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Program addresses end-of-life decisions
Austintown Baptist Church will host the presentation tonight.
AUSTINTOWN — Pastor Chuck Cole of Austintown Baptist Church said the funeral of a friend prompted introspection and questions.
“I saw what the family was going through,” he said, “and asked myself, ‘why.?’”
That moved him to organize a presentation, “End-of-Life Decisions.” The program will be from 7 to 9 tonight at the church, 1180 S. Raccoon Road.
Pastor Cole said he came to realization that even though many who have faith and believe in eternal life are “scared of death.”
He said this situation left plans to be made under the most stressful of times, when the death of a loved one actually occurs. “When I talked to some professionals, I learned that people make crazy decisions during this stressful time,” Pastor Cole said.
Informed and thought-out decisions are made when people are not under stress, he said.
At tonight’s program, Pastor Cole and Pastor Barry Knaub of Central Niles Baptist Church will address the spiritual side. “Some services are somber while others are more lighthearted,” the pastor said. “There is a joy to this,” he said, referring to the afterlife with God.
Pastor Cole said he and his colleague will discuss kinds of services and personalizing them. “We’ll talk about God’s responsibility in death,” he said.
He said Dr. Medford Mashburn of Hospice will offer information on the medical side. “What do you do when you’re told you have six months to live?” Pastor Cole asked. He said the medical portion will deal with hospice care, hospitalization and other pertinent information.
The legal aspects will be the focus of attorney Charlene Burke.
That portion will be about wills and living wills, the pastor said. “What does probate mean?” the pastor asked, and said that would be explained.
Mary Kirila and Wally Sinn of Lane Funeral Homes will discuss pre-planning funerals. “Pre-planning takes a lot of the questions away,” Pastor Cole said.
He pointed out that some survivors go to the funeral home and say, “Tell me what to do.” That could lead to problems and paying for the funeral of a loved one for a long time. When pre-planning is done, choices are made before the need arises.
Pastor Cole said he hoped to turn this program into more than a one-night event. He said he thought it would be helpful to people to be able to tap the information. Pastor Cole said he wants to get input from participants at the program on how best to go about sharing the information.
“People are sometimes afraid to talk about death,” Pastor Cole said. “Having faith will make it easier.”
Doors will open at 6:30 at the church. No reservations are required. For more information, call the church at (330) 792-9532.