At Jericho Road, we are committed to providing quality, holistic medical care for everyone, and especially for those who experience barriers to health. We affirm the dignity of all people. Within this context of life-affirming, compassionate healthcare, our team offers the resource of Spiritual Care to interested patients, clients and staff.
The goal of Spiritual Care, as all our work at Jericho Road, is to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve. Most patients arrive at Jericho Road clinics presenting physical concerns. Spiritual care is offered in this context because intentional spiritual practices have been demonstrated to help emotionally and spiritually, which can positively impact physical health. Attentive listening and prayer are frequent aspects of the care we offer. Truly feeling heard in itself can contribute to healing. As one author observes, “We need to express pain and help it find its voice in order to heal.” (Trevor Hudson).
As we carry out our mission at Jericho Road, our hope is to demonstrate the love of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ healing encounter with a woman who suffered from abnormal uterine bleeding. For twelve long years, her illness devastated her life in multiple ways. She suffered physically. Chronic pain, cramping, and hygiene concerns were daily battles. She suffered financially. The biblical account says she had spent all she had on medical care. She suffered spiritually. Because of her bleeding, she was considered “unclean,” and therefore could not enter any house of worship to pray. And she suffered emotionally – her “uncleanness” was considered contagious. As a result, she was socially isolated, perhaps even an outcast from her own family. Truly this woman knew suffering, injustice, and marginalization.
Yet, with one brave, hope-filled grasp of Jesus’ clothing, this woman immediately sensed that her body was healed. And in that miraculous moment, Jesus released her from financial peril. He renewed her sense of self as he blessed and honored her. And he restored her back to her family and faith community.
Likewise, care for the whole person and bone deep commitment to seek the wellbeing of those in the margins is in the lifeblood of Jericho Road. Over time, these commitments build trust. The trust built with medical providers, nursing staff, in-house interpreters, case managers, behavioral health therapists, and other teams, all helps to make our spiritual care team’s work possible.
It was because of Matt’s trust in Jericho’s team that I was able to have a spiritual care conversation with him (name changed). Matt faced numerous barriers to health and wellbeing. When he was a boy, his dad murdered his mom. In the aftermath, he and his sister experienced years of housing insecurity. At age 15, Matt left school to get a job. He worked hard to support the two of them until his sister graduated from high school. When she graduated, he got his GED. As a result, he secured a better job and worked at it for 13 years. At this point, he was able to buy his own home – a huge accomplishment.
Trust did not come easily for Matt. He had experienced trauma not only within his family, but also within our racialized society and resulting systemic injustices. Matt struggled with schizophrenia. If he took his medications, it helped keep his symptoms of paranoia at bay. He came to Jericho because he trusted his doctor. He felt respected and cared for by the nursing team. During one of his medical visits, his care manager came to meet with him and his doctor. She was a follower of Jesus, and a woman who believed deeply in prayer. At her urging, Matt agreed to meet with me. Over the years, Matt entrusted me with more of his life story and made space for me to be a part of his faith journey.
Five years after meeting Matt, he was diagnosed with cancer – a hard battle ensued. During one of my last spiritual care visits, Matt asked me, “Are you praying for me?” I reassured him that I was. He looked directly at me and said, “I am praying for you too!” – for his doctor, and care manager, and Jericho Road. Less than a month later, Matt passed away. Jericho Road staff filled an entire pew at his funeral.
When I was young, I seriously considered being a nurse. Instead, my faith journey led me to become a pastor. Now approaching the end of my professional life, I consider it a profound privilege to work at a medical clinic, providing spiritual care. Every day, I have the opportunity to talk with patients and clients I would never meet otherwise, if not for Jericho Road and the work of Spiritual Care.
-Ruth Strand, Director of Spiritual Care
Our spiritual care team includes volunteers. If you are interested in hearing more about what spiritual care at Jericho Road involves, please feel free to be in touch with me – ruth.strand@jrchc.org
