Ministry Ideas: Love Bears

Our ladies Bible class has, for year, worked hard making “love bears” (after raising 4 kids, I keep wanting to say “Care Bears,” but it’s “love bears” — they do have to keep correcting me) — small, cloth, stuffed bears with a small tag saying these bears are given in the name of Jesus by the University Church of Christ.

The teddy bears are then given to the police, ambulance drivers, and hospitals, who then give them to children in need of comfort when caught in a traumatic situation. They’ve given away hundreds, maybe thousands, of love bears.

And they’ve received many a note from a grateful parent for the comfort provided by these simple gifts.

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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4 Responses to Ministry Ideas: Love Bears

  1. Terry says:

    Domestic violence shelters are also good places for the love bears. Often mothers come with their young children.

  2. Jay Guin says:

    Terry,

    Thanks. I'll pass that thought along.

  3. Terry says:

    You're welcome, Jay. 🙂 I like your congregation's goal of comforting children going through crises.

  4. Zach Price says:

    i know churches that do prayer shawls for the elderly, seems similar in fashion in that anything that can comfort the soul in such a way as that is doing the work of the Holy Spirit in my opinion.

    What about giving them to children in homeless shelters or shelters for people after a natural disaster? I could understand that a cynical adult might think "oh we lost everything but thanks for the bear", but this could be an immense blessing to a child that needs to feel comfort and love in such times.

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