By Dr. Ron Mackey, Vice President, Community Engagement
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
In over 10 years’ experience in writing articles for our communications with you, our supporters, I have referenced/written about prayer over 30 times (thanks, Microsoft Co-Pilot!). While that may seem redundant, let us remember that Jesus instructed us to pray for our daily bread. There are needs that our ministry faces on an ongoing basis that will likely never change or not need prayer. I would like to bring those before you again this month.
Long-term care has become the most highly regulated industry in America, recently surpassing the nuclear power industry. Every day, moment by moment, we encounter a vast array of regulations that oversee the physical safety of our buildings, the dietary needs of our residents, the health and social vitality of our residents, as well as the needs of our employees. Each day we make decisions that have a significant impact on the wellbeing of those for whom we are called to care. Pray for us that at every level we will follow this array of regulations, not just because we are required to, but as a means of bringing glory to our God!
Providing care for the elderly requires a person-centered approach. We are not making widgets here at The Baptist Homes. We are caring for your loved ones. Our task— our calling— is to do so in a Christ-honoring way. In order to do this, we must recruit, employ, develop and retain Christ-called staff. Finding that ‘calling’ requires more than deciphering words in a job application— it requires a heart that seeks to hear the direction of the Holy Spirit as we hire. This insight is necessary in the hiring process for all positions as we need Christ-called staff in laundry services, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, administration and nursing. Pray for us that we will do that hard thing and seek out those staff whose hearts already beat for the aging or whose hearts can be molded towards that purpose.
Pray for us as we seek to communicate in a new world and a new context. Having received certification as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, we are learning how to communicate in a new world. We are now geographically and financially available to more aging seniors than we’ve ever been before. We need the right mechanisms and plan to communicate this availability in bold and new ways. We covet your prayers in this area.
You will read in this newsletter about our 21-day prayer initiative. This would be a great time to commit to praying for Baptist Homes. This prayer guide will inform your prayer throughout this season. Thank you for your continued support! Remember, the most important thing you can do for us is pray!
