May-June Issue      bnf is a Compassion Ministry of WMU      May 15, 2023

May is Nurses’ Month! I hope that you are celebrating the great profession of nursing. If you need ideas, check out the ANA website that offers some interesting ways that we can celebrate ourselves and others. NURSES' DAY 2023

The ANA has chosen the theme “You Make a Difference.” This is so applicable to our BNF membership. Here are some ways that I believe that “YOU make a difference.”

• YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE- In 2022, our BNF national membership increased from 210 to 256, a 22% increase.  This is certainly the result of hard work by BNF leadership, but YOU made the difference as you invited your friends and colleagues to join our great organization. YOU made a difference as you shared about BNF at your church, your community, and organizational meetings. YOU can continue to make a difference as you participate in our membership challenge that began in March and ends in September (read about it in the last Lamplighter).

•  YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE- In May, we celebrate Nurses’ Month by providing gift bags to nursing students and nurses. This year BNF has provided nearly 2000 gift bags to nursing students in 6 different states and in Thailand. These bags serve as encouragement and support to our colleagues and our Future colleagues. You can read about some of these efforts on our BNF website.

• YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE- BNF initiated a Patron’s Program to support our BNF Summit 2022. You helped us to raise $5, 325 that helped to make our meeting a great success. Some of you placed ads in our Summit Yearbook and encouraged others to support this project. All these efforts MADE A DIFFERENCE.

• YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE- You supported healthcare fairs in Louisiana and Alabama. You supported scholarships for nursing students. You joined our new BNF book club. You shared in our virtual prayer meetings. You prayed for our missionary nurses.



I hope that you realize all the ways that YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE and continue to make a difference. As your BNF Executive Director/Treasurer for the past 1 ½ years, I have seen the way you make a difference in my life as you encourage and support me and our BNF organization. I pray that we continue to BE FIRM and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives around us and around the world.

The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) suggested month long celebration plan is as follows:

• Week 1: Self Care
• Week 2: Recognition (Nurse’s Week)
• Week 3: Professional Development
• Week 4: Community Engagement

Week One: Self Care. This is a reminder that we all need to do this every week. Not just one week of the year. Do a self-care assessment. What activities are you doing to benefit your health and reduce your stress? Take time for you and be sure to meditate each day through a quiet time with God. ANA provides a Gratitude Toolkit to cultivate a gratitude practice in your daily life (search ‘gratitude toolkit’ on your favorite search site). 

Consider joining Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation, www.healthynursehealthynation.org,  a program designed to help you improve your health in six areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, safety, and mental health. Take the Healthy Nurse Survey assessment to see where you are, access inspiring blogs, and join monthly 10-day challenges focused on supporting micro-behavior change towards your goals.

Week Two: Recognition.  We hope you participated this past week in honoring your work and the work of all nurses in our healthcare systems and our communities.  

It is not too late to minister to the nurses in your facility and community.  You can make Nursing Survival Kits, lifesaver cards, gift boxes (Dollar Tree has wooden boxes you can decorate) or other gift ideas and take to local hospitals, clinics or nursing care facilities. The Nursing Survival Kits includes:

1.   Lifesaver: A reminder of the many times others will need your help.

2.   Tootsie Roll: To help you roll through the day.

3.   Paper Clip: To hold it all together.

4.   Starburst: To give you a burst of energy.

5.   Gum: To help you tackle those sticky situations.

6.   Cross: To remind you that God is always with you.

Other ministry gift ideas are shown below.

Week Three: Professional Development. We are currently in week three of our month-long celebration. This week may be a good week to view an educational offering, or if you are like me, get started on those CEUs we all need by the end of the year. 

Week Four: Community Engagement. Educate members of your church and community on what nurses do beyond the bedside-advocacy, shaping public policy, or serving as an organization. Tell BNF’s story. Invite colleagues and friends to join bnf (see the contest below to win prizes) and invite friends, both nursing and non-nursing, to give to bnf to support the work of our organization.  

The Marjorie Grober Special Projects Fund was initiated in 1995 to assist BNF nurses with projects locally and globally. Named for retired missionary to Brazil and former Arkansas WMU President and BNF President Elect, Marjorie Grober, some of the fund can be used this year to support the post BNF Summit medical clinic in Jackson, Mississippi.

Each year 20-30 Summit attendees stay on to serve underserved neighborhoods with their medical knowledge and skills. All who come experience the love of Jesus and hear how they can know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Spiritual seeds that are planted will be nurtured by the local church hosting the clinic.

Invite your small groups, friends, and colleagues to join you in giving. When you give to the Marjorie Grober Special Projects Fund you give a “Gift that Keeps on Giving”.

You can give to the Grober Fund by clicking the link below or by selecting ‘support’ on the Baptist Nursing Fellowship website.  

Come and celebrate bnf's 40th birthday! You are encouraged to make your hotel reservations now to ensure you have a room and to get the best price in these turbulent economic times. Below are a list of hotels and prices. Watch for specific Summit agenda items in emails and the July-August Lamplighter.

Home2 Suites by Hilton Jackson Pearl

435 Riverwind Dr, Pearl, MS 39208•

(601) 566-1055- Internet price lists $116 King/ 2 Queens

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/janpeht-home2-suites-jackson-pearl/

Hampton Inn Jackson/Pearl-International Airport

1234 Phillips Ln, Pearl, MS 39208•

(601) 932-7676- Internet price lists $108 King/2 Queens

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/janplhx-hampton-jackson-pearl-international-airport/

Courtyard by Marriott Jackson Airport/Pearl

415 Riverwind Dr, Pearl, MS 39208•

(601) 914-4888- Internet price lists $118 King/2 Queens

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/janap-courtyard-jackson-airport-pearl/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jackson Airport

501 S Pearson Rd, Pearl, MS 39208

(601) 664-0065- Internet price lists $80 King/2 Queens

https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Jackson Airport

407 Riverwind Dr, Pearl, MS 39208•

(601) 936-3434- Internet price lists $113 King/2 Queens

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/janfa-fairfield-inn-and-suites-jackson-airport/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0

Now thru September 15

Invite people to join bnf and win prizes

1^st Prize – free membership 2024

2^nd Prize – bnf portfolio

3^rd Prize- wood nativity set made in Argentina

Notify Charolette Rock at CSMRock6812@gmail.com when you have recruited someone to join. Prizes will be awarded to those recruiting the most new members. Qualifying new members include persons who have never been a member of national bnf or someone who has not been a member in the last 3 years. Once the person joins and pays dues, you receive credit.

Health Awareness

June is National Men’s Health Month! This month is all about encouraging the men in your life (including you, men out there!) to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and working to prevent disease. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases including cancer, heart disease, and depression.

1.   Tweak your diet

Men's Health Month is a great opportunity to change the way you eat. Cut back on alcohol this month or up your intake of healthy fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir. You can do anything for a month, and if you do it for a month, you can do it for life!

2.  Set some goals

Use this month to take stock of your health now and think about where you want it to be. Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Simply eat more vegetables? Set small and achievable goals and work with your doctor to make them a reality.



3.  Get educated

Take this opportunity to read about the common health issues that are specific to men and how you can prevent yourself from getting hurt! Check out the CDC for information on health issues that men face.www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mens-health.htm