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