"Hospice: A Special Kind of Caring”
By the Rev. Dr. Rodney Otis Callahan, Chaplain
A pastor asked his congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” All but one deacon raised his hand. The pastor said, “Brother, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He replied, “Yes, pastor.” He added, “I didn’t raise my hand because I thought you were getting up a group to go today!”
Death is a certainty of life (Ecclesiastes 3:2) that people are sometimes not comfortable facing. However, as a chaplain with hospice for fifteen (15) years, I have had the opportunity to care for patients and their families as they deal with their mortality.
At Hospice of Central Georgia we take an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to caring for our terminal patients and their families. Our chaplains, nurses, social workers, hospice aids, and volunteers give spiritual, medical, social, and emotional support. These services are given under the supervision of our medical director, a physician.
The following is an account of my ministry to Bill Turner (not his real name):
Bill was a 76-year-old Caucasian male whose physician told him that he had a terminal illness. He suggested that Bill and his family call in hospice.
During my first visit with him I learned that he had been baptized as a teenager and had joined a local church. Bill shared that he had done many regrettable things and was a “backslider.” He said that he felt very ashamed for the things he had done.
The Lord ministered through me to him. I shared with him Isaiah 1:18. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Bill wanted to rededicate his life to the Lord. We prayed Romans 10:9 together. I asked him if he had assurance of his salvation. He said, “No.” The Lord impressed me to pray that the spirit of doubt leave! This time, he had a smile on his face and peace in his heart. He said, “I am sure now!”
On my next visit Bill gave me permission to share his story. He died six months from the date his physician gave him his prognosis (6 months).
His death was sad, but I was glad that he was in a “group” that went to heaven that day. Bill and I will have a glorious reunion in heaven one day!
[Editor's comment: Rodney Callahan is an ordained minister of the Georgia Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in good standing.]
Posted on
Sat, August 13, 2011
by Hugh Morgan