VISITATION

Every congregation desires to have some kind of visitation program in place. Every Church administration also desires to provide an effective visitation program for their people. And yet the visitation program often causes more grief than satisfaction. The problem comes when the people and the leadership fail to see the program through the same eyes. I would like to set forth what I believe is the proper understanding of a viable and effective program of visitation.

Visitation is a labor-intensive ministry.  It probably requires as much time, preparation and record keeping as any other program in the Church. It is also multifaceted, and ultimately affects every member of the congregation.

There are three major divisions in the program.  They include New Contacts, Routine Visitation and Hospital and sick calls.

New Contacts: These visitation obligations come into the system automatically when the person or family makes an initial visit to the Church and we obtain their name and address. If possible, we get to them during the first week following their visit with us.

Routine Visitation: Everyone that would like to be visited should be visited every so often, based upon the number of families in the congregation. Once again, these visits should be arranged either during personal contact at the Church or by calling on the phone. Visits should be prearranged to avoid embarrassment, and to allow house preparation that is often important to the party being visited.

Before spreading the word around to others that the Church is negligent in visitation duties, one should make contact with the Visitation Ministry and request a visit. You may be sure that there was not a conscious decision to neglect you! Oversights happen in your life, and they also happen in the life of the Church overseers. But let me emphasize that   we want to visit you!

Hospital and Sick Calls: Visits to the Hospital and sick calls cannot usually be planned very far in advance. Most often they require an adjustment of the day's routine which also results in other matters being postponed. Here it is necessary for the Church visitation minister to judge the relative importance of his various duties. Again, he may not always make the right choice, but his intention is always to do right. Be sure that he will do his very best to satisfy all concerned. Before a visit can be made the Church must be informed that there is a need, who is in need, and where they are located. If the party is at home, we would like to know if they want a pastoral visit for comfort and prayer or a visit by the Elders in accordance with the Epistle of  James 5:14,15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

There are all kinds of people and personalities involved here. Some would not mind a visit every week. Some would like a visit only when there is a spiritual need. Some do not want a visit at all. Some actually consider visits to their home intrusive. Once again, you may be sure that we want all of you to be happy with the program, and this means that we will work hard to grant your desires in this matter. You must let us know how we are doing in your particular case. Under normal circumstances if we do not hear from you, we assume all is well.  

There is another side to the visitation coin. Like all phases of ministry, it must not be limited to the Pastor, Elders, Trustees and Deacons, but should include the entire Body of Christ. In fact, the "inclusive" part of the ministry is often the most neglected part when it comes to visitation even though Scripture instructs us about it. The Apostle Paul tells us that inclusion is the very purpose Jesus had in mind when he gave gifted leaders to the Church! The epistle to the Ephesians 4:11,12 says: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: This verse tells us that all aspects of ministry belongs to the "saints", that is to you! The Greek word translated "ministry' is DIAKONIA, and is transliterated into English as "deacon". One of the primary functions of the fivefold gift ministries is to so "perfect" or ”mature” the people of God to the end that they are qualified for the work of the deaconate, to the building up of the Body of Christ. This is the goal of the ministry and it includes every one of us.

I would like to quote two other relevant Scriptures that deal with visitation.  They are: Matthew 25:34-36 and 40; Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. … And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  And  James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I want you to see that in both cases, the wording is inclusive. This is not a word to "ordained" or "full time" ministers.  It is a word to believers! Church leadership has, over time made many aspects of body ministry their exclusive domain, thereby robbing the people of their rightful role as ministers of Christ.  We do not want this to be the case where you are concerned. Three things therefore come to mind.  First, do not allow your privilege of sharing the burden of ministering to the Body of Christ to be transferred to the leadership only.  The leadership will minister, you can bank on that but they will also be trying at the same time to "perfect the saints for the work of the ministry." Second, consider being a participant in the visitation ministry of our Church. Let us know that you are interested in fulfilling Jesus' commission given through Matthew and James. Third, do not gossip about perceived failures in the program, but stand in the gap to perfect it. Who can tell?  We may yet all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph. 4:13.

I have written this article because I have learned something from my past experience as a visiting Pastor. Too often our brothers and sisters take offense in situations where no offense is intended.   If we allow love to prevail, this can be held to a minimum.  When offended people make the offense known to the offender, reconciliation is certain to follow.  This is true whether the offense is real or something born of a fertile imagination. Either way, it must be settled quickly, and between the involved parties only. Do not harbor ill feelings ... bury them in love.

We will do well together and live in peace and harmony with one another if we keep these things in mind. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil. 2:5

Please report to the Church as soon as possible information that comes to you about our members that are sick or in the hospital. Please call if you desire a routine visit for fellowship or for comfort or for any other reason. Please speak favorably about the ministry at your Church. God is very pleased when you do!

                                                                                                Hayden