A Family’s Heart for Seniors
At least one Sunday afternoon a month for seven years, a team from SBC has been serving at Osborn Health & Rehab Center. Joe Bubar, his wife Kristina, and their five kids, Joey (14), Will (12), Ben (10), Charlotte (8) and Katie (6) have all been a part of the team. “A lot of the people there don’t have a church to go to and we bring church to them,” said Will.
The kids go into the rooms, invite the residents, push their wheelchairs, and hand out song sheets. After a short message, they sing and worship next to the residents, take prayer requests and pray together. “It makes me feel good because I can tell they enjoy singing along and it’s a special opportunity for them,” said Ben.
Most of the residents don’t have Bibles or know Jesus, so the family feels like they’re having an impact. “When we get them from their rooms, it’s their choice to say ‘I want to go or I don’t want to go’ and it seems if they go, they want to believe more in God,” said Charlotte. “If they ever heal and get better, maybe they can explain what they’ve learned to people who don’t know Jesus.”
Over the years, the kids have learned some valuable lessons. “I’ve seen how much of an impact we as Christians can make, by serving other people,” said Will. “Even if they already understand and believe the gospel, we can talk to them about it and help them have a stronger faith and trust in Jesus.” Joey added, “Just knowing that we’re helping them and serving them is comforting to us, too.”
“I love to sing my heart out for them and praise the Lord, and they always smile,” said Charlotte. “I feel really good about doing that and praying for them. I think they enjoy it in their souls. They really love me and care about me, too. They always say ‘you look beautiful and you’re really kind.’”
One resident who made a significant impact on the family is Dwayne, a man in his late 50s who had both legs amputated due to diabetes. When they first started visiting, he was angry and grouchy, but over time, God used the family and others to lead him to Christ, and he began sharing his excitement about the Lord with other residents.
The kids developed a special relationship with Dwayne and looked forward to seeing him. When he died in 2014, they took it hard, especially Charlotte. “He was one of my very important friends that I will never forget. He left me a little stuffed animal and a cross that one of his sisters made for him. When I look at that cross he gave me, I think of him. I’m happy because he’s finally with Jesus.”
The experience of interacting with the older generation has impacted each of the kids in unique ways. “It has shown me how blessed I am, and how much I have to be grateful for,” said Joey. “It’s taught me how it’s never too late to change your mind and start following Jesus. I don’t think Dwayne was a believer before we started going, but when he died, we knew he was a Christ-follower.”
Will added, “Because they’re older, they have probably forgotten things, and it’s easy for them to lose faith because of all the things in their lives that have distracted them or taken their lives off of God. Before they die, we want to help them with their faith, so that their final thoughts and beliefs are only in Jesus.”
“Sometimes older people set an example for you that’s not so good,” said Ben, “and it teaches you what to do through your life as you get older. I also think caring for these people will help us someday when we come to a point where we’ll need to help someone in need.”
“I like helping older people,” said Charlotte, “because maybe they were a believer when they were young, but they’ve forgotten. We can inspire them again to have faith in Jesus. I like to serve them by rubbing their backs or holding their hands, and if they need something like a tissue, I’ll get that for them. I think I enjoy it because God’s happy that I’m doing this for them and because it’s an honor.”
Joey, the oldest, shared that it isn’t always easy. “Honestly, I’m kind of ashamed to say this, but for a while I was resentful about going. Sometimes I just wanted to go home after church. But I started thinking more about it and had a change of heart. I realized this isn’t for me, but to serve them. It’s kind of like a sacrifice and even though I could easily stop going, it’s really important and worth doing.
Katie, the youngest, loves to pray. Her parents note that she prays for remarkable things and never feels rushed. Asked what she likes best about serving at Osborn, she said, “We help really sick people who can’t walk. And usually after Osborn, we go to Wendy’s.”
