I’ve always known that sending cards was a great way to provide pastoral care. But if it’s not easy, I don’t do it. I’ve been a pastor for 13 years, and I’ve spent hours searching for the perfect sympathy, thank you, and “thinking of you” cards.
When I came to my current congregation, I found out when people had lost loved ones. I put those dates on my calendar, fully intending to send cards to them. The dates came and went because it was just one more thing I didn’t have time to do.
I wanted to send postcards to the children in our congregation inviting them to Sunday school. I know how kids love to receive mail. But I didn’t get it done because it was too much work to find postcards I liked and get them in the mail.
I searched for cards to send to our first-time worshippers. I spent hours searching the web, and didn’t find anything I liked. So I spent more time creating my own cards through one of the photo processing sites, and then waiting to get them in the mail. I still have to address them by hand and send them out.
In my search, I came across a way to send cards from my computer.
Now I can
- pick a card from over 15,000 designs or upload a digital photo and make my own custom card
- add my own verse or quote
- type in my personal message
I can do this in less than five minutes!
Then I click “send” and the card is
- printed
- stuffed into an envelope
- stamped with an actual stamp
- and mailed
I couldn’t believe how easy it was. So now when I think about sending a card, I do it. When I heard someone’s father had died, I sent a card. I sent postcards to the kids in our Sunday school to thank them for helping lead a song in worship. I sent cards to some of our members letting them know about our church’s “Movie Night.” I sent a card to a pastor in another church thanking her for her newspaper article.
I don’t use it only for my ministry. I sent an anniversary card to my husband, cards to my mother and mother-in-law, cards to several friends I’d lost track of, and all of our Christmas cards at the click of a mouse. I’m having a blast.
Imagine yourself sending a card to…
- someone who just went into the hospital
- someone on the anniversary of the death of their loved one
- every first-time worshipper
- someone thanking them for their ministry
- your shut-ins every month
- the children in your Sunday school
- inactive members personally inviting them to a church event
- someone in the community inviting them to worship
Or imagine being reminded of all your relatives’ birthdays, in time to send a card. Imagine choosing a Christmas card, adding a personal message, and sending it to hundreds of people on your list with the click of a button.
Imagine yourself sending a card in less than five minutes, without leaving your office, and for less than the cost of a card you can purchase in the store.
I wish this would have been available at the beginning of my ministry. I’m having so much fun, and I think it’s such a valuable pastoral care tool, that I want to share it with as many people as I can.
Brighten Someone’s Day
Would you like to try sending a couple of cards to people for free? You can send a card to your spouse, your sister, a friend, or a congregation member. I would love to help you make their day a little brighter. Click here, and you can sign up for a gift account where you can send a couple of cards on me. Don’t worry, I won’t share your information with anyone. And don’t send a card to yourself. I’ll send you several cards so that you can see them firsthand.
If you’d like some help figuring it out, give me a call or email me and I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
If after you send some cards you decide you would like to send more, we have several packages to fit your needs, from $2.00 a card (including postage) down to $.62 a card (not including postage).
Blessings on you and your ministry!
Rev. Suzanne Gorhau
SuzanneGorhau@gmail.com
888 886-7284
