The Ministry of Presence

In my pastoral training I came across a phrase that sums up what ministers and other caregivers do – the ministry of presence.

What does this mean? It is more than merely showing up. In the Bible story of Job, his three friends show up and sit with him.

However, when they began speaking, it became a prolonged argument. No caregiver ever wants to get into an argument with someone in grief.

As a chaplain, the ministry of presence is showing up to represent God and His love for the bereaved. Often such an intentional visit involves little or no words.

When a little girl asked to go next door to comfort her elderly neighbor who had just lost her husband, Mom wondered what in the world her little girl could ever do.

She let her go, and in about an hour her daughter returned. “Did you help Mrs. Johnson?” Mom asked. “Yes, I sure did,” the little girl replied.

“What did you say to her that helped her so much?” The girl answered, “Oh, I didn’t say anything. I just sat and cried with her.”

Nothing takes the place of being there. That is the ministry of presence.