Category: All Faiths

Why a Chaplain’s Presence Matters

by Chaplain Joshua, posted in Chaplaincy, All Faiths

The Ministry of Presence:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

There is a quiet kind of ministry that rarely makes headlines and often goes unnoticed by everyone except the person who needs it most. It’s the ministry of presence, showing up, staying near, and bearing witness to another person’s story with compassion and steadiness.

For chaplains, presence is not merely a technique. It is the heart of the vocation.

Presence says, “you are not alone.”  Most people don’t remember the exact words a chaplain says. But they remember that someone was with them.

Presence disrupts isolation. It offers grounding when life becomes disorienting, whether at a hospital bed, a workplace, a fire station, a kitchen table, or a late-night phone call.

In a world that glorifies productivity and speed, presence gives something rare: unhurried attention.

This presence makes space for God.  A chaplain does not bring God into a room; God is already there. However, presence helps people notice God in the midst of their fear, grief, or confusion.

This is called the hiddenness of God; God at work beneath the surface of ordinary encounters.  I  believe that every Christian, in everyday life, could be a bearer of God’s comfort simply by living faithfully, humbly, and attentively.

A chaplain’s presence creates the conditions where the sacred becomes visible.

It is this presence that slowly builds trust.  Trust doesn’t come from impressive credentials or perfect answers.  It grows from consistency.

People open up when they know:

  • You are not rushing them
  • You are not judging them
  • You are not trying to fix them
  • You are not pushing an agenda

Presence communicates safety.  When people feel safe, they can speak truthfully about their doubts, their faith, their guilt, their hopes and in that honesty, healing begins.

This presence honors the dignity of every person.  Chaplains meet people in vulnerable moments—when defenses are low and emotions run raw. Presence honors humanity without demanding anything in return.

It says:

“Your story matters.
Your pain is real.
Your life has worth.”

This is holy ground.

Presence eliminates the need for the perfect words.  Many chaplains worry about what to say. But often the most faithful thing is to say very little.

A hand on a shoulder. A quiet prayer.  A gentle question.  A shared moment of silence.

Kierkegaard reminds us that “purity of heart is to will one thing.”  In chaplaincy, that one thing is love and love expressed through attention, listening, and presence.

Christ’s ministry was deeply relational. He walked beside people, shared meals, entered homes, and lingered long enough to see people as they truly were.

Chaplains follow this pattern, not as saviors, but as companions.

Showing up is the most powerful way to make compassion real. It brings a sense of calm to someone’s hardest moments

A chaplain’s presence does not solve every problem. But it changes the atmosphere of suffering. It helps people breathe again.  It gives strength for the next step.

Presence is ministry.
Presence is compassion.
Presence is hope made tangible.

And sometimes the most sacred work a chaplain can do is simply to show up and stay.

What If the Church Looked More Like Jesus?

by Chaplain Joshua, posted in Churches, Christianity, Bible, Chaplaincy, Scriptures, Peace, All Faiths

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36

What if the church looked more like Jesus?
Not like a brand, a building, or a belief system, but like the living Christ who walked among the broken, the doubting, and the outcast.

When Jesus saw people hurting, He didn’t lecture them. He didn’t ask for credentials or moral records. He was moved with compassion. That’s the word the Gospels use over and over-compassion. Not fear, not suspicion, not superiority and not judging.

Somewhere along the way, the church began to lose that center. We became gatekeepers of grace instead of its messengers. We drew up statements of who’s welcome, who’s not, who’s “biblical” enough, who’s “repentant” enough—forgetting that none of us came to the table by merit.  There is no unforgivable sin.  

If the church truly looked like Jesus, it would not be known for who it excludes but for who it embraces. It would welcome the ones religion has turned away: the LGBTQ believer longing to belong, the divorced parent trying to rebuild, the doubter who still shows up to pray.

Jesus did not come to start a club for the clean. He came to build a home for the broken.

And that home still stands open.

When the church begins to look like Jesus again; when it chooses compassion over correctness, presence over pride, and grace over gatekeeping, it will rediscover its power. The world doesn’t need a louder church; it needs a kinder one. A church that sees people the way Jesus saw them: harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

To look like Jesus means to love without exception. To heal instead of divide. To feed the hungry, clothe the lonely, and lift the ones who’ve been told they don’t belong.

That’s not compromise; it’s the Gospel.

Prayer

Lord, help us to look like You.
Let our hearts be moved with compassion where there is judgment,
mercy where there is fear,
and welcome where there has been exclusion.
Make Your church a reflection of Your love. Amen.

How Chaplains Help People

by Chaplain Joshua, posted in Spiritual, Chaplaincy, All Faiths

People of All Faiths (and No Faith)

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
 — 1 John 3:18

One of the most misunderstood parts of chaplaincy is the idea that a chaplain serves only people who share their faith. In reality, a chaplain’s calling is broader and deeper — to meet every person where they are, no matter their belief, background, or doubt.

Chaplains are not gatekeepers of religion; we are companions of the soul.
Our ministry is one of presence, compassion, and care which is freely offered to anyone who is hurting, searching, or simply human.

Meeting People Where They Are

In hospitals, workplaces, homes, schools, and communities, chaplains walk beside people from every walk of life.
We pray with those who believe and sit in silence with those who do not. We listen to stories of faith, fear, and grief without judgment or agenda.

A chaplain’s question is never, “What do you believe?”
It is always, “How are you doing — really?”

That question opens a sacred space. It says, “Your story matters. You matter. I am here for you. You are not alone. 

Love Without Barriers

Jesus often met people who stood outside the walls of religion:  the sick, the doubting, the outcast and He loved them first.
That is the model of chaplaincy: love without condition, care without boundaries, hope without any prerequisites.

The presence of love often speaks louder than the language of doctrine.

Reflection

Is there someone in your life who sees the world differently than you?

What would it look like to simply listen; not to persuade, but to understand?
That, too, is a form of ministry.

When we love without labels, we reflect the heart of God, who is the One who meets us all in grace.I serve people from all walks of life — believers, seekers, and skeptics alike.


My mission is simple: to offer spiritual care through compassion, presence, and understanding. To me, every story is sacred.