We are a group who seek to support those who live alone and would welcome a visit for conversation, a game of cards, a book or bible reading or perhaps a cup of tea, and just contact with another saint on our journey here in the Earthly Kingdom.  Being “alone” is not undesirable.  It offers us the opportunity to reflect, even to meditate on the big (and little) thing of life.  Being “lonely” on the other hand is not desirable and that is what The Feet of Christ seeks to address. 

We expect that this initiative will commence with only one minister as we first seek those in our community who would desire these visits, get them registered and scheduled and generally understand each person’s circumstances.  Included in this process would be how the “visitee” would request the visit, e.g., email, phone request and so forth, as well as how we organize the population of visits.  We would use these early visits to evaluate what seems to be the desired activity which could be as simple as conversation only and what seems to be the right length of visit time.  Naturally the time could vary by individual.  Everything we learned in these “field activities” would be shaped into an orientation document that would serve to assist in the training of others wishing to join this ministry.

One feature of the visitation we plan to include is the “Walk”.  This consists of the minister parking some distance (no marathons please) from the target home/location, say, one block.  The minister would then proceed to the location in a non-hurried walk much as Christ proceeded to and through the villages of Judea and Samaria.  After time, others in the neighborhood would inquire as to what’s going on and this would provide the opportunity to explain the notion of The Feet of Christ.  This would not be a preaching moment, but simply an acknowledgement of following His example.  We will have Feet of Christ shirts reflecting a map showing various villages of the Holy Land.

Though our focus is on who we are to visit, the encounter with neighbors may have, let’s call it, the dry sponge effect.  You know, that counterintuitive fact that a slightly damp sponge soaks up more of the spilt milk than a dry sponge.  Perhaps then the stranger may feel a tiny bit of incremental love which may spread our Christian witness.

We ask that you pray for this new ministry and perhaps during such prayers, you identify someone who might profit from such visits.  If so, let the Parish Secretary know and we will pursue it further.

Dick White
Feet of Christ Ministry Chair
foc@gmail.com / 201-280-8943