One very practical aspect of ministry is hospital visitation, and this is true regardless of the size and age range of your church and regardless of whether you are in vocational ministry, deacon ministry, or simply a concerned fellow church member. People get sick, and they need and expect us to visit. This is part of shepherding God’s flock.
As we minister to people in the hospital, the first issue is the unique combination of things that are happening in the situation. All of the following, to some extent, are present and should affect how we interact with the patient and what they need from our time with them and from the Lord.
Loss of Control – Someone else is deciding this person’s schedule (eating, sleeping, bathing), what is done to his or her body, etc. Plus, he or she is not in control of his or her own body. An illness or injury is “calling the shots.”
Loss of Normal Comforts – The comforts of normal routine, surroundings, home, and family are not there.
Loss of Rest – Noises, interrupted sleep because of tests, blood sticks, blood pressure checks, etc. (at all hours) guarantees the person is not getting good rest.
Loss of Privacy and Modesty – The patient is in bed in a gown that is split all the way up the back.
Physical Discomfort – Obviously, there is something physically wrong, and the patient is likely hurting and possibly nauseous or uncomfortable in some other way.
Uncertainty – What is going to happen physically, what life will look like in the future, how life might change after the hospital stay, and the potential financial impact of their illness and hospital stay all are uncertain.
The second issue concerns understanding what the person needs at this specific time and in this particular situation. One or more of the following may be needed in light of what we noted above.
A Ministry of Presence – In Matthew 28, Jesus promised to be with us, and Paul refers to the church as the Body of Christ. This means we can bring the presence of Jesus into a hospital room if we are filled with His Spirit. We can make His presence felt in tangible ways, and sometimes, the patient simply needs you to be there. There are times when being present is more important than anything you can say. Sometimes, you need to be silent.
A Ministry of Diversion – Sometimes, the patient is not overly burdened or in spiritual need, but simply needs to think about something other than being sick…that is when the chatting we like to do is important. Don’t assume that it is always what is needed, but sometimes, the person needs their mind taken off of himself or herself.
A Ministry of Comfort and Encouragement – Sometimes, the patient is in spiritual or mental distress. There may be unresolved issues with the Lord; they may feel the Lord has let them down by letting them get sick; they may wonder what the Lord is doing in the situation. Here is where we must be very careful to listen and to make sure not to offer the person Scripture that is taken out of context; careful not to offer empty promises or platitudes that may be false and poor theology. Sometimes God uses uncomfortable situations to bring us close to Him, and other times, we simply are walking through mess, and we need His assurance…and it may or may not be His will to completely restore the patient to their former state of health. But, it is always His will to be our sufficiency.
So, when you, an able-bodied, fully-dressed person who can come and go at will, walk into a hospital room, you are ministering to an unclad, uncomfortable person who is not in control of his or her time, meals, surroundings, or body and is not sure just what is going to happen now in the hospital or in the days ahead. He or she may have a variety of needs that you may or may not be aware of. How should this shape what you say and do? Let me encourage you never to go in assuming you know what is needed. Prepare your heart and be sensitive to the situation. Listen deeply. Be fully present. Embody and share the love of Jesus and the truth of Jesus in appropriate ways.
What are your feelings about hospital visitation?
What might you adjust in your own ministry, based on these suggestions?
What thoughts would you add?