Nursing Home Ministry

Ministry Leader Evangelist Joyce A. Goosby
  (Associate Minister at God First Church)

Greetings in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ!   

Jesus spoke in  Luke 4:18-19 (kjv), “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

In the year 2000 GFC began its first nursing home ministry.  Our Nursing Home Ministry Mission is to provide sound biblical teaching accompanied by songs of praise, prayer and the preached word.  Our aim is to provide an atmosphere that is conducive of praise and worship for the residents.  Currently we hold service in the Northgate Park facility every 2^nd Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.  I have been honored to serve as the ministry leader.   Each month representatives from GFC attend the worship service along with the residents of the home.  The staff at Northgate has been extremely vigilant in notifying and physically assisting the residents that wish to attend the service.

The residents are receptive participants in our service.    As we read scriptures, sing songs, pray and deliver the preached word, they generally show their approval by acknowledging it by gestures or verbal responses.   It’s apparent that many of them are familiar with the words we say, the scriptures we read, the songs we sing and the God we serve.

I normally try to bring an encouraging message from the word of God each month.  My inspiration to make the message encouraging comes from the residents.  They have shown their excitement for God despite their circumstances.  Several residents have been with us from the start and others are regular in their attendance. This ministry has served as an inspiration for me.  I try to return the blessing by inspiring and encouraging the residents.

In the nearly three years we have had service at Northgate Park, we’ve developed relationships with some of the residents.  It has been a privilege to become acquainted with them and the joy they have brought us is priceless.  God has called some of them home over the last three years.  We make a concentrated effort to attend their memorial service, send a card or flower. They may be gone but their influences in our lives continue.

I thank God that Pastor Lucas was led by God to allow me to serve as the overseer.  This ministry has truly been a blessing in my life.  Not only have I had an opportunity to exercise my gift of preaching, but I have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know some of God’s most gifted people who happen to be at Northgate Park. I strongly recommend the nursing home ministry. If you are looking for a life changing worship experience.   Come and join us every 2^nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.