Page 57 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

because, when they visit the sick, usually words like “Mwachuleni” are used to the sick and they remain thinking
about nothing but being in a state of suffering.

Other people may think about this as an ordained time by God to allow families to bid farewell with each other.

A, Therefore, I would encourage all visitors to be very careful with the quality of words used; it is also medically
proven that human ear is very sensitive part of the body and becomes the last part to stop functioning when a
person dies.

B. The other area that needs to be given attention when visiting the sick is one’s physical expression using
hands. This is a situation where one would place his/her palm near the chin; culturally this may send different
messages depending on the understanding of that person’s cultural interpretation of such gestures.

C. The other thing to be considered by visitors is that they should try to withhold their tears because of the
strong emotions it creates. Visitors need to exercise a lot of discernment to know God’s will at that time and
wisdom to help apply appropriate knowledge when approaching the sick person.

D. Many times, believers become over-zealous and excited. Visitors should be extra careful to avoid empty
promises to the sick. Sometimes God may send you to visit the sick not because He wants to heal the person
through you but simply to be used by God in preparing the sick for a smooth transition from this life to another.

I remember one day I was called to visit the sick person who was a very committed member of our church and
had just come to faith in Jesus Christ. While I was standing at his bedside with his wife, he asked, “Pastor with
the way he was feeling whether he was going to come out of that sickness or simply being healed? I took time to
answer, but the Lord gave me the words of Paul from Romans 14:8 and I quote “If we live, it’s to honor the
Lord”.
And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” During that time, the
Lord revealed to me that his immediate need was fear to face the realities of death, and after sharing the Word
of God with the patient and we prayed while holding hands together, I could see that his facial expression
changed.

When I left before I could even reach home, I got a call from his wife who was at the hospital bed with her
husband and within my heart I was not moved or shaken when I heard that her husband had passed on to be
with the Lord. Then immediately I realized that God’s mission on my life was to simply prepare that member for
safe passage to be home with his heavenly Father.

During a visit to a hospital, you may be called to preach a sermon in the ward. It’s advisable to seek the
attention of the health personnel managing each ward. We must realize that health challenges differ from
patient to patient; some of them may not be in the position to entertain loud noise, while others because of
their conditions may not be capable of hearing a sermon. In many incidences’, medical personnel may be
comfortable to allow for sharing of the Word of God to be done at each bed-side with the consent of the
patient.

When it comes to dealing with the sick; everything that must be done has to do with the willingness or consent
of the patient.

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