In hospitals across Australia, chaplains and parachurch workers offer patients listening ears, words of encouragement, and the gift of Scripture.
These faithful servants reach patients at the crossroads of life — offering hope when they need it most.
This year, our generous donors are equipping 24 hospital ministries with Bibles and Scripture resources. Here are testimonies from some of the chaplains who are being empowered through our Scripture Grants program.
Hospital chaplain, Tamara, supported a new mother struggling with postnatal depression.
“This mum had moved to Australia from Central America and was feeling far from God,” Tamara told us. “She shared that reading the Bible had become harder and harder as the depression worsened.”
Tamara offered this Mum various resources from Bible Society Australia, including a devotional booklet called ‘Moments for Mums’.
“She beamed for joy when she took the booklet, saying it was exactly what she needed to get back into God’s word.”
On discharge — after 6 weeks of inpatient care — this Mum told Tamara how thankful she was for her presence in the hospital.
“She expressed how encouraged she was to know that God loves her enough to send a Chaplain to remind her He had not forgotten her,” said Tamara.
“She told me the resources I shared led her to a place of gratitude. She was reminded that she has a Saviour who will journey with her through the dark valleys of depression and anxiety.”
Tamara described how essential Bible Society Australia resources are in the context that she works.
“Without the Scripture Grant, our ministry of proclaiming the love of Christ … would be limited,” she said. “Your support allows us to get Bibles and Christian resources into the hands of people who are hungry to hear from God.”
Michael’s hospital ministry team worked with a woman in her mid-forties who was experiencing a lot of fear about medical testing.
The patient requested a Bible and her Chaplain outlined some of the passages she might find helpful in uncertain times.
“We read Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 23 and prayed together,” Michael told us.
“The next day she told us that this time together had enabled her to go through the procedure with less anxiety. She said she had spent time reading the Bible prior to the procedure and was determined to continue that practice.”
Another patient told Michael, “I’m so thankful to have received a Bible in hospital. It’s been a great source of comfort during this difficult time.
“I’m filled with peace knowing I have God’s word by my side. I’m reminded of His love and grace — and that He is always with me.”
Michael says he is always sure to tell his patients that these gifts are made possible by generous supporters of the Scripture Grants program.
“Thank you for enabling us to provide Scriptures in the hospital that bring hope and comfort,” said Michael. “I’m fairly certain most donors who enable these grants probably aren’t multi-millionaires. Yet the few ‘coins’ you offer to those in dire need are a reminder that God has not forgotten them.”
A Chaplain from Sarah’s team was visiting the cancer ward. Here she met a young lady who was told she couldn’t continue trying for a baby after multiple miscarriages.
This patient needed urgent treatment — requiring her to put all her energy into fighting an aggressive form of cancer.
Thanks to a Scripture grant, this Chaplain was able to share Scripture resources with this patient. These included ‘My Tears in Your Bottle’ and ‘Hope Beyond Cure’.
“Both of these resources directly related to the lady’s spiritual and emotional distress,” reflected Sarah. “They helped her look beyond her physical situation … to an eternity where miscarriage and cancer would no longer be the dominant forces in her existence.”
One of the patients that chaplain, Don, ministered to told him that he “knew in his head that he was forgiven” but “didn’t feel it in his heart”.
“I gave this patient a Bible and offered him an anointing service, which was received well,” Don told us.
“The patient said he felt a weight had been lifted and he had a great desire to know God more.”
This patient connected with another Christian on the ward and they started reading and studying the Bible together daily. Don was able to offer them numerous study resources thanks to the Scripture grant.
“The patient has since told me he feels a peace in his life that he has never felt before,” said Don. “He has set his heart on being baptised and finding a church when he’s discharged.”
These hospital Chaplains have been resourced thanks to generous donors of Bible Society Australia’s Scripture Grants program.
Scripture grants equip chaplains and parachurch workers with free Bibles and gospel resources to distribute in:
Chaplains are invited to apply for a grant at biblesociety.org.au/our-work/grants/
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