North Iowa
Feature Story - Posted online: Sat Sep 4
01:35:23 CDT 2004
God’s
Messengers make house calls
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By LINDA MILLER, For The
Globe Gazette
When God’s Messengers sing, the 24 residents of Nora Springs
Care Center
sing along. The caged
yellow bird, Pretty Boy, and Riley, the long-haired cat appear to join
in.
God’s Messengers, a gospel group of the Living Vine Ministries, is led
by Pastor Thomas Ellsworth Miles, of Mason City. LVM is a
non-denominational ministry that seeks to provide an avenue for elder
members of the community to study and worship even if they can’t leave
their residence.
“Several years ago while visiting my aunt in a nursing home, I realized
how many people either have no living relatives or no visitors,” Miles
said. “Many elderly people grew up depending on worship services and
the uplifting music and are now, when they need it the most, being
deprived of its healing effect.”
After gathering in the activity room, Miles’ daughter, Angela, hands
out the large-print songbook for those who need a memory jog. Most
don’t.
The hour-long songfest begins and ends with a prayer. Some songs are
traditional gospel like “The Old Rugged Cross” but others are school
songs like “My Darling Clementine” or patriotic songs like “America the
Beautiful.”
Interspersed between songs are personal stories about a member’s recent
comic camping experience with a bear, jokes and bits of sermons. Among
the singing and the laughter, care center nurses weave their way around
with sips of water and scheduled medications for residents.
The composition of God’s Messengers varies, but the core group includes
Steve Clay, Ted Klemas, Virgil West, Josh West, Ron Bullis on the
piano, Tom Miles Jr., on guitar, Steve Miles and Bob Hoveland. Often
Miles’ daughter, Angela, and son, Noah, or Linda Clay also sing.
The Web site of Living Vine Ministries, www.livingvine.org, also
provides daily devotionals, music, sermons, scripture and a weekly
audio and text sermon.
“We do house calls via the Internet,” Miles said.
God’s Messengers makes frequent appearances at nursing, retirement or
assisted living homes.
“Once a person can no longer walk, drive or take a bus, life, for them,
changes drastically. We like to provide them with a means of continuing
to sing and worship,” Miles said.
Live Performance Medley
Because He Lives
Our ministry is a 501c3 non-profit group, our
ministry is all volunteer. We do not ask for payments of any kind
for ministering at nursing homes, retirement or assisted living
homes. We do accept donations or offerings and any donations or
offerings given are tax deductible. Donations and offerings go
towards buying songbooks, and towards travel expenses such as fuel.
