Holistic — /həʊˈlɪstɪk,hɒˈlɪstɪk/
adjectivePHILOSOPHY
characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.MEDICINE
characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
Madame Agathe shares the Gospel with a patient in the maternity ward.
Holistic ministry is ministry that focuses on caring for a person by helping them with both their felt and spiritual needs. Some know they have at least one of the two, others deny or do not know they have either. At HBB, the medical staff knows the importance of hygiene, wound care, medications, operations, antibiotics, and so on and so forth. Patients are grateful to be taken care of by medical professionals when they are sick. However, their needs are not just limited to their bodies of flesh. Each patient has a soul with an eternal life ahead of it, yet many do not know what that eternal life is. That is why HBB is focused on caring for a patient’s spiritual maladies as well their physical ones.
2 chaplains shared about salvation in Jesus with this patient. First, she thought about it and second she stated she was saved. The chaplain noted, “to be continued”.
Each patient that is admitted to the hospital has a medical chart to one in any hospital. However, unique to the missions hospitals are spiritual charts. Like a medical chart, spiritual charts allow the chaplains to tailor their ministry in order to meet the specific needs of each patient. These are primarily referenced by the chaplains but are available to all medical professionals attending the patient. Throughout the duration of the stay each patient is intentionally visited by a chaplain who spends time discussing spiritual topics (e.g. Salvation, salvation in Christ alone, the Bible, prayer, etc.). Each chart notes what day a patient was spoken with, what topic was spoken about, what evangelistic material was used, the response of the patient, and the name of the chaplain who spoke with them.
HEAL TOGO.
REACH AFRICA.
GIVE TODAY.
-Story and photos by Hannah Strayer
ABWE, Togo South Team 