Jessica had been admitted to hospital for self harm. She was only 14.

Late one night when a nurse came to check on her, Jessica was covered in blood and obscenities had been scrawled in her blood on the walls of the hospital room. Jessica told the staff that she hadn’t done this but that her father, who had died two years previously, had visited her during the night and it was he who had both cut her arms and written the obscenities. I was called to speak with her.

Jessica persisted with her story and almost begged me to believe her. It was clear that Satan was having a field day with this young life. Jessica had been through a lot of family upheaval and there were some very traumatic issues still demanding attention. I told her that I could not be sure it had been her father that had come to her during the night but assured her that I believed that that's what she believed and I was willing to accept her explanation without judgement. But I also told her that whether or not it had been her father who had done these things, there was clearly something very disturbing going on for her. And we were able to discuss some of the things in her young life that had been disturbing her.

Jessica stayed in hospital for her physical injuries to heal and continued under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Eventually the psychiatrist suggested Jessica needed a meaningful way to finally let go of her father. We talked further about her relationship with him and what death meant. I helped Jessica write some prayers and words to say to her dad in farewell to him. She burned some keepsake she had of his and we took the ashes to the beach where they had spent a lot of time together. In the middle of the beach, with people going about enjoying their summer time, Jessica, a close friend and I prayed the prayers we had written, buried the ashes, and said our goodbyes.

Such is the ministry of chaplaincy. Intersecting with vulnerable people at significant times in their lives. Working with other professionals. Seeking the best outcome for the person in their hard place. We have the opportunity to bring Christ's care to those in need. We don't always see people converted, but we see lives touched by Christ's compassion. And who knows what He will do with this seed in the future?

On Sunday night at 6.30 ABC 1 is beginning a Compass program on hospital chaplaincy. It runs for eight weeks and the ANGLICARE chaplain at Liverpool Hospital features in the first program and two others.

However chaplaincy and the Christian gospel is presented in this series, the programs will open discussion about the role of chaplaincy within hospitals and as such will be a great opportunity for Christians to discuss with friends and colleagues the unique claims of Christ.