Looking for some fresh content? One of the ways I have helped spread the word about Rest Ministries is to write a number of articles, all of which are avaiable to reprint for free.

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A sampling of articles include:

Who Hates to Hear They Look Great? Over Half of the Chronically Ill

7 Secrets the Chronically Ill Want Chaplains to Know

Living with Invisible Illness: 5 Ways to Let Go of Hurt Feelings

6 Reasons Not to Worry When You Have a Chronic Illness

Romantic Ideas for When You Have a Chronic Illness

Chronically Ill Can Manage Pain in Comfortable Hotels

50 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend

8 Choices You Must Make to Live Successfully with Chronic Illness

Hospital Visits: What Do You Talk About?

6 Ways to Let Those with Chronic Illness in Your Church Know You Care

My Medical Records: Why Can't I See Them?

8 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Mom

Are there Medical Benefits to Video Games?

6 Ways Anyone Can Lose a Few Pounds This Summer

Celebrating Today Despite Living with Illness

Illness Isn't an Excuse for Not Guarding Our Words

Learning to be Assertive Despite the Fatigue of Illness
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Just be sure to include whatever footer is attached.

You can find these articles at 2 web site, depending on your preference.

One is Idea Marketers where the materail can also be ayndicated on your web site or blog. See
http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=26449 where instructions for syndication are also available.

The other is Faith Writers at
http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=18934 where you can also "track the author" to be notified when new articles are posted.

If you ever find any of my writings online that you're interested in reprinting, just email me and the answer is nearly always yes! rest[at]restministries.org

by Lisa Copen

Nearly 1 in 2 people in the United State of American have a chronic condition, which means, that if you're not suffering, it's likely someone you love who is silently enduring great hardships.

Oftentimes a chronic illness, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, or chronic pain like migraines or back pain, is undetectable to those around them. It may surprise you to know that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 96% of the people who have an illness do not use an assistive device, like a cane or a wheelchair. Pain is nearly always invisible. Those that are ill usually do everything that they can to get to church. They want to be part of the church community and they appear to be healthy. Still, just sitting through the service can be extremely difficult.

As someone who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, I remember standing during worship and grasping onto the pew in front of me to balance. My knees both need joint replacements and my feet are somewhat deformed. And then the worship team began singing a song that had the lyrics, "I will stand in spite of pain." I rolled my eyes and my husband said, "It's just an expression." Of course, I knew this, but the timing was ironic.

I was surrounded by people who cared about me, in a church I love, and yet I still felt lonely and as though no one had an idea of what my life was truly like.

It's no secret that churches feel responsible for the many needs that already must be fulfilled in their church body and when someone shares another need it can be seen as an inconvenience. And these needs are visible ones. So the question from pastors is often, "If people aren't saying anything about their pain, then that means they are dealing with it fine? Right? We tell them to send in prayer requests or let us know if they need anything and they don't speak up, so evidently they are doing okay with it? Their faith should sustain them during those valleys."

Let's look at some stunning statistics:

- Despite what we may assume, 60% of those who live with daily illness or pain are between the ages of 18 and 64. - The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent. - Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than for the average person. - Various studies have reported that physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain is major factors in up to 70% of suicides.*

Whether the need is obvious or not, we should be concerned because our churches are filled with many people who are living with chronic pain. And when chronic pain exists, broken spirits are also there. People are hurting silently and need help and encouragement. These are the broken-hearted that Jesus says he will give comfort.

So the question remains, if people don't talk about their pain, but they still have a need to learn how to cope with it and find hope, how does a church reach out to them most effectively?

(1) First, do a survey in your church to find out what some of the needs are that people may not be talking out loud about. This is particularly important if you are in a large church; this is because a recent Barna group study discovered that larger churches were the least likely to mention congregational care ministries as a priority (Church Priorities for 2005 Vary Considerably). When people don't feel a personal connection to the church staff or others, they are less likely to share their vulnerabilities. Too frequently, they are given a list of healing scriptures and sent on their way.

Ask questions on a survey such as, "If we provided transportation, such as a van ride, would it increase your ability to attend church? If you were too ill to attend church, would you listen to the service on the internet? Do you know who to call at the church if you occasionally need personal assistance (especially when the illness is chronic and not acute)? Are you able to see the worship song lyrics on the overhead, or would having them available on paper also be helpful? Please rate the comfort level of our seats." Sit down with a group of people who live with chronic pain and brainstorm ideas with them about what would increase their church attendance or connection with the church and then prioritize what they say.

(2) Provide a small group/Bible study setting for those with illness. For example, Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization for the chronically ill, has a small group program called HopeKeepers which provides a wide variety of resources, Bible studies, and leader support for this purpose. You may find that although people enjoy the small groups they are in, they can start to feel that talking and praying about their illness week after week is a burden to others in the group. They often enjoy having a specific place where everyone "speaks the same language" and even giggles at the same jokes. It can be invigorating. And if only a few people come, that's okay. It brings people comfort to know the church has this oasis when they need it.

(3) Have special guest speakers encourage your church body. There are dozens of people who have physical disabilities that go to churches and share their testimony about what God has done in their life. Allowing them to be at the pulpit and share what God has done in their lives, despite physical challenges and set backs, sends a message to those that are ill that you recognize their needs, you care, and most of all, that you believe they are still worthy to be used by God. People such as Dave Dravecky, Renee Bondi, Joni Eareckson Tada, and many others, minister to the masses, not just those with disabilities.

(4) Consider adding a parish nurse to your staff, especially if your church body has a lot of seniors. Marquette University College of Nursing, which has an excellent parish nursing program, reports there are about 6000 parish nurses in United States. Many retired nurses are finding this area of ministry appealing and most parish nurse certification can be given by many hospitals. The parish nurse position description depends on your church's needs and goals. For example, they may go to homes to monitor diabetes or high blood pressure of church members, organize walking groups, health fairs and screenings, and even help out with the chronic illness small group. The role of the parish nurse may be a better choice than a disabilities coordinator, depending on your church's demographics. This person would help cover the disability ministry needs and work closely with the congregational care pastor.

(5) Have your church library be the source for all materials related to health, illness, caregiving, and Christian ministries. A large percentage of people with chronic illness are on a fixed-income and yet they really want encouragement. So fill up your library with items like books on living with chronic illness such as "Why Can't I Make People Understand?" or "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend," by Lisa Copen or Joni Eareckson Tada's remarkable book on suffering, "When God Weeps." Subscribe to a few magazine subscriptions like "HopeKeepers", "Guideposts" or even "Arthritis Today." Don't forget books on tape, audio presentations and large-print items when they are available. Be a part of creating awareness in the church by posting flyers or having brochures available about chronic illness or disability ministries, such as Joni and Friends "Wheels for the World" program or Rest Ministries' annual outreach, "National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week." A volunteer could also put together a binder of local and national ministry resources.

(6) Lastly, and most importantly, remember people with illness want to serve. Not just be served. This is because "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). For example, when a woman tells you she is resigning from working in the nursery, let her know that she is welcome to serve in other ways when she is ready. She may find she enjoys writing encouragement notes to people who have an illness. A man may find he can mentor another man with a chronic illness one-on-one rather than leading a Bible study. Let them know that you value wounded healers and believe that God comforts us "so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Nearly twice per month someone tells me that after much prayer and consideration they went to their pastor with a request to start a chronic illness HopeKeepers ministry. And his response was "When you are healed, then you can minister to others. Until then you need to focus on yourself." I've seen so many broken spirits because people are told, in so many words, that until God heals them, they are no longer useful to the Lord or the church body.

In Luke 14:21 Jesus shares a parable of a great banquet. When the host's hospitality is turned down by his friends he responds by commanding, "Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." This is still a mandate to us today, but we must remember that to provide a place where we offer hospitality, we must first "go out" into our own pews and provide a place of refuge; as we make small changes in our church to create that oasis for people with illness, then these people in our church will naturally be comforted. And then they will go out into the community with open arms of understanding and minister to others along this journey.

Get a free list of 200 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend from "Beyond Casseroles" by Lisa Copen, just signup for to HopeNotes invisible illness ezine at Rest Ministries. Lisa is the founder of Invisible Illness Week

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This article can be reprinted--as is--with footer at the bottom attached. Thanks!
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