What is the HUGG Ministry?
The HUGG Ministry is one way we live out what it means to be Faith Partners in God’s World. As one of the pastoral care ministries of St. Matthews Baptist Church, the HUGG Ministry began in 1983 as a way of being friends with those in our congregation who are less mobile and therefore unable to attend church services regularly. It is the kind of ministry which is often called “homebound ministry,” but we prefer to designate persons who are physically limited as “HUGG Friends.”
Who is a HUGG Friend?
A HUGG Friend is someone who needs and appreciates HUGGs from her or his church family because of illness, physical limitations, loneliness, or other special needs. HUGG Friends are persons whose needs are likely to be of a longer term than six months, or whose needs are more for companionship. While many of our HUGG Friends live in their homes, some reside in nursing homes, retirement centers or assisted living centers.
Persons may request to be placed on the roster as a HUGG Friend, or they may be placed on the HUGG roster by a caring HUGGER or by a family member. A HUGG Friend may be of any age, from childhood through senior adulthood. A HUGG Friend may be, but does not have to be, a member of St. Matthews Baptist Church.
Who is a HUGGER?
Volunteers who provide care and companionship to HUGG Friends are called HUGGERS. They are men and women, teenagers, girls and boys. They are Sunday School classes and missions groups. Typically, HUGGERS have the spiritual gifts of mercy, service, hospitality or exhortation. Any member of St. Matthews Baptist is invited to be a HUGGER.
What does a HUGGER do?
A HUGGER gives HUGGs! A HUGG is any caring act of kindness given in the Name of Christ. A HUGG can be: a home visit, a telephone call, a written note, a birthday card, a CD of the worship service, a communion service, transportation to the doctor or grocery store, a physical hug, a handshake, a sensitive touch on the hand, a listening ear, words of kindness…any act that communicates God’s love!
In addition to visits by HUGGERs, there are several church-wide ministries in which you can participate in reaching our to our HUGG Friends. Some of those are: delivering Valentine gifts bags made by the GAs and Women on Mission, the annual HUGG Friend Christmas Caroling where we go in intergenerational groups to each HUGG Friend’s place of residence, and serving communion with a deacon four times a year.
Do you want to be a HUGGER?
If you would like to be matched with a HUGG Friend, please contact Mary Ellen Yates. You will be invited to HUGG Ministry orientation and then partnered with a HUGG Friend.