Christian Worldview Concepts

Church Based Medicine

Philosophy of Ministry Operations

This ministry operates from a philosophy and vision that is faith-based, with a strong commitment to the highest standards of medical care, support services and to the continual improvement of these components. It would be advisable for such a ministry to meet the accreditation standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations. The congregational nursing ministry is under the authority of the local church or the appointed leaders of partnering local churches. This presupposes that the churches involved are full partners and that they have given a high priority to the ministry's vision in their strategic planning. It may be difficult for one local church to accomplish this alone.

The philosophy of ministry utilized by the ministry is based upon three pillars: 1) Personal; 2) Challenging; 3) Spiritual. First, the ministry must be personal in the sense that those providing assistance come to personally know those individuals receiving assistance. A bond must be developed between provider and recipient in order for the outcome to be that of moving the person toward interdependence, rather than dependence. This is modeled after the ministry of Christ, who despite being God, became a man and lived among humans, cultivating personal relationships and communicating His love through both a spoken message and acts of kindness and compassion.

Secondly, the program must be challenging to the recipient. It must require something more from them than merely showing up to receive benefits. There must be accountability built into the program or it will fail. The ministry operates from the perspective that individuals who receive benefits should pay something. Fees-for-service are provided on a sliding scale based upon the ability to pay. In some instances this means the recipient engages in some form of work at the church in exchange for services. Most local churches have available a myriad of opportunities for individuals to perform tasks in exchange for services rendered. For those who cannot perform tasks due to advanced illness, age or disability services may be rendered free of charge.

Thirdly, the program must be spiritual. The ministry is multifaceted and is grounded in a set of core values and processes based in Scripture. All service personnel must consistently convey the biblical message of faith and hope centered in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The motivation for engaging in this work is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ, and to move people toward a deepening, personal relationship with Him. Also, the guiding principles of the ministry find their rationale in biblical teaching, therefore, it is crucial that all personnel have a personal commitment to Christ, His Word and the local church. Likewise, it is important that recipients be challenged to look beyond their "felt" needs toward their ultimate needs, especially their need for a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.