bēkn formed to help churches minister better to their aging seniors

Kristina Twitty wants to help church congregations minister better to those who care for aging seniors, so she created a nonprofit organization to do just that.

The Samaritan Ministries member and founder of Decision Care Advocates and now bēkn has a soft spot for caregivers. A recognition of their needs is what drove Kristina to launch bēkn, which is pronounced “beacon.”

The organization aims to help churches launch essential support services for family caregivers and seniors as they age. Bēkn does this by working alongside pastoral leadership using various educational and developmental programs, the organization's website says.

A heart for caregivers

Personal experience working with a client who had dementia gave Kristina a front-row seat to observe the needs of families surrounding care, quality of life, and end-of-life medical decisions.

“Those three needs cover so much that a caregiving family has a hard time handling on their own,” she said. “They won’t hear much about this from church, even if they still make it there.”

Kristina wants to help equip the Church for these situations, which are occurring in all congregations as people age.

“Pastors don’t have much, if any, training in medical ethics, senior care, and dementia,” she said. “This new ministry’s goal is to care for the most vulnerable in the church—our aging population, made in the image of God and precious to Him—every day of their lives. We come alongside pastoral leadership for short-term, hands-on support to launch ministries for aging seniors and their caregiving family before those families disappear from church life.”

Support for the sandwich generation

Kristina said many men and women in their mid-40s are raising children at home and caring for aging parents while also working. This is a lot to balance, and sometimes church takes a back seat in priorities, so bēkn wants their church to be there to support them.

“Conversations about aging, illness or accidents are not pleasant, but it is even more difficult for families to care for a loved one if no one talks about it or puts plans on paper,” Kristina said. “Using material from The Conversation Project and The Five Wishes, we are creating workshops and seminars to offer help and support to churches wishing to care for their congregation before emergencies require it.”

What bēkn offers

Bēkn has resources on its website and plans to offer a survey for church leadership to examine the needs of their congregation in the areas of caregiving and aging seniors. The organization also plans to offer workshops and seminars on senior care, caregiving, care planning, and making medical care decisions.

Bēkn will offer six months of hands-on support to set up and launch any of the following ministries:

• A respite program modeled after Respite for All Foundation.
• A caregiver support group.
• A workshop and seminar series, with bēkn support, involving experts from the church body on the topics mentioned earlier.
• A customized ministry to fit needs outlined by the survey and selected by leadership. This option includes a caregiver support group.

“The great thing about the first two options is the self-sustaining nature of them,” Kristina said. “Respite models charge a nominal fee for the program. Workshops and seminars do the same to cover the costs of operation and material. The third option is a more ‘family’ model and has the flexibility for creativity by the church who builds that ministry.”

Recognizing hidden needs

Kristina said pastoral staff may not recognize the needs caregivers have because the caregivers often “quietly disappear” into the needs of their parents and are isolated, frustrated, and alone.

“It’s a long-term need,” she said. “It’s not just the acute care of a hospitalized loved one or someone who just had a baby and needs help for a few weeks in recovery. Aging parents or a diagnosis of dementia require 24/7 care for the remainder of a loved one’s life.”

A season of prayer and growth

Bēkn is currently in its first year in what Kristina calls “education mode.”

“We’ve had a wonderful reception from pastors and caregivers who learn of this effort in addition to other nonprofits who serve the aging,” she said. “They see the need firsthand for churches to have support to prepare for care of a rapidly growing senior population and their families.”

The organization is also in prayer mode. A prayer team has been interceding behind the scenes, covering the vision, bēkn’s Board of Directors, meetings, and financial needs.

For more information about bēkn, visit its website, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.