A patient at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas, faces a daunting illness and realizes he is nearing the end. Reflecting back on his life and his faith, he asks to meet with the hospital chaplain. He prays every night, he tells her, and asks God to forgive him for his sins, but still wonders if he’s done enough to get into heaven.

In situations like these, CBF-endorsed chaplain Angela Lowe strives to be the presence of Christ. With this patient, Lowe emphasizes God’s grace.

“God has forgiven you,” she tells the man. “Now you have to forgive yourself.”

As director of pastoral care at Lawrence Memorial, Lowe meets with people at some of the most profound moments of their lives ‒ the fear accompanying a cancer diagnosis, the joy of a birth or the wrenching pain of a child’s death.

In each of these situations, her first task is to listen and build rapport. She asks probing questions to learn what’s on their minds. She encourages people to rely on God’s strength, to trust in the risen Christ who is victor over death and to believe in a God of grace and love.

“Of course there’s fear in many of these situations,” she said. “But what did the angel always say? ‘Don’t be afraid.’”

Lowe first felt the call to chaplaincy in the mid-1990s through a series of events. One day, she went to visit a friend from Sunday School at the hospital. Waiting in the hallway, she heard a doctor tell her friend the cancer had returned. Lowe walked in, not knowing what to say, so she just held her friend’s hand. They talked about not being ready to die and cried together.

After her friend’s death, Lowe sent the family a letter telling them how grateful she was to have her as a friend and reminding them of the comfort of the resurrection. Looking back she realizes it was her first experience as a chaplain.

Over the next couple years, she felt God calling her to chaplaincy. So after 13 years away from school, she gave up her job at the state convention, enrolled at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and started down the path toward being a chaplain.

“I’ve never regretted pursuing that call,” she said.

Lowe has been a chaplain at Lawrence Memorial since 2002. In that time she has performed baptisms, weddings and funerals. For many patients with chronic illnesses, she has essentially become their pastor.

The family of one such patient told her, “God brings special people into our lives as God sees fit. When God brought you into mom’s life, God knew exactly what God was doing. She had a special place for you in her heart. There was no question you were to do her [funeral] service. Thank you for all of your prayers and kindnesses.”

Lowe ministers not just among the patients but the staff as well. Terrie Kaiser, director of the palliative care program at the hospital, says Lowe inspires trust among the staff with her unassuming manner.

“Her caring spirit and devotion to what she does is palpable,” Kaiser said.

After a major crisis or life event, Lowe is there to listen and minister among hospital employees and their families. She is also there for the joyful events as well, officiating Kaiser’s wedding three years ago.

Whether with staff or patients, Lowe’s message is the same ‒ God’s love is greater than anything we can understand and nothing can separate us from that love.

“I can’t do what I do unless I believe deep in my spirit that there’s a life after this life and there’s a loving God there to welcome us,” she said.

By contributing writer John Foster

Photo information: Angela Lowe serves as a chaplain and director of pastoral care at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy of Angela Lowe