May 2017

Voice of Care: equipping the Church to nurture people with disabilities and their caregivers in their walk with Christ

from the Executive Director… NEVER SWIM ALONE

 

I wish there had been a class on how to be a great Execu ve Director! I feel as if I am venturing into uncharted waters every  me Voice of Care begins an exci ng new opportunity. With the launch of our SET TO SERVE workshops, we are finding that there are numerous likeminded ministries. By partnering together with these organiza ons, especially in areas outside of Northern Illinois, we acquire local support to help to sustain the work of congrega ons. This means that even if it is beyond our means to be physically present, there are “boots on the ground” backing up our mission.   

One of the current buzz words in the nonprofit community is “collabora on.” Because people with disabili es are largely not connected to congrega ons, it is a huge mission field. No single ministry working among people with disabili es can do it all. Voice of Care collaborates with a variety of ministries to reach as many people as possible with Jesus’ love and the Gospel good news. We realize that a congrega on may feel most comfortable with an organiza on with  es to their own denomina on, such as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Jesus Cares Ministries.  In other situa ons, the prac cal approach is to partner with a geographically appropriate organiza on like the Florida‐based Li  Disability Ministries. We use a variety of materials from other Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Recognized Service Organiza ons, including Lutheran Blind Missions, Bethesda Lutheran Communi es and Mill Neck Founda on for Deaf Ministry. Some mes we look to learn from the exper se in other evangelical ministries; Joni and Friends is one such group, as is the Chris an Learning Center Network.   

We are grateful that God allows us to con nue forging rela onships across United States. Sharing resources and collabora ng in ministry allows us to reach more people for Christ together than we could ever reach on our own.   

So…while the Execu ve Directors of some organiza ons are out speaking about their ministry, I generally leave that to my excellent team of ministry facilitators.  My role at Voice of Care is to con nuously network with other ministries, seeking favorable opportuni es and loca ons to launch our SET TO SERVE programming. As we connect and collaborate, together we train and equip more congrega ons for ministry among people with disabili es.  

Executive Director

In Christ among people with disabili es,  

Voice of Care’s debut Set to Serve workshop in Rochester, Michigan, included Joel Gaertner of Jesus Cares Ministries

(pictured near right with Deaconess Kris Blackwell) and Elizabeth Roe of Lutheran Special Education Ministries

(pictured far right).

The Voice is a publication of

Voice of Care Voice of Care's mission is to equip the Church to nurture people with disabilities and their caregivers in their walk

with Christ.

mailing address: Voice of Care P.O. Box 251 West Chicago, IL 60186

telephone: 630.231.3862

email: office@voiceofcare.org

staff: Executive Director - Deaconess Kris Blackwell Office Administrator - Dian Cracraft Ministry Facilitators - Deaconess Sarah Gaffney Rev. Phil Gruenbaum Rev. Paul Klopke Director of Development - Lori Solyom

VoiceOfCare.org

Leaving a Legacy: Now and Later Generosity through Genera ons is  Voice  of  Care’s  new  legacy  stewardship  program  launched  last October. Most people understand that charitable gi s can be included as part of their estate planning, but there are other ways that you can plan right now for present and future support of  the ministries close to your heart.  

Voice of Care’s Execu ve Director, Deaconess Kris Blackwell,  is an LCMS Founda on‐trained Charitable Gi  Counselor. She would like to meet with you to discuss ways that you can be more inten onal about your contribu ons ‐ to your congrega on, Voice of Care, or other chari es you want to support.    

Voice of Care appreciates each and every gi  received, no ma er the size. As this ministry grows to serve congrega ons across the United States, the financial needs also increase. Simple math illustrates how easily this growing need can be met.  

If 20 donors who give $100 annually, converted to a $10  monthly dona on ‐ Voice of Care would benefit by an extra $400 a year. If those same people considered giving $25 a  month, Voice of Care would see an increase of $4,000! That  $4,000 could pay for about 7,000 miles of travel. Oh the places  we could go with that  extra money! Think of the poten al ministry expansion!  

We invite you to contact Deaconess Kris Blackwell, at vocexec@voiceofcare.org or 630.234.1491, and explore ways  you might provide for a legacy of Chris an charitable support, both now and in the future. 

Disability Awareness Days St. John Lutheran School in Lombard, Illinois, welcomed Deaconess  Kris  Blackwell  for  a  daylong  Disability Awareness Day. The school’s 240 students  in preschool through eighth grade took turns rota ng through Voice of Care‐designed disability awareness  learning sta ons. A  team of volunteers  from St.  John’s congrega on was on hand to help with help with the hands‐on ac vi es. It was an unexpected bonus to discover that some of the volunteers were experienced  in working among people with disabili es,  and were able  to  share  their  personal exper se with the children. Deaconess Kris shared, “One of the highlights for me came near the end of the school day when the preschoolers arrived for their turn at the learning  sta ons.  They  knew  a  li le  sign  language  as mo ons  to  songs,  but  they  had  also  learned  that  sign language is a way to communicate with someone who is deaf.  They  could  already  say  “Jesus  loves  me”  in  sign language, but eagerly learned to sign, “I want to be your friend.  Jesus  is  my  friend.”  In  Isaiah  11:6,  scripture states,  “…a  li le  child  shall  lead  them.”  O en  it  is through  children  and  their  willingness  to  relate  to people with disabili es that those with special needs are welcomed  into  a  church  and  into  rela onship  with Jesus. 

As Voice of Care connects congregations and their

volunteers with facilities, Ministry Facilitators Rev. Paul Klopke, Rev. Phil Gruenbaum

and Deaconess Sarah Gaffney still dedicate hours each week

to conduct Jesus Time, devotions and worship for

people with disabilities. Pastor Paul shared the following story:

At Deer Path, some of the

Lutheran residents are receiving the Lord’s Supper.

While administering Holy Communion to two people who

are blind, I explained the real presence of Jesus in the

sacrament. They accepted, without any reservation, that

this was not merely a remembrance meal but rather

the very body and blood of our Lord. “Pastor Paul,” they told

me, “Even though we can’t see what you give to us (the bread

and the wine) we believe it is the body and blood of Jesus.”

I thought to myself that if these people who are blind accepted

the truth of God being in the sacrament, why do we have

such a hard time believing this mystery of God’s real presence?

Then I remembered Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who do not see and yet

believe.”

Voice of Care Ministry Facilitators led REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) training for Walcamp

Outdoor Ministries staff and the camp nurse in March. Summer Camp Staff will go through disability training under Voice of Care leadership in early June as they

prepare for the busy camp season.

Deaconess Sarah introduced Voice of Care’s disability awareness program to students in

the Deaconess program at Concordia University Chicago. The devotional and

educational time was held at the home of university president, Rev. Dr. Daniel Gard. A number of the women had been taking

sign language classes and were particularly interested in the Braille learning station.

REST Training

Congregational Ministry Facilities Ministry

Disability Awareness

Outdoor Ministry Training

As congregations seek out a “good fit” in ministry to people with disabilities, Voice of Care staff is there to help, providing training

and resources as needed. Rev. Phil Gruenbaum recently saw his efforts come to

fruition at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri. He had consulted with the

parish during their efforts to add a staff position focused on disability ministry. A year after his work with Concordia, Pastor Phil was

able to meet and visit with the new staff member and check in on the growing outreach

to people with special needs.

REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) training can equip a congregation to host “drop off” respite events. Kudos to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights for their “Night to Shine” prom

for teens and adults with special needs.

Voice of Care is a Recognized Service Organiza on of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 

Voice of Care ‐ P.O. Box 251 ‐ West Chicago, IL 60186 630.231.3862 ‐ office@voiceofcare.org ‐ VoiceOfCare.org

Execu ve Director Deaconess Kris Blackwell ‐ 630.234.1491

Voice of Care Financials: Year To Date

February 1 through April 30, 2017

Income:

Program Income  $9.72  

Congrega on Dona on  $8,809.14  

Individual Dona on  $6,211.00  

Organiza on/Ins tu on  $461.71  

Thrivent “Choice" Funds  $1,285.00  

Special Events  $1,220.24  

Interest Income  $74.41  

Total income: $18,071.22

Trivia Fun for Everyone was a new fundraiser for Voice of Care: The silent auc on featured a Chicago area private plane tour and the ice cream matched 

the purple and lime décor! Huge thanks to Marklund, who not only sponsored the 

event but sent a team of residents and staff. The approximately $8,000 taken in won’t show up un l Q2 financials but it 

was a fun a ernoon with a lot of ac vity in support of Voice of Care. Thanks to all who donated to, a ended and worked at 

the event! See pictures online at   h ps://goo.gl/RCXazR. 

Expenses:

Administra ve  $17,019.42  

Programming  $12,654.35  

Fundraising  $140.85  

Total expenses: $29,814.62

Net Income: ‐$11,743.40*

*does not include income from April 30 fundraising event