Despite our belief that only the elderly become ill, nearly 1 in 2 people in the US have a chronic condition, 60% of the people who suffer with daily pain or illness are between the ages of 18 and 64. Churches are well-equipped to reach out to those with acute illnesses or surgeries, but when it comes to chronic conditions, these people are often left misunderstood and alone with very little practical assistance or emotional support.

Over 100 million people in the USA, about 1 in 2, have a
chronic illness. That means, if you are not the one
suffering from chronic pain, chances are someone you care
about is dealing with it silently.

Oftentimes a chronic illness, such as chronic fatigue
syndrome, or chronic pain like migraines or back pain, is
undetectable to those around them. It may surprise you to
know that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,
approximately 96% of the people who have an illness do not
use an assistive device, like a cane or a wheelchair. Pain
is nearly always invisible. Those that are ill usually do
everything that they can to get to church. They want to be
part of the church community and they appear to be healthy.
Still, just sitting through the service can be extremely
difficult.

As someone who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, I remember
standing during worship and grasping onto the pew in front
of me to balance. My knees both need joint replacements and
my feet are somewhat deformed. And then the worship team
began singing a song that had the lyrics, "I will stand in
spite of pain." I rolled my eyes and my husband said, "It's
just an expression." Of course, I knew this, but the timing
was ironic.

Even as I was surrounded by people in a church I loved, I
still felt as though no one understood what I was going
through-physically or emotionally.

It's obvious that churches already have an overwhelming
amount of needs that must be fulfilled. Some of these needs
are obvious and they often rise to the top of the priority
list. So when people don't even verbalize about their pain
level or illness symptoms that change their lifestyle, it's
hard to understand where a church could begin to help.
Pastors ask, "If they aren't speaking up, then doesn't that
mean they are coping with it fine? They believe in God and
we have a healing service every six months. Isn't that
enough?"

Let's take a glimpse at some astonishing statistics:

- Despite what we may assume, 60% of those who live with
daily illness or pain are between the ages of 18 and 64. -
The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75
percent. - Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically
ill than for the average person. - Various studies have
reported that physical illness or uncontrollable physical
pain is major factors in up to 70% of suicides.*

So there is a cause for concern. Whether a pastor or church
leadership can see it or not, those church pews are packed
with ailing bodies. And the suffering bodies are filled with
broken spirits. These are the broken-hearted that Jesus
promises blessings for.

But the question is, if people aren't talking about their
pain, how do you know how to reach out to them? How can you
understand their needs?

(1) First, do a survey in your church to find out what some
of the needs are that people may not be talking out loud
about. This is particularly important if you are in a large
church; this is because a recent Barna group study
discovered that larger churches were the least likely to
mention congregational care ministries as a priority (Church
Priorities for 2005 Vary Considerably). When people don't
feel a personal connection to the church staff or others,
they are less likely to share their vulnerabilities. Too
frequently, they are given a list of healing scriptures and
sent on their way.

In your survey ask questions such as, "If we provided a van
for transportation to church events, would it increase your
attendance? If our service was online as a web cast, would
you listen or watch it when you were too ill to attend? Do
you know who to contact at our church if you have personal
needs for personal assistance (especially when your
condition is chronic, not acute)? Would having the song
lyrics available on paper be easier for you to see than just
having the overhead? How could we make the service more
comfortable for you, for example, are the seats
comfortable?" Sit down with a group of people who manage
daily chronic pain and ask them for a wish list. Then
prioritize what your church can do immediately and what
should be longer term goals.

(2) Start a small group/Bible study for people who cope with
illness. Rest Ministries is the largest Christian
organization for the chronically ill and they have a program
called HopeKeepers. You can find resource materials, group
studies, leader support, and books, CDs and more for
training. Though a church may assume their current small
groups are meeting this needs, people with illness grow
weary of talking and praying about their illness week after
week with people who don't understand the daily-ness of
illness. When there is a place where everyone can "speak the
same language" and even laugh at the same tales can be
reviving. Even if just two people show p, it can be
life-changing for those two. Be a church that recognizes
chronic illness is difficult to live with and provide an
oasis from it.

(3) Have special guest speakers encourage your church body.
There are dozens of people who have physical disabilities
that go to churches and share their testimony about what God
has done in their life. Allowing them to be at the pulpit
and share what God has done in their lives, despite physical
challenges and set backs, sends a message to those that are
ill that you recognize their needs, you care, and most of
all, that you believe they are still worthy to be used by
God. People such as Dave Dravecky, Renee Bondi, Joni
Eareckson Tada, and many others, minister to the masses, not
just those with disabilities.

(4) Consider adding a parish nurse to your staff, especially
if your church body has a lot of seniors. According to the
Marquette University College of Nursing, the number of
parish nurses in United States is estimated to be about
6000. Many retired nurses are finding this area of ministry
appealing and parish nurse certification can be found at
most hospitals. The parish nurse position description can
include anything from going to homes to monitor diabetes or
high blood pressure of church members to organizing health
fairs, screenings, and walking groups. The role of the
parish nurse may cover the needs of your illness and
disability ministries, depending on the demographics of your
church. A parish nurse would also work closely with the
congregational care pastor.

(5) Stock up on caring resources that are available for
people to borrow. Lots of people with chronic illness are on
a fixed-income but they truly want the encouragement. Your
church library should carry your many books on living with
chronic illness such as "Why Can't I Make People
Understand?" or "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a
Chronically Ill Friend," by Lisa Copen or Joni Eareckson
Tada's amazing book, "When God Weeps." Purchase a few
subscriptions to magazines such as "HopeKeepers",
"Guideposts" and even "Fibromyalgia Aware." Don't forget
books on tape, audio presentations and large-print materials
whenever they are available. Put up flyers or have brochures
available about chronic illness or disability ministries.
These include Joni and Friend's "Wheels for the World"
program or Rest Ministries' annual outreach, "National
Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week." Recruit a
volunteer to assemble binders of information about national
ministries and local resources. Also include Christian
organizations, magazines and newsletters on topics of
interest to Christian seniors, those who live with
disabilities and illness, and caregivers.

(6) Finally, and perhaps most importantly, keep in mind that
people with illness want to help serve. Not just be served.
Proverbs 11:25 says, "He who refreshes others will himself
be refreshed." For example, if a woman with a chronic
illness explains that she must resign from teaching Sunday
school, make sure she knows that she is welcome to serve in
other ways when she is ready. Though she no longer is
physically able to teach four-year-olds, she may discover
that she loves writing notes to people who have just been
diagnosed with a chronic illness. A man may discover that he
prefers mentoring another man with a chronic illness
one-on-one, instead of leading a weekly Bible study. Let
people know that you value wounded healers and that your
church believes that God comforts us "so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

About twice a month someone tells me that they went to their
pastor with a request to start a chronic illness HopeKeepers
ministry and they were told, "Come back when you are healed
and then we will talk. You can't very well minister to
others with illness when you aren't even healed yourself."
The broken hearts that arise from these comments is
unbearable. It's devastating to feel like God is using your
illness for His glory and then be told you are no longer
useful to the church-or even to God-until you are healed.

In Luke 14:21 Jesus shares a parable of a great banquet.
When the host's hospitality is turned down by his friends he
responds by commanding, "Go out quickly into the streets and
alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the
blind and the lame." This is still a mandate to us today,
but we must remember that to provide a place where we offer
hospitality, we must first "go out" into our own pews and
provide a place of refuge; as we make small changes in our
church to create that oasis for people with illness, then
these people in our church will naturally be comforted. And
then they will go out into the community with open arms of
understanding and minister to others along this journey.

Sources: http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/statistics.htm

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