November Update

We've just returned from a "whirlwind" trip to Ohio for a missions conference, and then to Kentucky, to present our work in our son's church. It started out in Conneaut, Ohio, where we made our annual appearance at the South Ridge Baptist Church, where Dr. Roger Hogle is the pastor. This church has supported our ministry ever since we began back in 2006. Because we live relatively close, they ask us to come to their annual Missions Conference every year. We always enjoy seeing old friends and meeting up with new missionaries, preparing to go to the field, as well as "veterans who are home on furlough. This year South Ridge celebrated 50 years of Missions and we are thankful to be counted as part of their missionary family. We showed our newest video about our work, and I was able to preach one of the evening services.

Two days later we were on our way to Fairdale, Kentucky, where our son, Jason, pastors the Harvest Baptist Church. What a wonderful group of people! We have visited our family and the church several times, but this was the first time officially presenting our nursing home ministry before the church. The church has begun to visit a nursing home, and the brother in charge "picked my brain" about how to effectively conduct services that will honor the Lord. I was glad to share what God has showed us over the years. After showing one of our older videos, that more completely documents the need for a multiple nursing home ministry such as ours, I was privileged to preach a message I've entitled, "Three Things Everybody Wants To Know". I believe the Lord uses this message to stir hearts to consider the importance of reaching the souls of the elderly.

We arrived home on a Thursday evening, and the next morning we were right back at the work, ministering at one of our favorite facilities, the Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Ashtabula, Ohio. The people are so friendly there and are eager to hear the Word. Then, on Sunday, we had a great service at the Crawford County Care Center in our home town of Saegertown, PA. As I preached on the Parable of the Sower, the people were very responsive. After the service was over, one dear lady asked if she could give me a hug! I told her it would be all right, as I approached her wheelchair. As she hugged me, she told me how much she appreciated what had been preached. Something like this makes it all worthwhile. These are dear souls, many of whom are born-again believers who are hungry to be fed from the Word of God. Others are hearing the "good news" of the gospel for perhaps the first time. There is a sense of urgency about the work we do, and we are thankful to every church and individual who supports our ministry, enabling us to stay at the task of bringing Christ to, as we say, "the people group nearest eternity"!

Missionary Pastor Norm Aabye
C.A.R.E. Ministries

Autumn 2018 Update

Autumn, 2018

Dear Praying Friends,

First of all, we would like to thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting our work among “America's Fastest Growing, Yet Most Neglected Mission Field: The Elderly in Nursing Homes”! The ministry here in northwest PA and northeast OH continues to be blessed by the Lord. We have seen souls saved and those who are Christians, encouraged. The enthusiasm expressed for such a ministry as ours is a validation of the great need that exists.

As I write this update, we are preparing a new video about our ministry to share in missions conferences this Autumn entitled, “Who Really Cares?”. We believe it will be a challenge to the indifference that

NEW! "Who Really Cares?" Video

exists in our society towards the elderly, as well as a startling reminder of the value of reaching those “nearest eternity” while there's still time. It is really more of a recruiting video which we hope will move others to consider engaging in a multiple-nursing home minstry like ours. Since 2010-11, when the “Baby Boomer” generation started turning 65, the need for more and larger nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and Alzheimer Care units, along with rehabilitation, centers has grown. The nursing home continues to be an untapped, and largely unreached, mission field. Each Bible-believing church would have to have 14 nursing home ministries just to meet the current need. Of course, that's likely impossible, making the development and support of ministries like ours a necessity. We would love to come to your church and share an update of what God has been doing in our ministry, and to show this new video. Just let us know so that we can add you to our schedule.

We would appreciate your prayers in a number of areas.

First of all, for travel safety as we head out to Ohio and Kentucky this month to share our ministry for the first time in a new church, and to attend a missions conference with a church that has supported our work since its inception in 2006.

Secondly, after all these years we are seeing a younger generation of activity directors in the nursing homes. We have been blessed with many during the past 12 years who are born-again and have been excited about our work. But the younger generation replacing them seems less interested. As a result, attendance at our serivces in some facilities has diminished, and conflicting activity schedules have pulled people away from our serivces to other activities. An activity director who is sympathetic to a nursing home ministry is a definite asset. One who is less interested can be a detriment. But the Lord still blesses, and for that we are always grateful. Just yesterday, as we concluded a service in one of the facilities we've been in all these years, the whole group of people applauded! As we left, one by one, individuals expressed their “thanks” to us for coming. We have made many friends in this facility over the years, and it is a great encouragement to see such a continued positive response.

Lastly, we would appreciate your continued prayers for Priscilla's eye condition. Recently, the retinal surgeon again extended the time between injections in her eye to every 6 weeks. For that, we are grateful. But several years of these continual injections are taking their toll. It is a very stressful situation, and there remains no cure for this (hemi-central retinal veinous occlusion). The treatment she receives is painful, and currently the only one available, so there is nothing of an alternative nature. It is so serious, that she can not only lose her sight (which has diminished somewhat already), but actually lose her eye, as well! We are praying that either the Lord would choose to heal this condition, or that a better treatment would become available.

Again, we thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support. Please know that we count it a privilege to be your representatives in the nursing homes. If you would like us to share our ministry in a missions conference or missions emphasis Sunday, please contact us. May God continue to bless you all.

In His service together,

The Aabyes

Norm & Priscilla Aabye