God is Still Working!

 Although we have sent out prayer letters concerning our nursing home ministry, it's been quite a long time since we've updated our blog. Of course my cancer has narrowed down how much we could do, not only because of my health, but because of sickness in the various facilities from time to time. Even though I am no longer on any medications or treatments for my prostate cancer (stage 4), my immune system is such that if there is any sickness in the nursing homes, we just stay away. Thankfully, most of the Activity Directors are sympathetic to my needs and usually contact me in advance as to whether or not there are health issues in the facility that I may want to avoid.

The good news is that I have been off all meds for a full year now. I have quarterly blood testing to check for any reoccurrence of the cancer and to see how my PSA numbers are doing. So far everything is going well. My oncologist said, "We have addressed all the cancer spots, there is no reoccurrence of the cancer, and your PSA has remained low." At that point he suggested I go off all medications! You didn't have to twist my arm! My wife and I went out to the car and wept and rejoiced and thanked God for what He has done. I have gotten much of my strength back but there are a few side-effects left from the radiation that pop up from time to time. 

Just as I was starting on the road to recovery, Priscilla fell at the church in December and broke her hip. The surgeon said it was a "traumatic" fall and would require a full year to get fully back to normal. She has been in physical therapy since the first of the year and has gone from using a walker to a cane, but still is a little unstable. She has been able to return to some of her weekly exercises at the YMCA; the ones that help with the therapy she's receiving. She still cannot ride in the car for very long, so I go by myself to any of the nursing homes that are more than a half hour away. 

We had quite a surprise recently. A nursing home/rehabilitation center that had shut us out since COVID with a lot of restrictions through the years, contacted me and asked if we would bring our ministry back there. Of course we jumped at the change. It's in our town here, and the first service was outstanding.  We had a large crowd and actually saw a man whom we have known for years from other facilities. He remembered us,  and had survived the virus. The folks really enjoyed our music and the message. There were a number of workers present who also heard a clear presentation of the gospel. We remain committed to reaching those "living on the brink of eternity" with the hope of the gospel of Christ. As long as the facilities remain open and our health is strong, we will be there, representing all of you who have supported us over the years. 

It doesn't seem possible but we have been in the nursing homes since 2006...twenty years!! Although we have seen many saved, only eternity will prove how many have also trusted Christ through this ministry. Thank you for your prayers and financial assistance, and may God bless you as we serve this segment of society together.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries 

 

 

Back In Action!

 
First of all, let me apologize for not updating our blog. As many of you know, 2023 was a difficult year for us. I was diagnosed with "advanced, agressive" Stage 4 Prostate Cancer early in the year. This sent our lives into a tailspin! Sicne that time I have numerous doctors appointments, tests, and then radiation treatments at the Hillman Cancer Center in Erie,, PA. In addition, I am on a number of meds and hormone injections. As a result of all of this, we had to curtail most of our nursing home visits in order to keep me from contacting any sickness with my immune system somewhat compromised. 

But all this is changing.  My most recent PSA test number has dropped to 0.45! That means that the treatments and the meds are doing what they're supposed to do. Even though there is no cure for this cancer (it has metastisized into three places in my bones, also), the treatments are designed to provide a better quality of life while we battle this insidious disease. 

In addition, we have resumed our ministry to the nursing homes and God has even opened up a new facility to us, the Niagara Village senior living center in Erie, PA. What a beautiful place! We had our first service there the beginning of March and they are eager to have us back. We even received a nice card from one of the dear ladies who attended our service, expressing her appreciation and her looking forward to our return. The nursing homes are all excited about having us back on schedule, as you can imagine.

We have also begun to minister in an Alzheimer care unit in one of our larger facilities. The Activity Director there was not sure if we would feel comfortable there, but we love being able to see the "windows of remembrance" open in these dear folks' hearts and minds as they begin to sing along with the songs and hymns they have recalled from days gone by.

I would like to extend a hearty "Thank You!" to all our supporting churches and individuals who have been financially and prayerfully faithful to us during this past year. The Lord  has supplied all our needs through His people. We love you all and appreicate your standing with us during this time.

Of course there may come a time when we will no longer be able to continue this ministry, but we are trusting in the Lord to make that a long way off! In the meantime, we will continue to bring the gospel to those "living on the brink of eternity.

Pastor Norm Aabye

P.S. to Year's End

I try to stay away from talking about any of the negative experiences we have in the course of our ministering in the nursing homes. For the most part, it has been wonderful these past 16 years!  However, things seem to be rapidly changing. Now, if you are the pastor of a church that has one or two nursing homes that you visit, you may not have experienced much in the way of restrictions (except for the COVID fiasco!) or change over the past few years. But because we are in many facilities, we see a much broader picture. 

When we first began C.A.R.E. Ministries in 2006, many of the Activity Directors were born-again Christians who really had a heart for the type of ministry we brought. They went out of their way to accommodate our needs and there were literally no restrictions on what I could preach or how we could minister. However, with very few exceptions, the spiritual landscape of the nursing homes has changed and is changing for the worse. The new breed of Activity Director seems to be younger and less spiritually-minded than their predecessors. One facility where we, as well as our local church, have ministered for many years, has a new AD that has never returned my calls in the past year! I leave messages and explain that we'd like to get back in and could she explain any COVID restrictions, etc., but to no avail. Not even a returned phone call. Amazing. Yet we see on their Facebook page  other people apparently carrying out some kind of activities in the nursing home. Another facility has also made it very difficult for us to return. Again, frequent phone calls to see if their restrictions have dropped have not resulted in even a returned call.

One of the larger facilities that we have ministered in since our beginning, has been closed to us but recently called inviting us to come back in January. We were so excited, but it was short-lived. I received a call the other day informing me that they had "hired" a woman to come in and do Bible studies. The AD told me they also had a chaplain, so they wouldn't be needing us anymore. Of course, those who know their Bible understand that the apostle Paul made it clear that women are prohibited from teaching men (even in a mixed group): 1Ti 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. The word "suffer" means "allow". God has a  certain "chain of command", so to speak, when it comes the handling of His Word. The Bible does not allow for women preachers or pastors or Bible study leaders (unless it is a women's group). Now, I understand that the administration at the nursing home may not know or may not care what the Bible says, but as someone in the ministry for the past 35 years, I can see "the handwriting on the wall", so to speak. What do I mean?

A new generation of workers fresh out of college with a "woke" philosophy fresh in their minds; nursing homes that are being bought out by large healthcare corporations who frankly are looking only at the "bottom line" of profits; and a society that is becoming more and more alienated towards Bible-based Christianity. If the Lord tarries in His return, I believe we can expect less interest in spiritual things from the nursing homes...the very place where people are "living on the brink of Eternity" and want someone to come and share with them the truth of the Word of God!

It may sound like I'm "venting" here, but I wanted you to know what we are up against in trying to reach a larger number of nursing homes with the gospel. Although the world seems like it's spinning out of control, we are thankful that we still serve a God who has everything under His control. Pray with us that He will open the doors to greater opportunity to minister in the nursing homes in the coming year while there is still time.

Pastor
Norm Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries

Year End Wrap-up

 

December, 2022

Dear Praying Friends,

As we close out this year of ministry to the nursing homes, we want to thank each of you for your faithful prayers and financial support during 2022. Needless to say, this past year has been an unusual time for our ministry. With the relaxing of some of the COVID restrictions, a number of our nursing homes have been slowly opening to us again. It is amazing that there are so many differences in the current restrictions, everything from just wearing a mask into the facility but not wearing it once we’re ministering, to ‘facial recognition’ machines, checking of temperatures, and even standing behind a plastic shield! Some have refused to allow us back in because, although we had the virus before, we have not been vaccinated. However, beginning in January, we will be ministering once again in one of the larger facilities here in Pennsylvania that had previously held to stringent restrictions, including the necessity of vaccinations. They have relaxed their restrictions and we are looking forward to getting back to this facility where there had been much fruitfulness for the gospel in the pre-COVID days.

Currently we are ministering at: Rolling Fields Eldercare (the largest facility in this part of PA), Juniper Village (where we are now inside, but held a tremendous outdoor service in late summer), Embassy Park (where the least restrictions make the service enjoyable, rather than bearable!), Fairview Manor (the have gone out of their way to make it possible for us to be there), Walnut Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (we only have to wear mask “in the hallways”?!), and the Crawford County Care Center (where we’ll start again in January). We have three more facilities that we are trying to get back into, but so far have been refused.

One of our larger nursing homes south of here was eager to have us back and called saying we only had to wear mask. After a 45 minute drive, we arrived only to find out that I would have to wear a mask while preaching and singing and playing my guitar (extremely difficult, and not necessary as I was no closer than 20 feet to the people!) and Priscilla was told she could not pass out the song books to anyone, and had to retrieve the ones she already had I asked where they were getting their restrictions from and when they told me we had a conversation about what other nursing homes were doing to allow us in. The staff would not bend and unfortunately, we packed up and headed home. Pray that the administration at this nursing home would be willing to allow us back with minimal or no restrictions. As you can probably tell, this is turning into an extremely frustrating situation. If COVID variants return this winter in any force, I can only imagine what will happen to our ministry. Thankfully, one Activity Director told me that they will NOT shut down again. If anyone tests positive at their nursing home, they will simply move them to a separate wing. Makes good sense.

So, pray for us, when God brings us to mind. The nursing homes will never be unnecessary and will continue to be populated with those who are “living on the brink of eternity”. We pray that 2023 will be a more fruitful year in reaching these dear folks who are without a pastor, without a church, and without the Gospel. Thank you again for standing with us.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries

"Slow, But Sure"

 August 3, 2022

As Summer begins to wind down, we're not quite sure how to anticipate what will take place in the nursing home ministry in the months ahead. Although COVID seems to have slowed down, the "variants" continue to create problems with our getting back into the facilities that we have ministered in for the past 15 years. Some have allowed us come back with minimal restrictions, such as wearing masks. Others, though, continue to require us to be vaccinated or tested on a regular basis. One has gone so far as to expect us to not only wear a mask but goggles as well. Obviously, there is a broad interpretation concerning protective measurements even within the same county. There's really not much we can do about this, so in addition to preaching in those places that have opened to us, we continue our weekly Friday morning devotional, Making A Difference, which is available for Activity Directors to pick up and "cast" from their phones onto a large screen TV before a group at the home.  

Several years ago, we produced a brief video to show in church missions conferences that had  an emphasis on recruiting people to duplicate our style of multiple nursing home ministries in various areas around the country. We have statistics for states and metropolitan areas that can help retired missionaries, retired pastors, or just those with a heart for reaching the elderly with the gospel, to develop a ministry similar to ours. Recently we have received texts from pastors who have people in their churches who are interested in beginning a nursing home ministry through their local church. We were able to supply not only information on developing an on-line ministry to one interested party in the mid-west, but in another case were able to supply a church down south with copies of several of our videos that really stirred the individual's heart for the work.  It is obvious that more people are seeing the need to reach what we have referred to as "the people group living on the brink of eternity!"  While our main purpose in sharing our ministry in churches remains encouraging partnership by supporting our work, we see now that recruitment and helping to start similar ministries is also of vital importance. If you would like us to come to your church to challenge your people in this way, please contact us.

Recently I had the opportunity to 
preach an outdoor service.

One more point of interest. After 35 years in the ministry, I am keenly aware that "home" missions, such as the nursing home ministry, are often not given the priority in a church's missions program. Some might even believe that such a ministry will not bear fruit for the church. But let me share something with you. Before COVID, we met a husband and wife in one of our larger facilities. They were solid Christians who had served the Lord for decades. The husband was no longer able to be at home and required nursing home care. Week after week, the wife brought her husband to our services. Finally, she began attending our church. In one of the most unusual circumstances, they both joined the church....he, without ever attending, but wanting to be part of Bible-preaching ministry before he passed!  As she shared her testimony for membership, she also spoke of her husband's salvation, which I had verified in a conversation with him. Eventually, the husband passed, and I was privileged to perform his memorial service. Turns out that the wife had been a Sunday School teacher and played the piano. She now leads our women's Bible study, plays both the piano and organ in our services, and has been such a blessing to our church ministry.. In addition, her granddaughter and family have also begun attending. All because of our nursing home ministry! Of course we don't minister for what we can get out of it, but because of the desire to put something (or Someone!) into the lives of those who recognize their need for the Saviour.

Well, the Lord can make a way and open doors. We are relying upon Him to continue to make our ministry fruitful and to allow us entrance back into the homes on our previous schedule. In the meantime, we would appreciate your prayers and we thank all of  you for your faithful support.

The Aabyes

C.A.R.E. Ministries/ Making A Difference

"Stopped In Our Tracks!"

 

Winter 2021

Dear Praying Friends,

“Two weeks to flatten the curve” has turned into almost two years, and unfortunately there seems to be no end in sight to the COVID virus. Every facet of society has been negatively affected in some way. In our area, churches are still shutting down from time to time as cases pop up. The arrival of the flu season complicates the matter even more.

I wish I could give you some encouraging news, but there is no “beating around the bush”, as they say. Our nursing home ministry in both Ohio and Pennsylvania has suffered greatly due to restrictions and closures. Strangely, I was allowed into one local facility to be with a family whose loved one was dying, but we continue to be shut out from having in-person services.

We continue our “live-stream” Friday morning Bible studies into the nursing homes each week on Facebook. I recently received a favorable reply from one of our nursing homes who just learned about these video studies, and that they expressed they were going to pass along the information. All we can hope for is that those Activity Directors who feel our ministry is valuable will share this within their network with other AC’s as well.

We are grateful to the Lord for watching over us, keeping us healthy, and supplying our needs, and are humbled by the fact that all of our supporting churches have faithfully stayed with us through this difficult time. If there was something more we could do to minister more effectively, believe me, we would be doing it. We have had a tremendous relationship with all of the nursing homes that we have ministered in for the past 15 years, and I know they are as anxious as we are to have us back in their facilities.

Obviously, the greatest need is prayer. Prayer that the “pandemic” would cease. Prayer that the nursing homes would allow us full access without any restrictions. Prayer that God would save souls through our Friday morning video Bible studies. May God continue to bless you as you minister in your corner of His field through the holidays and into the coming year!

Sincerely,

Pastor Norm Aabye

Is No News, Good News?

Well, you've probably heard the saying, "No news is good news". But is it? Not necessarily. I know it's been some time since we've provided any kind of update from the mission field of the nursing homes. We honestly do not have much to report. The COVID virus continues to limit  our ministry, at least from an in-person standpoint. But we have not ceased in our attempt to bring the gospel to those who are "living on the brink of eternity". 

In our last update I shared that earlier in the year I had developed a Friday morning Bible study designed for the nursing homes called "Making A Difference". With a weekly half-hour format, I have continued to bring relevant Bible messages that can be used by those in the nursing home activity departments for group watching. The good news is that the comments have been positive from those who have made this a part of their calendar of activities. The residents have missed us (and we, them) and are eager to have us back with our normal schedule services.

The bad news is that by and large the nursing homes remain closed to us, as well as most outside ministries or visitors. When some of the homes thought it would be safe to open, a breakout of new COVID cases occurred, causing them to shut down again. For those who are trying to accommodate outside ministries, the restrictions range from the difficult to the almost ridiculous. Most require that we show proof of vaccination for COVID, which we have not yet chosen to do. My wife has a low tolerance for shots. And, as you probably remember from last summer's report, we both had cases of COVID back in August. Over the past several months, my wife has had surgery and numerous medical tests (she is okay). Through all of this, one of my wife's doctors told her that she probably shouldn't get the vaccine, especially since we probably have a sufficient degree of immunity from having had the virus. I know this is a controversial topic, but we have repeatedly been told this by many in the medical profession this year. Frankly, we are in agreement with some nurses and doctors that we have chatted with, that there are too many unknowns associated with the vaccines, and would like to allow some time to see how this all pans out in the coming year before we decide what to do. 

That being said, there is no way to predict when we will be allowed to get back into the nursing homes in person. We will continue the Friday morning "live-streaming" videos, and will keep in contact with Activity Directors. We will also look for new avenues to reach individuals and groups within the homes.  Believe me, they are as eager as we are to have us back. In the meantime, we appreciate your faithfulness in standing with us in this much needed ministry. 

Pastor Norm Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries/"Making A Difference"

Making A Difference!

Well, here we are just days away from Christmas, 2020! It has been a difficult year for our ministry and we so much appreciate those churches and individuals who have faithfully stood by us during this time. The COVID-19 virus has all but brought our in-person nursing home ministry to a halt! Although I have been in contact with Activity Directors, the news they provide about possible soon re-openings is not very positive. 

With that in mind, we are beginning a new video ministry this month that we hope and pray will be an encouragement to those who have been isolated for so long with no personal visits. Our verse for our ministry has been Jude 22: "Of some have compassion, making a difference",  so we are calling this video ministry, "Making A Difference". Each Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. I will be doing a live-stream service, on my Facebook page, similar to what we normally do in the homes, with music and a Bible study. We have contacted the Activity Directors in the facilities in which we minister, asking them to make this on-line ministry available to those interested via the television network in the homes, or to individuals in their rooms on their tablets, laptops, or cell phones. So far, the response of this anticipated new ministry has been very positive. 

If you are reading this, and are an Activity Director in a nursing home, or are an employee of a nursing, or have a loved one or friend in a nursing home, or are a Pastor who has had a nursing home ministry that has been curtailed by the pandemic, we would appreciate you letting those who are in charge of activities in your local facility know about this ministry opportunity. One of the benefits of doing this on my Facebook page is that the services will remain available on the page, so that if the activity department is not able to view the Bible study "live, they can access it at another time more convenient to them. 

The days in which we live require us to take innovative steps to continue to proclaim the Gospel. We are asking God to use this social-media ministry to reach those who otherwise might not have access to solid, Bible-oriented teaching. May God continue to bless you this season as you serve the One who is the "Reason for the Season"!

Pastor Norm Aabye

"Making A Difference"

Summer 2020 Update

 

It’s been quite some time since we’ve been in contact with our supporting churches. Sadly, there has been very little to report almost since the first of the year. As you can expect, the COVID19 virus pandemic has seriously affected ministries such as ours. We have been prohibited from entering any nursing home since March. I have been in contact with some staff members of the facilities in which we minister, but they have offered little hope of our being able to personally minister in the near future as we have in the past.

One bright note, I was contacted by an Activity Director at a nearby facility who asked me if I would do an “outdoor” service for the residents. So, I did just that. The residents were seated under a canopy and I was approximately 20 feet from them. Although I was told it was not necessary for me to wear a mask, which I did not while singing, I did put one on to preach, so I could move around a little. I was reluctant to do anything that would put the Activity Director in jeopardy who had so graciously provide this opportunity. Unfortunately, attempting to preach with a mask on is, as they say, “a whole different ball game”! I had to turn away several times and pull down the mask to get some oxygen. Twice I thought I would pass out! But the Lord prevailed and we had a good service. The residents expressed their gratitude for me coming, and it was good to see familiar faces of those we’ve ministered to before all of this began. The facility felt it was a good move to have such a service for the residents so they are going to schedule me to do it again! Unusual times require unusual methods!

I have been doing a Friday morning “live-feed” devotional on Facebook that I call “Bread From My Table”. One of our nursing home Activity Directors contacted me and told me that she was going to use my new Friday morning series on The Beatitudes for a group activity as soon as they're able. They will gather people together and run the series through their computer and TV. Another innovative way to continue to minister!

On a negative note, both my wife and I contracted the COVID19 virus at the end of July. Fortunately, it was a relatively mild case compared to some. This virus is crazy, though, and the side-effects seem to be more long-term than many realize. I lost my sense of taste and smell at the outset and have not yet had them return. Our son in Kentucky spent a week in the hospital with a very serious case of COVID pneumonia. The Lord miraculously brought him out of it and he is doing well, "chomping at the bit", as they say,  to resume his pastoral ministry. 

We are eager to get back into the nursing homes again, but obviously, there is nothing we can do until this whole mess is over. Residents are experiencing a degree of loneliness that they have never before felt. Most have not had a personal visit from loved ones since March. We MUST continue to try any way we can, any “unusual” method, if necessary, to bring the Good News of Christ to those “living on the brink of Eternity”, and to show them that someone cares. 

We appreciate so much all who pray for this ministry and have helped us with financial support during these uncertain times. There will no doubt be fruit to your account in Heaven one day! May God continue to bless you.

Serving Him Together,

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

Missions Conference Update

As I mentioned in our last post, Autumn is the season for missions conferences in many churches. In October we were in Ohio at South Ridge Baptist Church's annual conference. This month we were privileged to attend Harvest Baptist Church's conference in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Brother Jeremy McClain is the pastor there and God is using him and his family to do a great work for the Kingdom!
Dr. Al Stone, from Canada, was the keynote speaker each night, and although I had never met him before, I found out we knew some of the same people. Small world, the world of missions!
The church had decorated Sunday School rooms with themes according to the missionaries that were in the conference. Canada, Argentina, Norway, and....yes....the nursing homes! As I was given a tour of each one, they were done very well. But when they brought me to the last room, I had to laugh. It was decorated just like a nursing home room. Small bed, some furniture. But the best part was the two "people" sitting in rocking chairs. They had made two "stuffed" people and one of them had a photograph face of the pastor, Bro. McClain! Really funny! Unfortunately, my phone was out in the car and I didn't get a chance to take picture of it.
We were able to show one of the five videos we've made that show the urgent need of reaching the elderly, and all those in nursing homes, with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This particular video documented the F2 tornado that hit and destroyed part of  the Rolling Fields Eldercare facility in Conneautville, PA last year. It was a sobering reminder of the brevity of life and the need to know Christ as Saviour.
After the video, I preached a brief message I've entitled "Memories". One of the saddest things to see as we develop friendships with those who are residents of the nursing homes, is the fact that much, if not most, of their personal possessions must be left behind when they move into their new
surroundings. A home-full of items collected over the year, must be disposed of. Precious belongings that testify of a life well-lived, must be given away or sold off. Life will now be relegated to a small square room, often shared with another person, where a closet and a chest of drawers, a bed and a chair are the only furnishings. When we go into a room, we see on the walls, pictures. Pictures of family members. Pictures of past events. Pictures of pets. It's all there. But it's only a "memory". Sadly, a life of 80 or 90+ years is reduced to "memories". This is why it's so important to allow residents whom you encounter in your visit to talk. They have so much to say. Let them go on and on! Let them bring up their childhood, their school years, their marriage, their children. It's good for them, and it will help you appreciate the importance of your visit. Memories help reduce the loneliness.
But the greatest memory we want nursing home residents to keep is the day they came to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We want to share with them the fact that they can have assurance that an eternity in Heaven awaits them because of what the Saviour has done for them on the cross of Calvary. We want them, as they share with someone else,to recall the greatest memory of how they came into a real relationship with God through His Son.
We are so thankful for faithful churches, like Harvest Baptist Church, that continue to stand with us and make it possible for us to minister in the nursing homes, assisted living centers, and Alzheimer care facilities in northwestern PA and northeastern OH.

Autumn Conferences

The autumn season brings with it cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, shorter days....and missions conferences. Recently we had the privilege of providing an update of our ministry to one of our supporting churches that has been with us since we began C.A.R.E. Ministries back in 2016. Conneaut, Ohio is home of South Ridge Baptist Church, where Dr. Roger Hogle has pastored for over 50 years! I had the opportunity to preach twice during the conference and provide some special music the final night. We have made many friends over the years at South Ridge and it is always great to spend time with them. This church is truly a missions-minded church. Not only do they financially support many missionaries, but a group from the church travels to Haiti on a regular basis, delivering supplies to an orphanage they have supported for years. They don't just talk missions; they practice missions!
One of the blessings of missions conferences is seeing and renewing friendships with missionaries we have come to know over the years. We compare notes, encourage each other, laugh a lot, share some meals, and learn what God has been doing on our respective fields since the last time we got together. But meeting new missionaries, either veterans who have spent their lives serving God in far-reaching places, or young couples who are raising support to go to the field for the first time, is always fascinating.
This year we have a new display to set up at conferences. Instead of the usual tabletop unit that unfolds, we have moved into the 21st century and have one of those pull-up displays that works like the old window shades. It's convenient to carry, sets up in a minute, and looks very professional. We've received a number of compliments on it already.
Time seems to move quickly this time of year and soon we'll be heading down to Greenville, Pennsylvania to Harvest Baptist Church, where Jeremy McClain is the pastor, to share and update of  our work with this dear congregation that has also been on board with us since the beginning of our ministry. I'll share our experience there later on this month.
We want to thank everyone who prays and who gives so that we can take the life-changing message of the gospel to the nursing homes of northeast Ohio and northwest  You are helping us to reach "America's fastest growing, yet most neglected mission field"!

Norm & Priscilla Aabye.

Spring 2019 Ministry Update

Spring, 2019

Greetings to all our friends and supporters!

It looks like we escaped a typical northwest Pennsylvania winter this year. It really wasn't too bad and now we are anticipating Springtime, with its sense of “newness”, as the gray and brown landscape comes to life! Sometimes living in the country has its downsides (dirt roads being one of them!), but knowing any day that the scene out our back window will change from brown to green makes it worthwhile.

In some ways, our ministry to the elderly in the nursing homes of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio is like the change of seasons. 90% of those residing in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities are merely “religious”. All of their lives they have been “going through the motions” of Christianity without actually knowing the Saviour, living a sort of “winter” existence. It is so rewarding to see someone who has lived without the hope of Heaven come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and to see their “season” of life change from one of a barren winter to the rebirth of springtime.

I thought it might be good to share a few “tips” by way of our quarterly letters to help our supporting churches who are conducting their own nursing home ministries. Although the majority of the homes that we minister in are located in Pennsylvania, I have to say that we have seen much fruit for the Kingdom of God in Ohio. The Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a place where the people really enjoy hearing the Word of God preached. Many have been saved there, and the staff is really “on board” with what we are doing, which really helps. In fact, we have one nurse who does, what I call, “pre-evangelism”! She is born-again and openly shares her faith with residents. On occasion, she has brought me to someone after our service, whom she has already witnessed to, and who is ready to receive Christ. What a blessing that is!

Having said that, let me say that occasionally I hear from a church that is having trouble getting into a nursing home to minister, or has been told there will be limitations on what they can say or do. A nursing home must provide religious services when desired by the residents. When there is a problem in bringing such services, it is usually due to an Activity Director who, for some reason, has no interest in them, or does not want to be bothered gathering people together for such a service. An initial meeting with the AD, sharing your burden and interest in being a help to her in providing a scheduled activity, may solve the problem. If that doesn't work, speaking with the administrator of the nursing home may be required to get you on the calendar. Unfortunately, much effective nursing home ministry

rises or falls on a cooperative activities staff. We have experienced some difficulties where we have been “pre-empted” on the schedule by some other activity and were not told until we arrived for our service. That can happen occasionally. When it happens repeatedly, it's time to find out why. We have had to step away from several homes over the years who apparently didn't consider our ministry as a vaulable asset to their schedule of activities. I will say, though, that is rare. On the upside, we have never been asked to “adjust” our message or methods over the past 13 years, for which we are very grateful. Part of that, I believe, is due to the fact that we have been blessed with AD's who understand and appreciate why we are there. If your church is thinking about starting a nursing home ministry, and we can be a help in any way, please contact us. We would consider it a privilege to come and do a seminar that will provide some real encouragement to your people to get invovled in reaching the mostly “unreached” segment of society.

I know many ask about Priscilla's eye problem. She continues to require the injections on a 6 week rotation. The retinal surgeon is satisfied that these treatments are working and believe that they can maintain her current vision by the injections. She was recently experiencing some additional pain during the treatments due to the change in the way they prep the eye prior to the injection. The doctor graciously has required his staff to do everything possible in prepping the eye to make sure the treatment is as painless as possible (of course it is impossible to eliminate all pain) by going back to the previous procedure which made her a little more comfortable. It is disheartening to realize that she will have to continue these treatment. There is no other remedy for this problem (believe me, we have researched this!), and her retinal surgeon group is highly recommended. So, she would appreciate your continued prayers. Thankfully, Medicare pays for virtually all of the costs of treatment.

As always, we want to thank you for your prayers and support as we seek to represent you on the mission field of the nursing homes of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. May God continue to bless you all. If you would like us to come and provide an update of our ministry at your missions conference, please contact us.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries

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

Late Fall 2017 Prayer & Praise Report

November, 2017

Greetings from the mission field of Norttheast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania! We have been kept busy throughout the Fall months with travel to Connecticut to help celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the church we planted in 1987 and a missions conference in Ohio, as well as one in our church in PA. It was great to see River Valley Baptist Church in Ansonia, Connecticut growing and serving in the Naugatuck Valley. One lady, who was part of our first “get-acquainted” meetings before we started the church, is still a faithful member. Others, who joined during the course of our ministry there, are still serving in various capacities. We also met many new folks who have become part of the work since we've been gone. In a day when many churches are closing their doors, it is refreshing to see a faithful congregation, continuing to keep a good testimony for the Lord in a downtown location. While we were there we were able to show a video of our ministry among the nursing homes and the great need there is to reach those “living on the brink of Eternity”.

After returning from Connecticut, we traveled to South Ridge Baptist Church in Conneaut, Ohio, one of our supporting churches, to participate in their missions conference. Although we couldn't be there for the whole conference, we were able to show our latest minstry video. The pastor graciously invited us to come back the following Sunday evening to preach. Again, we enjoyed seeing friends we have made over the years of our association with this church.

Speaking of Ohio, the nursing home in Ashtabula has always been a fruitful field for the gospel. On our last trip there, we had two new residents respond to the invitation to trust Christ as their Saviour. As we left, I looked back to see one of the women reading through the tract I had given here to give her some assurance of her decision.

While the nursing home ministry is a delight to be a part of, we have had to cancel a number of our regular meetings recently. We have enjoyed great health through the years of ministry, but lately it seems age is catching up with us. I had a respiratory problem that affected my throat, and therefore, my voice. In addition, I have been experiencing some painful tendon problems in both hands which have limited my guitar playing as part of our services. On top of that, since I turned 70, I've developed some sort of allergy that is giving me “hives”. I actually ended up in the emergency room at 2 a.m. one morning due to my lip swelling up! This required more antihistimines and steroids. I have an appointment with an allergist later this month to try to figure out what's going on. Through all of this we have had to cancel a number of services while we work through these problems. We would appreciate your prayers about all of this.

But on a good note, the past two times my wife has seen her retinal surgeon he has been excited to report some healing in her eye. As a result of that, he has temporarily stopped the needle injections she has been enduring for the past three years, and will make a decision on an every other month basis. Again, your prayers would be appreciated on this matter.

Praise the Lord we were able to purchase another car (a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country) recently and are looking forward to using it to visit our son and his family at Christmas who are now pastoring in Kentucky.

As always, we are thankful for your faithful support as we seek to reach “America's fastest growing, yet most neglected mission field”. Should the Lord tarry, we look forward to bearing fruit to your account in the coming year!

In His service together,

The Aabyes

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

Moving Forward In The Ministry

Summer/Fall, 2017

As Summer begins to fade, the leaves on the trees in northwest Pennsylvania are already beginning to make their transition from green to the yellows, reds, and oranges of Fall. There's something special about this time of year. It always seems that God provides us with a glimpse of His color palette just before He wipes the canvas clean with the starkness of Winter. Just today, someone asked me why we have an Autumn leaf design on our prayer card. My answer? Because we are ministering to those in the “autumn years of life”!

Last week I had the privilege of sharing our ministry with the new chaplain of a large nursing/retirement home facility in the area. For years people have asked us if we conduct our ministry at this particular place. Because it is a denominationally operated nursing home, with a very full calendar of events, we have never bothered to inquire about getting on their schedule. But, I decided, “Why not?” The chaplain and I spoke for quite some time and he was both amazed and excited at the prospect of us ministering at his facility. We are now waiting, with the chaplain's recommendation, for the official “go ahead” from the administration. This is a very large complex with many elderly who do not necessarily even need nursing care, but live on the campus in more of an assisted-living mode. I believe ministering here will open up a whole new audience for the gospel.

With October quickly approaching, we will be busy traveling to present and provide an update of our ministry in several missions conferences in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In addition, we will be heading back to Connecticut for the 30^th anniversary celebration of River Valley Baptist Church, in Ansonia, the church we planted in 1987. It will be exciting to preach there again, and to report what the Lord has done through the nursing home ministry here since 2006. In addition, one of the nursing homes that we minister in locally will be hosting a public luncheon the middle of September. They have asked me to be the key speaker. Although it is not a “spiritual” event, the facility's activity director, who is a Christian, told me I was free to work in the gospel. Any opportunity to share our ministry and bring the message of Christ to an audience is something I look forward to. We will be praying that the message is well received and fruit will be born for the Kingdom of God.

Priscilla had foot surgery in the Spring that has not turned out well. We have been back and forth to the surgeon and the physical therapist for months and yet she still feels pain and cannot wear shoes. That's not a problem in warm weather, but with Winter coming on, she'll need to be able to get some sort of shoe on. We are comtemplating seeing a podiatrist (the doctor who did the operation was a highly recommended orthopaedic surgeon) to see if he can find out why there is still pain. We would appreciate your prayers on this matter. As for me, recently I took a very bad fall in the parking lot of Walmart while trying to catch a runaway shopping cart heading towards a car. I fell face forward and came down hard on both knees and my left shoulder. Everything seemed to heal up, but I'm having some problems with my left knee and cannot put much pressure on it going up stairs. I probably should have had some x-rays but you know how guys are! I would appreciate your prayers that God would strengthen and heal my knee.

Our ministry continues to affect others in addition to nursing home residents. Several weeks ago, a lady who regularly attends our services, shared with me that her grown son had been standing outside the open door of the room where I was preaching. She told me that her son didn't really believe anything. That day I had been talking about the Old Testament Tabernacle and the High Priest's work on behalf of the people, relating it to Christ's effective work on our behalf. She said that he had been listening and told her afterward that it was the first time what he heard made sense to him. He didn't personally talk to me about this, but it reveals that you never know who is listening when the Gospel goes forth. God may be planting a seed, or watering what they have previously heard, or ready to bring them to salvation. The call of the Gospel is not limited to those listening in the immediate vicinity, but often catches the ear of those who are unsuspecting!

We do not take it lightly that you have partnered with us in prayer and financially to reach those “living on the brink of eternity”. May God continue to bless you as you labor for Him in your field!

In His service together,

The Aabyes

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

Bibles, Blessings, But No "Baloney"!

Spring, 2017

Well, it's been quite a while since I've given an update on what God is doing in the nursing homes. I know that churches that support missionaries love to hear glowing reports of fantastic results of the Gospel reaching mulitudes for Christ, but it often seems as if the ministry in the nursing homes goes in cycles. We'll see a number of folks trust Christ and then there's a “dry spell” where it seems as if nothing is happening. Of course, something is always happening, even when we aren't seeing visible results. The apostle Paul realized this when he wrote to the Corinthian church: 1Cor. 3:6, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

The past several weeks have seen a number of people profess faith in Christ. It seems as if people are aware of their need and are looking for that answer that has eluded them all their lives. Just the other day we had a lady in our service who was celebrating her 102^nd birthday. It is amazing that no matter the age, the message of God's love and salvation is something folks never tire of hearing.

Recently, as we were leaving one of our more distant facilities, I was stopped by two men outside of the activity room. One was pushing the other in a wheel-chair. They thanked us for taking the time to minister to them and one of them said, “When you come here you tell it like it is, “no baloney”, and when you're finished we know exactly what you said!” I kind of chuckled to myself as we left, but I appreciated their remarks. When we began this ministry ten years ago, I knew that such a work could not have the luxury of entertaining people or offering some feel-good message. Those who are part of “America's fastest growing, yet most neglected mission field” deserve the truth, and they want it!

I'm sure most hearing or reading this letter have their own copy of the Scriptures...or perhaps, several. Living in a nursing home has caused most to forfeit most of their earthly belongings, and many are without a Bible. We are thankful for churches that have supplied us with Bibles for distribution to those who need a copy of the Word of God. Last month we helped a facility in Ohio that has a born-again volunteer whom we have known for a number of years, who wanted to begin a weekly Bible study. Unfortunately, those who wanted to attend didn't have Bibles of their own, and the nursing home was trying to figure out how they could raise the money to purchase them. We were able to supply an entire case of King James Bibles to get their study going. We received a wonderful note, signed by all those in attendance at the first study, thanking us for the Bibles and for our regular services to them. If your church is interested in putting “giant print” KJV Bibles into the hands of those who are “living on the brink of Eternity”, please let me know. Remember: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Many have expressed concern for Priscilla's eye condition. The retinal surgeon is pleased with the results of the injections designed to save both her vision and her eye, and has extended the time to eight weeks between treatments, but the partial loss of vision in the eye already is troubling at times. Also, our van is getting up there in mileage. Eventually we'll have to think about getting another vehicle. We know the Lord has just the right one for us at the right time. Finally, with some level of retirement looming in the future, and no retirement account or pension, and social security being insufficient, finances become a concern. Although age may hinder effective pastoral ministry, preaching in the nursing homes can continue to be fruitful regardless of age. It would be helpful to have several more churches become interested in supporting our work. But again, the Lord knows what we need and when we need it.

Our continued thanks go to all who pray for souls to be won through this ministry and for faithful churches and individuals that make it possible for us to travel in PA and OH to take the message of gospel to those who are so open to the Saviour.

In His service together,

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

Changing Times

Yesterday we were ministering at Fairview Manor, a beautiful nursing home facility just on the outskirts of Erie, Pennsylvania. The attendance was sizeable, and the people joyfully participated in the singing of gospel songs they have been familiar with most of their lives. When I preached from John 4 on Jesus meeting the woman at the well, the people were listening very attentively as I emphasized how that the fact that Jesus "must needs go through Samaria" is a parallel to how He meets each one of us at the time and place of our greatest need. Although no one responded to the invitation for salvation, I felt comfortable that the gospel message of God's love and grace was presented carefully. Many years ago, one man said this: "Personal evangelism is simply presenting Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit...and leaving the results to God!" There have been a number of times over the years where we have learned later on that someone has gone back to their room, thinking about what they've heard in our service, and trusted Christ on their own. We have to be very careful that we are not guilty of trying to "manipulate" people into the kingdom of God! I have been in services where the preacher/evangelist has stretched out the invitation time, almost begging people to come to Christ. If the message of the cross is presented clearly and an opportunity is given to respond by faith to trust Christ as Saviour, then the results are what God wants at that moment. There may be one saved, several saved, or none at that moment. I have always believed that if we pray before we preach, asking the Holy Spirit to work in hearts, then when the service is over, it's over. God has done what He has chosen to do in the hearts and lives of those present.
After the service at Fairview was over, I had a chance to talk with the activity person. She apologized as she told us they had to cancel our services in November and December due to conflicts in the scheduling of other activies. She was genuinely sorry we could not be there, and she didn't like having to cancel like this. Usually they have a set day and time for us that cannot be changed because of other activities, but we asked her "How about another day?" We happen to have some Thursdays open in those two months and were able to fit Fairview into those days. The activity person was estatic! She kept thanking us for adapting our schedule to her needs (almost like Jesus going through Samaria to meet the woman at the well!). We told her that those Thursdays were open because of our having dropped another nursing home off our schedule because of their lack of interest in our ministry.  The facility had "changed hands" and many times we would arrive only to find out they didn't have us on the calendar for that day (and this after ministering there almost 10 years!). I mentioned this in another post, but many of the independent nursing homes are being bought out by larger corporations, who, unfortunately, have little concern for the spiritual welfare of their residents. They have designed or redesigned their facilities with no designated place for church services (or if they have a "chapel", it has been designed as a "meditation room" for only a few people at a time). We also see some of the larger nursing homes moving towards short-term "rehabilitation" centers. In some ways this changes the structure of how the nursing home operates, but for us, we see it as an opportunity to reach people with the gospel who are coming for a short stay and then resuming their normal life activities. There is no doubt that we have seen quite a few changes in the ten years we have been ministering in the nursing homes of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. But, regardless of this, there is one thing that will never change: mankind's need for a genuine relationship with  God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. And, as long as God allows, we shall remain faithful to His calling to bring the gospel into these facilities. Thank you for your prayers and faithful support that permits us to reach those "living on the brink of Eternity"!

Missionary Pastor Norm Aabye

A Ministry Not Without Its Difficulties!

Recently, our ministry to the nursing homes and rehabilitation centers of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio have been, well, to say the least....interesting! I don't share the following information to scare off anyone considering a nursing home ministry, but to bring a sense of reality to the work.

While most of the time, our services are orderly and very much appreciated, on occasion they present a real challenge. Such was the case recently while at a local nursing home with some of our church folks. The facility is undergoing renovations, and as a result, has lost or misplaced the songbooks that we use for our services. One was located for me to use so I could lead the singing, but some of the residents became agitated, wanting a book of their own. We had a pretty good attendance that day and it was getting crowded near the door. Several had to be moved around, and that created some confusion. When someone does NOT want to be moved, you're headed for trouble! Priscilla was trying to help out, and one lady grabbed her arm and pinched her. Then her skirt was grabbed and pulled. Finally, one of our church ladies ran to her rescue! One man, who seems to be on a downward trend, kept getting up and moving his chair around. Meanwhile, just outside the door of the activity room, where some other folks from our church were sitting, there was more commotion going on that I found out about later. BUT....despite all of this, a man trusted Christ after the preaching! God seems to override even the most distracting circumstances to bring people to salvation.
Unfortunately, we had to make a decision to discontinue our ministry in another facility. For some time now, we have had some troubles in this home, ever since new management assumed control. They have gone through a number of activity directors, and now have someone in that capacity who was formerly in another facility we ministered in that is now closed. This particular place has no decent room for us to meet in and we have been moved from a dining area to a small room to a hallway with heavy traffic of people interrupting the service by their passing through. I always call the staff if, for some reason, we are not able to fulfill our service on a given day (doctor's visits, illness, car trouble, etc.), but time and again, we have showed up only to find out we're not on the schedule for the day. The other day, after hurrying to pick up my wife from her volunteer work at Foundation Christian School (Pastor Phil Thomas' school) so we could get to the nursing home on time, we arrived once more to find out they hadn't planned on us coming. We decided the time has come to remove this facility from our schedule and look for an opening in another. There's a sense in which this is discouraging because we hate to give up on anyone, but there is also a sense of relief from the frustration of a less-than-positive attitude on the part of the facility's management and staff.
On the positive side, we had a great service at the Walnut Creek Golden Living Center in Erie the other day. While no one expressed interest in trusting Christ, there were many positive comments of appreciation from the residents for our being there, and a first-time visitor who just arrived at the facility the day before, who took a gospel tract. 
The nursing home ministry is extremely rewarding, but you have to learn to balance out the good days with the bad. I wouldn't trade it for anything!