Being With©
Mission and Purpose
Persons who suffer from terminal illnesses or injuries, old age, minimally conscious states, dementia, and other serious physically or mentally debilitating conditions are valuable human beings with as much dignity and worth as anyone else. Like anyone else, they need to know that they are wanted, loved, seen with dignity, and respected. They are an important part of our world, and they deserve to know that they matter and that they are needed. After all, who is more needed in our materialistic culture than those who call us to compassion, care, and love?
Unfortunately, our culture, which tends to emphasize independence and health as virtues above love and compassion, frequently discounts the intrinsic worth and dignity of vulnerable persons and dictates that a "low quality of life" makes their lives unworthy of living. Healing the Culture rejects these narrow views of "quality of life," and believes that true quality of life comes from the knowledge that we are created in the image of love.
Being With© is a project of Healing the Culture which promotes deeper awareness of the meaning and dignity in human suffering, and trains volunteers to visit with patients, offering true compassion and love to those faced with terminal illnesses and physical and mental limitations in hospitals, nursing facilities, assisted-living residences, hospices, and homes. We also provide speakers, host educational events, and sponsor service activities for churches, youth groups, schools, and organizations.
We usually encourage churches, youth groups, and other ministries to work with us on a plan that we call "For the Love of God!" which combines speaking presentations, youth activities, and volunteer training into one large project. (See Activities and Training for details.)