Welcome to the Care Ministry at Heritage. Our team of volunteers seek to provide a helping hand to individuals and families. Trying to follow the example of Jesus, we desire to respond to those in times of hurt, hardship and joy. Whether calling on the sick and hospitalized, providing encouragement with a hot meal, helping with a minor home repair, or giving the hope of Jesus to the grieving, compassionate caregivers want to support those at Heritage and beyond. There are many important ministries that care provides which are listed below.  If you or someone you know has a need that we can address, please contact us and a care provider will be in touch with you. “Take care of my sheep” — Jesus said it; let’s live it!

OUTREACH
The Outreach ministry utilizes all of our Care ministry branches as we respond to prayer requests.

• Hospital, nursing home and home visits are a way we demonstrate Christ’s love through visitation, reading of scriptures and prayer for those infirmed.
• Providing hot meals to individuals or families during difficult times shows an expression of sharing, caring and nurturing to our church family.
• Funeral support for families who have lost a loved one allows an opportunity for us to minister to their relatives and friends.
• Offering encouragement through a card, letter, email or telephone call allows an opportunity to support and follow up.
• A team of “prayer warriors” also prays for requests.
• Delivering baby gifts to bless parents of newborns.

PHYSICAL NEEDS
This ministry supports Heritage families by connecting resources with needs.

• Transportation coordinates arrangements for those who need assistance for church services and events, a doctor’s appointment or a significant errand.
• Minor home repairs and maintenance provides services for those who are in need and unable to perform routine home repairs, maintenance, yard work and special projects.
• Board of Blessings is Heritage’s classified ads. You can advertise your needs, services offered and items for sale or donation.
• The Peacemakers Board is designed to honor and encourage prayer for Heritage family members and friends serving our country in the military, police force or fire department.

BENEVOLENCE
The Benevolence ministry assists Heritage attendees experiencing financial hardships. Contact the Care Pastor to request an application for benevolence assistance. Upon return of the application, a finance mentor is matched to each individual or family. The mentor provides information on various assistance resource programs, and has access to the Heritage benevolence fund for short-term financial relief as deemed appropriate by the mentor. The goal is to help individuals live within their personal financial resources and to be good stewards of their money.

GRIEF SHARE
This support group is for adults who have lost a loved one, regardless of when the loss occurred.  It is a 13 week Bible-based video series that features nationally known Christian leaders and lay people giving their personal experience about finding joy in life after loss of a loved one. Community, independent journaling and prayer are all parts of the grief healing process.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION
The Financial Education ministry works with individuals to learn and apply God’s principles of Biblical financial stewardship through various group studies, one-day seminars and one-one-one counseling.  Currently, we offer these options:

• Christ in Your Finances: 7-week course which provides the Biblical foundation for how Christians are to view money and the financial aspects of their lives.
• Crown Biblical Financial Study: 10-week small group study that applies what Scripture teaches about money and possessions. As a group, you learn God’s principles together and then work out privately your own spending, debt, budgeting and giving plans with the guidance, tools and forms provided.
• Good Sense One Day Financial Seminar: 1-day seminar designed to teach Biblical principles of money management and to train people in the basic tools with which to implement those principles into their daily lives. You leave with a spending plan in your hand, the knowledge to implement it and the motivation to follow through.
• Practical Financial Guidance: For additional financial guidance needed after completion of one of the three offerings above, or for more immediate financial needs, such as one-on-one assistance, please contact the Care Pastor.

CARE EVENTS
The Care Ministry sponsors several outreach events throughout the year.

• Single Parent Family Fair provides support to single parents at Heritage and in the community. The purpose of this fair is to provide back-to-school supplies, haircuts, free oil changes, children’s games and other free services and community resource information.
• Red Cross Blood Drive allows the church family, employees and community to have the opportunity to donate blood to the Red Cross. Blood drives are scheduled once in the spring and again in the fall.
• Memorial Day Tribute is a video presentation honoring the memory of Heritage attendees and their loved ones who have passed away within the year.
• Giving Tree is a program designed to provide Christmas presents to Heritage families who are experiencing financial hardships. Designated church families remain anonymous to those purchasing gifts for that family. Ministry members deliver the gifts to the families during the Christmas season.
• Baby Bottle Drive occurs each year from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. Heritage families fill bottles with coins, dollars and/or checks to support the life affirming work of Pregnancy Decision Health Centers.

 
Heritage Care Ministry

Care Pastor: Tom Fletcher
   614-898-9412    ext. 430

Care Administrative Assistant: Pat Garnes
   614-898-9412    ext. 341