What can the Parish Nurse program do for us?
CBF has begun a Parish Nurse program. We’ll be talking a lot about it over the coming year, examining various aspects of the ministry, and answering people’s most common questions. However, we’d like to give you an overview of where we see the PN program going. The following are services the nurses will provide our congregation.
- 1 Samuel 25:6 HCSB … 'Long life to you, and peace to you, to your family, and to all that is yours.
CBF has begun a Parish Nurse program. We’ll be talking a lot about it over the coming year, examining various aspects of the ministry, and answering people’s most common questions. However, we’d like to give you an overview of where we see the PN program going. The following are services the nurses will provide our congregation.
- Integrator – Integrate faith and health; i.e. translate Scriptural views into medical and bio-ethics. No advice you receive will run counter to the clear teachings of the Scriptures.
- Educator – Provide educational programs in areas such as health screenings, illness prevention, and immunizations. Also provide short-term courses (breast cancer, diabetes, bone health, depression, advance directives; cardiac disease; infertility; nutrition); website help; and literature for the library or pamphlets
- Counselor – offer basic advice ranging from child-care to long-term facility care issues to combined medications, lifestyles, diagnostic tests etc.
- Advocate or navigator – help our people find their way through the health-care system
- Referral agent – point individuals to specialized programs or doctors that may offer better help for their cases
- Leader – initiate and organize specialized, short term courses or of longer-term support groups (e.g. young parents, addicts, elderly, chronically ill; grief; weight loss etc.)
- Trainer – recruit and train volunteers that could assist the program
- Healer – Medical – screen for hypertension, flu shot clinics, health fairs, blood drives, visiting the homebound; and Spiritual – listen, pray, conduct simple Bible studies, read devotions, help people who are suffering
- Scout – be on the front lines of observation within the people’s normal everyday lives so that health trends that would not be noticed in a doctor’s brief visit will not fall through the cracks.
Why are you creating a Parish Nurse program?
First, CBF has self-sufficiency as a core principle of its culture. Two of the seven key principles include:
Second, we see the example of Phoebe in the Bible (Romans 16:1-2). She was a deaconess at the church of Cenchrea, sent by Paul to Rome, who is described as “a benefactor of many”. The term translated as “benefactor” here is the Greek term prostatidos which is the feminine version of the noun proistemi. Prostatidos means a female who is set over others as a guardian, protectress, and patroness who cares for others and aids them out of her resources. In this sense, Phoebe was a prostatidos of the Cenchrean and Roman churches in the same sense that the Good Samaritan was for the man who had been beaten and left for dead.
Third, we further see the basis of this program in the Ideal Woman of Proverbs 31 who reaches out to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (v.20).
Who serves on the wellness team?
Who is in charge?
At CBF, we observe the principle of plurality of leadership. For example, all the elders are accountable to each other. Though the elders manage God’s house, they delegate certain responsibilities to the deacons. No one person is so critical that they are not expendable. Nevertheless, any creature with two or more heads is a monster. It remains necessary to have one person who has the “big picture” and through whom the majority of communication flows. For the Parish Nurse program that is Shari Langley. If anyone, whether serving on the PN team or being served by the PN team, would like to either share or receive information, we strongly recommend that you make Shari your first stop.
To whom does the PN answer in the church?
The PN program falls under the deacons (see Romans 16:1-2), specifically Gemilut Haredim (or as it’s known in English, “Inreach”). Roy Langley is in charge of that team, but communications may run through Eric Kelly. Roy may serve as a conduit of information to and from the Council when Shari cannot address the Council herself.
Is the position paid?
No it is not at this point. We hope that, as the congregation grows, the position may evolve into at least a part-time position.
How will the program be funded?
Some of the literature will be offered through the Trinity Health Care system free of charge. Some literature will be offered through the Health Department free of charge. Some of the events from which we will benefit will arrive as a result of the hard work of the Health Department seeking grants.
Not everything will be free, of course. For such things we will be seeking special offerings or individual donations. Anyone who is a recipient of the benefits of the program should consider making a free-will donation of money, time, or resources so that others may also be served especially since two other basic principles of the Adonaic lifestyle of self-sufficiency include:
What about insurance and liability?
Trinity Health Care System’s insurance will cover our events and services. We will be circumspect with our advice, staying well within the boundaries of what our nurse’s licenses allow. Individual events like Health Fairs, the Tooth Mobile, or immunizations will be staffed by and covered by the Health Department. We will simply be operating as their hosts.
Events in 2015
Goals for the future
First, CBF has self-sufficiency as a core principle of its culture. Two of the seven key principles include:
- Do not be dependent on outsiders (1 Thessalonians 4:12 cp Galatians 6:2) or on the government (Psalm 62:9; 118:8-9; 146:3-6; Isaiah 2:22; Jeremiah 17:5-8).
- Prepare for difficult times (Proverbs 22:3; 27:12; 31:25; Genesis 7:5-7; 41:35-36; Acts 11:28-30).
Second, we see the example of Phoebe in the Bible (Romans 16:1-2). She was a deaconess at the church of Cenchrea, sent by Paul to Rome, who is described as “a benefactor of many”. The term translated as “benefactor” here is the Greek term prostatidos which is the feminine version of the noun proistemi. Prostatidos means a female who is set over others as a guardian, protectress, and patroness who cares for others and aids them out of her resources. In this sense, Phoebe was a prostatidos of the Cenchrean and Roman churches in the same sense that the Good Samaritan was for the man who had been beaten and left for dead.
Third, we further see the basis of this program in the Ideal Woman of Proverbs 31 who reaches out to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (v.20).
Who serves on the wellness team?
- Shari Langley- [email protected]; 309-738-4207 or call me on my confidential work phone- 309-779-2624
- Cherie Walker
- Shannon Van Zummeren
- Carmen Figanbaum
- Michelle McDaniel
- Lindy Shaw
- Carla Ewing (as an advisor from the Health Dept)
- Linda Guibert (as an advisor from Trinity)
Who is in charge?
At CBF, we observe the principle of plurality of leadership. For example, all the elders are accountable to each other. Though the elders manage God’s house, they delegate certain responsibilities to the deacons. No one person is so critical that they are not expendable. Nevertheless, any creature with two or more heads is a monster. It remains necessary to have one person who has the “big picture” and through whom the majority of communication flows. For the Parish Nurse program that is Shari Langley. If anyone, whether serving on the PN team or being served by the PN team, would like to either share or receive information, we strongly recommend that you make Shari your first stop.
To whom does the PN answer in the church?
The PN program falls under the deacons (see Romans 16:1-2), specifically Gemilut Haredim (or as it’s known in English, “Inreach”). Roy Langley is in charge of that team, but communications may run through Eric Kelly. Roy may serve as a conduit of information to and from the Council when Shari cannot address the Council herself.
Is the position paid?
No it is not at this point. We hope that, as the congregation grows, the position may evolve into at least a part-time position.
How will the program be funded?
Some of the literature will be offered through the Trinity Health Care system free of charge. Some literature will be offered through the Health Department free of charge. Some of the events from which we will benefit will arrive as a result of the hard work of the Health Department seeking grants.
Not everything will be free, of course. For such things we will be seeking special offerings or individual donations. Anyone who is a recipient of the benefits of the program should consider making a free-will donation of money, time, or resources so that others may also be served especially since two other basic principles of the Adonaic lifestyle of self-sufficiency include:
- Pay your obligations and do not owe anyone anything (Romans 13:7-8).
- Have a little left over to help the poor (Galatians 2:10; Psalm 41:1) especially those in the brotherhood (Galatians 6:10).
What about insurance and liability?
Trinity Health Care System’s insurance will cover our events and services. We will be circumspect with our advice, staying well within the boundaries of what our nurse’s licenses allow. Individual events like Health Fairs, the Tooth Mobile, or immunizations will be staffed by and covered by the Health Department. We will simply be operating as their hosts.
Events in 2015
- Blood Pressure Clinics
- Health Fair in September
- Blood Drives
- "Walk to Jerusalem" Program
Goals for the future
- Hold health fairs, flu clinics, foot clinics, immunizations, etc.
- Give rides to folks needing to see their doctors
- Advise on the meals that heal
- Offer nutritional advice
- Promote physical exercise
- BP checks
- First Aide stations