1. It's a good idea to meet with your team members 1/2 hour before you go to the nursing home so the team can visit over refreshments and pray over personal things so that they can better focus on the resident's needs when you arrive at the home.
2. Pray before you enter the nursing home. (We can do nothing without Jesus.)
3. Work with staff to get residents out.
4. Don't force residents to go to the service; just say, "OK, maybe next time"
5. Leave your denomination at the door; in fact, leave it at your church. (Lift Jesus up)
6. Have a plan but always be prepared for the unexpected. (Sometimes the unexpected is the Lord's more perfect plan.)
7. Maintain an attendance roster when possible; this will help you to remember new folks and remind you of ones that may need a personal visit.
8. Music should be played slower and in a lower key; mostly older hymns and choruses are best loved.
9. Use the best sound equipment that you can afford to purchase. (Quality does make a difference!)
10. Avoid preaching on topics that have little meaning to people who are in their last years. (See April/May issue of Bits Of Sonshine from The Sonshine Society.
11. Keep it simple - Be sure you have a point to make in your message. Keep the message uncluttered with many details and stick to the point.
12. A 10 to 15 minute message can often say much more than a 45-minute message.
13. Speak loudly, slowly, and clearly.
14. Avoid preaching against religious practices; lift up Jesus! Share how much He loves us. How we can walk with Him, talk with Him, trust in Him, Know Him, and love Him.
15. Encourage residents' involvement with message by asking questions and having them quote scripture.
16. Don't be afraid to challenge the residents, but do not pressure or Lord over them.
17. Seal the message with prayer. (The devil wants to steal the seeds that are planted, we can seal them with prayer.) Pray for the residents.
18. When the service is over, shake hands with all residents and be prepared to pray for individuals. Love the people that you minister to in such a way that they know it. Do not be in a hurry to go home.
19. Leave the meeting room cleaner than when you found it.

The Church Service/Bible study that you share in a nursing home may be quite different than the one you have at your church; however, it should be of no lesser quality.

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This information is taken from training material developed by Bill Goodrich of God Cares Ministry in Ohio. You may want to contact Bill in regard to their bimonthly newsletter and their regional training rallies.

God Cares Ministry
Bill Goodrich, Executive Director
33399 Walker Rd., Suite A
Avon Lake, OH 44012
phone: 440-930-2173
email: info@GodCaresMinistry.com