essential to plan how you will help to make the people you seek to bring into your church family feel a part of your family. I would first think about who the people that you’re reaching are by taking a survey if you can. If you know how to get your regular viewers, ask them what would help them feel part of your Church. If you can’t connect with your online or homebound viewers, below are some suggestions that might help.
Televised Sermons
Many churches already telecast Sunday services using YouTube or other networks. Televising your Sunday sermons is a great way to help homebound members worship with their fellow members. Worshiping when they know others in the Church are doing the same gives a sense of connection. However, if you are going to do a live televised sermon, please be sure that you are prepared to ensure it’s playing to your audience correctly. I’ve seen broadcasts where the sound booth could be heard during half the program, the sound was muted during a large portion of the program, the video was not streaming, but the sound was on, etc. While any glitch can happen briefly, extended problems that indicate someone is not paying attention insult the audience and imply that home viewers are unnecessary. I recommend that someone perform a validation check to confirm that what you see in person is what the online people see.
Personalize the Church Website
Have a “members-only” section requiring password entry that provides homebound members access to the Sunday announcements they can’t hear over the TV, plus access to the most recent pictorial and member address church directory. Information is an essential means of feeling connected. Without it, homebound members feel left out of what’s happening.
Virtual Sunday School and Bible Study
Consider adding a virtual Sunday school class or Bible study option using Zoom, Google Meet, or similar apps where members can see and talk to one another. When members see and get to know one another, they bond and become part of the church family. Homebound members cannot physically attend group meetings but often can attend virtually.
Church Pairs
Personal connections are one of the best ways to help people feel supported and a part of a group. Consider forming church pairs consisting of one member who attends regular church services and one homebound member. I recommend that these two people become acquainted and get together every week or two in the manner that suits them best to find out what is happening in each of their worlds. It should not be a one-way interaction.
The purpose of the pairing is to form a genuine bond between them so that a connection with the Church forms as they bond with each other. The church member who attends in person can bring information about church activities to the homebound member and vice versa. In that way, friends of the “at church” member also become familiar with the “homebound” member.
Work Groups
Many homebound families struggle to handle routine home and car maintenance chores. They cannot leave home due to the risk of infection or inability to find care coverage. Mowing grass, raking leaves, running errands, etc., require the caregiver to be away from the one needing care.
However, many are willing to pay a small sum to complete the work. Often, teens, college students, and others struggling to make ends meet are willing to do odd jobs for extra money if they know who needs help. Create a job bank coordinator role that can match job needs to resources. When a church member discovers someone who needs the grass mowed, call a mower on the list and arrange to meet that need. For those who cannot pay, a designated collection may occur to support them.
Communion
Whatever your faith, there are special observances. I am a Christian, and for us, it’s Communion. It’s a sacred and essential part of our faith. What better way to make a homebound member feel remembered and wanted as a part of your church family than to ensure they are included in the Church’s sacred observances such as Communion? I would recommend that if a church did nothing else, they reach out to homebound members who are out for short or long-term reasons and ask if they want to receive any sacred observance brought to their home. It’s a very loving and Christian way to show how much they mean to you as a church member. While Lynn and I were homebound, we only received Communion once. It meant a lot to us that the one group remembered bringing us Communion that Sunday. We appreciated the members who brought it to us.
