Upon arrival, our team, consisting of four deaconesses and myself, received a warm welcome from the elderly couple. They were delighted to have us visit with them. We were surprised by their optimism and cheerful disposition. Despite their grim health, they were happy to see us.
Mr. and Mrs. Constable,* both in their mid-eighties, were both terminally ill with cancer. They were still able to live on their own with some help from family and friends. We hardly noticed the slight smell that an illness will sometimes generate.
We chatted and sang songs of praise. How blessed and beautiful those hymns sounded to our ears. What a joy to see warm smiles on the faces of this endearing couple.
Mr. Constable, a gifted musician, was unable to play for us due to his illness, yet he mentioned that he was looking forward to playing again someday for church service.
After a Scripture reading, I took the communion bread and the grape juice. The wafer felt like heaven to hold, and the grape juice was a purple/red color that represented the precious blood of Jesus. We reflected on the words of Jesus and with the help of the deaconesses, we all partook of the communion bread and grape juice.
Mr. and Mrs. Constable expressed their gratitude for our visit with them. Such a simple yet sacred service. To my knowledge it was the last communion service given to the Constables. Shortly after our visit, both Mr. and Mrs. Constable succumbed to the cancer.
My most joyful experience as an elder is when I can reach out to the unfortunate in their time of need. “For I was hungry; and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:35, 36 NKJV).
As disciples, we must follow Him. We must do as He did. Jesus made house calls and so must we (Matthew 8:14, 15, Luke 8:51-55 and Luke 14:1). The early Christian church made house call (Acts 5:42 and Acts 20:20). We must also follow suit.
Ellen White comments: “Remember that a minister‘s work does not consist merely in preaching. He is to visit families in their homes, to pray with them, and to open to them the Scriptures. He who does faithful work outside of the pulpit will accomplish tenfold more then he who confines his labors to the desk” (Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 124).
We must not neglect this most important ministry. If your church already has a visitation ministry, make sure it is active. If your church does not have one, here are some guidelines to get you started:
1. Make a visitation plan.
2. Discuss the plan with your pastor.
3. Evaluate your church’s visitation ministry and make any necessary changes or improvements.
4. Recruit a team to work with you.
5. Get input from your ministry team.
6. Provide visitation ministry training for the team.
7. Determine which church members need visits; this should be done on an ongoing basis.
8. Create a visitation schedule.
9. Stay committed to your visitation schedule and adjust it as needed.
10. Make a commitment to keep the command of Jesus found in John 13:34, 35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
*Pseudonym
Michael Stango is an ordained elder, who works in the Telecommunications department at the General Conference. He is also currently active in prison ministry.
