allowing callers to receive assistance from
the chaplains.
On Wednesdays after school, the
church holds sidewalk Sunday school
outside the neighborhood public schools.
Tiaras, Trauma, and Triumph
Reaching out to the schoolchildren with
Despite the brightly painted décor, games, and fun at Children’s Healthcare,
a comforting arm, a listening ear, and sto-
ries extends the ministry of the church
there is a war raging for the lives of children and their families.
into the homes of these children.
■ by BRENDA PRESHA their baby girl. I spent a lot of time minister-
On Sunday mornings at church, chap-
ing to them as they prepared to say good-
lains wear badges that clearly identify
bye to this little one. They decided they
them as chaplains, and the sheer number
wanted an infant baptism. During the ser-
is an impressive and reassuring sight—
I
T’S A SUNNY DAY at Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hos-
pital. The lobby is bright and cheerful. vice, I talked to them about what it means
especially for first-time visitors. These are
The piano plays popular tunes all by itself to be baptized and asked for their commit-
not ceremonial chaplains who show up
as kids gather at the giant, talking fish ment to dedicate their lives to the Lord and
only on Sunday morning or at ribbon-
tank. Clowns are dressed up as doctors to live as godly examples for their baby girl.
cutting events. These are hardworking,
with red noses, striped socks, and wild Following their personal dedications to the
dedicated chaplains who are out where
hair, keeping everyone laughing. Children Lord, we baptized their child, withdrew life
the people are every day.
gather around a gray-haired fairy god- support, and held her hand as she died.
Vision and Action
mother dressed in a pink satin gown with Their baby’s death was transformative for
a tiara and long wand for story time. these two young people. Their lives are
Pastor Nelson has found the local
In the conference center, the forever changed. What was
church chaplaincy program to be the
smell of popcorn fills the meant to destroy them
most effective way to reach his lofty
air. There’s a carni- turned out to be their
vision of “taking his city for Jesus Christ.”
val. The kids are saving grace.
He says, “A church must have a solid,
present with I never know
grounded ministry with its worship ser-
their IV poles. what the day may
vices, discipleship training classes, specific
Some have hair bring at the hospital—
ministry and chaplaincy training, and a
loss from chemo trauma pages (“Trau-
corps of dedicated, faithful workers in
treatment, others ma alert: 2 year-old,
order to have a successful chaplaincy
have tubes down their 15-foot fall, 10 minutes out by
ministry in the community. The Lord has
noses and into their little bellies; never- air”), surgeries, procedures, fire alarms,
blessed the Church of God of East Flat-
theless, they are here to have fun, play code blues, setbacks, tears, and death. So
bush with these tremendous capabilities.
games, win prizes, and throw cream pies I’ve learned to never go to work physically
We are compelled to do all within our
at doctors—the real docs. It’s a kids’ world tired, emotionally drained, or without my
power to fulfill the scriptural mandate of
here at Children’s Healthcare, and kids are spiritual armor. As Ephesians 6:10-11 says,
caregiving to those in need.”
what we do best. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
Associate Pastor Edwards said, “When
My main area is Neonatal Services, a power. Put on the full armor of God” (NIV).
we meet with people and listen to their
37-bed unit for babies who have never left Despite the brightly painted décor,
stories, they may cry or have difficulty
the hospital and are less than 6 months games, and fun here at Children’s Health-
expressing themselves. But we under-
old. Our hospital is a level-2 trauma center, care, there is a war raging for the lives of
stand that all they are really saying is
and we receive infants from five different children and their families. As a chaplain,
‘Please make the hurt go away.’” The
states. Usually they come to us for surg- I must be prepared daily for whatever
source of the hurt can be the loss of a
eries, and we send them back to their birth emergency comes, knowing that the Lord
loved one, a devastating illness, a shat-
hospital. We have lots of preemies, multi- is the Good Shepherd who keeps His
tered relationship, an incarcerated family
ple births, and Down’s Syndrome babies. chaplains.
member, or the loss of a job and self-
We don’t turn any child away for treat-
worth. Whatever the cause, these care-
ment regardless of the ability to pay, so Brenda Presha is a chaplain at
givers are there to help.
we get lots of families with diverse needs. Egleston Hospital’s Children’s
One child, born to teenage parents, was Healthcare in Atlanta. She also
Wayne Roberson is a staff
diagnosed with a serious intestinal illness. serves as the membership
member of the Church of God
These parents, kids themselves, were chairperson of the Georgia
Chaplains Commission based
forced to make end-of-life decisions for Association of Professional Chaplains.
in Cleveland, Tennessee.
EVANGEL • AUG 2009 11
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