Our Father's Cancer Care Ministry

Monclova Road Baptist Church, Monclova, Ohio

Our cancer care ministry began as a result of my meeting with Rev. Percy McCray, director of pastoral care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in September 2008 at CTCA in Zion, Illinois. My wife Sharon was being treated there at the time, and I felt the Lord’s leading in using our experiences in this journey to reach out and help others.

Rev. McCray told me about the spiritual outreach program CTCA has -- Our Journey of Hope (OJOH) -- and the training provided through it to help churches be more effective in ministry to cancer patients and their families. After sharing the potential of bringing this ministry and training to our church with our pastor and getting his approval, we scheduled our first OJOH lay ministry training. We had over 100 people in attendance at our first seminar. We later did a seminar in northwest Pennsylvania where Sharon and I are from and a third seminar back in our home church. All together we have had well over 200 people receive this lay ministry training.

We have had many at our seminars who have been affected by cancer personally or through their family or friends, including a large number of nurses, pastors and people from other area churches. The feedback has been tremendous, in that they now feel they are better equipped and have a better understanding of this disease and how to reach out to and minister to others and their needs in their church and community.

One of the things we've learned through this ministry is to be better listeners. We've also learned the extreme importance of reaching out to and supporting the caregivers in each case. My own experience as caregiver for Sharon also taught me that. I needed to be there for her, as well as for our three adult children and their families, by staying strong and encouraging all to continue to keep our eyes on the Lord. I, in turn, leaned on the Lord and others in our church community for my strength and encouragement.

Today, we have a number of people active in Our Father's Cancer Care Ministry, ministering by developing a close one-on-one relationship with patients and their families. We encourage two of our people to take the lead in developing the relationship with the patient and staying in regular contact. Others may lend support as needed so as not to loose touch with their needs.

We support the patient and caregiver by providing transportation to appointments, helping with a meal, going for a visit with fresh-cut flowers, helping with household tasks, a phone conversation, sending a card, taking them for a ride, but, most importantly, just listening to them. In all cases, we encourage our people to call the patient first to be certain he or she is up to the visit and to keep it short unless desired otherwise. If providing food, we keep a record of the dietary requirements and portions to meet their needs.

The OJOH seminars have given a peace to our people in reaching out to others in need by giving them confidence and understanding in serving the Lord through this ministry. In serving we must always remember, it is not about us, it is about all the Lord and serving him. Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Joe Stec, Ministry Facilitator     

419/877-5637