Day 37 : Anglicans on the Streets | Heritage Mission

"Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD."

– Leviticus 19:32

A generation is dying alone.

Throughout history and across cultures and geography, the majority of families have lived together, inter-generationally. These families typically have been made up of grandparents, parents, children, and sometimes extended relatives all living together under one roof or in close proximity. Old age and death were experienced within the family.

Today, in our North American context, many die alone, without their biological family or their church family.

It is estimated that 21% of deaths in the US occur in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
60% of nursing home residents don’t ever receive a single visitor.

"It’s been 23 years since sociologist Robert Putnam chronicled America’s declining relational networks in his book Bowling Alone.

As the first “bowling alone” generation now enters nursing homes and assisted-care facilities, they do so with fewer loved ones to support them and fewer churches to close the gap. They’re dying alone, and few Christians are doing anything about it.”

– Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer

The opportunities for missional vision and scope are incredible. Anglican parishes can step into sacred and faithful work among the physically vulnerable.

Nursing homes and assisted care facilities remain a significant and largely unreached mission field in the North America. Pay attention to each of these facts below, as each matters and is about lives, not mere numbers:

More than 2 million Americans live in these facilities today

According to demographers, residents aged 65 and older are part of the fastest-growing age group in Canada today

Around 7 out of 10 Americans will spend a portion of their lives in care

Many care homes lack the financial resources to provide any Christian activities

In Canada, where medically assisted euthanasia (MAID) is legal, it is notable that, according to the last significant statistics, the Atlantic provinces and Quebec are home to the largest proportion of seniors, accounting for 20% to 22% of residents in each province.

Isaiah 58:7 challenges us to “not turn away from our own flesh and blood,” which most biblical scholars understand to mean "do not turn your eyes from" those of common humanity who are in distress or need care.

A true fast is one that remembers that we are but dust; we all age; and all those who are in their sunset years need missional outreach and care. The people of God are called to offer the gospel in tangible ways where vulnerability is deeply experienced.

With "kingdom of God" entrepreneurship and creativity, Michael+ Neubauer takes seriously this Isaiah 58:7 admonition. He has founded an organization that partners with parishes called Heritage Mission that focuses on raising awareness of the poor conditions of nursing homes and the dearth of Christians actively involved in the lives of nursing home residents.

Strategically, Heritage Mission seeks to generate worshipping communities in care facilities, because "the Gospel will be shared with dozens of individuals currently outside of the church. Few, if any, other outreach programs have this kind of immediate impact on those who are not actively Christian." Parishes can start 30minute services without it being a heavy load as Heritage Mission offers:

Instructional videos and tutorials on running weekly worship services, including how to lead and engage with residents.
Training modules on navigating the medical system

Marketing materials for inviting residents to service.
Templates for printing weekly bulletins (used by residents).
Hymn database, chord sheets, and audio recordings for singing along.
Free Bibles for services.

Michael and his team envisions adaywhen the church is present and actively engaged in the lives of our forebears, companions and friends in the twilight years of their lives.

As a 2023 recipient of the Matthew 25 Initiative Grant, the Heritage Mission provides free, professional training, resources, and coaching for individuals, groups, and churches willing to create Christian communities within nursing homes and assisted living care facilities. This exciting and sustainable model provides "opportunities to share the Gospel to those who have left the church, and a church to those who never wanted to leave the church."

What would it look like if every aging person in care had a family to share with, pray with, and be loved by? Jesus, along with the prophet Isaiah, calls us to be that "family."

For more information, see Heritage Mission.

La Joie de Vivre, by Ernst Josephson