Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association

Two HCMA Chaplains were recently interviewed for an article in US News & World Report.

How can a chaplain have an impact on the lives of those they visit with? Here is one story of how a family was changed because one of our chaplains took time to pray with them: "Recently I was very encouraged to learn of a situation that I encountered over 22 years ago and the fruit that came from it. A small baby was brought into our E.R. with seizures. The diagnosis was a brain tumor. I met the parents who were very distraught and, in my effort to comfort them, I asked if I... could pray for them and their precious little one. They allowed me to do so. What I didn’t know at the time was that the wife said to her husband, Ok, let her do her thing and then she will probably leave us alone. After that time, they were dealing with the crisis with their baby, their marriage was in bad shape, the father lost his job, and they came close to losing their home. Nothing in their lives was stable. A friend of the wife kept asking her to go to church. Two years later she finally gave in. The Word was taught and she, in desperation, reached out to Jesus and accepted Him. The next ten years were difficult with all the problems, but the Lord strengthened and comforted her with His hope as she continued to pray for her husband to come to know that hope that she has in Jesus. He was very resistant but, in the end, he too finally gave his heart to the Lord. Their marriage is strong, and their faith is also strong. Their son is now over 22 years old and his only deficit is that he is blind. He has a strong determination to really be successful in whatever he does. The way I learned about this story was through the husband’s mother being very ill in the hospital and they were all gathered around her bed when I met them. What a blessing. She too had come to know Jesus! It was wonderful. They said, It all started in the E.R. when you planted the seed of His love and comfort and we will never forget it! " See more

The patient was suffering so intensely he said the wrinkles in the sheets hurt him. The chaplain listened to him share his story of misery, then, with patient’s permission, shared a word of encouragement from Psalm 34:18, and then offered to pray with him. The patient asked, Will you hold my hand while we pray? The chaplain held out his hand to the patient. The patient flinched from the pain as he grabbed hold of the hand. He explained that he sorely needed the comfort that... comes from touch since no one had touched him in a while due to the pain it caused him. Tears rolled down his eyesboth from the physical pain and from the spiritual care for his soul. As the chaplain said goodbye, the patient said, Thank you for coming and being with me. I didn’t think I could make it through the day. Now I know I can. HCMA chaplains come alongside those who are suffering and make a difference in their lives through healing touch and God’s comforting Word.