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
