Q. What is Care for Hope?
Care for Hope is an outreach initiative designed to reach communities across Canada with the gospel while seeking to meet specific felt needs. It is a partnership between iHeal, run by Lifestyle Canada, and the local churches, with support of the Canadian conferences and the Canadian Union.
Q. What are the main components of this initiative?
1. Specific geographical mailing of a postcard which advertises:
2. A Facebook Ad which highlights the same components as the postcard – targeting a specific geographic location.
Churches can decide to undertake one or both components as avenues to reach their community.
- Care packages for those suffering from cancer or living with diabetes
- A free book offer for those suffering from depression, anxiety, stress and addictions
- An opportunity to request additional resources and services (eg. prayer, bible studies, etc.)
2. A Facebook Ad which highlights the same components as the postcard – targeting a specific geographic location.
Churches can decide to undertake one or both components as avenues to reach their community.
Q. Why do you start with health? Tell me more about the care packages.
We are told that, “In almost every community there are large numbers who will not listen to the teaching of God’s Word or attend any religious service. If these are reached by the gospel, it must be carried to their homes. Often the relief of their physical needs is the only avenue by which they can be approached.” – Reflecting Christ p. 254
With the help of a small grant from the North American Division, Lifestyle Canada was able to create care packages for cancer and diabetes. Why these specific diseases? Because when it comes to cancer, 1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, making it the number one cause of death in Canada. As for diabetes, 1 in 3 Canadians is living with diabetes or prediabetes.*
These care packages combine resources from Adventist health professionals and seek to provide support for those going through sickness in our communities. Besides the physical and emotional health resources, all packages have a spiritual health component where an individual is invited to go through a 13-part Online Learning Guide which leads them through Steps to Peace. (Steps to Christ). Upon completion, they are given an opportunity to request additional spiritual support such as prayer and Bible Studies which can be followed up by the local church.
*CMAJ 2020 March 2;192:E199-205. doi: 10.1503cmaj.191292 / Data from the 2019 Diabetes Canada Cost Model
With the help of a small grant from the North American Division, Lifestyle Canada was able to create care packages for cancer and diabetes. Why these specific diseases? Because when it comes to cancer, 1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, making it the number one cause of death in Canada. As for diabetes, 1 in 3 Canadians is living with diabetes or prediabetes.*
These care packages combine resources from Adventist health professionals and seek to provide support for those going through sickness in our communities. Besides the physical and emotional health resources, all packages have a spiritual health component where an individual is invited to go through a 13-part Online Learning Guide which leads them through Steps to Peace. (Steps to Christ). Upon completion, they are given an opportunity to request additional spiritual support such as prayer and Bible Studies which can be followed up by the local church.
*CMAJ 2020 March 2;192:E199-205. doi: 10.1503cmaj.191292 / Data from the 2019 Diabetes Canada Cost Model
Q. Why offer a free book on overcoming depression?
We are told that “the publications sent forth from our printing houses are to prepare a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same work that was done by John the Baptist…” – RH, 10.10.1885
As we approach the coming of Jesus, putting literature in interested people’s homes will help their hearts to prepare for His soon return. The free offer is a book called The Power of Hope. Through stories and practical steps, Dr. Melgosa guides the readers through principles that help them deal with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, addictions, and guilt. The ultimate goal is to provide mental tools for the present and give foresight to see hope beyond the current darkness. Most importantly, it introduces people to a Saviour and even provides a reason for the Sabbath rest.
According to Mental Health Research Canada, anxiety and depression levels quadrupled following the COVID-19 outbreak and remain four times as high as pre-outbreak levels.* We believe that this small book can help to meet these very real felt needs.
*https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f31a311d93d0f2e28aaf04a/t/5f866fab9ec4b03a7a306890/1602645935216/MHRC+Poll+2+MH+Final+Public+Release+Oct+1+2020.pdf
As we approach the coming of Jesus, putting literature in interested people’s homes will help their hearts to prepare for His soon return. The free offer is a book called The Power of Hope. Through stories and practical steps, Dr. Melgosa guides the readers through principles that help them deal with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, addictions, and guilt. The ultimate goal is to provide mental tools for the present and give foresight to see hope beyond the current darkness. Most importantly, it introduces people to a Saviour and even provides a reason for the Sabbath rest.
According to Mental Health Research Canada, anxiety and depression levels quadrupled following the COVID-19 outbreak and remain four times as high as pre-outbreak levels.* We believe that this small book can help to meet these very real felt needs.
*https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f31a311d93d0f2e28aaf04a/t/5f866fab9ec4b03a7a306890/1602645935216/MHRC+Poll+2+MH+Final+Public+Release+Oct+1+2020.pdf
Q. What does the 5 x 7 advertising postcard look like?
Please note that the Care for Hope online page is not currently visible to the general public.
Front Of the Card
Back of the Card
Q. How will my church benefit from this?
This initiative is just another option to assist the local church in fulfilling the gospel commission by sharing God’s love and truth in their community. That is why we have asked your conference administration to share this program with all churches within their territory. That being said, we do understand that this initiative may not be the right fit for every church.
With many restrictions, we believe that God’s message should still go out and the blessings are still there for those who share. Some of the benefits that the church will enjoy includes:
With many restrictions, we believe that God’s message should still go out and the blessings are still there for those who share. Some of the benefits that the church will enjoy includes:
- to provide a positive awareness of the local Seventh-day Adventist church to meet real and current felt needs in their community.
- to provide an opportunity for those going through disease to find hope in Christ.
- to plants seeds of love and truth for the future harvest of the latter rain, because we know that the majority will not respond right away.
- to have the opportunity to respond and minister to interests generated from the online interest survey.
The free offer online page can be previewed HERE.
Q. How does Lifestyle Canada benefit from this?
The mandate and primary purpose of Lifestyle Canada is to reach out to the general Canadian public through literature and personal contact. Although our GLOW tracts are still being shared widely, our door-to-door initiatives have come to a standstill due to COVID-19 restrictions and related liabilities. By partnering with local churches, our desire is to be used by God to still reach out to those in need. Income that comes from iHeal care packages is reinvested in the Care for Hope initiative (see costs below).
Q. How much does this initiative cost?
Included in the costs listed below, are the following items which are taken care of by the Lifestyle Canada office:
- Design and printing of all postcards
- Coordinating with Canada Post for delivery to specified neighborhoods around the local church or designated area
- Phone answering service for the general public
- Forwarding of interests to local churches and/or proper channels
- Cost of the free gift book
- Cost of the mailing of the free gift book
- All taxes and fees
Q. Are there any subsidies available for churches?
We have asked your administration to recommend a limited number of churches that would not only benefit from this project, but could use financial assistance to make it happen. From those selected, we are happy to say that because of the combined effort of different entities, we are able to provide each chosen church with a subsidy of $1400. This is enough to cover the cost of a mailing project that will reach approximately 2900 people around their church or specified area. If the church desires to do more and has additional funds to spend in this evangelism endeavour, it can certainly do so. The church would simply need to deduct $1400 from the total to determine the final cost.
If a church is not one of those selected, it can still participate in this outreach initiative by covering the whole cost of the preferred sharing option.
If a church is not one of those selected, it can still participate in this outreach initiative by covering the whole cost of the preferred sharing option.
Q. Is the Care for Hope initiative only for churches?
No. This program is also for individual church members, or group of members, who want to sponsor a mailing in their area. To donate for a specific area, consult the payment methods once you have completed the registration form. Tax-deductible receipts are issued for all donations.
Q. Where do I register and when is the deadline to do so?
Registration and access to information on payment options can be done using our online registration portal below.
**UPDATED** (A second deadline has been added by popular demand)
The deadline to register for the mass mailing to be done in May is May 3, 2021.
The deadline to register for the mass mailing to be done in June is June 7, 2021.
(Depression and suicide levels are highest around this time of year. This makes it one more reason why we are seeking to act quickly.)
**UPDATED** (A second deadline has been added by popular demand)
The deadline to register for the mass mailing to be done in May is May 3, 2021.
The deadline to register for the mass mailing to be done in June is June 7, 2021.
(Depression and suicide levels are highest around this time of year. This makes it one more reason why we are seeking to act quickly.)
For more information, feel free to reach out to us at mail@lifestylecanada.org or 905-576-6631. Please leave us a message should we be on another call or out in the field.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
