The Sandringham House Rest Home is a care home with a 21-person capacity, located within the same complex as Oamaru Baptist Church, although it has separate house or street numbers.
The church has been a regular caroller at the rest home, bringing the Christmas message through songs every December.
While I was still in Timaru, the annual ministry at Sandringham House seemed satisfactory. After moving to Oamaru in July 2024, we began to pray about how the church could better minister to the residents, now that we are based in Oamaru.
When I met the rest home owner last year, I offered my availability to be an on-call pastor to minister to a dying resident, which she appreciated. Apart from my regular visitation, the rest home has become a regular focus of prayer, as we pray for the residents, staff, and management.
About two years ago, one resident began attending our Sunday service. A friend who visits her became a church member and invited her to join. This church member stops by the rest home every Sunday to accompany her to church.
In December 2024, a couple from our church moved in. They chose Sandringham House because it is near the Baptist church. Thus, three people from Sandringham House are now attending our worship service.
At the start of 2025, we learned that the couple had to be wheelchair-bound for health and safety reasons. This sparked our wheelchair ministry with Sandringham House.
The church members take turns facilitating our members who use wheelchairs to church before the 10:00 AM worship starts and returning them home afterwards.
After doing the wheelchair routine for over two months, we learned another resident wanted to attend church. As there are only two wheelchairs available at the rest home, we were unable to bring this resident to church.
Additionally, wheelchairs may be unavailable on Sunday mornings due to increased demand. To address this risk and accommodate other residents wishing to attend the Sunday service, the church initiated fundraising efforts for two additional wheelchairs.
A generous church member offered to purchase the wheelchairs while the church raises funds.
The new wheelchairs arrived last week, and three attendees used them during the Sunday worship service on April 13. This brings the number of rest home residents attending our Sunday worship to four.
Thanks to M, our friendly octogenarian church member, who regularly visits J and other residents. She has encouraged two residents to join the Sunday worship.
We thank the Lord for C and B, who minister to and pray for their fellow residents, encouraging them to worship with them at the nearby church, among other prayer requests.
In God’s timing, a ministry has flourished. To God be the glory!
The fundraising for the two wheelchairs is ongoing. Please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00. Label or put “wheelchair” in the reference.
Thank you, and God bless you!
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