When it comes to member engagement, one of the most difficult things is finding ways to connect with those in your congregation who can’t physically be part of your church.
While there are multiple reasons why someone could be confined to their home, the reality is that being unable to participate in the outside world is draining mentally, physically, and spiritually.
There are 3.6 million people in the United States alone who are considered homebound. They need to see the love of God just as much as every other member of your community and congregation.
Many shut-ins long to be there on Sunday mornings, participate in small group gatherings, and attend special events throughout the year. But with life circumstances preventing them from being physically present, how do you make them feel like valued members of your church who are cared about and loved?
It will take planning, coordination, and passion, but you can positively connect with those who can’t come to you while simultaneously engaging people in every area of your church ministry.
1) Recruit Your Youth to Do Yard Work
You can easily engage your youth in your efforts to connect with shut-ins by recruiting them to do yard work or other physical tasks, such as repairing decks or fixing cabinet doors.
Take advantage of the unlimited energy your teens have by meeting some physical needs.
Your youth want to be helpful and to make real impacts on their church and community. Connecting them with those who can’t leave their homes gives them the opportunity to do something useful and shows your homebound members how the church takes care of its own.
Use your DiscipleNow weekend or plan regular outings to knock out tasks for your shut-ins. Gather lists of needs beforehand, and divide and conquer!
You may need to enlist the help of some of your skilled congregants to help or borrow equipment, but do your best to allow the youth to do the actual work.
Your teenagers will learn how to serve sacrificially, and those confined to their homes will see that they have not been forgotten by the next generation.
2) Use Your A/V Team to Set Up Streaming
Many of your homebound church members are not only unable to physically attend church but are unable to watch the services online.
They become completely disconnected, missing out on having someone pour into their spiritual lives simply because they are unable to get there.
Just as the four friends carried the crippled man to the feet of Jesus by making a new way, you can bring your shut-ins to church without them having to leave their homes.
Recruit some of your tech-savvy members to set up ways for your homebound to watch your live streams. They’ll need to connect with each person to find out what equipment they already have available (e.g., internet, TV, etc.) and then purchase whatever is needed.
Some of your shut-ins may be able and willing to pay for any needed equipment, but finances shouldn’t stop you from getting anyone set up to see your services. You may have space in your budget to cover costs, or you can reach out to your congregation and ask for sponsors to help connect with those stuck at home.
Once your tech people have everything set up, make sure they teach your shut-ins how to use the equipment. They may even need to write out step-by-step instructions for those with memory issues.
Setting up a system that allows the homebound to watch your services will make an enormous difference in connecting them to your ministry and feeding them spiritually.
3) Put Together a Traveling Choir
If your church has a choir, you’re already halfway there! If not, decide if developing a traveling choir will work for your church or if using your existing praise team is a better option. Either way, the goal is to provide your shut-ins with an in-person opportunity to sing praises to their God!
Gather a list of homebound members who would like a visit from musicians and find out whether they would like the group to come in or stay outside.
Keep the groups small, three to five for indoors and five to ten for outdoors. Prepare two to three songs, and either ask for requests beforehand or give the listener the option to ask for a song while you’re there.
They will love hearing whatever songs you do, but it’s something special to hear a favorite song or hymn and be able to sing along in your home.
When choosing songs, try to pick popular and well-known ones. You want the shut-ins to be able to sing along with your choir or praise team and be part of the worship.
These visits will bring your homebound into the worship with you and allow your musicians to sing or play their instruments in a way that honors God by loving His people.
4) Organize “Playdates” with Moms of Young Kids
Children often bring considerable joy to the elderly.
You likely have young moms in your congregation who are so swamped with the challenges of motherhood that they can’t or don’t have time to serve in your church. They desperately want to contribute to your ministry but are bogged down with the demands of managing young children.
Whether these moms are working or at home full time, they can still be a part of sharing the love of Jesus, even if it’s in a less conventional way.
Connect your homebound members with a mom of one or two young kids. The moms can chat with the shut-ins while they watch the kids play or read stories all together.
Moms of older children can have their kids make cards to take or bring their elementary-aged kids to practice reading to those who may not have the eyesight to read on their own anymore.
These “playdates” don’t have to be long. Even 30 minutes is enough time to show those shut-ins at home that someone loves them and help moms feel like they are doing something positive outside of parenting.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re focused on making the homebound in your ministry feel like part of the church.
You may have to go to them, but engaging with the older members of your congregation is vital to their spiritual journeys and the discipleship of younger generations.
5) Take Your Children’s Ministry Caroling
Children bring joy wherever they go. Just ask anyone who’s seen kids visit a nursing home!
When December rolls around, invite your children’s ministry to go caroling at the homes of your shut-ins.
You don’t want to compromise anyone’s health in your efforts to connect, so you’ll have to coordinate the routes in advance based on which homebound members can get outside or would want a few kids to come indoors.
Depending on how many children (and adults) you have willing to participate, split into groups to visit more homes. You can even combine this effort with your kids’ Christmas party or other activity to teach children how to use their talents to love others in a season when God showed His ultimate love for us.
Collect small gifts or bake treats that can be shared with each of the shut-ins as you stop. Remember to consider allergies and other medical restrictions when choosing these gifts!
Then, choose one or two kids to take the gifts up to the homebound person, rotating which kids go each time. Some of your kids likely know the people you’re going to see, so both the homebound and the children in your ministry will get to see some familiar faces and enjoy a brief visit.
Two to three songs, plus a quick gift and a hug, are usually sufficient for each stop. This allows you to visit multiple homebound church members in a single trip without overwhelming the kids or those you’re visiting.
You’ll bring immeasurable joy to those unable to leave their homes by reminding them that they are important to your church family while also giving your kids the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with those in need.
Shut-in ministry isn’t just for a select few. Mobilize your entire church to pour into those who can’t be there physically and give every person the opportunity to faithfully serve those who can no longer serve themselves.
In this way, your whole church, from the youngest to the oldest, can be the hands and feet of Jesus and experience His love.
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