SONSHINE MINISTRIES SENIOR OUTREACH

SONSHINE MINISTRIES IS A SENIOR OUTREACH MINISTRY UNDER WHICH THE LUTCHMAN FAMILY MINISTERS WITH FOUNDERS JOYCE AND VERLIN MANCKE OF PAWNEE, ILLINOIS (MY WIFE'S PARENTS. OUR PIANIST IS OUR NEPHEW - BRIAN MORGAN)

THE ORIGINAL WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS SONSHINE MINISTRIES HOMES ARE STILL BEING MINISTERED TO. THEY ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.

JUNE/JULY 2012 SPRINGFIELD MINISTRY REPORT 

*Villa East, Sherman            *Villa West Assisted Living, Sherman

*RegencyAssisted Living, Springfield

*Mary Bryant House of the Blind, Springfield

*SPRINGFIELD SUPPORTIVE LIVING

Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!  The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.  Psalm 46:10-11

Thank you, Thank you Jesus for the peace of knowing you are always with us and you promise to never ever leave us.  What an awesome God we serve.  There is no other name like the name of Jesus, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name;   That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".  Philippians 2:9-11

What a joy and a privilege to tell others about Jesus! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW! We have received so many Blessings in the Nursing Home Ministry the past few months. The residents look so forward to our coming and many of their relatives are now coming to the homes to attend our services.  Last month at Villa East, we had almost 50 in attendance.  We were having about 8 to 10 on Saturday mornings at Regency and the past 3 months, attendance has increased to 25 to 30.  Villa West has always had great attendance and great participation.  This home is an "assisted living" and they are more active and they love to sing.  They really get involved with us.  The residents at the Mary Bryant House of the Blind are very active as well.  We go there every 3 to 4 months because they can get out and go to church.  One of the residents actually plays the piano at a church he belongs to, so they do not need us as often.

 SOUTHERN GOSPEL @ VILLA EAST

One of the favorite songs for all the homes are "I'll fly away". Lots of raising their hands and praising Jesus when we sing the old time Southern Gospel music.   Since they love that type of music so much, we are now singing songs like "Just a little talk with Jesus",  "Where the Soul of Man Never Dies",  "Where could I go but to the Lord", and "Mansion over the Hilltop"  along with the old time hymns that we always sang.  Amazing Grace, What a Friend, and In the Garden are still at the top of the list, as well as, I'd Rather Have Jesus and many more.  It’s just such a Blessing to bring a church service to all the residents, knowing how much they all enjoy it and yet they can't get out and go.   They are so thankful and happy that we come and another Blessing is all the Activity Directors get involved with us.  Some of them sing with our Worship team.

JOYFUL, JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE!
MARY BRYANT HOME FOR THE BLIND

On Sunday, when we finished the service at Villa East, Roberta, one of the residents called Bernie over to talk with him and she had tears in her eyes as she told him she wanted three of the last four songs that we sang, to be sung at her funeral.  They were Glory to His Name; This World is not my Home and I'll Fly Away.  She was very serious and Bernie got the staff at the Nursing Home involved and it became a very special time.  They copied the songs and made notes and recorded them in her records.  It was one of her last wishes as she is preparing to leave this earth and what a joy to be in the presence of the saints when one is preparing for Glory, by selecting wonderful Worshipful Gospel music, which will illustrate to those left behind, that she knows she is going to be with Jesus. 

SPRINGFIELD SUPPORTIVE LIVING

LaMotte Brindley, one of our faithful members at our services, went home to be with the Lord last week.  He was a very special man who loved the Lord and taught Bible studies for over 60 years.  His son, Scott, is a close friend of Bernie's and oversees the work at the Washington Street Mission in Springfield.  Scott said when his dad died; he raised his arms up to heaven as if Jesus and His Angels were bringing him home.  The family said LaMotte could not wait until we came each month and if he happens to be on the phone when we came, he would immediately say, "I have to hang up, Bernie and the singers are here" and he would tell them every song we sang.  He will be missed, we loved him dearly.

Mary is one of my favorites, she just celebrated her 99th birthday and she always has a big smile on her face and she loves the singing.  She is so sweet and pleasant to be around.

Another resident had to tell me her life story on Sunday.  She was raised in the Assembly of God Church and loves gospel music.  She is in her 90's and she talks about her mom a lot and how she would play piano in church and how much she loved the Lord.  In her younger days, she waited on tables for over 60 years at a big restaurant in California and one of her favorite customers was Jimmy Swaggart.  She is so proud of her friendship with him.   

Praying for salvation for another resident who is not sure she's going to Heaven.  Please pray with us for these residents.  We really want to lead them to Jesus that is our heartbeat.

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE ATTENDEES
VILLA EAST, SHERMAN, ILLINOIS

Then there are so many others with burdens that are too heavy to carry and without Jesus, there is no peace.  I saw one of the residents sitting in the back of the crowd at Regency, a couple weeks ago, and she was very frail, couldn't breathe without oxygen, very sad and lonely with tears running down her face.  I walked over to her chair and said "do you need a hug today".  She started crying harder and shook her head, yes.  I stood beside her for a long time with my arm around her and told her how much Jesus cares and how much He loves her.  My heart breaks for them when they are hurting and they feel so alone.

PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS
 MARY BRYANT HOME FOR THE BLIND

We are adding another home to our calendar.  Our first service is on the 22nd of July.  The activity director called and asks us to come and I ask her how she heard about us and what she wanted us to do.  Her answer was "I heard about you from Kathy, an activity director from another home and I want you to do whatever you do at those other homes because I am hearing great things and we want you here".   So exciting to see God opening new doors.

Please pray for the Ministry and for all the Team as they go into various homes to share the gospel.  We appreciate so very much, all our prayer warriors; you are a very important part of the Ministry. 

                                                                

This is not my Ministry, its God's and my hearts desire is to see people come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to be used of God to be a Blessing to others.

Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.

Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke   815-351-7659   or   jmancke@yahoo.com

WILL COUNTY SONSHINE MINISTRIES - SERVED SENIOR HOMES:

*Lakewood Nursing Home *Salem Village Nursing Home *Rosewood Care Center  *Sunny Hill Nursing Home *Paradise Park Assisted Living *Senior Star @ Weber Rd.*Heritage Woods,  Bolingbrook *Weber Place