Darrell L. Bock is a Senior Research Professor in New Testament Studies and Executive Director of Culture Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas Texas and is the author of the theological journal “The Table Briefing: Ministering to Hospital Patients” (click to open) with assistance from Mike Del Rosario the cultural engagement assistance at the Dallas Seminary. Bock begins this journal with the passage of Scripture from Matthew 25:36-40, “Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying Lord, when saw we you hunger, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? Or saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (KJV).
Bock featured in a podcast “The Table” on the subject of “Patient Care: How to Minister to the Sick” (click to open) with guest chaplain Eva Bleeker and Stronghold Ministry director Joe Fornear who also is a cancer survivor. The conversation was a discussion on how Christians can prepare to minister to patients. Out of the conversation, both Bleeker and Fornear gave five suggestions on how pastors or anyone else to visit and minister to patients. “Be there for the patient.
First, realize how important it is to be physically present with the patient. Although it may seem daunting or awkward to enter a hospital context, merely doing so can be a tremendous encouragement for the person who is being visited. Presence is huge.
Second, let the patient lead. Some people worry about saying something at the wrong time, even if it’s something that is generally positive. Avoid the tendency to set the agenda, or inadvertently take the spotlight. Let the patient direct what happens.
Third, be a good listener. Rather than feeling pressured to give advice or ‘make it all better,’ come in with a listening ear and a heart of compassion.
Fourth, respect the patient’s pain. This means not saying something like, ‘I can really relate to you and what you are going through,’ if you haven’t experienced the same thing.
Fifth, be ready to give spiritual support. Be ready to pray and read the Bible. So, select a few appropriate passages just in case the opportunity to read arises, but be sure to ask the person you are visiting for permission.”[1]
In his journal writing Ernest Ruark pastor of Cypress Baptist Church, St. Paul Minnesota has attempted to answer questions that have come up over the past 27 ½ years of pastoring. Some of these questions are: “Whom do you visit? How often do you visit? How long do you visit? What do you say? I am especially happy for the privilege of sharing these convictions and experiences with men who are at the thresh-hold of their ministry, for I remember how pitifully inadequate my own training in visitation during my own Seminary days was back in the East.”[2]
Ruark gives five perspectives on hospital visitation. I will only touch on four of the five.
First, “The Divine Command for the Ministry of Visitation.” The scriptural references are Jeremiah 23:2, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; you have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold I will visit upon you evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” Matthew 25:23, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.” Acts 20:20-21, “And how I kept back nothing but was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith our Lord Jesus Christ”. Acts 15:36, “And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted.”[3]
Second, “The Diversity of the Ministry of Visitation” has six aspects of or types of visitations that pastors may encounter in their pastorship. “Evangelistic Visitation: This has the specific purpose of winning souls to Christ and bringing them into the fellowship with, and service through, the local church. Conservation Visitation: which is sometimes called follow-up visitation helping them through some rough spots in their early Christian experience and life. Third, Advisory Visitation: either because you have sensed a need, or at their request, you visit a home in regard to a particular situation in the family or the church. Fourth, Reclamation Visitation: this seeks to win back to fellowship and service those who have become indifferent and cold, even bitter, toward the pastor, the church, or the Lord: possibly all three. Fifth, Sick-room Visitation: this includes private homes, hospitals, nursing homes, or whatever a sick person may be found. Six, Heart-break Visitation: this concerns the newly bereaved; homes about to be broken by separation, divorce, or death; homes with problem-children and problem parents, homes were already broken; and such institutions as jails or mental hospitals”.[4]
Third, “The Difficulties of the Ministry of Visitation.” “Pastors are expected to be preachers, teachers, administrators, citizens, husbands, and fathers all at the same time. The draining effects of discouragement. How it saps our strength and quenches our enthusiasm!
Fourth, “Direct Questions Concerning the Ministry of Visitation.” Ruark gives several perspectives on some very pertinent and important questions about visitations. Do you think a pastor’s wife should always accompany him in visitations? There are situations in which a pastor should never call unless accompanied by his wife, or some older and respected woman of the church. Do you consider it a breach of ministerial ethics to call on members of another church who may be in the same hospital, ward, or room, with one of your members? No, I do not. A man of God ministering in a public place institution such as a hospital or jail should be ready and willing to meet the need of any soul. What do you talk about in the sick room? Naturally, there is no more important subject to the patient than the patient himself, or his family. How long do visit? This depends on the purpose of your visit. If you find the circumstances unsuitable for your visit, try to make an appointment for a future visit, and leave gracefully. In the sick room or hospital, it is better to visit a patient five minutes a day for ten days, than to visit 50 minutes for one day. Stay long enough for the patient to sense your real interest in him, but not long enough to be wearisome.”[5]
Emmanuel L. Williams writes that 38 million Americans are admitted into hospital each year, and with a number of patients being admitted annually pastor’s visitation is a very important aspect of their ministry. Williams gives a list of Dos and Don’ts of hospital visitation that will be helpful as well as providing a proper hospital visitation.
Dos
1) “Call the hospital prior to your visit to determine if the patient is well enough for a visit. Stop at the nursing station and introduce yourself.
2) Knock on the patient’s door and wait to be invited in, observe any signs on the door regarding infection control procedures, monitor the length of time of your visit, and watch for cues from the patient that might indicate you need to leave.
3) Shape the tone and substance of your conversation from sues, verbal and nonverbal offered by the patient.
4) Listen attentively and be empathetic, take notice of what is not said as much as what is said, let the patient know that he or she can talk about sensitive subjects.
5) Offer to leave the room if medical personnel enter to perform a procedure unless requested to stay.
6) Share Scripture and ask patients if they have special needs as you prepare to pray.
Don’ts
1) Don’t be insulted by a patient’s words and attitude or register shock at a patient’s appearance.
2) Don’t offer false optimism about a patient’s recovery or participate in criticism about the doctor, hospital, or treatment.
3) Don’t touch equipment even if requested by the patient or sit on the patient’s bed.
4) Don’t tell the patient unpleasant news including your troubles.
5) Don’t whisper when talking to relatives or medical staff in the patient’s room.
6) Don’t break hospital rules or violate confidentiality issues.
7) Don’t awaken a sleeping patient unless the nurse approves (leave your card)
8) Don’t help patients get out of bed or give food or drink without the nurse’s approval.
9) Don’t assume a comatose patient cannot hear.”[6]
Conclusion
In this research paper, I have gained a greater understanding of the importance of pastoral hospital visitations. The biblical historical perspective of caring for the sick, afflicted, and those that may be on their dying bed illustrates how critical the pastor’s role is for those in these situations. Having the correct understanding of the pastor’s role as well as the “what to do and what not to do” is a very pertinent and relevant aspect in pastoral ministry. Hospital visitations can be a life-changing experience for the patient and their families regarding the church, therefore the pastor’s visit to a member has a lasting effect on the life of the church.
[1] Bock L, Darrell. And Mike Del Rosario. (2014). “The Table Briefing: Ministering to Hospital Patients” Journal: Bibliotheca SACRA. Volume: BSCA 171:682 (Apr 2014): 226-230.
[2] Ruark, Ernest. (1962). “The Ministry Of Visitation” Journal: Central Bible Quarterly. Volume: CENQ 05:1 (Spring 1962) 33.
[3] Ibid., 33.
[4] Ibid., 33-34.
[5] Ibid., 37-39
[6] Williams L. Emmanuel, Effective Hospital Visitation” https://ag.org › AGORG › Beliefs › Resources › H..., 2-3.