The Ministry of Presence: The Nuts and Bolts of Hospital and Home Visitation
One of the unexpected blessings of being raised by a blue-collar father in rural Carroll County, Maryland, was the joy of being taught and not just told. My father never pointed to a task and asked for it to be accomplished. Instead, he always took the time to teach and train so I could be successful.
For instance, when I passed my driver’s test and wanted to use the family car, Dad wouldn’t let me drive alone until I could change a tire. That weekend, we both got greasy hands as he showed me everything critical about lug nuts, jack stands, and spare tires.
If you are planning to visit someone in Jesus’ name, it is just as important that you understand the basics of successful visitation. This isn’t just another errand to the grocery store or coffee shop. You are following in the footsteps of Jesus as an agent of God’s love and a spokesperson for His salvation.
Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus bringing His ministry of presence to the lives of ordinary people, whether it was a touch of healing for the hurting or a word of encouragement for the broken-hearted. Since Jesus was such a sincere care-giver, this is why it is so critical that you understand the nuts and bolts of hospital and home visitation.
Five Simple Strategies for Successful Hospital Visits
(1) Don’t stay too long. A hospital visit should only last about ten to fifteen minutes. Remember that the person you are visiting is sick, injured, or recovering from surgery. You are there to bring a brief but meaningful spiritual encouragement to the person’s heart while they are recovering. People in the hospital are generally weary, sleep-deprived, and often embarrassed about their physical appearance. In addition, they may also be struggling with intense physical pain, nausea, or some other serious discomfort.
(2) Take your wife if you wish, but do not take young children. God has naturally hard-wired women to express care and empathy. As a result, your wife can be a positive asset on a hospital visit. However, young children are often energetic, noisy, and prone to impatience. Unless you are visiting a sick child, teenager, or adult teacher who knows your child personally, I do not normally recommend including your children on a hospital visit.
(3) Bring something from the church to share. It doesn’t take long for a sick or hospitalized person to feel disconnected from church, especially if an illness or surgery keeps the individual away for an extended time. Bringing something tangible from the church can give the sick person encouragement that the church family is missing them and praying for them. Good options could include a church bulletin, sermon notes, Our Daily Bread (or other small devotional), or a card that has been signed by a pastor, Sunday School class, small group, or deacon board.
(4) Don’t tell jokes or try to be funny. When people get nervous or uncomfortable, sometimes they will use jokes as a relief mechanism. But a hospital visit isn’t the time for stand-up comedy. While you hope to bring a smile to the person in the hospital bed, remember that you represent Christ. Read a few verses of an encouraging Scripture, and then offer a short, genuine prayer that offers hope. Pray for healing and comfort, and for God’s wisdom to be poured out on the doctors and staff. Keep the focus on Jesus, not your favorite jokes or one-liners.
(5) Don’t make any comments or judgments about a person’s diagnosis, treatments, or recovery time. While it is appropriate to ask a general question about an individual’s recent surgery or medical issue, do not pry too deeply into the person’s medical matters. They may not wish to expound on a physical ailment they find embarrassing. Most importantly, resist the urge to give your opinion about their physical condition or treatment. You are not a doctor, and you do not want to give someone incorrect ideas about their condition or a false hope of their recovery. Stick with Scripture and prayer and leave the medical concerns to the professionals.
Five Practical Tips for Effective In-Home Visits
While hospital visits are generally shorter in length because of the individual’s medical needs, in-home visits with shut-ins or seniors are generally longer, from 30 to 60 minutes in length. But these visits still require a dose of discernment. While you do not want to stay too long and wear out your welcome, you also do not want to rush through the visit and leave the person with hurt feelings. Regarding in-home visits, these five practical tips can be helpful:
(1) Ring the doorbell—or knock loudly enough to be heard. Many senior citizens are hearing-impaired and do not always wear their hearing aids when they are home alone. When you arrive, ring the doorbell or knock loudly enough on the front door to announce your arrival. When the door opens, greet the individual with a warm smile and a friendly wave. If this is your first time in the home, extend a friendly handshake and introduce yourself with a warm greeting.
(2) Graciously accept whatever food or drink you are offered. If the man or woman you are visiting offers you a coffee, tea, or slice of cake, graciously accept their offer. Your visit may be one of the few times that this Christian has the chance to show hospitality to another person from their heart. Even if it takes them additional time to prepare the coffee or deliver the cake to the table, be willing to be served and express your heartfelt thanks.
(3) Ask open-ended questions and allow the individual to talk. Good conversations happen when people ask open-ended questions. As you engage with this individual, ask questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Invite them to tell you about their apartment, townhouse, or home. Ask them about their upbringing, education, married life, family, grandchildren, or Christian testimony. Great conversations thrive with the 70/30 rule, where you let that other person speak 70% of the time, while you reply and contribute 30%. This allows the person to feel heard and appreciated.
(4) Share some encouraging updates or recent news about the church. All Christians want to feel that they are connected to their local church. This is especially true for home-bound individuals who can often feel overlooked or forgotten. During your visit, share some encouraging updates or current news about the church. Did an exciting building project just begin? Were there baptisms? Did the pastor begin a new message series? If this individual continues to make financial contributions to the church, you can thank them for their partnership in gospel ministry and encourage them to keep praying and giving.
(5) If necessary, share the gospel. Even though this in-home visit was initiated through the church, you may discover that the person you’re speaking with is not a genuine believer. Perhaps this person is the father, mother, grandparent, or friend of a Christian at your church, and they do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ. If so, God is now giving you a wonderful opportunity to share the good news of the gospel message. You can use a simple verse like John 3:16 to share Jesus and then explain how sinners are invited to confess, repent, and believe. If you came prepared, leave a tract with the person and invite them to read it, digest it, and take their step of faith. What you anticipated as a friendly visit could turn into a life-transforming moment that impacts eternity.
Benevolence Considerations
As a result of a hospital or in-home visit, you may discover that the individual sitting before you has a serious financial challenge or pressing physical need. This person may not have sufficient funds to pay for an urgent prescription or a medical test just completed. Your church may have a “Benevolence Fund” or other resources to help individuals or families in times of crisis or need. If so, ask the individual for permission to share the need discreetly with the pastor(s), deacons, or benevolence team. Be careful not to make any open-ended promises, because your church may have stipulations or prerequisites regarding financial distributions. But if the person has a pressing need that is weighing heavily on their heart and mind, you will want to acknowledge it and try to address it with Christ-like compassion.
Prepare for the Moment
Not long ago, I was driving toward Lancaster when I saw a disabled vehicle on the shoulder with hazard lights flashing. As I slowed down to assess the situation, I saw a teenage boy standing in the grass next to a sedan with a flat rear tire. Cell phone in hand, his face showed frustration as he was forced to call roadside assistance. As the traffic crawled past, I couldn’t help but be thankful for the training my father invested in me. I’ve had my fair share of flat tires, but the lessons learned in the driveway have never left me stranded.
Every driver knows that flat tires are an inescapable part of travel, just like every church leader knows that home and hospital visits are an inescapable part of serving people. Get your hands on these insights, and the next time a visit is required, you’ll know exactly what to do.
Ryan Day
Dr. Ryan Day, a native of Westminster, Maryland, is the Lead Pastor at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He has served in pastoral ministry for the past twenty-five years, and is passionate to help people understand the Bible and apply it to everyday life. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Baptist Bible Seminary in 2024. Pastor Day is married to Heather and they have five handsome sons and one beautiful daughter.
