A New Year of Care: 5 Resolutions to Minister with Hospitality, Prayer, and Presence

Here at The Church Cares, we aim to nurture the congregational care helpers. That’s why we’re proud to offer free high-quality support to those who want to pray, care, and engage more effectively with the hurting world around them.

by Jennifer Ripley, Ph.D., co-Director of The Church Cares, Psychologist and Professor at Regent University.

January often starts with the best of intentions. We make resolutions to eat healthier, declutter our closets, or get back to the gym.

But what if this year, instead of focusing only on self-improvement, we resolved to become more available to others?

The winter months—quiet, gray, and often lonely—are a tender time for many people. Holiday cheer fades, routines resume, and for some, the heaviness returns. As a Church Cares Helper or simply someone who loves Jesus, this is a powerful moment to lean into what we do best: show up with care, prayer, and hospitality.

Here are 5 Christ-centered resolutions to help you minister well in the winter season.

1. Open Your Door (and Calendar) More Often

In winter, people tend to hibernate. Shorter days and colder nights keep us indoors—and sometimes isolated. That makes your presence even more powerful.

Make it a goal to offer simple, low-pressure invitations:

• “Want to come over for soup and a quiet evening?”

• “I’m heading to the store—want to ride along?”

• “I’ll be reading and sipping tea tonight if you want to stop by.”

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Hospitality doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, the simpler it is, the more accessible it feels. In Romans 12:13, Paul urges: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” 

This year, make “Come as you are” your winter motto.

2. Choose One Person to Check on Each Week

Winter blues, seasonal affective disorder, and post-holiday letdowns are real. And for those already struggling—grieving a loss, recovering from burnout, or facing financial stress—January can feel like a long, uphill climb.

Set a goal to reach out to one person each week. Not with a program or a perfect answer, but with presence:

• A text that says, “You’ve been on my mind—how are you?”

• A card in the mail with a Bible verse and short prayer.

• A five-minute phone call just to listen.

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One touchpoint a week = 52 sacred moments this year. Let’s be people who notice.

3. Make Prayer a Conversation—Not a Performance

Many helpers feel intimidated when it comes to praying for others. But prayer isn’t about eloquence—it’s about connection.

Resolve to make prayer part of your everyday conversations. Don’t wait for the perfect setting or the “right words.” Just offer what you have:

“Can I say a quick prayer over you right now?”“Jesus, give my friend peace today. Let them feel Your nearness. Amen.”

Your prayer might be the only one they hear all week—and the reminder that God sees them.

The Church Cares model encourages helpers to see prayer as ministry in motion—a way to walk with others through their pain, not just talk about it.

4. Create a “Warm Space” in a Cold Season

You don’t have to start a ministry to build community. Sometimes, all it takes is creating a place that feels safe.

Think about hosting a weekly or monthly “winter circle” in your home, church, or local coffee shop. It could be:

• A quiet hour of prayer and journaling.

• A drop-in time for tea, puzzles, or quiet conversation.

• A care-focused small group using Church Cares materials.

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The goal isn’t numbers. The goal is presence. You never know how God might use a simple space to heal a heavy heart.

5. Refocus Your Resolutions on Eternal Things

It’s great to want to get fit, save money, or learn something new in the new year. But don’t forget what matters most: people.

Let this be the year your resolutions reflect your calling to care. As Galatians 6:2 reminds us: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Maybe your winter “resolutions” look like:

• Saying yes to small conversations instead of big commitments.

• Listening more than you speak.

• Loving the person in front of you instead of chasing perfection.

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These are quiet things. But they’re kingdom things.

Final Encouragement: Keep It Simple, Keep It Sacred

You don’t need a long list of goals to make an impact this winter. You need eyes to see, ears to listen, a heart that’s open, and hands that are willing.

So as the year begins, consider this your care resolution:

“I will show up, slow down, and offer the love of Christ through hospitality, prayer, and presence—one person at a time.”

You don’t need to fix it to be faithful.You don’t need to be extraordinary to be effective.You just need to care well.

And that’s something God can use.

Need a resource to help you care well this winter?

Visit TheChurchCares.com for free training, conversation guides, and care ministry tools to support your journey.

Let’s make this a year where no one has to hurt alone.