“I did not know where to turn”

Hospital chaplaincy remains under threat, as Anglicare seeks $1.3 million needed to fund the ministry this year. With chaplains receiving no funding from the NSW State Government or Sydney Diocese, it appears few value this ministry enough to see it continue.

Registered Nurse, Chris Page, does not share this attitude. He has begun studying part-time at Sydney Missionary Bible College, and sees himself as a ‘partner in the gospel’ with chaplain, the Rev Rick Sewell, as they care for patients at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.

“My role on the ward means that I can take time to listen to people when they need me to and I can share my faith with them when appropriate,” he said.

According to Chris, this ministry is made possible through a close working relationship with chaplain, Rick Sewell. “I work closely with Rick. Opportunities are created for people to further understand the gospel. As a trained Chaplain he enables patients and staff alike to feel the fellowship of the Christian community here at the hospital.”

Back in June 1999 when Chris started his post at RNS he felt drained by his work dealing with cancer patients and with death, after ten years in the field in Brisbane. Chris was also struggling to reconcile his marriage and mend a splintered family life in a new city.

After only two months in Sydney, he was at the crossroads, standing in the hospital grounds looking at the Chapel and feeling a need to go and talk to God.

“I felt that my personal life had disintegrated and my professional life seemed to be following. I did not know where to turn but I felt that the Chapel was a good place to start,” said Chris.

“I sat in there and spoke to God and cried. I talked about my life and my problems. I had this recurring thought that God was unhappy with my life so far.

“That night I called a friend in Brisbane who I knew was a Christian. He was wonderful. We talked for three hours about my life and going to the Chapel. He followed up our conversation with a brief letter laying out what it means to be a Christian. Through this letter I understood Christ’s sacrifice for me and I chose to commit my life to Christ.

“The difference my faith has made to my work is huge. It has transformed it from a job, which exhausted me, to a ministry which I feel confident God has called me to,” said Chris. “Rick has had a huge impact on my life, helping develop my network of Christian friends at the hospital. Most people I work with are not Christian and it is easy to be distracted from the ultimate prize. Through weekly Bible studies and Bible Talk meetings my Christian fellowship has grown.”

Bible Talk is an evangelistic event at the Hospital Chapel hosted by Rick Sewell and Jonathan Dykes from ECOMM’s Bible Means Business. Support from local Anglican church-es has enabled the team to run a Bible-based outreach in the hospital.

“Royal North Shore and North Shore Private Hospitals with some 6,000 people on site, are central to the community of Northern Region. We have an enormous strategic opportunity to bring the message of Christ to patients, their families and staff, in partnership with the local Christian community,” said Rick.

To help call 13 26 22.