Dear Precious Family in Christ,
We are so grateful for your faith in Jesus. As Peter put it in 2 Peter 1:1, “I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have” (NLT). There are many different types of people who have faith in Christ Jesus and they each have a unique testimony of how they came to their faith. But, as the apostle put it, for those who know God (see 2 Peter 1:2), we all share with Peter the same precious faith! Think about it: “the SAME PRECIOUS FAITH! Yes, the faith in Jesus that you hold so dear and so vital to your life is really priceless. Spiritually, it is like an infinitely valuable ancient golden coin!
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift!” (Eph. 2:8 HCSB). Our salvation from sin and death; our hope for an eternal home with our heavenly Father; our courage to face the struggles in our lives in the here and now; the comfort we draw from communion with Christ in prayer; the magnetism that compels us to pursue a closer walk with Jesus, the joy we know in fellowship with other believers…and so much more…these all freely flow from our loving Savior through the invaluable gift of faith that all of God’s children share!
Dear reader, as each of us relate to these comments in our own way, we would do well to remember the plight of those who are reduced to essential solitude by illness and disability in long-term care settings all around us. Many elderly saints feel neglected, even abandoned by their Christian community. This is not sentimentalism! This is just the raw fact. If you look in your area, you may find a chaplain, or a staff member, or a small band of volunteers who faithfully minister for Jesus to the residents of the facility where they serve. The “congregation” they serve has been given, by circumstances they cannot control, a care center that they must now call home. Added to their illness, in many cases, a nursing home resident’s domain has been reduced to a bed, a nightstand, and a small closet. They need encouragement for their faith in Jesus…a cup of cool water for their soul!
Oh, when the trials of life are pressing in, what a refreshing, invigorating, strengthening, motivating, gripping, captivating encouragement it is for another believer like you to cross their path with a personal testimony of the grace and love of Jesus! Or, sometimes, all it takes is a comment of Christian understanding, or just the quiet presence of a fellow child of God. And what a gift if the Master allows us the privilege to be instrumental in someone coming to faith in our Savior! THIS is the core of “nursing home ministry!” And if you ask those who labor for Jesus in this field they will echo His words in Matthew 9: 36-38 (ESV): “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; THEREFORE pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Above all else, PRAY!
Of course, those of you reading this letter already understand what we are saying here. Many of you have responded to this need by ministering personally to these precious souls living in chronic care settings. Some of you are helping us provide free materials for Christian ministry to this population with your prayers and financial support. To each of you, on behalf of the saints whose precious faith you are encouraging, we say, “Thank You!”
With Love and Gratitude,
Jerry and Dar Johnson