Ministering by iPhone

As an employee of Adventist Health, I find myself with opportunities to not only heal people physically but minister to them spiritually.

I don't mean ministering as in holding a Bible and preaching, but taking the time to reach out to someone outside the realm of health care, to simply be there for them in a time of need and minister the way Christ is famous for...just taking opportunities to spend time with people and free them from their fears.

One of these opportunities happened when a developmentally challenged patient was about to have a surgical procedure. She was scared. Her parents couldn't be there at the time of her surgery, which didn't help. You could tell she just felt alone and terrified.

To calm her down, we talked to her about movies and music...just to get her mind off of things. While telling us about her favorite music and movies, she mentioned she loved the popular singer Justin Bieber.

I walked to my locker to grab my iPhone so she could listen to her favorite music on the way to the Operating Room.

When I brought it to her, immediately I could tell she was put at ease. She smiled and forgot about her fear, forgot her parents couldn't be there and was just... happy. She even sang to herself all the way to the Operating Room.

To me, getting the music was such a small gesture, but it really meant the world to her. It's the small things we do for people that make the biggest difference.

Cassie Martin, RN, Surgical Services

Adventist Medical Center - Hanford