With older adults in the crosshairs of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve never been prouder to work alongside the mission-minded team members at North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM). We are all working vigorously to create, adapt, and improve services that provide “help for the journey” to North Carolina’s seniors.
The following resources are available from NCBAM. Please use or share with seniors in your church and community.
The NCBAM Hope Line was established last June as a “warm-line” to connect with seniors experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The coronavirus pandemic thrust tens of thousands of older North Carolinians into isolation. Since the pandemic began, we’ve added two lines and daily service to meet the demand. Currently, the Hope Line receives approximately 100 calls each week. If you are 65+ and need someone to talk to, give us a call at 866-578-4673 (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m).
Hope Line volunteer “communicators” are needed. For more information, call 877-506-2226.
The NCBAM Call Center offers information and referrals as well as connections to Baptists on Mission volunteers who may be available for meal delivery or other essential services. The Call Center can be reached at 877-506-2226, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. During March and April, the Call Center logged 3,227 contacts related to the pandemic.
Team members from NCBAM have created “Sixty Second Soul Stretch” videos that offer movement, mindfulness, and God’s word to help calm the mind, relax the body, and stretch the soul! The videos feature movements from the evidence-based Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Matter of Balance, and Tai Chi for Fall Prevention. Look for the “Sixty Second Soul Stretch” playlist on NCBAM’s YouTube channel.
Team members are also making calls to our “Servant Care” participants to encourage them. Call us at 877.506.2226 to enroll in Servant Care. It’s open to Baptist ministers (65+), their spouses, or widows.
NCBAM continues to work closely with state agencies such as the North Carolina Coalition on Aging, AARP-NC, and numerous Area Agencies on Aging –– sharing timely information and resources. To help the state better understand the needs of senior adults during the pandemic, we’ve also conferred with North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor’s office.
Please give NCBAM a call at 877.506.2226. We’d love to partner with you in your ministry or outreaches to senior adults.
Article by Dr. Sandy Gregory, NCBAM Ministry Director