We were recently invited to accompany a pastor friend of ours and his family to visit the local hospital. This is such an important and often overlooked ministry. The hospital where we live is the nearest one within several hours of travel, and that’s if going by car. Many people here have to take the bus, which adds more hours to the travel time.
Once patients and their families arrive, the difficult process of seeking treatment, awaiting test results, and hoping for good news begins. We’ve often encountered people outside the hospital who are in need of money for food or bus fare in order to get back home. After all, when a family member needs urgent medical attention, you do everything you can to get them to a doctor, and worry about eating and paying for the return bus tickets later.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Matthew 25:35–36 (ESV)
We’ve found evangelizing at the hospital to be a unique experience. People there are in desperate need of some good news, and they aren’t in a big hurry to leave until they are given the all clear. So it’s a perfect opportunity to share the Gospel with them. During our last visit people were receptive and in fact appreciative that we’d remembered them. Everyone was on their feet praying with us in the waiting room, which was so gratifying to see.
Below is a video of some of the highlights.
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:37–40 (ESV)
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