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South Eastern Baptist Association
 

News from our Sector Ministers  


Revd Lynda Hulcoop
Anna Chaplaincy

 

Life as an Anna Chaplain

Having retired from church ministry in June 2022, I began working as an Anna Chaplain (part of Bible Reading Fellowship) in January 2023.  I am commissioned to work among older people in Southwick, Shoreham and Lancing.  This involves mainly going into Care homes and ministering to the spiritual wellbeing of residents.  Currently I head up a team of volunteers going into 4 different homes.  We offer a range of activities - fun quizzes, church services, room visits, short services on DVD and SingNshare events which get residents singing with us also singing to them and sharing our life stories etc.

Lynda HulcoopI have been amazed at just how God can minister to people - even those with dementia.  In one home I was asked to visit an elderly man with dementia.  He was in a wheelchair, slumped over, dribbling and deaf.  My initial attempts to communicate were fruitless.  Then I felt God prompt me to give him a Bible verse.  I shouted one in his ear and he suddenly became alive.  He said, “That was the Bible!  I love the Bible and I love Jesus.”  Amazing!.  I carried on visiting him in the following weeks .  Each time I introduced myself, he looked blank until I quoted a Bible verse and then he became lucid and communicative.  Several weeks later, whilst visiting him, he started speaking German.  I too speak German so I responded and we had a lovely little conversation “auf Deutsch”. .  I then asked if he spoke French too and he said, “Bien sur” so another conversation ensued with a couple of other residents joining in.  What a blessed visit!  I now take in a printed card with a German Bible verse on one side and a French verse on the other which we proceed to read together.  Now I know why I learned foreign languages.  God doesn’t waste anything…

Recently I was in a different care home and some of the residents had been knitting a small blanket but  didn’t know who might want it.  I was just going off to Zimbabwe.  I suggested I took it with me which I did and gave to a very poor lady in one of the meetings.  She was overwhelmed with joy.  When I got home, I showed the picture to the care home knitters who were moved to tears and felt their labours had been worthwhile.

Prayer requests

  • For more open doors into care homes
  • For inspiration on how to keep sharing the Gospel message appropriately with those who are older and have dementia.
  • For fruitful conversations in room visits that people will open up and talk about issues concerning them
  • For good responses to our SingNShare presentations over Easter
  • For more volunteers to be involved in the ministry in Care homes.
     
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