On Eagles Wings Ministries
On Eagles Wings Ministries is a one-on-one, faith-based ministry for cancer patients that concentrates on the needs of the soul. Based out of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Parkton, Maryland, my wife Debbe and I minister in person as well as by online conversation, email and telephone contacts. Many of the people we minister to come to our ministry through our relationship with Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) as God allows our paths to cross.
Since 2008, when we started our ministry, we've had the honor of coming alongside 48 fellow cancer survivors. Our relationship with these survivors is based on each one’s personal needs and, as such, is in constant flux. It’s truly a blessing and sacred moment when others are willing to share their cancer journeys with us. Our cancer patients experience or have a variety of needs on the journey. Some that stand out are issues of the soul, such as identity, forgiveness, eternal life, hope, security for those left behind. All of these, along with the ever present physical needs, are but a few of the needs that we have come across.
On Eagles Wings Ministries invites CTCA to Redeemer Lutheran Church twice a year to conduct seminars for those on the journey with cancer and their caregivers. These partnered seminars have lead to several inquiries and one cancer support group that started at another place of worship in Maryland.
We don’t promote On Eagles Wings in our community in the normal way, through advertising, but simply trust the Lord to send to us those He desires us to help. We've found that word of mouth, CTCA, and open house visitations have been the ways God has used thus far to allow people to understand the various offerings our support group provides. We’re open to where God leads in the area of on-boarding volunteers to the ministry. If it’s God’s will, we believe He’ll bring people to work at On Eagles Wings as He desires.
The Lord provides for our needs by placing on people’s hearts the desire to donate funds. We also collect and recycle aluminum cans to support our ministry efforts. We’re a small ministry concentrating on quality, not quantity; therefore, we have no paid staff and are not looking to grow in that way at this time.
As for the future of the ministry … the sky isn’t even the limit, for all things are possible for God who loves us. We need only keep our hearts and minds open to where God leads our ministry efforts in serving our cancer community.
We’ve found this ministry to be bitter sweet. For the most part, once a cancer patient has received the all-clear from the doctors, he or she tends to want to go back to business as usual, which for the most part doesn’t include us. There are times when I believe the relationship we had only reminds them of the journey they so desperately want to forget. On the other hand, there are those who do keep in contact on a regular basis, and, as time has passed, have become close friends of ours. They become reminders to us of God’s blessings and His Love for us.
One thing that’s on my heart is making sure no one with cancer in our area makes the cancer journey alone. Looking around our geographic region, there are several support groups that meet at various places of worship. However, there’s currently not much, if any, interaction between these groups as they work among themselves to support and reach out to those in need. We need communication between our regional support groups and an understanding of what each offers, so no one falls through the cracks and has to go without the help they so desperately need and deserve. I really want each cancer patient to get the best possible support from the many groups in our area.
Dave Turner, cancer survivor
On Eagles Wings Ministries