Our Journey of Hope: Where God and cancer collide
About 1.6 million new cancer cases are predicted to surface this year.
New cancer patients are overwhelmed and not prepared to deal with the loss of their health and the disintegration of their normal life. As the weight of the disease bears down, it takes a physical and emotional toll on patients and their caregivers.
The journey is long and all-consuming. After one hurdle is conquered, another takes its place. Patients are dealing with a wide range of emotions from anger to joy to depression, and patients facing advanced cancer feel defeated and hopeless. Support during diagnosis and early treatment fades as family and friends move on with their lives.
While the medical needs are met, the spiritual side suffers. Victims feel betrayed by God and question His love and compassion. It is difficult to draw closer to God when cancer strikes.
Most churches are not equipped to handle the special challenges cancer patients face every day, and well-intentioned people are uncomfortable approaching cancer patients and are unsure of the appropriate way to express concern. This only compounds feelings of loneliness.
Our Journey of Hope(OJOH) is where hope takes a stand against cancer.
OJOH, sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA),is a “biblically based cancer care ministry outreach.” The mission, bolstered by research AND scripture, underscores the importance of faith in fighting cancer, and the goal is to provide long-term support to see families through cancer and its aftermath.
OJOH offers a 4 step plan to help churches launch cancer care ministries: Two day leadership conference, 8 week volunteer training, ministry launch, and continuous online support to help ministries grow. To understand the physical, social, and spiritual struggles of cancer families, OJOH embeds conference attendees into the life of cancer patients by providing physician lectures, passionate patient testimonials, and a tour of a cancer care facility. Each day ends with a worship service to encourage and remind the faithful that God has his hand in the volunteer-patient relationship.
Once the two-day conference is complete, church leaders return to their congregations to introduce the ministry. Those who wish to volunteer will go through an 8 week training course to equip them with knowledge to interact with patients. Once training is complete, volunteers start the ministry.
A cancer care ministry is a natural place to connect with cancer patients and witness God’s love and healing, and volunteers can provide hope and help patients strengthen their faith during a time of spiritual dryness.
Photo credit: www.ourjourneyofhope.com and erikaslighthouse.blogspot.com
