Let Your Church Know About Invisible Illness Awareness Week
Nearly 1 in 2 people in the US have a chronic condition. . . This includes people sitting in pews too! Invisible Illness Week is sponsored by Rest Ministries which is the largest Christian organization that specifically serves the chronically ill.
About 300 HopeKeepers groups exists around the USA and beyond too (find a HopeKeepers group near you or start a HopeKeepers group yourself!)
Pastors actually receive very little education in seminary that specifically discusses how to reach out to the chronically ill. They may learn to counsel a bit, pray, and pray for healing, but 6 weeks later-when the person has not been healed– it can be confusing as to what to say and do then.
Now is a great time to introduce Rest Ministries to your pastoral staff. There are some simple ways to increase awareness, by just emailing your pastor about the event. (A description is below that can be edited.)
If you need something to include on a resource table Beyond Casseroles bookmarks and Rest Ministries brochures are perfect give-aways. If your church will approve it, you may wish to get up and share a bit about chronic illness, Rest Ministries, or your testimony.
We are here to answer any questions! And if your pastor does not seem enthused. . . that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. If you are considering starting a HopeKeepers group or some kind of chronic illness ministry, “How to Start a Chronic Illness Pain Ministry” a new book by our founder, Lisa Copen, has some great tips regarding the emotions of it all, as well as the practical tips.
We recommend sending off a short email to your pastor and let him know that you will follow up with a phone call in a couple days. And then call him! If the pastor is very busy or oversees a huge church, you may wish to choose a pastoral staff member that oversees those who are ill, caregivers, the women’s ministry director, etc. Connect with the person who you believe will most connect with your passion of chronic illness ministry.
September 13-19, 2010 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. This annual event began in 2002 by Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries, a national Christian organization that serves the chronically ill and an affiliate of Joni and Friends, the ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada. The week has a variety of ways to get involved including a virtual conference September 13-17 online for free with speakers each morning 10:30 – 12 USA Pacific time.
There is a Meme “30 Things You May Not Know About My Invisible Illness”, you can sign up to blog for the cause, read guest bloggers’ posts, and get involved in the campaign on Facebook. There is even a free 80-page ebook when you sign up for email updates, with 263 tips!
With nearly 1 in 2 people living with a chronic condition, about 96% of those people are suffering silently with invisible illnesses. See InvisibleIllnessWeek.com .
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I will be talking to our women's retreat members next week about invisible disabilities.