“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14,15

Ridgewood Church expresses its faith in Christ through loving care and concern for our church family and community. Imagine the difference we can make as we work together to bring Christ’s hope and healing touch to all of life’s hurts, struggles and disappointments!

It is our desire that the information included here may be of help to you, a family member, co-worker, neighbor or friend. When we are not able to meet a particular need within our own church family, we will assist you by making a referral to other professionals or agencies as appropriate. In addition, if you feel God calling you to serve in a particular area of Care Ministries, please contact Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858. We would be delighted to help you find an exciting area of ministry!

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” ~ Galatians 6:2~

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Pastoral Counseling
Our pastoral staff offers compassionate Christ-centered, Bible-based guidance to individuals and families as well as to engaged couples preparing for marriage. They are committed to providing help and healing. Any one of our pastors would be happy to meet with you, share your concerns, and offer counsel based upon experience, prayer and scriptural discernment.

Pre-Marital Counseling
Pre-marriage counseling is required for all couples planning to be married at Ridgewood Church. It is conducted over a period of several months prior to your wedding. Once you have determined the pastor who will be performing your marriage ceremony, he or she will work with you to arrange a counseling schedule that will accommodate your needs. During pre-marital counseling a variety of assessment tools are used to determine the areas of strength in your relationship as well as those areas where growth, change or compromise may be required. Areas addressed will include hopes and dreams, family of origin, communication, intimacy, conflict resolution, and establishing a home based upon faith.

Individual/Family/Marriage Counseling
At times the ministry staff may recommend that you seek the help of a professional licensed counselor. We have a number of resources available and will be happy to refer you to competent Christian psychologists, marriage counselors or licensed social workers.

Spiritual Direction
Do you sometimes find yourself wondering, where is God at work in my life? Is God really listening? How is God calling me to live? Where is God in my pain? Many Christians seek answers to these and many other questions in partnership with a spiritual director. A spiritual director is a trained listener who utilizes spiritual intuition, prayer, and searching Scripture to sense the movement of the Spirit in your life. A spiritual director often asks questions that will require you to reflect and “go deep”, while inviting you to see where God is present and working in your life. Debbie Luedtke is a certified spiritual director. She welcomes you to call (952) 474-1045, find out more about spiritual direction, and schedule an appointment.

Stephen Ministers are not trained counselors or therapists. They are trained, skilled, lay Christian caregivers who are equipped to offer confidential encouragement, prayer and support on a regular basis. They are a ministry of God’s love working with those who are experiencing a number of life issues:

Stephen Ministers care for people who are:
• Grieving
• In a crisis
• In need of long term care
• Dying
• Hospitalized
• Suffering from chronic illness or pain
• Divorcing
• Experiencing age related losses
• Experiencing birth or adoption
• Undergoing job changes or unemployment
• Homebound or institutionalized
• New to our community or church
• Needing the support of a Christian friend
• The family and friends of people who are in crisis

People who receive care from a Stephen Minister:
Receive quality Christian care
Have the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God.

If you or a loved one have a difficult life issue or problem, perhaps a Stephen Minister can help by accompanying you on your journey. Please contact Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858 x 212 to confidentially discuss assignment of a Stephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers are committed Christians who:
Listen
Explore feelings
Pray
Share Christ’s love
Maintain confidentiality
Attend to the care receiver’s needs and leave the results to God.
Receive ongoing supervision and continuing education
Serve for at least two years

Stephen Ministry offers a great ministry opportunity too!
Stephen Ministers learn about the importance of compassionately listening, maintaining boundaries and being positively assertive as they care for others during difficult times of life. Training is offered twice during each ministry year. For additional information, contact Joan Dattilo (952) 474-5935 or Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858, x 212, Stephen Leaders.

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Hospital Care
We offer our RWC family personal visits by the ministry and care staff prior to surgery and during hospitalization. Please notify the church office if you or a family member is having surgery or is hospitalized. You may call (952) 474-0858 or indicate on the registration/information card found in the pews each Sunday.

Homebound Visitation
The ministry and care staff make every effort to visit members of our RWC family of all ages who are ill or confined to their homes or long-term care facilities due to health reasons. Please notify the church office if you know of a need of which we may not be aware.

Biblical Management of Financial Resources (Good Sense Ministry)
Financial education, planning and budget assistance are available to the RWC family through the Good Sense Ministry. Watch for information regarding seminar scheduling throughout the year. In addition, personal budget counseling may be arranged with a trained Good Sense counselor by calling the Care Ministry office (952) 474-0858 x 212.

Funeral Assistance
Lois Lubbers, Funeral Coordinator, (952) 474-0858 x 215, is available to assist RWC families experiencing the loss of a loved one through death, by helping to coordinate funeral/memorial services.

Benevolent Fund
Each month following our celebration of the Lord’s Supper, a benevolent offering is received. Typically funds are used to meet needs within our church family. In the past it has been used to pay utility and other bills, purchase groceries or provide transportation. Questions/requests may be directed to Pastor Joel Goff or Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858.

Community Agency Referrals
The Care Ministry office has information regarding a variety of community agencies and services that are available such as housing, employment, energy assistance, chemical dependency treatment, or abuse. Please contact Susan Thompson (952)474-0858 x 212.

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ICA-Intercongregation Communities Association, 12990 St. David Rd., Minnetonka, MN 55305
ICA is an emergency food shelf and financial assistance agency serving the seven west metro communities of Minnetonka, Hopkins, Excelsior, Deephaven, Shorewood, Woodland and Greenwood. At different times in our lives, many of us may face an emergency due to extended illness, job loss, or unexpected expenses. ICA’s staff and volunteers are committed to assisting those in need by providing hope, emergency food, emergency financial assistance for basic needs (in the form of an interest free loan which must be repaid), holiday assistance, transportation to medical appointments and referrals to other agencies. ICA is a community-based program organized and supported by faith communities throughout our area (including RWC). For information on how you can donate food or money, or about one of the many volunteer opportunities, call ICA (952) 938-0729. If you have needs that ICA may be able to provide, please contact the Care Ministries office at RWC for qualifying information or call ICA directly.

Urban Ventures – People’s Exchange
Founded in 1993, Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation strives to be a positive catalyst for neighborhood transformation by offering support to the least, the last, and the lost of the Central and Phillips neighborhoods of Minneapolis. Ridgewood Church partners with Urban Ventures through the regular donation of material goods (clothing, household items, groceries) as well as with financial support. Several members of our congregation serve as volunteers at Urban Ventures distributing goods, serving meals, etc. Check out the Urban Ventures website www.urbanventures.org for ways you can invest in this work and ministry to the people of inner city of Minneapolis.

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Reach and Restore is a “home grown” ministry of RWC which began in response to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. When it became apparent that people in our area were experiencing significant needs, Reach & Restore added to its focus caring for people in this community. Reach & Restore provides needy families with resources giving them a sense of hope and the support to help get them back on their feet. This may include providing material goods such as household items, furniture, locating housing or transportation and/or personal needs such as moral support, friendship, tutoring, counseling or spiritual guidance. Goods and financial contributions can be made through the church and designated for “Reach and Restore”. An updated list of needs is posted at www.reachandrestore.org. For further information about receiving help from R&R or how you can get involved as a member of the “crew”, call Ronda Oliver (952) 933-1393.

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The ministry of prayer is a significant calling for members of the body of Christ. Prayer is at the heart of one's personal relationship with God, in everyday happenings and in larger life circumstances. We sustain human relationships by time spent together, in silence, and in talking with and listening to each other. So it also is that the life of prayer, through God's grace, sustains and nurtures our love relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In community together we enjoy shared prayer of praise, petition, thanksgiving, intercession and confession. We invite you to join us in these times of prayer, as an active participant or as a recipient. Our ministry of prayer is carried on throughout each week in a variety of ways. On Sunday morning those attending Ridgewood Church are invited to register their attendance. On the back side of the card is space to write prayer requests which are to be shared with the various prayer groups throughout the church, or with the staff only.

Intercessory Prayer Team members are available for prayer ministry following the worship service each Sunday morning. If you feel called to the ministry of intercessory prayer (See the example of Moses in Exodus 17:8-13), please join others on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 - 8:00pm as they listen to God and pray for the ministry and mission of Ridgewood Church.

Staff Prayer
Each Tuesday afternoon the Ridgewood ministry and support staff meet to pray for the concerns the church family shared on their registration cards the previous Sunday.

Wednesday Morning Women’s Prayer
Wednesday mornings you can be a part of the women’s prayer group meeting at 9:00am, as prayers are offered for specific and ongoing needs that are made known through our weekly prayer and praise requests or by calling the church office.

Prayer Chain
Emergency requests are directed to the prayer chain of Ridgewood Church. For prayer for immediate, crisis needs call Jan Johnson (952) 938-2109, Carol Scheurich (952) 474-9377 or the church office (952) 474-0858.

6:18 Prayer Ministry
At Ridgewood Church we are committed to pray for our students, and one of the ways we do that is through the 6:18 Prayer Ministry which joins Christian adults with students as prayer partners. Our desire and purpose is to give support and encouragement through prayer to the youth who attend our church and/or those youth involved in Student Impact (our youth ministry).

Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry of RWC began almost four years ago. A committed group of knitters craft beautiful prayer shawls while praying for the needs of the recipient. To date, more than 325 shawls have been donated to men, women and children throughout our church, community, state, nation and world! If you would like to participate in this meaningful, practical ministry or request a prayer shawl for someone, please call Perri Eggert (952) 474-0858.

Additional opportunities for prayer and prayer ministry are available throughout the year.
These include:
Prayer retreats and training
Small groups
Moms In Touch
 (several groups meet at Ridgewood Church – check with the church office for times)
Special prayer events (National Day of Prayer, Prayer Ventures retreats, etc.)

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Divorced? Separated? You don't have to go through it alone
Find help, discover hope, and experience healing from the pain of separation and divorce. Whether you are newly separated or your divorce was a long time ago, DivorceCare can bring God's grace and healing to your life through Biblical teaching and support. You will learn to deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life. The DivorceCare Seminar is offered periodically as new groups are needed. For more general information, check out the DivorceCare website: www.divorcecare.org; or details about the current schedule of DivorceCare meetings and locations at Ridgewood Church, please call Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858 .

Grief Coalition
RWC is a participating member of the West Suburban Grief Coalition. A series of grief-coping related topics are discussed and shared in a three month series. The group meets every Thursday from 4:30-6:30pm. The location is rotated among the participating churches. Call the Care Ministry office (952) 474-0858 x 212 for current location, directions and contact information.

Substance Abuse
RWC is host to two AA groups which meet Sunday and Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. If you are struggling with chemical abuse or other addiction, the Care Ministry office can confidentially provide referrals to other resources such as “Celebrate Recovery”, a Christ-centered freedom from addiction program or Teen Challenge, a Christian live-in treatment center.

RWC hopes to expand our care ministry in the future to include Finding Hope Again (depression support) and Freedom Ministry (theophostic prayer). If you are interested in facilitating a new group or participating in a group, please call Susan Thompson (952) 474-0858 x 212.