Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of caring by faith-based care team members. Nondirective, in-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for themes. Participants included 19 care team members who served on faith-based care teams providing in-home support for families with chronic and/or terminal illness. Analysis of the interview texts resulted in the following four themes: "putting feet to what we pray about," "building and sharing relationships," "it makes you more aware," and "because it's a team." Participants expressed a strong reciprocity in their experience; for example, "it's a mutual thing but I think I've gotten a lot out of it." In some cases the caregiving experience was a lesson in survival, "you don't just lie down and die, you get back up." The findings from this study contribute to the limited body of knowledge concerning experiences of participants on faith-based care teams.