The ministry within a hospital deals with the same commodity as does the ministry within a church—the souls of men. The difference is that in a hospital people are afraid, sick, in pain, and emotionally involved with the setting they are in, and need a special portion of that "blessed assurance" we so often sing about. Perhaps they put up a good front, and even fool themselves for a while, but with the very sick patient, or with those in serious difficulties, this facade cracks and they seek the visit of a clergyman. As one man once told me: "This is the first time I've ever really looked in God's direction—up." It is within this complex organization, with its constant flow of people, patients, workers, and visitors, that the ministry is finding its new opportunity and challenge.
It is not until recently that the concept has been developed that places the minister with the doctor and psychiatrist in what is called the "healing team." More and more we find hospitals placing full-time ministers within their structure, recognizing that spiritual things do count in the healing process. Many years ago the Spirit of Prophecy writings gave light on this very point: "In many cases, the realization that they [the sick] have such a friend [Jesus] means more to the suffering ones in their recovery from sickness than the best treatment that can be given. But both lines of ministry [medical and spiritual] are essential. They are to go hand in hand."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 224. This can give each of us who visit our ailing church members a new feeling of responsibility and worth as we make what often seems to be a routine call at the hospital. You can be a real help to that patient and to the doctor also. But this responsibility does not give license to take either the doctor's or psychiatrist's place on this team; let us remember our role and carry out our part as ministers of the gospel.
Three questions keep coming up in my own mind, as well as in the minds of other ministers with whom I come in contact: How can we work the most effectively at the bedside? How can we help the patient rather than harm him? How do we gain the respect and confidence of the doctors and nurses? Most of these are answered by just being a minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with a strong, positive hope in the second coming of Christ, and of God's wisdom and love and care for all men, sick or well—by not passing judgment on the person. An assuring message from a considerate person means so much to a sick one.
To illustrate what effect a minister can have on a patient, let me cite this one incident. I had just been called to the bedside of a presurgery patient who was very distressed and worried. Her own pastor had been called and was on his way in. She was just saying to me, "My faith is so weak just now, and I'm frightened," when her pastor marched into the room, and pointing a finger at her, announced, "It's your lack of faith that has upset you." He was still lecturing as I left for my office. Within fifteen minutes I was called again to the same bedside, to a doubly upset and fearful patient.
It is possible to do more harm than good. Yes, but this is not at all necessary, when we remember that a person who is ill is more sensitive than at any other time and may even read between the lines what is not even there. So guard your conversation well—even guard the expression on your face.
How does one work most effectively at the bedside? By assurance. I remember a man who told me he was put out at his minister, a friend of many years, who had spent his time by the patient's bed trying to decide what had caused his heart attack. "And all I wanted to know was, Am I going to be all right." This man needed assurance. The Word of God has assurance; your prayers have assurance; your face can show that abiding assurance. This means giving study to the portions of the Bible we read at the bedside, and the choice of conversation and subjects discussed.
In Bible reading it is often wise to omit the verses that mention anatomy, such as heart, bowels, eyes, hands, head, especially if the patient you are visiting has heart trouble, et cetera. These call attention to their sick bodies. In prayer we can also give assurance. With a little bit of forethought your prayer can bring sweet peace to those who need it most, and when they need it most.
Let us look at the case of the woman who said, "My faith is so weak just now, and I'm frightened." How much better would have been her pastor's counsel had he kindly approached her this way: "When faith seems weakest, and our trials are frightening, God is the nearest to us to uphold us lest we fall. You remember that beautiful description of God in the 103d psalm, verse 13, 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.' I know that you fear and love Him, or you would not be so concerned about your faith at this time. Just think how wonderful God is that He will look at you and have compassion on you—a single individual here on this earth. Doesn't that just bring a thrill to your heart?" At this point the fact that they are sinners often comes forth from them, and this can be easily dispatched by the matter-of-fact quoting of 1 John 1:9. This affords the opportunity to have prayer with the patient, bringing in the promises of God and the expression of your personal belief in the answer of that prayer. These conversations with the patient should be short but meaningful. Avoid deep theological waters, for it is easy to linger too long and undo the good you have done before. Still, we cannot say every visit must be thus and so, for each patient presents different circumstances and problems. (The above incident occurred after the patient had been given preoperative sedation, which left little time to get this assurance across to her.)
When we can leave a patient with the feeling that he has a true friend in Jesus and in his pastor, or chaplain, this lays the foundation for healing and we have been a valuable member of the healing team. At times we have left a bedside when the call seemed of little value, and we have been discouraged about it, but if we have given this assurance even to the critical and semiconscious patient, the visit is of value and inestimable worth.
The following experience gave me a new insight in understanding the semiconscious, unresponsive patient. The patient had been at his desk carrying on his duties of the day—then he awakened in a strange, hospital room, with an intravenous bottle hanging above the bed. The question began to spin through his head, "Why am I here?" Then, looking up, he saw through the haze the face of his pastor who had heard of his sudden illness. Half awake, it was difficult to remember what was said, but he will never forget that smiling face, the soft, assuring voice, and the prayer. Lapsing back into sleep, a feeling of calm rested upon him, knowing somehow that his case was in God's hands.
This kind of work by the minister for his members and others he visits in the hospital will bring the answer as to how to gain respect and confidence among the doctors and nurses. Bring the atmosphere of healing to the hospital and leave Jesus with the patient, and both doctors and nurses will respect the results of your ministry. Better still, there will be developed in others confidence in the message that a man such as you represents. Other patients in the room will see the effect on your patient, and will feel the effect on themselves. This will be just another of the many ways we can be laborers together with God in the earth's harvest.
