Cancer patients find support through Living Hope Foundation

October 3, 2007

Support group provides tools to cope with cancer

Begun in 2006 as a response to a lay ministry training event through Our Journey of Hope®, Living Hope Foundation has already touched over 200 lives in the Springfield, Missouri area.

"We've seen many people relieved to have somewhere to go as an outlet," Pastor Denny Stevens said. "Most of these are patients in the season of cancer or caregivers close to the situation. At one meeting, a widow from out-of-town came and just wept, having finally been able to tell her story to someone. Although she was staying with her children through treatment, they weren?t able to understand all she was going through."

Stevens and his wife Alaine, a breast cancer survivor, coordinate and run the support group. "Having just walked through this cancer experience ourselves, our motivation was found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: '?the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort ? comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.' That basically says that if God can get us through this, then let's help others get through this with God's grace and wisdom."

Living Hope Foundation meets on the second Tuesday of each month, except December, from 7-8:30 p.m. Meetings include a speaker, a healthy snack, time for dialogue, interaction and prayer. "Prayer is pivotal to what we're trying to do," Stevens said. "We want people to know they don't have to go through this alone. God hasn't deserted them. He's right there in the middle of their situation. He can be trusted in the good and bad."

Speakers are selected who can bring an aspect of understanding or help to a cancer situation. They've included people with motivational testimonies, information on nutrition, the effects of laughter, stress management, the dynamics of faith and medicine, even hands-on physical therapy massage.

"The overwhelming favorite topic is nutrition," Stevens added. "Everyone wants to know more in this area."

To promote upcoming meetings, Stevens uses a variety of means. He sends postcards to everyone on their mailing list, tries to use the local paper, but admits that's often a "hit or miss" thing, incorporates word of mouth, invitations to area churches and public service announcements on the radio. He also puts information about the support group on the church website -- www.livinghopefoursquare.org.

"Promotion is a relentless pursuit," Stevens admitted. "You can never overdo public relations."

Stevens gives the following tips to churches thinking of starting a cancer support group:
*Keep expectations realistic.
*Don't be driven by numbers. Success isn?t measured in the number of people you draw. *Helping people is most effective when you do it one-on-one. Success is really about being faithful to what God calls you to do.
*Don't be discouraged. Remember this is a specialized ministry and that people wax and wane in their desire for support with their cancer journey, many times depending on where they are in it.