By Karoline Chapman

Almost every church has a population of rarely-seen members who continue to pray and give, expecting nothing in return. But the truth is that they need fellowship and ministry as much as any other churchgoer attending on a Sunday. These are the homebound church members. Reverend Maria Soledad De La Cerda has witnessed the power of connecting with the homebound congregation population through her appointment.

De La Cerda has served with CrossRoads Houston United Methodist Church, which hosts regular English and Spanish services, for nearly a year, ministering to homebound church members. Many of them are convalescing as they navigate illness, injury or mobility issues that prevent them from attending church in person.

To no fault of their own, these seniors are isolated, craving community with their church family and connection with God. While some have family and friends surrounding them, others do not.

“The biggest need that I witness in my ministry is companionship,” shares De La Cerda, who visits these seniors regularly. “I urge church members to visit their homebound church family with an intentional visit. Not just a ‘hi, how are you,’ but listen to their stories. Pray for them, and let them pray with you!”

Prayer, devotionals and music are all powerful ways to minister to these men and women who crave spiritual enrichment in addition to sincere fellowship. The musically gifted can bless them by playing hymns and singing to or with them; anyone can bring a devotional to share.

“This is so important because it not only ministers to them, but it helps them feel more connected to the church and part of the ministry,” says De La Cerda. “Often, these people are longtime church members who may have raised their families in the church or attended for decades. It blesses them when they can still be involved in ministry through prayer, singing or sharing devotions.”

De La Cerda spends much of her ministry meeting the practical needs of the homebound individuals she serves, running errands, picking up medications and getting them food and clothes. By helping them holistically, she has learned that it can also indirectly minister to the senior’s family.

“One homebound individual I visit has family living with her, but they have not been involved in her care,” says De La Cerda. “Even so, she always maintains the best attitude about her circumstances; then, just yesterday, she told me that her family has been stepping up more recently to help her, and she believes that God has been at work, moving their hearts.”

Whether they are minorly ill or in hospice, well off financially or not, surrounded by family or alone, these seniors all want peace.

“One woman I’d visited had been on hospice for several years and was no longer responsive,” said s De La Cerda. “But I would visit her weekly to pray over her, share a devotional or speak to her even though she couldn’t speak back. One day while praying with her, I told her that God was waiting for her, and I prayed that she would be at peace. When I said that, she opened her eyes. She still couldn’t speak, but she locked eyes with me, and the overwhelming sense of peace within her at that moment was palpable. Three days later, she went Home to be with Jesus. I will always be grateful for that encounter and that I was able to assure her that everything would be okay, there at the end.”