Care Team Ministry

What do friendship and faith have in common?

Friendship and Faith

Both involve risk and adventure, opening doors we've never walked through. Both require careful tending in order to grow and thrive. And, when we take the risk and make the effort, both satisfy and surprise, leading us to the joy of community with others and with God.

Care Team Ministry contains the precious gifts of friendship and faith. Volunteers nurture relationships with members of the congregation. Out of that demonstration of kindness and compassion, faith grows. And the community is strengthened.

Care Team Ministry.
Doing for a friend
what a friend would do.

Care Team Ministry -- intro

Care Team Ministry responds, free of charge, to the non-medical “quality of life” needs of individuals and families of all ages not routinely fulfilled by existing social service programs. This program offers supportive services to those in need within and around a faith community and provides an opportunity for people to live their faith by serving others.

Care Team Ministry is a joint partnership between Twin Cities-area Christian congregations and Lyngblomsten, a nonprofit Christian senior health care and housing organization in St. Paul. Lyngblomsten has established the program in more than a dozen of its corporate congregations. The program is one of Lyngblomsten's many outreach efforts that extends its mission of whole person care into the community. Unlike most of Lyngblomsten’s services, Care Team Ministry can serve people of all ages--not just seniors.

Care Team Ministry

A national program that first began in Texas in the 1980s, Care Team Ministry was introduced in the Twin Cities in 1998 through Lyngblomsten. Participating congregations tailor the program to meet their specific needs, yet all share a desire to be involved, a passion for serving, and a commitment to building community through a team-based effort.

Every Care Team Ministry program includes volunteers, partners, a leader, and a coordinator:

The Lyngblomsten Care Team Coordinator is on Lyngblomsten’s staff and assists congregations in starting their own programs. The Coordinator provides ongoing support, education, and resources.

Care Team Ministry Volunteers team with others in their church to meet the specific needs of an individual or family.

Care Partners are typically members of the congregation who rely on the support of Care Team Ministry.

A Care Team Leader at each church receives referrals for potential Care Partners, matches a team of volunteers with a Care Partner, conducts monthly meetings for the volunteers, and promotes the ministry in the congregation.

Setting up a care team for someone generally involves three steps by the Care Team Leader:

Receive a referral, usually from a pastor, parish nurse, family member, or individual.
Assess the Care Partner's needs.
Match an appropriate team of volunteers to the Care Partner.

How Care Team Ministry is Unique:

Many other congregation-based programs focus on a one-to-one relationship. Care Team Ministry, however, creates a team of volunteers around the needs of an individual or a family. This structure provides more flexibility-- everyone can share his/her special gift, and no one gets burned out because there is a team to support one person's or one family's needs. Usually, team volunteers provide their services by setting up a schedule and taking turns. Sometimes, though, volunteers partner together to provide a service. Again, the luxury of flexibility enables Care Team Volunteers and Partners to create what works for each situation.

What Care Teams Do:

Care Teams function as extended family members doing a broad range of activities:

l regular visits,
l light yard work or household chores,
l shopping assistance,
l transportation, or
l support for family caregivers.

Friendships develop, reducing loneliness and isolation.

The care team responds uniquely to the Care Partner’s needs. Teams may grow as a Care Partner's needs increase. In other situations, a team may just step in during a transitional period in someone's life.

"I don't know what I'd do without my Care Team!"
-Dorothy, Care Partner

Serving

Any member of a participating congregation who has a desire to nurture a friendship and live one's faith is encouraged to join Care Team Ministry. People of all ages are welcome to volunteer. Volunteers give of their time and talents as they are able, relying on the power and support of the overall team to meet the Care Partner's needs.

God calls us to be in relationship with one another. Care Team Ministry Volunteers develop lasting friendships with their Care Partners, and those friendships strengthen the fabric of the community. Volunteers also discover that in giving of their time and abilities, their own faith grows.

If you are feeling called to serve, please contact the Care Team Leader at your church.

"My life is so busy right now, I can only give one hour a month. It's great knowing that when I can't visit my Care Partner, someone else on the team can."
-Bob, Care Team Ministry Volunteer

"After I raked a member's yard, she thanked me. Her words of appreciation were her gift to me. Now I know what 'blessed to be a blessing' means."
-Sarah, 15, Care Team Ministry Volunteer

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."
-1 John 4:12

Receiving

Sometimes it’s hard to let others help us.

As a Care Partner in receiving the service of others, you are giving others the opportunity to serve, as Jesus served. You are giving the gift of gratitude to the volunteer(s)--gratitude for having gifts to share with you. Care Team Ministry Volunteers expect nothing in return for their services--you do not owe them anything.

If you are in need of service or know someone who might benefit from Care Team Ministry, please contact the Care Team Leader at your church. Contact information is in the back of this brochure.

A Few Examples of How a Care Team May Work:

A care team of three volunteers is partnered with an elderly man who has trouble walking. One volunteer visits weekly to play cards, write letters, etc. The second volunteer comes monthly to do housecleaning. The third volunteer comes approximately once a week to do grocery shopping. This team is helping this elderly man to stay living in his own home--a freedom that this man highly values.
A care team of five assists a young family going through a difficult time by helping with meal preparation and errands.
A care team of two for a vision-impaired person gives rides to and from appointments and assists with grocery shopping.
A care team of three offers assistance to a spouse whose husband has Alzheimer's.
A care team does yard work and home repairs for a woman with physical limitations.

"As a Care Team Leader, I’ve received so much joy and satisfaction. It’s been fun to see the ministry grow in our church. I appreciate the hands-on guidance from Lyngblomsten--
I know I’m never alone in overseeing our church’s Care Team Ministry Program."
-Paul, Care Team Ministry Leader

Program Support

Through Lyngblomsten, Care Team Ministry Volunteers receive a thorough orientation and have the opportunity to attend education forums throughout the year addressing such topics as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, depression, aging, grief and loss, and listening skills. Care Team Ministry Volunteers gather monthly to share their ideas and questions and to support each other. Here they are renewed in their outreach to others.

In addition to the ongoing education the Lyngblomsten Care Team Coordinator provides each congregation, additional support is given to strengthen their program. This support includes publicity and recruiting, marketing materials preparation, event coordination, and more.

To contact Lyngblomsten’s Care Team Ministry Coordinator, please call (651) 632-5333.

"The education forums have really helped me. I wasn't sure what to say to my Care Partner at first, but the presenter gave me several good ideas."
-Julie, Care Team Ministry Volunteer

Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is of utmost importance in preserving the integrity of the program. Trained Care Team Ministry Volunteers fully respect a Care Partner's privacy. They understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality about that individual's needs at all times. Care Team Ministry seeks permission from Care Partners before using photos or quotes to promote the program.

“Receiving is often harder than giving. Sometimes it is only in the eyes of the receivers that givers discover their gifts.”
--From Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen

Care Team Ministry is affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson national Faith in Action program.
The program at your church is made possible through a partnership with Lyngblomsten and your church.
Financial support provided by gifts through the Lyngblomsten Foundation.