Care Team

Ministry description  

The Care Team is Messiah’s organized compassion—a small, trained group that notices needs and follows through with consistent contact. The goal is to ensure that people who are sick, grieving, shut-in/homebound, or missing for a while receive meaningful care through visits, phone calls, and cards. This team extends pastoral care in a healthy way by mobilizing trusted members while keeping communication and confidentiality clear.  

Core activities  

• Maintain a simple care list (illness, hospitalization, grief, homebound/shut-in, missing/disengaged)  

• Make care contacts through visits, phone calls, texts (as appropriate), and handwritten cards  

• Coordinate practical helps as capacity allows (meals, rides, simple errands)  

• Communicate urgent/sensitive needs promptly to the pastor while protecting privacy  

• Follow up with people who have been missing to re-open connection and belonging 

Care Team Member — responsibilities  

• Keep confidences; share only what’s necessary with the coordinator/pastor  

• Pray for the person(s) you’re caring for and for Messiah’s care ministry  

• Make assigned contacts promptly (call/visit/card) and follow through as promised  

• Listen well; offer encouragement and presence more than “solutions”  

• Know your limits and refer heavier needs to the pastor/care coordinator  

• Use wise safety practices (pair up for visits when appropriate; avoid isolating situations)  

• Communicate simple updates after contacts (e.g., “visited, doing okay, needs meals this week”)  

Estimated time: Typical: 1–2 hours/week (more during heavy care seasons)