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guest post by Jim Lagestee, Providence Board of Governors
I’m thinking of Independence Day in a different way this year.
The thought first came to me when I saw the words “Independent Living” on some of Providence’s ministry materials. “Independent Living.” That’s what we’re about. Not just independence, but also dignity, purpose, and real freedom.
Isn’t that what our forefathers were fighting for? True, they probably weren’t thinking of defending their right to live in a Christian retirement community, but that’s part of the beauty of their sacrifice—we have a lot of rights today that they never realized they were fighting for!
The word “independence” is meaningful on a lot of different levels, particularly around July 4. Originally, Americans wanted independence from tyranny, from unfairness, from oppressive authorities. But having won our war, we learned that independence is not just freedom from something; it’s freedom to. Freedom to make our own decisions. Freedom to grow. Freedom to worship. Freedom to help others.
James H. Douglas, as governor of Vermont, once said, “Our forbears worked hard this difficult land, and their reward was the freedom and independence of self-sufficiency.” I like that. “Independence of self-sufficiency” implies a certain dignity and empowerment. And maybe that’s what brought the ideas of Independence Day and Independent Living together so powerfully for me last weekend.
I believe the ministry of Providence Life Services brings freedom and independence to people who might not otherwise have it.
The tyrants that threaten our independence today are not kings and nations, but high costs and limited resources. We stretch our resources as far as they will go, but I fear they will not go far enough.
Will you join the battle? Will you add your resources to ours, so that our fathers and grandfathers can continue to enjoy independent living?
You can use this convenient online giving form and make a gift right now. Or you can contact Bill Buikema or Scott Studebaker to discuss other giving options. Whatever option you choose, you’ll enjoy the confidence of knowing your partnership is enhancing freedom for the people we serve.
Jim Lagestee is the owner of Lagestee-Mulder, Inc. and currently serves on the Board of Governors for Providence Life Services. He is passionate about providing quality Christian care for seniors and their families.
by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications
As part of our ongoing celebration of our 50th year of ministry, Providence Life Services has been hosting a series of “History Meetings” with key members of the Providence family. At a May 27 meeting with Providence Ambassadors (agroup of volunteers who represent Providence in their home churches), one of the honored guests was George Cooper. George was one of the original elders at Second Christian Reformed Church of Engelwood who heard the plea of members who needed Christian options for family members who needed nursing care.
George shared his memories of those early beginnings, as recorded in the video below. The letter he refers to in the video is shown at left. If you click on the small image here, a larger, more readable version of the letter will open up.
by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications
This article originally appeared in the February 2010 edition of the Providence Lifestyle newsletter. If you would like to receive a printed copy of this newsletter, send an email to mjongsma@provlife.com.
Jack and Della Riley were able to count on Providence Life Services for the care and compassion they needed.
The story of this ministry we share began in Palos Heights, Illinois, in 1960. And though it has spread to 16 other locations today, ministry continues at that original site. Jack and Della Riley’s story is a perfect example of both our faithfulness to our original purpose and our willingness to expand to offer new services that meet new needs.
Della Riley has had several falls over the past years, requiring surgery and rehab. When she fell again last May, she endured another surgery and then agreed to try the rehab services at Providence of Palos Heights.
Her family was worried about her husband Jack, who would be left alone in their home. Jack’s health was fragile, and the family worried that he wouldn’t eat without his wife. They also were anxious about him driving alone to visit Della. So they contacted Providence At Home and arranged for a live-in caregiver to take care of Jack at home.
The Providence caregiver cooked for Jack every day and drove him daily to Providence of Palos Heights to visit with Della during her rehab.
But Jack’s health continued to decline, and heart problems landed him in the hospital. The doctors and Jack’s family decided he needed rehab — which would give him the physical exercise he needed as well as allowing him to be with his wife again. Providence accommodated both Rileys in the same room and coordinated their rehab schedules.
Jack’s heart held out for three more days before he was re-admitted to the hospital, where he died peacefully a few days later. Della was able to visit him at the hospital, but the last time they were truly together was during their three days at Providence of Palos Heights.
Following Jack’s death, Della continued with her rehab. She appreciated the support she received from staff who expressed their sympathy and residents who had gone through similar experiences. The Providence environment provided both the physical help and the emotional support she needed.
Della is now home again, with the same Providence At Home caregiver who cared for Jack. Providence technology devices help keep her safe and in contact with her family when the caregiver is off duty.
Jack and Della Riley were able to count on Providence to provide exactly the care they needed — both at our original location in Palos Heights and in their own home. Rehab, in-home services, assistive technology — these are all new forms of care. But they are delivered with the same Christ-like compassion that has been part of our mission since the very beginning.
guest post by Richard C. Schutt, CEO
This year is the 50th anniversary of a ministry started by caring Christians. If you subscribe to our print newsletter, you’ll soon be receiving the first issue of a special series that will span this entire year. Each issue will try to capture a small part of our history, a single decade of ministry. Throughout the year we’ll compile those decades on our website, constructing a timeline that can continue to grow as more and more people contribute memories and photographs.
Throughout 2010, as we celebrate this 50th year of ministry, we hope to offer abundant evidence of God’s faithful answers to the prayers of His people.
Beginning in the 1950s
When the deacons of Second Christian Reformed Church of Englewood and surrounding churches saw the needs of their aging church members, they immediately wanted to do something to help. They could see that these people needed more care than their families could give, more care than a typical “Home for the Aged” would provide, better care than the for-profit nursing homes of the time. I imagine that, like many deacons, these men were gifted with the spiritual gift of mercy. I imagine they were desperate to relieve pain, to ease burdens, to extend compassion. They were eager to act.
But first, they prayed.
They knew they had to fully rely on God’s direction and empowerment. They knew if they attempted to solve a problem or meet a need in their own strength, they would grow tired and the ministry would fail. So they prayed and listened for God’s leading.
By 1960 they were celebrating God’s answer to their prayers. For it was in 1960 that they participated in the dedication of the first 50 beds of a new, Christian nursing home — the first in the area. It was filled to capacity from the very beginning.
That spirit of “prayer first” is part of the culture of this ministry. In response to the prayers of families who had nowhere to turn, churches prayed for direction and strength. Our early leaders prayed for vision, for funding, for partners in the work. And after the doors of that first nursing home were opened, our early staff prayed to make a difference in the lives of those they cared for.
Ministry starts with prayer. And prayer is the fuel that keeps us moving. We continue to pray for our residents, our staff, our leaders. We continue to pray for wisdom with each new decision we face.
Pray with us
And we continue to hope that you will join us! In the spirit of equipping as many pray-ers to offer as many prayers as possible, we invite you to sign up at PrayForProvidence.com. You’ll receive one email a month, which contains four prayer requests, one for each week.
Celebrate with us
We also hope you will continue to celebrate with us — by sharing your own stories and photographs of those early days of ministry. We’ve set up a special Facebook page called “Rest Haven Memories.” If you are already active on Facebook, you’ll be able to post your own photos and comment on our wall.
If you’re not on Facebook, you can still enjoy reflecting on our history. Visit ProvidenceMemories.com to view the timeline even as it’s being constructed!
This promises to be a year rich with memories and bright with promise. We are glad to have been in ministry with you for these past 50 years, and we look forward to many more years of God’s faithful providence!
Glimpses of Providence 