Generation to Generation
Caring for Older Generations an Interview with Gloria Hickson
“I hope that we will have made somebody know that they are loved and worthy and special. That’s our goal.”
Gloria Hickson is one of the Co-Chairpersons for the Pastoral Care Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. A unique ministry, Pastoral Care seeks to help members in need feel the church’s concern for them. The ministry consists of around 25 members who regularly contact those with illnesses, families following deaths or births, or those needing help in many ways. While Gloria is very clear that the members of this committee do not replace the pastors and are not able to provide that type of spiritual counsel, they do provide emotional and spiritual care to church members, particularly older members, by simply building relationships through cards, notes, calls, or by making personal visits.
Gloria became involved with the ministry in the wake of caring for her own mother in her later years. Gloria explains that while caring for her mother, it always meant so much to her when a church member would come by to visit. Even when her mother was not able to communicate as well, the church stayed faithful to her. But what also stuck out to Gloria at this time were the other people she encountered at the nursing home. “While I was there with her I saw so many other people in the nursing home who didn’t see anybody and that really bothered me” Gloria explains. After this, she felt moved to see that the elderly in our congregation were able to receive the same care as her mother did, and weren’t left to feel forgotten. She wanted to repay the congregation for what they had given her, not just in that moment, but throughout her life.
”Edith Warren was my choir teacher. Geraldine Johnston was my youth advisor. Frank Matthews was a friend of my Daddy who died when I was 16, and Frank helped get me a job and was so good to me. Gosh, I could name on and on and on people who were just there for me. Teaching me Sunday School, teaching me to do different things, and backing my family when we went through the death of my father and then everything with my mother. I want to give back some that was given to me. I saw what it meant to be there for people.”
Gloria Hickson is one of the Co-Chairpersons for the Pastoral Care Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. A unique ministry, Pastoral Care seeks to help members in need feel the church’s concern for them. The ministry consists of around 25 members who regularly contact those with illnesses, families following deaths or births, or those needing help in many ways. While Gloria is very clear that the members of this committee do not replace the pastors and are not able to provide that type of spiritual counsel, they do provide emotional and spiritual care to church members, particularly older members, by simply building relationships through cards, notes, calls, or by making personal visits.
Gloria became involved with the ministry in the wake of caring for her own mother in her later years. Gloria explains that while caring for her mother, it always meant so much to her when a church member would come by to visit. Even when her mother was not able to communicate as well, the church stayed faithful to her. But what also stuck out to Gloria at this time were the other people she encountered at the nursing home. “While I was there with her I saw so many other people in the nursing home who didn’t see anybody and that really bothered me” Gloria explains. After this, she felt moved to see that the elderly in our congregation were able to receive the same care as her mother did, and weren’t left to feel forgotten. She wanted to repay the congregation for what they had given her, not just in that moment, but throughout her life.
”Edith Warren was my choir teacher. Geraldine Johnston was my youth advisor. Frank Matthews was a friend of my Daddy who died when I was 16, and Frank helped get me a job and was so good to me. Gosh, I could name on and on and on people who were just there for me. Teaching me Sunday School, teaching me to do different things, and backing my family when we went through the death of my father and then everything with my mother. I want to give back some that was given to me. I saw what it meant to be there for people.”
Esther Nelson delivers a blessing bag to Becky Fail.
In 2018, the Pastoral Care Ministry began making quarterly visits to those members who are no longer able to be active in our church (those who live in assisted living facilities, are homebound, or have special needs.) This makes up roughly 60 members who receive blessing bags and visits from members of the ministry each quarter. The bags contain small items and devotional materials that members might need, plus a little candy, which is always a favorite! The bags give committee members a reason to stop by, check-in, and continue to build a relationship with that “visitation friend”. Gloria recalls one visit saying, “Lots of times we will give them something small that they can set on their side table. The woman I was visiting pointed at a little manger we had given her and said, ‘When I look at that, I know that my church loves me and God loves me.’” Gloria finds that most of the time, the members they visit just need someone to talk to and a little reminder that somebody cares.
In addition to caring for our older generations, Pastoral Care also works to celebrate the joys of the congregation by reaching out to those who have recently been baptized, confirmed, have graduated, celebrated a birth, or are new members. Each committee member is empowered to do what they can based on what they can give and what their talents and interests are. “It’s not a committee that you go on and then roll off in three years,” Gloria explains. “We change as the needs of the people change. We work to accommodate what our members can do.” Gloria shares that some members like to write notes and make cards for the homebound, others like to put together small gifts for graduates, some have more time than others, but each one helps to show God’s love and make the goal a reality.
In addition to caring for our older generations, Pastoral Care also works to celebrate the joys of the congregation by reaching out to those who have recently been baptized, confirmed, have graduated, celebrated a birth, or are new members. Each committee member is empowered to do what they can based on what they can give and what their talents and interests are. “It’s not a committee that you go on and then roll off in three years,” Gloria explains. “We change as the needs of the people change. We work to accommodate what our members can do.” Gloria shares that some members like to write notes and make cards for the homebound, others like to put together small gifts for graduates, some have more time than others, but each one helps to show God’s love and make the goal a reality.
If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved with the Pastoral Care Ministry, please reach out to Gloria Hickson, Martha Eddins, or Esther Nelson and see how you can make an impact caring for our congregation.
This article is part of a weekly series featuring FPC Gastonia members as part of our Generation to Generation Campaign. Check-in next week as we share another member's story! Find more on our website at www.fpcgastonia.org/generation-to-generation.
This article is part of a weekly series featuring FPC Gastonia members as part of our Generation to Generation Campaign. Check-in next week as we share another member's story! Find more on our website at www.fpcgastonia.org/generation-to-generation.
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