By Angelle Jones

IF YOU SPEND YOURSELVES IN BEHALF OF THE HUNGRY AND SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE OPPRESSED, THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL RISE IN THE DARKNESS AND YOUR NIGHT WILL BECOME LIKE NOONDAY. ISAIAH 58:10

"Light in the darkness" is just what Bill and MaryAnn Goodrich are to many nursing home bound seniors in northeastern Ohio.

Founders and directors of God Cares Ministry, husband and wife team Bill and Mary Ann are committed to encouraging and giving spiritual care to the elderly along their last miles of life.

God Cares Ministry is an outreach based in the Cleveland suburb of Avon Lake. Its purpose is to recruit, train and support those who have a desire to minister God's love and word to nursing home residents.

The ultimate goal of the ministry is to help churches in Northeastern Ohio establish a "Care Team" of four to six Christians who will adopt one nursing home in their community. These teams attend special training sessions designed to teach practical and Bible based training to assist the nursing home staff in meeting the residents' spiritual needs.

According to Bill Goodrich many nursing home residents suffer daily from loneliness and hopelessness. Many of them no longer have family and are completely alone in this world. Many don't know Christ and Bill sees God Cares Ministry as an effective way too not only minister to the physical need but to also share Christ.

Bill and Mary Ann Goodrich have given their lives to reaching the elderly. They offer one day training rally sessions three or four times a year. Bill presents most of the teaching at the rallies and he and Mary Ann both minister regularly at the nursing homes. God Cares Ministry also offers an informational newsletter every other month.

Their passion is the elderly and their commitment is to serve. Bill and Mary Ann would like to invite anyone interested in reaching out to the elderly through serving in nursing home ministry to attend their upcoming Spring rally to be held March 17-18, 2000. For more information or to sign up, call: God Cares Ministry at 440-930-2173. Youth are encouraged to participate.