ELIM FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE COMMUNIQUE

JULY 2013

Mary Van Der Werf, Elim Faith Community Nurse Coordinator

“Continuing Jesus’ mission of love and healing in our churches and communities”

7485 Office Ridge Circle, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3690

952-259-4461,

Flexibility

While I was leading a chronic illness support group, I glanced up and looked out the small window on the door. I noticed choir members were gathering to start their practice. One lady caught my eye and motioned for me to come to her.

My mind said to me, “You can’t leave this group to go see her.” But then I sensed a nudging that I should excuse myself and go. As I began to listen to her I knew why I needed to step out for a moment. She had just heard the news from her doctor that the pain she thought was a pulled muscle was indeed cancer in one of her ribs that had metastasized from a newly found breast cancer. She had put on a happy face and came to choir, but inside was turmoil and the need to share and be understood. Before returning to the support group, we took time to hug and to pray and to assure her that I would be there for her upcoming journey.

Flexibility was once defined to me as ‘not setting my ideas or plans on things that can be changed by God or others’. I need to be ever aware of my surroundings and willing to go a different direction with my time. God’s ways are the best ways.

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Mary Van Der Werf, Elim Faith Community Nurse Coordinator

UPCOMING 2013 DATES

October 26Fall Elim FCN Workshop, New Hope EFC Register Now!

Brochure and Registration@ (also attached)

“The Cancer Journey: Working Together” Ministry to individuals and families within the faith community facing the challenge of cancer

Check out the October 23, 2013 (Psychiatric Emergencies) Faith Community Nurse Network of the Twin Cities workshop at

DID YOU KNOW?

  1. There is still time for North Central District EFCA churches to take advantage of the $1,000 Matching Grant from Elim FCN Program. Deadline extended to September 1, 2013. Use these dollars to start a Faith Community Nurse ministry in your church. (see attachment)
  2. We have formed MN 9 Regional Elim/Covenant FCN Networking Groups. Consider joining one! These groups provide a venue that allows nurses working in churches not have to work in isolation from their professional peers. See attachment and contact Mary Van Der Werf at

ATTACHMENTS

  1. Fall Elim FCN Workshop Brochure – copy and pass on to your nurses/staff.
  2. 8 Things to Ask Your Pharmacist (from Annette Jesh, FCN Coordinator, St Cloud)
  3. Resources for Kids and Adults with Disabilities in the Church

RESOURCES

  1. Affordable Health Care Act: We need to be up-to-date in order to help others understand the upcoming changes in health care. Information can be found at To sign up for the HHS Partnership Center Stakeholder Update emails on the Affordable Care Act go to . You will also find webinars for faith leaders. To participate in one of the webinars, please select your preferred topic from the list. Click on the title of the webinar and fill out the registration form. After registering you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact if you have problems registering or if you have any questions about the health care law. All webinars are one hour.
  2. Educational Materials

Health Insurance Marketplace: For more information about the Health Insurance Marketplace including official resources, research, news, and events visit

Marketplace Updates: For information on how to sign up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, including text message and email updates visit

State by State Fact Sheets: Choose your state to learn more about the immediate benefits of the Affordable Care Act,

  1. Launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Mentalhealth.gov is an online resource for people looking for information about mental health. SAMHSA has released a Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health to support communities interested in holding discussions about mental health. The Information Brief section is available for print and electronic download.
  2. What to include in your first aide kit (from Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries)
  3. Suffering from Compassion Fatigue, Burnout or Both? What a Nurse Can Do
  4. Walk Right In Ministries hosts quarterly Disability Ministry CONNECT Meetings for Twin Cities' area church leaders and individuals serving in disability ministry. Whether a church has an organized, official program or is simply reaching out one individual or family at a time, these meetings are proving to be a wonderful opportunity for many. CONNECT meetings promote networking, idea sharing, prayer support, collaboration and encouragement among local church leaders and individuals serving in disability ministry. We meet from 9:30 to 11:30 am on the third Tuesday of October, January and April. Do tell others about these meetings as we depend a great deal on word-of-mouth to publicize this resource. Next meeting: October 15, 2013 from 9:30 to 11:30 am @ Grace Church, Eden Prairie. Regular attendance is not required. RSVP is not necessary. We are a casual group desiring simply to participate in connections that help us grow in Christ and make His love known to people experiencing disability/special needs. Walk Right In Ministries is a Ministry Affiliate of Joni and Friends International. Lisa M. Jamieson,
  5. The Alzheimer’s Association created theDementia & Driving Resource Centerto help caregivers navigate the conversation on taking away the keys. The resource center shows four videos featuring different situations where people are dealing with another person’s diminished driving capacity due to memory and insight issues related to Alzheimer’s.
  6. Have you called 211 to locate community services for your clients? Have you made your congregation aware that this service is available? Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help lines, people often don’t know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without necessary services because they do not know where to start. 2-1-1 provides free and confidential information.
  7. Know your Nutrients. Making good food choices. Colorful file that helps you know how to substitute better choices for poorer ones.
  8. Order great diabetes resources from

Booklets to order: Diabetes and You; Diabetes Medicines Booklet; Carb Counting and Meal Planning; Your Guide to Better Office Visits & Your Blood Sugar Diary. You can order 40 of each at no charge.

FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Be encouraged by these resources/ideas recently shared with us

What are your stories? I know you have a lot of stories of successful intervention, spiritual care given and improvement in the lives of your clients.

Share your wealth with us.

  1. From Cindy Dainsberg, FCN at Calvary EFC, Walker, MN: Check out this web site on Lyme disease - See particularly the prevention section and the children's section. In the children's section is a delightful pamphlet and bookmark created by the California Dept of Public Health.
  2. Read Shelly Rock’s article, Take A Deep Breath, in the July/August edition of Elim’s Interface: Shelly is Co-coordinator - St. Croix Valley Parish Nurse Program and attends Rockpoint EFC, Lake Elmo, MN.
  3. A report from a new Health Ministry at Discover Church, Brooklyn Park: “We have decided to formulate a Health Ministry. We have 7 core members we call ‘Discover Health Team’. They will direct the ministry with the vision of getting volunteers to help with activities. We were commissioned at a Sunday AM service. Out first activity is to start monthly blood pressure monitoring.”

UPCOMING FOUNDATIONS FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE COURSES

Do you know a nurse that may be interested in becoming a Faith Community Nurse? Check out the course opportunities and pass them on.

  1. EFCA/Equip Online Foundations Course August 7-October 8, 2013 $350.
  2. FCNN Foundations Course, $550, October 14 – 18, 2013. Dee Huanca, FCN at First Free, Minneapolis is lead instructor.
  3. Concordia Parish Nurse Preparation Course, $575, October 14-18, 2013 at Atonement Lutheran, Fargo, ND and March 24-28, 2014 at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

ELIM/EFCA FAITH COMMUNITY NURSING ON THE WEB

1.Elim Faith Community Nursing/EFCA Faith Community Nursing

2.EFCA Faith Community Nursing Facebook page: ‘Like’ this page!

3.EFCA North Central District web site