Cancer study reveals spiritual needs not being met

A recent study published in the Feb. 10, 2007 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (http://www.dfci.harvard.edu/abo/news/press/2007/study-recommends-greater-attention-to-spiritual-needs-of-people-with-advanced-cancer.html) and discussed in USA Today on Feb. 15, 2007 describes the overwhelming desire for spiritual support on the part of cancer patients. The study also shows that, according to the same patients, those needs are not currently being met by health or religious communities.

"We believe the training we're providing congregants, church staff and ministry leaders through Our Journey of Hope will go a long way to rectifying the perceptions and feelings many cancer patients now have about the spiritual support they?re receiving through their churches," said Rev. Michael A. Langham, director of Pastoral Care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The eight-hour training, available free of charge to churches anywhere in the country, includes information on what cancer is, why it's important to reach out to cancer patients and their families, the special needs of cancer patients, creative ways to care for them, prevention information, preparation and tips for effective hospital and home visitation, and practical ministry and communication exercises to put the information to use.

Since January 2007 alone, the Tulsa Our Journey of Hope® team has provided seven lay ministry trainings in South Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas for 295 people from 44 churches representing 13 denominations and six states. Among the participants were 39 students and faculty from three community/parish nursing programs at three universities as well as 23 Christian family practice residents at In His Image Family Practice residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Since the inception of the Our Journey of Hope® spiritual outreach in March 2005, the Tulsa team has trained 1245 people from 274 churches representing 32 denominations and 19 states. Eight cancer support groups have been started in churches as a result of the training.

Brenda Young, a participant at a lay ministry training held in January at First Baptist Church in Prattville, Alabama, commented, "My mom died of cancer in 1991. It covered her liver. It's important for me to find out about cancer. I didn?t know how to talk to her. I'm now starting to understand what she went through. I couldn?t be there for her. I want to be there for someone else. This is helping me."

In Norman, Oklahoma, Pastor Mike Girlinghouse at University Lutheran Church shared, "The Our Journey of Hope ministry training program raised our awareness of the needs, not only of cancer patients, but of all people who are sick and suffering. The program provided good basic information about people with cancer and concrete ways we can put that information to work in ministry."

Lucia Kihien, a nursing student who attended a February training at Epiphany Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, stated, "Today I learned more than I expected. This seminar highlighted how important it is to address a person?s spiritual needs. We often forget how the human being is such a unit. We can't attempt to fix one area without approaching the others."

Charlene Wilkins, a cancer survivor and lay minister at her church, Hope Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, in Ft. Worth, Texas, expressed her feelings about the training by saying, "The content of this presentation has been informative and greatly rewarding. It ministers to the overall patient and family ... mind, body, spirit. Through this presentation I've learned to express the love of Christ by assisting where there is a natural need, uplifting where there are distressed moments and assuring there is hope despite the situation."

For more information on how you can schedule the Our Journey of Hope® lay ministry training at your church, call 1-888-399-8126.

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