A visit to share Jesus with many dementia sufferers in a care home has shown the holy Spirit at work in remarkable ways. Counties Evangelist, Martin Korkinsky shares the story.

Martin & Angie Korchinsky

Martin is the pastor of Brinnington Community Church, based in a housing estate in Stockport. He preaches and runs youth clubs, drop-ins, a food bank, Neighbourhood Chaplains, and various mission weeks in the local area. Martin is married to Angie and has three grown-up children and two foster children. He was introduced to Counties by the Church Planting Initiative. Whatever it is, how you tell your story online can make all the difference.

As part of our community outreach, we hold monthly "church" services in three of the care homes on the estate. Many of those who attend suffer from dementia and struggle to understand where they are or why.

The old hymns we choose to sing along with are central to the ministry, accompanied by the timeless truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although many of those dear residents may feel their families and friends forget them, we know that God has neither forgotten nor forsaken them. We always pray for the Holy Spirit to stir them and reawaken the knowledge of God within the hearts of the believers, and to bring light into the darkness of those who may have gone to church without ever knowing Jesus as their Saviour.

We are never disappointed as we see the bewilderment that so often greets us turn to recognition as the old hymns do their work. Then lips begin to move as they sing along from memory - or perhaps something even more profound than memory. I cannot honestly describe what happens in those visits, but every small group of 5 or 6 volunteers who support the ministry comes out of those care homes more blessed and joyful than when they walked in. The Holy Spirit shows up every time without fail, and the residents' smiles are reward enough to bring us back each month, year in and year out.

This last week, as we walked into the lounge where the "service" was to take place, and before we could introduce ourselves or explain why we were there (which we have to do every time), a lady with advanced alzheimers looked up and cried out, "I love Jesus!". Well, we knew the Lord had indeed gone before us. As the service continued, some did sleep and some did wander about, but Christ's music, message, and presence transfixed most of the 20 residents who attended.

We sang, waved our happy hands to ‘Oh Happy Days’, clapped, and gave the praise and glory to God; and came out reminded that there are no barriers that the Holy Spirit will not overcome to ignite or re-ignite faith wherever there is a receptive heart. As I turned to look behind me as we finished, I saw that 3 or 4 staff members had stopped to watch through the door and the glass partition. It was clear from their warm smiles and teary eyes that they had also been to church, whether they knew it or not.

Will we be there next month? Yes, we will. And so will He.