Booklet Offers Help in Ministering to People with Disabilities

A new booklet titled “A Compassionate Journey” is available for churches that are interested in learning how best to support people in and outside of their congregations who are chronically ill or disabled.

Co-published by Faith Alive Christian Resources and the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Disability Concerns, the booklet describes scripture-based approaches that congregations, care groups or other organizations can use to develop and maintain ministries to persons living with chronic illness or disability.

Topics addressed in the booklet include using grief to grow and being able to both receive and give the gift of compassion.

Care groups can gather to study the booklet one chapter at a time, using special questions after each chapter to aid in discussion. Or, they can use the booklet as the basis of a three-hour workshop that is described in an appendix to the text.

In addition, the booklet provides personal stories of how some Christians relied upon their faith in God either to deal with their own difficulties or to walk alongside others who have special challenges and needs in their lives.

“The church … is called to be a compassionate community that brings the love of Christ to all people – including those with long term challenges,” says Rev. Mark Stephenson, director of Disability Concerns.

The booklet is written by John G. Cook, a retired scientist who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome. He has led workshops on pastoral care to persons living with a disability.

In his booklet, Cook describes ways of caring that emphasize acting with and walking alongside people instead of doing for them. He also highlights how this type of care “draws on God’s compassion – God’s willingness to go through life valleys with all of us and bless us with spiritual well-being even as our brokenness persists.”

The booklet’s full title is “A Compassionate Journey: Coming Alongside People with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses” and is available by calling 1-800-333-8300 or by visiting the Faith Alive website.

Scattered throughout the booklet are various scripture passages that address the issue of coping with disability or illness. Also included are practical ways of reaching out with compassion to those in need.

The booklet’s focus is broad and accessible, Stephenson says. “It’s important to note that this material may be used and applied by Christians of many denominational backgrounds.”

Christian Reformed pastors, members of church councils, and others involved in giving care in congregations have a chance to attend of two free workshops that will use the booklet as their basis. The first is set for April 24 at the CRC offices in Grand Rapids, Mich.  Faith Christian Reformed Church in Burlington, Ont., will host a workshop on May 24.

Advance registration is required. Register online at www.CRCDisabilityConcerns.org or call 1-888-463-0272 for the U.S. workshop and 1-800-730-3490 for the Canadian workshop.