Our Journey of Hope Cancer Care Ministry: 7 Testimonials
Our Journey of Hope is a cancer care ministry that you can start at your congregation!
Our Journey of Hope is a ministry training program that was created because of the significant need of our communities to care for those dealing with cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, over 12 million people in the United States are living with or have been personally diagnosed with cancer.
Every year, 1.5 million more people receive a cancer diagnosis. Translated to a congregation of 200 people, on average, approximately eight people are living with cancer and two more will be diagnosed with it every year. Each of these individuals has family members and caregivers that are also affected. This Bible-based ministry training program has been developed to equip God’s people with the tools needed to bring hope to the millions who are living with cancer.
Cancer care ministry is a hope ministry that involves prayer, counsel, visits, and assistance. It is centered on bringing God’s hope to patients and their caregivers, families, and friends. This requires an understanding of the impact of cancer, how people react to it, and how God has called His people to respond. Above all, it requires us an unfeigned hope for those in need.
Cancer attacks the body. It is an assault of rogue cells trying to take over the body and break down everything in their path. But its attack is no less intensive on the mind and spirit. Yet, there remains something that cancer cannot conquer: hope. Cancer care ministry requires unique insights, both into the disease and into God’s Word. The purpose of Our Journey of Hope® is to equip you with these insights, and to help you cultivate and carry the hope for which so many are longing.
Imagine you are feeling afraid, rejected, alone, powerless, ashamed and hopeless. Envision, then, if someone comes to you and says words that no one else has said, does things that no one else has done and leaves you with courage, strength, dignity and hope for the future – and God’s plan. How would that affect you? What if it changed one day? What about 10 days? 100 days? What if it helped you through to see another whole season of life with hope? The potential impact is indescribable.
Our Journey of Hope
Our Journey of Hope® is a biblically-based, comprehensive Cancer Care Leadership Training program designed and supported by Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA). Any church-related individual or organization interested in participating in the Our Journey of Hope® program and/or in creating a related cancer care ministry at their location are required to complete an Our Journey of Hope Cancer Care Leadership Training sponsored by the Pastoral Care Department at CTCA®.
During the training, pastors, individuals and organizations will join with a select group of pastors and church leaders from around the country for an immersion into the spiritual and practical methods of bringing hope, care and comfort through cancer care ministry.
Our Journey of Hope® recommends that each church interested in providing cancer care ministry to members of their congregation and community send two representatives, the senior or associate pastor and/or another trusted leader who has been endorsed by their senior pastor, to a Cancer Care Leadership Training. Every leader who attends represents the potential to touch thousands of lives.
The Our Journey of Hope® program is designed to help pastors and lay leaders effectively minister to those dealing with cancer, such as the men and women featured on this page. Cancer care ministry has been an important aspect in each one of these individuals’ journey through cancer. Please take a moment to read these testimonials and see the impact that pastors and lay leaders can have in a cancer patient’s life – and why knowing how to effectively minister to cancer patients and caregivers is essential.
Testimonials
GEORGE & JEANNIE, CANCER CAREGIVERS IN HONOLULU, HI
We felt there was a call outside into the business world. So, this year we completed training our first business and we had about 200 people go through the eight-week training for free. The business then offers this service to their employees and their families so that anyone going through a cancer journey can be ministered to by any of these people. It’s such a wonderful benefit to the employees.
MARK, FAITH SOUTHWEST METHODIST CHURCH IN AMARILLO, TX
After having had cancer, I went back in my memory to the churches I served and I wondered ‘Did I give them adequate care? Did I give sufficient care to the cancer patient and to their support team?’ I questioned myself. I can’t go back and relive it or change it, but all I can do is go from this point on and try to change what I would have done.
JOHN, HENDERSON HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
The people starting these ministries need to understand that when those they are serving walk out of the hospital, whether they are cured, or someone passes, those caregivers are walking out by themselves and in to a place of darkness and they’re left to fend for themselves as to how to recover. And, even if they are church-going people, I can almost guarantee that the church is not equipped to understand that the cancer journey continues after the patient is cured, or goes to Heaven.
DONNA, FROM THE HEART CHURCH IN CAMP SPRINGS, MD
In addition to receiving two boxes of information the very next day, I was invited to a training at the hospital. We began incorporating what I learned at Our Journey of Hope into what we already had in place in our cancer ministry “More Than Conquerors”. We are that much more well equipped now. It has been a blessing.
JULIE, CALVARY CHAPEL IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL
We went through about a three-month period where we had six funerals, and two of those were our own team members, so we know it’s so important to come together and build one another up and pray over one another and keep one another encouraged.
PAUL, IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO
One thing that stuck with me over the two days was the heartfelt professionalism of the staff. They knew what they were doing, they knew what they were talking about, and they did it extremely well. But they did it in a way that shows that this was their heartbeat. The heart and soul of the people who gave leadership—they really care for this ministry, and that came across in a wonderful way the whole time I was there.
NORMA, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
It doesn’t matter if you have had cancer or not. It matters if you have a heart for it and a gift from God, then people will believe you. They will see your heart and they will accept you.
Thank you so much to Blossom for all of the hard work that she has done to establish and grow this ministry! Learn about another Hawaii-based ministry.
Mahalo plenty Elise for spreading the word & anyone needing any assistance in establishing a Cancer Care Ministry in their church please don’t hesitate to contact me at 808-384-4399 or email blossomchang@yahoo.com. Love you all & God’s blessings upon you all & your families!