The Ministry of Presence

It all began in the prayer room. I was excited to see what God had in store for our service, as I paced back and forth praying aloud. Suddenly, my pastor approached me with an unusual request that quickly diminished my enthusiasm. “A precious saint in our church is at the hospital with her brother, and the family is having to make a difficult choice regarding life support soon. I can’t be there because church is starting, and I have no one to cover for me.” Then came the question, “Will you go comfort the family?” My heart sank in my chest. I felt severely unqualified. I wanted to help but didn’t think I could. “What do I say?” I stuttered. “You don’t have to say anything. You just be there for them,” was his answer.

As their loved one slowly drifted away, I stood in the corner of the room praying softly. I assumed I failed them due to my inexperience and timidity until the family began hugging my neck, shaking my hand, and thanking me for being there. It was then that I realized that I had done exactly what they needed. I was there. When others are struggling to cope with hurt or loss words can seem so hollow. We wrestle to conjure up the right thing to say. I learned that day that when there are no words, our presence alone can speak volumes. There is comfort, strength, and love in our presence.

I recently had dinner with a pastor who explained his lengthy bout and near-death experience with Covid-19. After weeks in the hospital, he returned home to simply, “hope for the best.” His severe condition incapacitated him to the point that he could no longer turn himself over in bed without assistance. When he needed to get around, he was restricted to a wheelchair. Morale was fading fast as his conditioned worsened. He barely had the strength to breathe, much less pray. All was dark and grim, and the cloak of depression had long covered his mind.

One evening, he sat staring out of the living room window at the street he had seen a thousand times. Suddenly, an entire fleet of vehicles one by one slowly pass by honking as passengers enthusiastically waved and hollered. His precious church family nearly circled the entire block with a parade dedicated to him. They passed his home not once, but twice. It was at that moment that the love of God began to flow into his home like a roaring wave. Instantly, strength that had been long gone miraculously returned to his body. He lifted his voice and began to pray, and in a few short minutes, he was speaking in tongues for the first time in two months as tears ran down his face. He noted that was the night his healing began. He did not hear their voices, but he felt their presence. Their effort to be there for him overwhelmed him with love, strength, and comfort. There is power in our presence.

In Mark 4:35, Jesus told his disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” He gave them no explanation, just direction. We discover the purpose of their voyage by reading the next chapter. On the other side, there was a poor soul being tortured from the inside out by a legion of demons. Mark 5:5 tells us that he dwelt among the tombs away from society and was crying and cutting himself always. Jesus heard his hopeless cry, and was compelled to go through a great storm (inconvenience) for the need of someone else.

Psalm 34:18 tells us that “the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him” (Mark 5:6). Even a host of demons could not keep this man from the presence of the one who came to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised (Lk 4:18). This prophecy was ultimately fulfilled because the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory (Jn 1:14). Jesus knew a letter, or a strange messenger would not suffice. The man was healed when he got in the presence of Jesus. There are times when a phone call or a sincere letter is our only option, however, let us never neglect the ministry of presence.

Paul says, “Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Cor. 12:27). We must never allow a text message or prayer emoji to replace our presence. After all, the half-dead man clinging to life on Jericho Road did not need the acknowledgement of the lofty priest and Levite. He needed the presence of the compassionate Samaritan.

The Pandemic has hindered our ability to gather as the body of Christ. Unfortunately, it has not hindered the attacks of Satan. Our separation has only amplified them. Perhaps, that is why we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves, but to exhort one another (Heb 10:25). We are stronger when we are together.

It is worth noting that the Holy Ghost is also called a Comforter (Jn 14:16). When the faithful were filled with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, they experienced the presence of the Almighty God living in them. Their bodies became the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor 6:19). When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, His presence abides in us! There is great comfort in the final words of Jesus to his disciples according to Mathew’s Gospel: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mat. 28:20). The ministry of Presence.