"Are you the pastor that we asked the nurse to call to come and visit?" This often happens as the pastors of South Delta visit care homes, the hospital and the hospice. Many times we have been called to visit another, but whenever possible, we meet with whomever asks, whether Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jew or Christian. We are here to serve and to "draw near" to those in need.
At times we can refer the person or family to other caregivers and spiritual leaders who will continue the caring, and many times we maintain the contact. It has no bearing whatsoever whether the person is a member of our church. We are simply available to respond to need, with the resources made available to us in Jesus Christ, The Good Shepherd.
Jesus "makes his rounds" and we are simply in attendance, listening, making contact, praying, anointing, sharing bread and wine, baptizing, blessing, reconciling. It is an amazing part of our ministry and a great privilege - that people open the doors of their lives and of their families, and invite us in.
This happens with lay people all the time too and others who are "on call," volunteering their professional services to the hospital, but sometimes we are a little more obvious, especially those who wear clerical collars.
We are thankful for the communities of faith who support us so we can be a resource to the wider community and to fill "gaps" in caring for the whole person.
