Admission, questions, unfamiliar surroundings, revealing hospital attire, different bed, poked, monitored. So much happening, then waiting, alone. The care is thoughtful, but concerns arise expressed to staff and family. Their common reply is intended to calm: “Everything will be alright.”
When the vicissitudes of life happen, individuals often feel vulnerable and in less control of their lives. The curse of sin interrupts daily living by the unexpected Cs of catastrophe, changes, body chemistry, circumstances, and crime. Christians are not immune to troubles, tragedies, and trauma. Though Christ defeated the devil at Calvary, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, Satan vents his wrath on humanity, especially those who are disciples of Jesus.
Each year approximately sixty million people die. Millions more suffer from accidents, conflicts, and various diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of August 4, 2024, death was caused by illnesses associated with the heart, COVID-19, stroke, pulmonary/respiratory, cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, diabetes, kidney, and tuberculosis (listed in descending order).
So you are a church leader and learn of a member or neighbor who has been hurt or is suffering illness. The pastor is unavailable, and a visit has been requested. What should you do? How should the visit be made either at the person’s home or in the hospital? Ideally, a face-to-face visit by an elder, deacon, or deaconess of the church represents a caring church. When one member hurts, all are affected. Make the requested visit a priority as soon as possible after obtaining important information. (Note: the suffering individual has requested a visit, presumably for spiritual care and well-being. Do not self-deploy on a hunch that a visit is desired.)
Obviously, you need to know the full name of the requestor: family names, presence, and if they are aware of the situation; location of the requestor, and their present known condition. Is the member suffering an immediate life-threatening injury or illness? Once determined a visit is essential, prepare for the visit by seeking divine guidance that your presence and words will be helpful and appropriate.
Wear Sabbath attire for church. Take identification like a driver’s license, and if you have it, some proof that you are a valid church leader. Conferences or your church should issue some kind of card verifying your membership and church position. Carry a small Bible with texts marked that might be helpful to the parishioner. Then drive with caution (no speeding) and travel safely to the location.
Some hospitals have security measures that require screening. Most will have an information desk to help you locate the parishioner’s room, often some distance inside the hallways and possibly on a higher floor. Do not assume you can just barge in and head directly to the parishioner. Be courteous and respectful of the hospital’s rules for visitors, their hours of visitation, and who and what can be brought inside. Don’t come with a delegation of church members.
Ideally, after becoming a church leader, you would have exercised some initiative and made prior contact with the hospital to become acquainted with its policies. Meet with any hospital chaplain(s) on a prior courtesy visit. They are part of the medical staff; you are not. You are a visitor contacting a parishioner who has requested a visit from a church leader. Be informed of your country’s laws regarding privacy. In the USA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA] is a federal law that, among other matters, “protects the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information.” Violation incurs consequences. As a lay elder, you do not have clergy status, but should practice the same principles of confidentiality of privileged information for ethical reasons. The state can require clergy to disclose certain communications (e.g., child abuse). In a court of law, you could be demanded to share privileged information and subject to “contempt of court” charges if you refused.
When you reach the ward where the parishioner is located, check in at the nurse’s station, introduce yourself as a representative of the church, and ask if the parishioner is present and available for a visit. The patient may be absent, taken to another part of the hospital for lab work, X-rays, etc.
If so, wait patiently in the waiting room. If family or friends preceded you, introduce yourself and visit with them. Ask the nurses at the station about any protocols you should follow. For example, the hospital may require you to use a hand sanitizer before entering the patient’s room and after exiting the room. You might be asked to wear a mask or gown-up in protective clothing. You may be advised to keep the visit brief. Some medical procedures or treatments might be in progress and should not be interrupted. Even in dire emergency room situations of life and death, stay aside from the activity. You can still pray for the medical team and the patient.
The parishioner is now in their room, rarely private, more often occupied by two to six or more other patients. Knock on the door and ask if a visitor can enter. The parishioner could be eating, using the restroom, or sleeping. Treat the room as their temporary house. Introduce yourself to the occupants and move to the bedside of the parishioner. Unless a hand is extended to you to shake, don’t initiate or sit on the edge of the bed. Stand near the head of the individual so they can see you without turning their head. Don’t be surprised at medical monitors, breathing assistance, and intravenous fluid (IV) bags.
If the patient is of the opposite sex and in a private room, it is advisable, though not always necessary, to take your spouse or another person of the same sex as the patient with you for the visit. Use discretion and take steps to avoid any awkward situations.
The purpose of your visit is to listen to their concerns and needs, rather than pry into the details of their personal medical condition. They will tell you what you need to know.
The purpose of your visit is to listen to their concerns and needs, rather than pry into the details of their personal medical condition. They will tell you what you need to know. Often, most patients are reluctant to openly share too much personal information about their spiritual issues. In fact, during my years as a chaplain most patients prefer visits by the hospital chaplain over a visit from their church pastor. When asked if their pastor is aware of their hospital stay, and/ or if they wish for me to contact the pastor, most decline and say, “They’re too busy right now, and probably will come by later.” Do not fall into the game of playing doctor and offering or questioning a physician’s diagnosis. The patient will tell you what they trust you to know. Your presence should give assurance of God’s presence, love, care, and healing through the experience and skills of the medical care team. You did not come to judge or offer false hope. Your words should inspire faith, communicate caring and represent the interests of the church. Acknowledge family members in the room and thank them for their care and support. You might inquire if special needs exist that the church could assist meeting, such as lawn care, transportation, etc. Keep the visit short, under thirty minutes.
Your words should inspire faith, communicate caring and represent the interests of the church. Acknowledge family members in the room and thank them for their care and support.
Sharing a passage or two from Scripture such as Psalm 103 or other appropriate texts is generally appreciated by parishioners. Don’t assume prayer is desired. Ask if you can pray with them. It is helpful to also ask if there is anything specific, they would like mentioned in your prayer. Include any family or friends in the prayer and it is thoughtful to also generally include the other patients in the room. After praying, it is proper to bid farewell and depart promptly. If possible, leave contact information and a printed Scripture verse or uplifting piece of literature.
During your visit, a monitor might signal and have one of the nurses enter. Normally, they will check to ensure everything is functioning correctly and the patient is not in distress. Pause and let them do what needs to be done. If a medical procedure is necessary, offer to step out and wait until you are invited back into the room.
Occasionally, the subject of anointing surfaces. Anointing is Scriptural (Jas 5:13–15). As sometimes practiced, anointing is not the Adventist equivalent of “last rites.” Wise counsel is given in inspired writings for when it is appropriate and ways to administer.1
The visit is not complete without reporting to the pastor about the visit, so they are aware of any follow-up and future needs. Then, if the recovery is prolonged, periodic follow-up visits with the parishioner are important. With the parishioner’s permission, inform the church of minimal general info about the status, progress or ways they can help, and if cards or visits are acceptable. You will leave most visits greatly blessed in following the example of Jesus in this ministry of compassion (Matt 9:35–36).
1 See the following for helpful guidance: Ellen G. White, Pastoral Ministry (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Ministerial Association, 1995), 232–234; General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Association, Seventh-day Adventist Minister’s Handbook (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Association, 2009), 189–192; and General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Association, Seventh-day Adventist Elder’s Handbook (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Association, 2016), 148–151.
Gary R. Councell is a retired teacher, pastor, chaplain, and departmental director. Immediately prior to his retirement he was the director of the Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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