Contrary to popular belief- THERE IS A NEED:

Secular hospitals, police departments, secular staffed nursing homes, military institutions all employ a full time staffed chaplain to care for the spiritual needs of their workers. Why is it that the churches cannot staff a pastor to care for the needs of God’s aged sheep? Many of whom are totally secluded within the confines of nursing homes without any spiritual hope!

Churches support Senior Pastors, Associate Pastors, Music Directors, Sunday School Directors, Professional: Musicians, Janitors; Evangelists, Foreign Missionaries, why is it the church can find no funding to provide full time pastors for nursing homes residents.  May I remind the churches of America, nursing home residents are not second class citizens or any less important in the sight of God.  Scripture tells us that God is no respecter of persons!  Perhaps many churches have fallen victim to the current Laodician Church age mind set. Many of God’s chosen church leaders simply overlook nursing homes because they feel the residents have noting advantageous to offer their particular local church; IE: no tithe, no energy, no special favors!  Only God knows.

I know, I’ve heard it a couple of hundred times: each church has their own nursing home ministries/lay people who provide for the needs of their church member nursing home saints who find themselves in nursing homes (what about those without any prior church affiliation).  This would be great if it were happening, but it isn’t!!

The nursing home ministries I have seen are not a priority for most churches; they receive: no quality leadership (senior, associate pastors with some seminary type or form of biblical education); no financial funding (how is a ministry to be effective with no money); little encouragement and are usually considered to be a ministry for the ladies (bless their hearts) to head up! I have been doing this type of ministry since 1988 and it is a very difficult thing to get men to become involved for whatever reason.  We need to really evaluate if in fact the church (this is NT church where everything is supposed to be run through the church; correct) is meeting the needs of the nursing home communities.  Yes, I do believe that God has gifted many to work in this particular ministry!

The world has a name for it (a failure to provide for the essential needs of those who are unable) when it involves children (and we are speaking of God’s children) it is simply called “neglect,” we all know it exists.  Many will die (2000) today, many in hospitals all alone (family is dead or just doesn’t care) or even in the nursing home itself.  Our nursing home seniors deserve better and someone will have to make a difference, that’s where “Sounds of Joy Ministries” comes in.

My goal (as founder and Pastor) is two fold.

1. I wish my primary focus to be on that of providing pastoral provision to the forgotten. In order to accomplish the first we are progressing towards it through the second:
2. To establish an active nursing home ministry evangelistic outreach (through ministry teams) with a united effort of Jacksonville Florida’s Churches!  This ministry is as any other, we get what we put into it.  Here is what I need:

• Local church pastors to allow me to come speak to them (many won’t even return my calls or e-mails!).  I get the impression that they can’t be bothered!
• This ministry must be promoted in the church (by the pastor [it begins with the leadership], I will provide programs and opportunities for involvement)
• Financial backing (as with any ministry) for full time staff (FULL TIME pastors/FULL TIME secretaries for starters) and programs (it all takes money).
• A) We are currently paying for things through personal love gifts from church members and family.  This is not taken to support us in our ministerial efforts both me and my wife work full time secular jobs. I feel that burden should come through local churches as with any other missionary effort.