News from our Sector Ministers
Revd Lynda Hulcoop
Anna Chaplaincy
Life as an Anna Chaplain
Having retired from church ministry in June 2022, I began working as an Anna Chaplain (part of Bible Reading Fellowship) in January 2023. I am commissioned to work among older people in Southwick, Shoreham and Lancing. This involves mainly going into Care homes and ministering to the spiritual wellbeing of residents. Currently I head up a team of volunteers going into 4 different homes. We offer a range of activities - fun quizzes, church services, room visits, short services on DVD and SingNshare events which get residents singing with us also singing to them and sharing our life stories etc.
I have been amazed at just how God can minister to people - even those with dementia. In one home I was asked to visit an elderly man with dementia. He was in a wheelchair, slumped over, dribbling and deaf. My initial attempts to communicate were fruitless. Then I felt God prompt me to give him a Bible verse. I shouted one in his ear and he suddenly became alive. He said, “That was the Bible! I love the Bible and I love Jesus.” Amazing!. I carried on visiting him in the following weeks . Each time I introduced myself, he looked blank until I quoted a Bible verse and then he became lucid and communicative. Several weeks later, whilst visiting him, he started speaking German. I too speak German so I responded and we had a lovely little conversation “auf Deutsch”. . I then asked if he spoke French too and he said, “Bien sur” so another conversation ensued with a couple of other residents joining in. What a blessed visit! I now take in a printed card with a German Bible verse on one side and a French verse on the other which we proceed to read together. Now I know why I learned foreign languages. God doesn’t waste anything…
Recently I was in a different care home and some of the residents had been knitting a small blanket but didn’t know who might want it. I was just going off to Zimbabwe. I suggested I took it with me which I did and gave to a very poor lady in one of the meetings. She was overwhelmed with joy. When I got home, I showed the picture to the care home knitters who were moved to tears and felt their labours had been worthwhile.
Prayer requests
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For more open doors into care homes
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For inspiration on how to keep sharing the Gospel message appropriately with those who are older and have dementia.
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For fruitful conversations in room visits that people will open up and talk about issues concerning them
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For good responses to our SingNShare presentations over Easter
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For more volunteers to be involved in the ministry in Care homes.