Conversation - with Chris Mertz & Pastor Robby - Congregational Care Ministry

In this episode of Kingdom Conversation, Pastor Robby Strock sits down with Congregational Care Minister Chris Mertz to discuss the heart behind Church of the Lakes' Congregational Care Ministry. Discover how this dedicated team brings Christ's love through visits, prayer, encouragement, and compassionate support to those facing life's joys and challenges. Whether you're looking for a way to serve or simply want to learn how the church cares for its faith family, this conversation offers an inspiring look at a ministry that reminds us no one has to walk alone.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to the Kingdom Conversations podcast from Church of the Lakes, where our mission is connecting all to Christ to become healthy in God and courageous in love. Today's podcast highlights the Church of the Lakes Congregational Care Ministry. This ministry provides Christ's love and support to some of the most vulnerable in our community. Congregational care ministers are trained to ensure that no one walks through life's joys or hardships alone. Join Pastor Robbie Strock as he interviews one of the Congregational Care Ministers, Chris Mertz. Be blessed.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Welcome to another Kingdom Conversation. I'm Pastor Robbie Stroch, and today we are highlighting our Congregational Care Ministry here at Churchill Lakes. What's a Congregational Care Minister? Well, that's a great question, and that's what we're going to get into today, because these people provide invaluable support, serving as both a physical, emotional, and spiritual reminder that no one ever, ever, ever will walk through this life alone. And so we're in deep indebt to these ministers and how they uh help uh our congregation, whether that's by visiting shut-ins in their homes or sending out cards, sending a phone call in a time of need or just spending time in concerted prayer. Our congregational care ministry team bridges a gap of loneliness that can be found in any of the seasons of life. And to help us explore this ministry is one of our congregational care ministers, Chris Mertz. Chris, thanks for coming on today and sharing a little bit about this ministry.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

You're very welcome. Thanks, Robbie, for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Yeah. Well, why don't you tell our listeners just a little bit about yourself, uh, how you got involved with Congregational Care Ministers, and maybe uh how you got involved here at Church of the Lakes.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Uh, well, uh I remarried a longstanding member of the church after losing my past wife uh to a battle of breast cancer. Sure. Uh I think what drew me to her was obviously God and uh her loving, caring nature and involvement with Church of the Lakes. Um it was almost a year later that I joined Church of the Lakes, have been a member for about four years now.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Wow, it's only been four years. Four years.

SPEAKER_02 2:10

Time flies. Um besides my wife, I was drawn into an incredible family of the community of the church, volunteered for different activities. One, becoming a congregational care minister.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

Um, you know, to me, becoming congregational care minister, it matters. It's one of the most spiritually meaningful, relational, impactful, and quietly transforming roles in the entire life of the church. It's where faith becomes presence, compassion becomes action, and community becomes family.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Oh, wow. Uh we could cross that uh cross-stitch that on a pillow. That's beautiful. Well, the congregational care minister has got to be a challenging role. Certainly uh the pastoral staff, myself included, are deeply in debt to everything that you're able to do. Why uh and how do you minister to people in that role in that capacity? So, for instance, can you walk us through um how much time maybe you spend in a week and what some of the activities you actually do when you're uh you know sharing in this uh service?

SPEAKER_02 3:13

Yeah, sure, Robbie. Um, you know, and I think it's different for everyone because I've you know, Sharon and I sometimes tag team uh because she is also my wife as a congregational care minister also. So we'll and I think that's what got me into it because we, you know, I was going with her uh to do it together to a couple. We do it together. And then um, you know, while going through the class that we had at the church, I branched off. Have I had my own um, you know, uh members of the church that I'd reached out to and gone and visit them. Some they're all different situations. Okay. It may be they are in a hospital and need, you know, care and just someone there. Um, you know, it might be where they're living at home, where they've lost a spouse, which is, you know, one of the individuals I have now. And it's just, you know, some of the things that I do to help, you know, serve this faith family role include, you know, like I said, there's members in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, um their homes just offer, you know, prayer, encouragement, and presence. I think as far as the things that I really do, I mean, the biggest thing is listen, you know, you give people space to tell their stories, their fear, grief, hopes, you know, without rushing and definitely without trying to fix them. Um pray, you know, simply offer heartfelt prayer, uh, moments of need or uncertainty and gratitude. I check in regularly. You mentioned time. I mean, sometimes it's one or two times a week, you know. A lot of times, depending on the individual, they may have family in um where they're away, so it might go three, four weeks a month, but it's a phone call, you know. Just I think just that connectivity, they know you're there. Even though if they have family, they, you know, they have family they can lean on. If they don't, I think that's where we've really come in as an extension of the church. Um support, like I said, check in regularly, make phone calls, send messages, stop by. Support, you know, show up during grief, uh, illness, it may be a job loss, a family strain, emotional hardship. Uh, definitely celebrate milestones. Yeah, you know, acknowledging birthdays, um, depending on who they are, recoveries, anniversaries, answer prayers.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

Um, and then being a bridge to the pastor. You know, you help pastors stay aware, stay aware of the needs they may not see strengthening the whole care system.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Yeah, that's the that's the beauty of it. So in our congregational care ministry, just so people are aware, within our own faith family, is you know, the pastors only have so much time. It's the reality of the world. We all know time is at a limited capacity, and we want to cherish and honor everyone's opportunity to share, and um, especially in moments of crisis. So certainly um it's gonna sound poor, but us pastors have to prioritize people who are in life crisis or end-of-life situations. Um, you know, I have friends who uh always joke when I go to see them in a hospital. Uh, they're like, yeah, you never want to see the pastor in a hospital. And that sometimes is very true. But the funny thing for me is is like uh being able to check in on people, especially that are shut in, like we just don't have the capacity to reach everyone. The the average number, you know, I learned in seminary is 150 to 200 people per pastor that you can, you know, effectively shepherd, and you know, people can do the math really quick here of how many pastors we have on staff. And like it's nice to have um congregational care ministers come alongside of us and help us to care for the flock in doing so. Um thank you, Chris, for sharing, because I'm sure there are some people in the background that have no idea this ministry is going on, but I know uh, you know, since I've been at this church since the 1990s, you know, I've seen a generation that has gotten a little older and slowed down and certainly can't come every single Sunday. Right. Um, and then this is an opportunity for you to honor them and the faith family just as much uh making sure they feel felt and called.

SPEAKER_02 7:12

Um I know even growing up, uh, you know, I looked at pastors as superheroes, and you can only you can only be so many places at one time. There's only so many, you know, minutes, hours in a day to really reach people, and that's where this comes into play and really helps out.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Well, I'm so grateful that you have a heart for people and relationships because it's so, you know, I hate to I hate to touch the third rail, which is COVID. But in the midst of COVID, I think we all became painfully aware of even though we're connected, how alone we really are at times, can be. And nothing brought me more heartache than watching people and larger care facilities us not be able to get to them.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

Right.

SPEAKER_01 7:53

Um, so the phone, whether it's just a phone call or cards, or you know, now thank goodness your physical presence being able to go and and that means a lot. So um turning about a phrase, perhaps. Um, I think people begin to understand this, but I'm gonna ask the question anyways. Why is our congregational care ministry so important to the life of a church? Why do you think, Chris?

SPEAKER_02 8:16

Well, honestly, Robbie, I think congregational care is so important to the church um for others and for you in your role. Um, as I said before. I mean, some of the things that I'd really um and to be very transparent, I mean, I was brainstorming a lot of these questions that you were gonna ask and really try to to bring some value to this. It builds resilient, connected communities. You know, when you think of an extension of the pastor and being able to have somebody else reach that person, it's almost it is that extension of the church, you know, where you know the churches with strong congregational care, I think they weather crisis better, they retain members longer, yes, um, cultivate trust and vulnerability and create you know intergenerational bonds, as you mentioned, the different age groups. Um, you know, care is really the glue that keeps a congregation from becoming a crowd of strangers. So, in one way to look at it. The other, um, you know, as I uh was looking at it reflects the character of Christ. Obviously, Jesus consistently moved towards the hurting, the lonely, the sick, the grieving. Yes, the marginalized congregational care is the church continuing that movement. It's not optional, it's identity.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Yeah, I I really enjoy like the phrase that always has been brought to mind is Jesus served the least, the last, and the lost. And oftentimes um when we read in scripture, we see detailed message about how Jesus served the orphan and the widow. And uh we can extend that to the widower or however you want to phrase it. Um, but there there's just a way that Jesus connected with broken people and sometimes for no fault of their own. And I'm sure you've ministered to people in the Congregational Care Ministry that are not necessarily in their position for lack of trying or anything like that. Old day uh father time is undefeated, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Yeah, it's just you know, life situations that have happened, yeah, and sometimes it puts them in a position that, you know, they need that connectivity to the church. Sometimes they may think they don't need it, but you know, deep down they do, you know, because the church is a thing that, like I mentioned earlier, it's the glue that keeps the community together.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

Yeah, I'm so grateful for uh, you know, our small group ministries because a lot of times we build these relationships up in our small groups, um, you know, that act like these natural care communities, right? Um, but as sometimes as these care communities kind of like fall apart or break apart because of a change of people, this is where congregational care ministers really can come in. Okay, so Chris, can you tell me something about the training that you had to do uh during this process? Certainly, I mean, you're a conversational guy. You know, you and Sharon have done a terrific job of taking this ministry and making it your own. But I'm sure we equipped you a little bit, I hope, uh, you know, to do things like give communion or or to share prayer time with people. What what are some of the things in the training that you went through, perhaps?

SPEAKER_02 11:26

Yeah, we uh, you know, kind of expound on that a little bit. We did have a class through the church that we went through and kind of broke it down to, you know, create some structure to, you know, as far as praying, how to pray, how to give communion, um, you know, looking through where it's cited in the Bible as far as you know what Jesus said and what we say when we take communion at church about the the bread and the wine and the body and the blood. And you know, I mean, just being honest, it's not every time you're gonna do that with somebody. Sure. They may lead you down um, you know, a different path you weren't expecting. And one of the key things you said just a little bit ago, you know, it does become relational. Yeah, it's not like, you know, I'm the congrat congregational care minister coming in and I'm this person of stature, and I'm coming to visit you because of whatever life crisis or situation you're going through. You just start building a relationship with these people and you become, you know, friends. I mean, there's a connection there. And you do pray, you know. I always try to, you know, you know, start with prayer, end with prayer. It's always good, but I think the relationship evolves. Um, maybe not with everybody. Some people, they, you know, my wife Sharon, you know, she's had individuals that that's all they want, somebody to come in, just a phone call. You know, they don't want to visit, you know. Others, you know, love a visit when you go. Sometimes you can't get out of there because you're, you know, you're there and just one thing leads to another. It might be just going over and you know, like one of the gentlemen I have now, it's watching a guardian's game, you know, you know, watching you know, a couple innings and talking about it, talking about his family and different things that have gone on. So it it's different in every aspect, but it's very rewarding.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Well, I'm yeah, that we try and always equip people so that uh if in a moment of crisis someone needs to be ministered, uh like communion or like you said, prayer, we want to equip people.

SPEAKER_02 13:29

Right.

SPEAKER_01 13:29

Uh and and I'm glad that we were able to do that. Uh certainly some of it comes naturally, but you know, there are certainly some people that becoming a congregational care minister would be a scary proposition. Um, what would you perhaps say to someone who would say, I I wouldn't know what to say? Um, I feel like you've already kind of highlighted the relational aspect of it a little bit, but what what would you say to kind of uh uh encourage people as they look at this ministry if they were looking to get involved?

SPEAKER_02 13:57

Yeah, sure, Robbie. You know, I I I'd honestly tell them this sometimes not knowing what to say, um, it's completely normal. It's a sign of humility. You know, um this being involved in Congregational Care Minute Ministry, the humility is one of the greatest strengths, I think, in this care ministry. Okay. Um keeps you gentle, attentive, and most importantly, keeps you dependent on God rather than your own cleverness. Yeah. Because sometimes you, you know, you try to be more than what you really are, what they really need. Um you know, it it keeps you uh also I'd say that, you know, congregational care isn't about having the perfect words, you know, as I just kind of stumbled there, but um it is, it's about offering presence, attention, and love in moments when people need it most.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

You know, uh there was a a really neat moment uh uh that I had recently at a funeral, um, you know, which are are moments of great hope for Christians, and I want people to hear that, but it's certainly a moment where people grieve, right? And uh there was this young lady who was in her grieving way giving a testimony about um, you know, a family member who had passed, and she said the best witness that she could give for her grandmother was that they were they were there. They were there. It was a it was the power of presence, right? And like you said, uh, you know, you may not ever have the perfect words. Lord knows I don't have the perfect words ever as I stumble through podcasts or sermons or small groups or whatever with my children. Um, but I love that it's the power of presence, it's being there for someone to let uh know that you care in more ways than one, you know, physical presence matters to people to show people. Um that's great. I like I love that that image. Well, I'm I'm more curious curious now than on a personal side, Chris. You know, you've been doing this for about three years, you said.

SPEAKER_02 15:52

Yeah, about three years.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

So how has this helped develop and push you in your faith? Because certainly, I'm sure there were moments that were hard being a congregational care minister. Um, how has it pushed you? Where where do you think God has led you through this journey and this ministry?

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Well, I think you know, serving what's done for me as far as serving as a congregational care minister, um, it has changed my faith. Because I mean it places me directly in places where God's present is really most real. Suffering, joy, vulnerability, healing, human need. I mean, it just doesn't help others. It kind of also reshapes me or you, yeah, you know, in in that the ordinary church involvement rarely does. Because it puts you on a different level. I mean, some things that, you know, I kind of really wanted to hit on was, you know, it it you see God at work in real life, not just in sermons. Nothing against your sermons. There's nothing, no, and I haven't fallen asleep in a single one. But uh, you know, care ministers witness God's presence in hospital rooms, living rooms, yeah, grief, recovery, quiet moments of hope. You just your faith becomes grounded in lived experience, not just ideas. You know, another thing you learn to trust God in the unknown. Yeah. A lot of times you you don't know what's gonna happen when you go for a visit or when you pick up that phone. Um, you know, care situations, they rarely come with scripts. You know, I made some notes for this podcast because I wanted to do it right and get some good information about you. Absolutely, yeah. Um, you walk into moments where you don't know what to say, what you're gonna do, you discover God meets you there. Yeah, you know, He gets you through it. Um, like I said or mentioned about humility, you grow in humility and empathy, listening to people, which is we said, you know, presence, listening, and just that compassion. Um, you stop assuming judging or rushing, you just learn to see people the way Jesus sees them. Yeah. Um and I say lastly, you know, you're I do experience, you know, some guidance um from the Holy Spirit. I mean, you do it's more clear, you know, you often sense nudges, um, you know, and that may be, you know, when you're away from them, it's call this person, stop and pray, or just plan a visit. Oh, that is so good.

SPEAKER_01 18:14

We uh Jared and I like to call them God wings. Yep. Like uh I'm a you know, a sole believer in the fact that there is no such thing as a coincidence. So it's like uh perhaps the gentleman you were talking about sitting through the Guardians game, it was like I want to check the score and it makes you think of him and the process and then check up on him. You know what I mean? It's not a coincidence that you connect those dots together. Um well, Chris, okay, one final question for you. Um, what would you say to someone who is thinking they might want to become a care minister? What what what things, practical guidance, uh whether it's logistics or whether it's spiritual, what do you think there's some things that you could encourage someone with?

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Well, and quite honestly, you know, Robbie, when I got involved in this, um, I didn't know that the you know, there was one voice on one side saying, you know, do you really want to get involved with this? You don't know what you're doing. Obviously, you mentioned the training. Yeah. Training helped a lot. Like anything, once you get into it and you start experiencing it, and what you give, you get back, you know, yeah, in twofold. Yeah. Um, just with the time when it's funny how serving works that way, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Yeah, it does.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

And you don't expect it, and you know, before you know it, you're doing it, and you don't have to be perfect. But I'd say, you know, if I've if I tell anybody that would that wanted to get involved with this, I tell them that, you know, if you're feeling drawn towards congregational care, it's often a sign, you know, that God's stirring something deep and meaningful inside. It did it inside me, you know. Um, you know, pay attention to it, like you said, the God wink. Um, care ministry, you know, I mentioned before, it's not about being perfect um or or endlessly wise, it's about being willing, compassionate, and present. If uh someone is thinking they might want to step into the role, you know, think about these things. You don't need special qualifications. The church provides, you know, the training was more than adequate. Um, as people that have already been in that situation before, who have already worked with different congregational care uh individuals that needed that that service, just a willing heart. Um, you do make a real difference in quite quite ways. I mean, most people uh some things that really hit me, and and and I've gotten feedback from different people that I've seen. Most people don't remember sermons word for word, but they do remember who visited them, who prayed with them, who checked in, and who showed up. Yeah. Um you think about, you know, it it's worth taking seriously. You know, you don't it's not a decision maybe you have to make. I think, you know, I slept on it for a day, but it was that God wink or nudge, I think, that was pushing me back to it. Um but you ask questions, shadow someone, pray about it, you know, and in what ways you think the role looks like. You know, it's just you ask that question, am I qualified? But um, I feel like I want to help. If if you have those feelings, then you'd be a perfect candidate.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Yeah. Yeah. I thank you so much for exploring this because we have many ministries that um touch uh you know, pieces of the social uh network that is in our culture and in our country that certainly uh affect the least, the last and the lost. I think of RFKC Royal Family Kids Camp with the foster care. I think of certainly Habitat for Humanity, where we're building a house with someone who certainly is less fortunate. You know, the physical requirements for being a congregational care minister certainly changes, but it's still serving the least and the last and the lost. And that's what I love about it so much, because it gives people the opportunity to serve in a unique way by being present, by being available, and by certainly listening to the Lord who's nudging them. So here's what I'll have to say as a as a big plug. Um, if you've listened to Chris's interview and you're feeling the Holy Spirit nudging you to become a congregational care minister, please email me. Email me at robert at churchlakes.org or reach out to me and I'll get you in contact with Sherry Grunwald, who will help get you help signed up for trained and equipped and to support some of the most vulnerable people in our faith family. Uh certainly, Chris, thank you so much for walking us through this ministry. And a pleasure.

SPEAKER_02 22:31

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

Yeah, absolutely. It's something that people may not know that's going on behind the scene. You know, we have a bulletin board that's in between our church office and our sanctuary that has the faces of all of our congregational care ministers on it. I'm sure people have walked past it a million times and probably didn't think twice about it. But, you know, we have people, we have uh quite a team, a network of about 24 people who go out and visit on top of that. And you know, we'd love to add people, the more people we can reach, the better. But before we go, I just want to say a big thank you to Betsy, our director of communication, uh Len Brown, who's our editor and chief, our encourager, and my wife Stephanie, who helps us get all this out on our social media platforms. If you want to reach out or submit a question, once again, you can email me at robert at churchthe lakes.org or podcast at churchthe lakes.org. We'd love to hear from you. And uh please remember it's our mission here at Church of the Lakes and Disciples of Jesus Christ to connect all to him to become healthy in God and courageous in love. Until next time, God bless.

SPEAKER_00 23:31

Thanks for listening to this episode from Church of the Lakes with Pastor Robbie's drive. If today's message encouraged you and helped you grow as a devoted follower of Christ, we invite you to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can also help others discover this podcast by leaving a five-star rating or review and sharing it with your friends, family, co-workers, and others in your circle of influence. We're also grateful for your generosity, which helps make messages like this available to more people. If you feel led to give, please check the link in the description. And if you're in the Centon, Ohio area, we would love to invite you to join us in person on Sunday and worship together. To learn more about Church of the Lakes, visit Churchofthelakes.org or click the web link in the description. Until next time, stay encouraged and keep walking in faith.