Herm Haakenson: A salmon fisherman and "fisher of men"

During salmon season, he is permitted only one catch a week from his commercial fishing boat, The Good News. But Herm Haakenson, 70, casts his gospel net year-round in nursing homes. He and his wife, Trish, not only visit nursing homes but run The Sonshine Society, which develops Christian materials for the growing nursing-home population.

Challenged at a Seattle Sunday school conference more than 20 years ago to "not forget people in nursing homes," Herm found the closest one to his church, half a block away. He invited any Lynnwood Manor resident who wanted to go to church to meet him for a ride. No one responded.

Herm called the manager on Monday. "Could we start a Sunday school class on the premises?" he asked. "Maybe in the dining room?" With no guarantee of higher response from the residents, the manager agreed.

The following Sunday, Herm arrived with guitar and Bible. Timidly turning off the TV, he played, sang, read Scripture, and gave a devotional. The few people there seemed indifferent.

For six months, nothing changed. Herm came; the same handful of men and women were in the room. But Herm noticed one thing--the people in wheelchairs outside the room, within hearing distance, increased in number. Before long, they joined.

"The music attracted them; it's fundamental to a nursing home ministry," says Herm, fingering a harmonica he keeps handy. For the next few years, Herm and his team carefully looked at the needs of their special congregation. The hymnals--donated from local churches--were not senior-friendly: the print was too small. For similar reasons, Bible reading was difficult, too. Rather than give up, Herm launched a ministry that now provides Christian nursing-home materials for some 10,000 people.

Feeling at home in this off-site "church" is a reward in itself say the Haakensons. "The doors at these facilities are open to Christians, if you provide something meaningful to the residents," says Herm.

Sometimes staff members "take their breaks during our service," Trish explains. "And more and more, caring families of residents show up regularly. They want to be 'in church' with their loved one. It makes an interesting mix of people."