Cordele First UMCs CARE Team gives sweet gift of love
On a clear day in April 2009, three members of Cordele First United Methodist Church flew to Rome, Ga. to meet with members of Trinity United Methodist Church. What they brought back to Cordele has transformed the church.
Linda Osborne, Joyce Miller and Mitch Mitchell, along with Greg Turton, a Baptist, flew to the north Georgia town to meet with Trinity UMC’s Lifestyle Relational Evangelism (LRE) teams. Mitchell, who had visited Trinity UMC in the past, knew of the church’s LRE teams and thought it was something Cordele First UMC needed to implement.
After their brief meeting and orientation, the others agreed.
One month later, in May 2009, Cordele First UMC’s Care and Relational Encouragement (CARE) Team Ministry began.
Every Monday night at 6 p.m., members of the CARE Team meet in the church’s fellowship hall, gather together for prayer, and divide into groups of two, three or four. They depart and descend on the town, visiting sick church members, shut-ins, families with new babies and recent church visitors. They take cookies, brownies, preserves or bread to every home, giving the sweet homemade treats to help show the sweet love of Christ.
“We want to let the members and the community know that Jesus cares for each one of them,” said CARE Team coordinator Linda Osborne. “We hope it lets them know that we care, too; that’s the intention.”
When they saw that church attendance was stagnant, members of Cordele First UMC realized that they needed to find ways to expand their evangelistic ministry and reach out into the community. In the 16 months since the CARE ministry was launched, Osborne says that she has noticed that the people who are visited on Monday nights often return to church Sunday morning.
“I’ve seen people come back (to church) that might not otherwise have come back, and I’ve seen people join that might not have otherwise joined.” she said.
More than 40 people of all ages are involved in the CARE Team ministry. One couple makes the evening a night of family ministry, bringing their three young children each Monday.
Not expecting to be invited into homes, CARE Team members don’t call before a visit except during the dark winter hours. With a loaf of bread, a bag of cookies or another homemade sweet treat in hand, they just want people to know they are thought about, cared about and remembered. If no one answers the door, they leave the goodies and a special hanger on the home’s doorknob, letting the residents know they were visited.
“They appreciate it,” Osborne said. “The people we have visited, especially the elderly and those that have been sick, appreciate knowing that the church cares. I don’t think people really appreciate the Care Team until they have a need. We hope it lets them know that we care.”
While the ministry is outreach oriented, members have seen the team’s impact inside the church, as well.
“It seemed like our attendance had been down and we needed something upbeat, some lift up in the church, and we thought that maybe this would help do that, and it has,” said CARE Team member Loraine Jones. “The shut-ins at our church love it.”
It’s also impacting the lives of those who serve.
“It helps me to have close relationships with the people on the CARE Team,” Jones said. “I’ve bonded with them. It’s also helped me grow closer to the Lord by seeing a different aspect of the work being done.”
In addition to the Monday night home visits, the CARE Team also sends cards, sponsors college students, serves communion one Monday a month, and more.
“We rejoice and thank God for letting us share His love,” Osborne said.
--By Kara Witherow, South Georgia Advocate editor
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