Delivering Hope and Joy: Special Delivery Packages from Joni and Friends

        	              

—by Mary Van Der Werf, RN, FCN, Elim FCN Coordinator, Brooklyn Park EFC Parish Nurse




Brooklyn Park EFC Special DeliveryEach year Brooklyn Park EFC takes time to deliver Special Delivery Packages provided by Joni and Friends.  In collaboration with the church staff, the parish nurse creates a listing of persons who have varied disabilities or chronic illnesses, those who are homebound and their caregivers too.  We then contact our local Joni and Friends organization with a short anonymous intro of each client (age, ability to read, etc).  Joni and Friends gathers gifts and we wrap the packages of pertinent items (books, music, scarves, blankets, DVD, biblical characters, teddy bears, etc).  A card/letter is attached noting the gift is given by Joni and Friends and our local church. Volunteers of all ages (staff too) are recruited to personally deliver packages with a hug, a song, an encouraging word and prayer. 



Creates relationships



Why do we continue to do this year after year? We’ve found this ministry creates relatoinships, awareness, understanding, serving and encouragement to both the deliverer and the receiver. Special Delivery provides connections all during the process.  Even the pre-giving activities create relationships with one another in our church. Time spent sorting and wrapping the gifts with love and flair generates communication as we work together. When it comes time to sign up for the gift one wants to deliver, we see people wanting to go back to the person they visited last year.  It is an intergenerational activity as both adults and children find just the right package to deliver. Love bonds the visited to the church.



Creates awareness



This ministry brings to mind the sometimes forgotten persons in our congregation.  Soon those who can no longer attend church on Sunday, those who live a long distance or have transportation issues, those who suffer with illnesses and the caregivers that take care of them 24/7…develop an identity.  Sometimes Joni and Friends or their disability is their only connection with our church.  Special Delivery visits also create an awareness of ministries we have at our church like our Encouragement Support Group for those with chronic illness/disabilities.  Most of all it creates an awareness of God’s love as we bring these gifts in Jesus’ name.



CassieCreates understanding



This ministry creates an understanding in our congregation of just what a disability is and how important it is to reach out in love.  Church members begin to understand just how alone other people may feel.  They begin to understand disabilities are often ‘unseen.’ They become aware of needs to pray for and pay attention to.



Creates serving



One lady who volunteered to wrap gifts told us, “I can’t afford to give presents anymore, but I just love to wrap gifts.”  Another commented, “Do you have another gift I can deliver?  I enjoyed delivering the first one so much!”  Making visits allows a person to carry out their passion and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.  Even those visited have responded by wanting to serve too.  One said, “I want to be involved too.  What can I do to reach out?”  The attitude of serving others becomes contagious.



Creates avenues for encouragement



A personal visit from members of a church family is so meaningful.  Some of the comments shared after Brooklyn EFC member visits:



    

  • “We are watching Joni’s DVD this afternoon.”
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  • “How did you know that was our favorite musical group to listen to?”
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  • “This was our Christmas this year as we could not afford to give gifts.”
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  • “Can I have the same family visit as last year? Their 5 year old was like an angel when she sang to me.”
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The Joni and Friend’s Special Delivery project develops unity in our church body. At the same time it also provides support and relieves some of the daily stresses experienced by those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.



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