So, he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
– Luke Chapter 7, verse 22
MBF’s medical ministry partners are all Christian organizations that were founded with an express mission of integrating faith in their hospitals, clinics and schools. An important and prevailing cultural view among our partners is that caring for patients must be holistic and address both body and soul.
The challenge is how to maintain this mission focus in the 21st century as medical ministries grow and evolve. In response to our partners’ needs, MBF is helping develop an operational Spiritual Ministry Model. The premise of the Model is that every team member – not only hospital Chaplains – should have an active and appropriate holistic ministry with patients and families.
There is truly Good News for the soul and everyone who knows this cure is called upon to share it.
Kikuyu Mission Hospital, owned by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa is the oldest mission hospital in Kenya and is also MBF’s partner in piloting the integrated Spiritual Ministry Model.
The hospital’s leadership team has assessed the patient journey from the time the patient walks through the door and identified opportunities and gaps in the spiritual nurturing of the patients and their families. A baseline survey of the staff and their needs has also yielded valuable insights and produced a plan of action.
In addition to Spiritual Ministry training already provided to many of the staff, other changes include new prayer services, the reinvigoration of a hospital choir, and a commitment from the Hospital’s Board to make the spiritual aspects of the Hospital’s ministry a fundamental strategic component of plans going forward.
MBF is continuing collaboration at Kikuyu to address remaining gaps and develop repeatable processes around Spiritual Ministry integration to share with other ministry partners in 2022.
Technical committee at Kikuyu Mission Hospital meets with MBF to discuss Spiritual Ministry plans and initiatives.
Hospital Administrator explains Spiritual Ministry vision to the staff at Kikuyu Mission Hospital, Kenya.
Flyer invites community and staff to a revival meeting outside the gates of Kikuyu Mission Hospital. Afterwards they had a prayer service in the Chapel.
One part of the integrated Spiritual Ministry program is equipping hospital, clinic and nursing school professionals to share the Gospel of Christ and show His love for others as they go about their daily work.
Since inception, MBF has sponsored Spiritual Ministry training for over 200 partner staff members. The training provides practical tools to help Christian health care professionals share their faith with patients with permission, sensitivity, and respect. Discussions, demonstrations and role play all help participants be able to share the light and love of Christ in culturally appropriate ways as they work.
