Visiting the Hospital for Ministry

Pray daily for pastors in the Slavic countries (as well as your own) that they will have wisdom and power from God to preach the Word effectually and to care for all of the saints. Pray that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will accompany the preaching of God’s Word throughout all lands. Ask God to stir up Christians to use their God-given freedom to the fullest advantage in making known everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Some day you may be in the hospital; if not as a patient, then almost certainly as a visitor. Few adults have never had any direct contact with a hospital or clinic. Because sickness and suffering often turn the thoughts of the patient and the family to spiritual matters, hospital visits present to watchful Christians wonderful opportunities to witness about the compassion and comfort of Christ.

Those who make regular calls to hospital wards find many opportunities to lead men and women to trust Christ as their Savior. For a patient whose illness may be fatal, such a visit can mean the difference between eternal death and everlasting life.

Yevgenia Chegir and Anna Shaets (SMS workers in Minsk and Gomel, Belarus respectively) have been called by God for such a task. Their hospital ministries with the patients have seen amazing results both socially and spiritually. They both acknowledge that God has bestowed upon them the gift of “mercy” (Romans 12:8), which allows them to accomplish this ministry. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

How does one start this type of ministry? Christians who make it a point regularly to visit hospitals have various ways of making initial contacts. Sometimes, the ministry begins when they visit a friend in the hospital and become acquainted with another patient in the same room. One acquaintance leads to another. Soon, a ministry of encouragement and evangelism unfolds.

Other times, a small gift or pleasant greeting starts a conversation that develops into a friendly contact with future visits. Almost without exception, hospital patients appreciate true kindness thoughtfully expressed. Some Christians also have a fruitful ministry of follow-up visits when the patient returns home.

Visiting the sick, especially those patients who have no visitors, can be truly rewarding when spiritual assistance is given to the soul of the ailing one. Hospital evangelism does present abundant opportunities to reach souls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No training is really necessary to visit someone who is sick, just a passion to share the powerful love of Christ — the love that once was shared to you! “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

Never wait for the lost soul to approach you and ask about the way to salvation. He or she seldom comes. The method of our Lord Jesus was to seek the lost. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). All around us are opportunities to witness about “new life” in Christ, if the believer will allow the Holy Spirit to assist him in sharing that marvelous message. People should be given a choice. Pray that all of the SMS missionaries will present the Gospel to anyone who is willing to listen to the “Good News.”