How to Organize a Church Visitation Ministry

One of the most fundamental ministries that the church performs is visitation.  A church, no matter how big or small, will have people who are sick, in the hospital, shut-in and in need of a visit.  As a result, pastors spend a significant amount of time visiting people from their church and community.   As the church grows the amount of visitation required can bury a pastor unless structures and systems are put in place to spread the load of visitation out.  Developing systems ensure that the pastor does not burn out, but at the same time ensure people receive the care that they need.  There are no doubt a variety of ways that a church could set up a visitation system but here is how one church takes on this need:

shutterstock_410997181

Visitation & On-Call Pastors - Every day there is one pastor that is assigned to do all the hospital visitation for that day. If the church is aware going into the day that someone is in the hospital, and in need of a visit, then this is the pastor that goes.  Additionally, there is another pastor that is on-call each day.  This pastor handles any pastoral care that cannot be planned ahead.  This would include anyone who is rushed to the hospital or anyone who calls or walks in wanting to talk with a pastor.

Hospital Visitation Frequency - A pastor from the church does hospital visitation every day of the week, except Sunday.  This means that someone who is in the hospital for multiple days will get a visit from a pastor every day unless they are in over an entire weekend.

Visitation Frequency for Rehab & Long Hosptial Stays – If someone leaves the hospital for rehab, or is in the hospital over a weeks time but is not in critical condition, then the parishioner will receive visits only three days per week from the pastoral staff.  If they stay in rehab for an extended period of time, then the visits may be reduced to only two visits per week.

Shut-Ins Visitation Frequency – Shut-ins, those who are physically unable to come out to church, are visited by one member of the pastoral staff monthly.  They also receive a weekly DVD of the church service so they can watch the service from their home, and if the shut-in doesn’t have a DVD player the church will purchase one for them.

Pastors Who Visit - Every single pastor of the pastoral team is a part of the visitation ministry.  The associates pastors, even the associate pastor of youth or kids, is assigned one day per week to do visitation ministry.  The senior pastor also participates in pastoral visitation but their visits are in addition to the schedule mentioned above.

Others Who Visit - The pastoral visitation team is just one layer of the visitation ministry of the church.   In addition to the pastors, there are also ministries in place that visit shut-ins, another ministry that writes cards to shut-ins, a nursing home ministry that performs services in nursing homes where some parishioners live, and more.  There are also trained lay leaders in the church that visit people when they are in the hospital, including one lady whose ministry is to walk with people as they are facing life-threatening illnesses or those who have been brought into hospice care.   There are lay/retired pastors, board members, interns and others who all participate in the visitation ministry of the church.  Finally, there is the church family.  People from small groups throughout the church visit one another when they are in need of care.

It All Works Together - All of this visitation works together to provide the love of Christ to each member of the church family throughout their time of need.  Take shut-ins for an example  Although it probably doesn’t happen this perfectly often, it is possible that a shut-in will receive a visit from an associate pastor one week of the month, another visit from the visitation ministry another, perhaps a visit from a friend in the church another and then from the senior pastor another.  In one month, even though they can’t get out to church, the church will get to them every week.  Additionally, they receive a copy of the service each week on DVD, and even receive the church’s weekly newsletter.   They could receive contact from their church three times a week, every week of the month, even though they can’t leave their home.  Whether shut-in like this, or in the hospital, this visitation ministry ensures that no one is forgotten.

It Scales – Some might argue that a church with multiple staff can do visitation like this, as they have multiple pastors for multiple days.  However, this church did visitation like this even when it was much smaller and didn’t have the staff that it does today.  When the church was smaller, there were fewer people who were in the hospital, thus requiring fewer visits and time per week.  As the church grew, no doubt because of the level of care and attention people were receiving, they were able to add staff and volunteers to keep up with the increasing demands of pastoral care.

This is how one church structures their visitation ministry, how have your seen other churches handle this vital minsitry of the church?

Posted on
Categories: Church Life, Staffing

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply to 1win_ejkr Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

24,743 thoughts on “How to Organize a Church Visitation Ministry”

  5. Hey there would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using?
    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a
    difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.

    The reason I ask is because your design seems different
    then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
    P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    Reply

  27. Пин Ап Казино Общее описание

    Пин Ап казино является популярной интернет-казино, предлагающей широкий выбор игровых развлечений. Этот сайт привлекает игроков своей легкостью использования и интересными бонусами.

    Игровой ассортимент в Пин Ап казино Выбор развлечений

    В Пин Ап казино имеются сотни различных игр, включая видео-слоты, карточные игры, такие как рулетка, а также живое общение с крупье.

    Бонусы и акции Пин Ап казино Щедрые предложения

    Одним из ключевых плюсов Пин Ап казино являются выгодные предложения для новых и постоянных игроков. Здесь можно получить стартовый бонус, бонус за пополнение счета и периодические акции.

    Безопасность и поддержка Надежность

    Пин Ап казино гарантирует защиту персональных данных, используя современные технологии шифрования. Служба поддержки работает круглосуточно, что обеспечивает быстрое решение проблем клиентов.

    Платежные методы Финансовые операции

    Для пополнения счета и вывода выигрышей Пин Ап казино поддерживает множество удобных методов оплаты, включая банковские карты, цифровые платежные системы и блокчейн-транзакции https://ягоржусь.рф

    Мобильная версия и удобство игры Мобильное приложение

    Пин Ап казино поддерживает мобильные платформы, позволяя наслаждаться игрой через мобильные устройства. Это обеспечивает полную функциональность без потери качества.

    Итог

    Пин Ап казино — это надежный игровой ресурс с широким каталогом азартных игр и привлекательными акциями. Надежность, удобство и безопасность делают Пин Ап казино отличным выбором для спокойной игры любителей азартных игр.

    Reply

  30. ORBIS Production: End-to-end cinema and image production in Italy

    Italy has always been a attraction for cinematographers and photographers looking for breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural tradition, and world-class production facilities. Among the agencies making impact in this competitive industry, ORBIS Production stands out as a comprehensive solution provider for foreign clients looking to bring their artistic visions to life on Italian soil.

    A Gateway to Italian Cinematic Excellence

    ORBIS Production operates as a comprehensive production company concentrating in both cinema and photography shoots across Italy’s different regions. From the sunny Amalfi Coast to the historic streets of Rome, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the style capital of Milan, the agency offers smooth production assistance that converts imaginative concepts into remarkable visual results.

    What separates ORBIS Production out is their complete approach. Rather than forcing clients to juggle multiple suppliers and deal with complex Italian administration alone, the firm handles every component of the production workflow under one roof. This unified model saves time, reduces costs, and removes the coordination challenges that often plague international shoots.

    Complete Service Portfolio

    The agency’s service range covers the complete production cycle. During planning, ORBIS Production helps with location searching, permit obtaining, budget preparation, and crew formation. Their thorough knowledge of Italy’s areas allows them to locate optimal shooting venues that meet precise creative demands while staying within budget constraints.

    Production services comprise equipment hire, transportation arrangements, accommodation arrangements, and on-location support. ORBIS Production keeps relationships with leading Italian technicians, directors of photography, gaffers, and other specialized crew staff, guaranteeing that every project benefits from local expertise merged with international production quality.

    Editing capabilities complete their offerings, with entry to editing facilities, color correction facilities, sound production studios, and visual graphics resources. This complete package allows clients can deliver their whole project through a unified point of reference, simplifying communication and maintaining creative consistency from initial concept through ultimate delivery.

    Managing Italian Intricacy

    Anyone who has endeavored to record in Italy knows that the country’s beauty comes with bureaucratic complexity. Shooting permits, location charges, union requirements, and regional mandates can vary dramatically from one municipality to another. ORBIS Production’s team includes specialists who comprehend these complexities and sustain strong relationships with local authorities, property owners, and regulatory organizations.

    This internal knowledge proves invaluable when time is restricted. The organization can accelerate permit processes that might otherwise take weeks or months, arrange competitive location rates, and address unexpected challenges that emerge during production. Their problem-solving capabilities have gained them a standing for delivering results even under tight deadlines and demanding circumstances.

    International Partnership Made Easy

    ORBIS Production understands that most of their clients come from internationally, bringing diverse working methods, expectations, and communication preferences. The agency’s multilingual team links cultural and linguistic divides, making sure that nothing gets missed in translation between international creative units and Italian service suppliers.

    They also recognize the financial concerns that international clients face. ORBIS Production delivers transparent pricing, comprehensive budget breakdowns, and assistance with Italy’s tax incentive programs for cinema production. These programs can significantly lower overall expenses, making Italian productions more attainable to productions of various scales Creative agency in Milan

    Quality Without Concession

    Despite offering extensive services, ORBIS Production upholds rigorous quality criteria across all elements of their work. They carefully evaluate every crew member, supplier, and vendor in their pool, confirming that clients get expert service regardless of project scale or budget range.

    The organization has built its reputation on dependability, creativity, and attention to detail. Whether managing a significant commercial project, an independent theatrical film, a fashion photography project, or a documentary production, ORBIS Production delivers the same devotion to excellence that has made Italian cinema legendary worldwide.

    Final Thoughts

    For production companies, advertising firms, photographers, and filmmakers aiming to film Italy’s beauty on camera, ORBIS Production offers a ready-made solution that blends regional expertise with international standards. Their full-cycle approach removes the complexity of cross-border production, allowing creative groups to concentrate on what they do optimally while knowing that every logistical element is managed with attention and expertise.

    Reply