In the Bible, Jacob worked and waited seven years for his dream girl. At Hope Fellowship, Elizabeth (Lisa) worked and waited a dozen years for her dream job. That job began this week when she started her chaplaincy work at Strathaven and Marnwood Lifecare Centres in Bowmanville for Durham Christian Homes.
This newly created position requires her to visit residents, provide crisis care, be available to families, and conduct memorial services. She will also provide support for staff and possibly sit in on consultations.
When Durham Christian Homes bought these two facilities last year, the board quickly decided that they wanted to see intentional spiritual care happening in these long-term care homes. For Lisa, providing spiritual and emotional care with a Christian organization in a setting where the majority of residents and staff may not have church affiliation is an excellent fit. “This is the kind of thing that I wanted to do when I went to seminary,” Lisa reflected this week. “Doing pastoral care from a faith perspective. This ministry allows me to combine my social work experience, seminary education and personal gifts in a setting where people may not know God well.”
Lisa spent the first day on the job setting up her new office, which is located in Strathaven, and meeting many new people. She devoted her second day to Marnwood, acquainting herself with those who work and live there.
While she has begun her work, there are still a few details to be worked out. On May 8, Classis Quinte hopes to declare this position to be consistent with the ministry of the word and sacraments. And the Chaplaincy Committee of the Christian Reformed Church wants her to complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Looking back, she can clearly see God’s hand. “It’s been twelve years,” Lisa said about her journey to ordination. “All this time, God has provided work, blessed us with kids and helped me finish seminary. Next year my oldest son, Job, will start school full time. And we get to stay in Bowmanville where we can continue to help David’s Mom. It’s taking everything and wrapping it up as a gift and having God say, ‘I told you it would work. You just have to be patient.”
A commissioning service has been tentatively scheduled for June 24, 3 p.m. at Durham Christian Homes. Everyone is invited.
- Pastor Peter
This newly created position requires her to visit residents, provide crisis care, be available to families, and conduct memorial services. She will also provide support for staff and possibly sit in on consultations.
When Durham Christian Homes bought these two facilities last year, the board quickly decided that they wanted to see intentional spiritual care happening in these long-term care homes. For Lisa, providing spiritual and emotional care with a Christian organization in a setting where the majority of residents and staff may not have church affiliation is an excellent fit. “This is the kind of thing that I wanted to do when I went to seminary,” Lisa reflected this week. “Doing pastoral care from a faith perspective. This ministry allows me to combine my social work experience, seminary education and personal gifts in a setting where people may not know God well.”
Lisa spent the first day on the job setting up her new office, which is located in Strathaven, and meeting many new people. She devoted her second day to Marnwood, acquainting herself with those who work and live there.
While she has begun her work, there are still a few details to be worked out. On May 8, Classis Quinte hopes to declare this position to be consistent with the ministry of the word and sacraments. And the Chaplaincy Committee of the Christian Reformed Church wants her to complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Looking back, she can clearly see God’s hand. “It’s been twelve years,” Lisa said about her journey to ordination. “All this time, God has provided work, blessed us with kids and helped me finish seminary. Next year my oldest son, Job, will start school full time. And we get to stay in Bowmanville where we can continue to help David’s Mom. It’s taking everything and wrapping it up as a gift and having God say, ‘I told you it would work. You just have to be patient.”
A commissioning service has been tentatively scheduled for June 24, 3 p.m. at Durham Christian Homes. Everyone is invited.
- Pastor Peter
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