Parish nurses, others say training equips them for better ministry

August 24, 2006

Parish nurses in Illinois and Missouri are giving high praise to the lay ministry training program offered through Our Journey of Hope® (OJOH).

During the months of July and August, the OJOH team from the Tulsa facility of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, trained 205 people representing 50 churches in three training sessions, conducted in Jacksonville, Illinois, East Moline, Illinois and Liberty, Kansas.

?As parish nurses, we all hesitate to go out into the community and talk about spirituality, even though we?re supposed to, because what we?re all about is integrating body, mind and spirit,? explained Joyce Bouyear, head of parish nurses for her region in Missouri. ?We just get so caught up in the medical portion. What the training did was give us good tools to bring spirituality into the ministry we have. I personally feel more empowered, and I heard multiple people say the training was very helpful.?

?This is a well-developed program, thought provoking, good printed material, empowering. Some of the most valuable information was things we can add to our parish nursing program such as tapes of messages, secret pal letters, outside resources and knowing myself better so I can help others,? explained Sharon Carmichael, a parish nurse in Gladstone, Missouri, as well as an oncology nurse and cancer survivor. ?Hand-out material is wonderful. I just can?t imagine how it could be improved. All speakers were well-prepared and shared valuable information.?

?I wish to thank Cancer Treatment Centers of America for the wonderful program they offered free of charge to our community Aug. 12,? Joanne Stribling, parish nurse in Illinois, stated. ? I?ve been receiving many thanks for hosting the program, with people asking when CTCA will be returning. I wanted this program to be offered at our church due to the many prayer requests we receive from the members dealing with cancer, either themselves or a loved one.?

She continued, ?I?m sure this program has given everyone that attended more knowledge for ministering to the cancer patient and their families. I have plans to start a spiritual cancer support group very soon using the supplemental material provided from CTCA. The special needs of cancer patients and creative care sections of the training, and, most of all, the communication exercise, helped everyone to minister better to cancer patients. They?ve stated they have a better understanding of what to say and not to say.?

If you?d like to find out more about scheduling the Our Journey of Hope® lay ministry training at your church, please call 1-888-399-8126. The training is free and is part of a spiritual outreach by Cancer Treatment Centers of America to ensure more holistic care for cancer patients and their families everywhere.