Homebound members often feel isolated from everyone and everything, not just the Church. It’s the nature of having a medical condition that limits contact with the outside world. They often feel alone in the world. Frequently, the person who is ill has no extended family to care for them. They may have a home health nurse or a staffing agency that provides their care. Some receive care at a skilled nursing facility. They sit in a room all day with a roommate whom they hope will share a television remote with them so they can view a church service. Many wonder how much longer they must wait until they can go home to Jesus, or just leave this world if they have given up on the promise of an afterlife.
Unfortunately, a trend is developing in our society due to families being spread out in all directions, placing elderly relatives who need medical care in the hands of others. When that happens, many of the elderly give up on life and become lonely and depressed, wishing for their last days to hurry and come. With the increasing number of patients being sent home from hospitals for care, often elderly patients are left to manage self-care independently because family members refuse to provide it for them. In those situations, the church may be the only hope and encouragement available to the person. A remembrance of a future with Christ and the salvation it provides may be enough to keep them holding on, minute by minute, at times, offering them an everlasting hope of future relief and comfort. I envision a future where staying connected with the homebound will become even more critical than it is now.
Television Ministries
One-way churches can stay connected with their homebound members through television ministries. Many churches now are blessed with the equipment and trained staff who know how to make such a ministry happen. Being able to see and hear your own minister and music team is a great blessing.
Since the filming occurs during a live sermon, it’s easy to forget that people are viewing from home. As a result, mistakes are easily made. When a service extends more than twenty minutes without sound or the microphones in the sound booth are left on, and the home viewers can’t hear the sermon due to the conversation in the booth, it tells those listening at home that they are not important. If you are new to recording your sermons, here are some suggestions to help prevent common mistakes, as well as ways to make those at home feel like they are part of the audience in attendance.
- If your church distributes bulletins for your service, send a copy to your homebound members in advance so they can follow along with the sermon, songs, and other announcements as well.
- Whatever is posted on a screen, share with homebound members (including handouts on tables). Share information through email or a portal so they are aware of what everyone else is aware of. If messages are recorded during the service, send them a copy of the recording.
- If a special event is approaching and accommodation is required, ensure the person responsible is well-informed and aware of the deadline.
- If you televise a church service, make your audience at home feel as welcome as the person sitting directly in front of the pulpit.
- Test your transmission equipment before going live to ensure your signal is strong and clear.
- Once you go live, check the microphones in the booth to confirm it is muted and the stage is on. I once listened to the sound room instead of the sermon for the entire program. Had I not been a regular member, I would never have returned to that church. The last thing you want to happen is to transmit the sound booth conversations rather than have your audience hear the stage.
- Consider having a trusted member watch the program as a quality control check. If there is an issue with the transmission, they have a direct line to the sound room to alert them immediately.
Feeling Connected
Even with a television ministry, it’s difficult for homebound members to feel connected to the Church. In most situations, when someone develops a condition that requires them to stay away from Church for an extended time, they receive lots of attention through cards, letters, phone calls, and visits when they first become ill or injured. After several weeks, the attention begins to decrease unless something new or unexpected occurs. The decrease in attention doesn’t mean the Church loves the member any less; it means life has taken their attention away from you and it’s now focused on another member who is suffering from a different injury. The new member’s injury consumes their attention and time. They still care and love you as much; however, they can’t put you first now, or they will fall behind in addressing life’s needs. It’s nothing personal, although it may feel that way.
Other Connection Ideas Besides Television
- If events occur where there is an exchange of anything, including the homebound. Send them some of the goodies. Perhaps deliver food, Christmas cards, or at least dessert as a thoughtful gesture. Maybe children will make valentines for them or Christmas cards that will arrive just before Christmas Eve.
- Include a message in the sermon each week to the homebound.
- Ensure accommodation is available at all special events for those who might attend.
Personalize the Church Website
Have a “members-only” section on your website requiring a password to enter. All church members can access and create a profile, which includes a picture and a brief biography. Having a place for members to come to know “who’s who” within the Church helps with name and face recognition and creates a sense of community. Our Church also uses a member’s email distribution list for sending out important announcements.
A church portal can be used to post announcements, the church directory, the weekly church bulletin, or any other information of interest to the congregation. If appropriately managed, there are many ways to use it to bring members together and incorporate those at home. Posting the weekly Sunday bulletin online would help homebound members stay up to date with other Church members.
Virtual Sunday School and Bible Study
Consider adding a virtual Sunday school class or Bible study option using Zoom, Google Meet, or a similar app, where members can see and interact with one another. Members connect when they can make eye contact. Bonding through a small group also fosters a sense of family and unity. Homebound members cannot physically attend group meetings but often can attend virtually.
Communion
Many religions have 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 offer Communion?
If the Church did nothing else, I recommend that they reach out to homebound members who are out for short or long-term reasons and ask if they would like someone to bring them Communion. It’s a very loving and Christian way to show how much you love that brother or sister in Christ and how much they mean to the Church.
Some churches post a notice to members to contact xxx if they wish to receive Communion, but I believe that if the Church knows someone is ill, they should reach out to the one in need and offer the service. That person is not at Church to read what to do or who to call to receive Communion. They may not have anticipated becoming sick or injured. They also may not want to put anyone out. The loving way to care for God’s people is to provide them with communion as a gift without them having to ask.
Do For the Homebound What You Do for All Others
Try to form the habit of doing for the homebound whatever you do for those seated in a pew. During the ten years, Lynn and I were unable to attend church in person due to his immuno-compromised condition, our church loved us. They always provided for our needs whenever we reached out for support. However, in the first 1-2 years, we had frequent interactions and lots of love poured out on us. By the time Lynn died, most members of the church knew us only by name in the bulletin, which needed prayer. Even our former close associates were unaware of Lynn’s health status. Many had no idea he was still alive.
I know the issue was that we were “out of sight and out of mind.” It never occurred to them that we might want to participate in their activities. For example, we were not contacted about being in the church directory or given a copy when it was published. We did not receive the member announcement distributed by email until I accidentally discovered it and requested to participate. We received communion only twice, once when a group came to tell us about a building improvement campaign and once when a friend brought it. The only updates on Lynn’s condition the paster received occurred when I called to tell him Lynn would like a visit because his condition was critical. Few members attended Lynn’s funeral, I’m sure, because most thought he had already died or didn’t remember him. Though we were members, we were not connected.
B Jesus 2 the Sick
I share those circumstances to say that Homebound members are still members who need connection. Don’t lose them. Too often, these members feel abandoned and stop believing the church genuinely cares. Their families think the church only wants their tithing and doesn’t care about the members. It causes them to turn away from Jesus.
Show homebound families that you still care. Be Jesus to these families. Look after them and love them. Show these families the love of Christ so they know that at your church, you represent Jesus to those who are sick in His house.
