I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I did hospital visitation. I was twenty-one or twenty-two. I had just begun to work in a church, and the senior pastor asked me to visit some older members in the hospital. And let me make it clear. These were older members. I mean, as in “born in the previous century” older! I didn’t know any of them. They certainly wouldn’t know me. What would I have to give them? What could I contribute to them? The deep and self-conscious awkwardness of feeling useless came over me.
God was very kind to me in that first day of visitation. And over the weeks and months to come, I made many more visits to that hospital and others on the north shore of Boston. Oh, how I wish then that this little book had existed! What frustration it might have saved me! What embarrassment it might have saved me! How it would have served those I was trying to encourage.
Brian Croft is well qualified to help the pastor in this way. He is a faithful pastor, himself accustomed to visiting the sick in the hospital. I’ve known Brian for a number of years now. His father, Bill Croft, is a physician and a wonderful Christian man. So Brian has grown up around those who show concern for the sick. His brother, Scott Croft, has served on staff with me at the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and for years served as the chairman of our elders. Scott has been an encouragement to, instructor to, and student of Brian. Brian’s sister, Beth Spraul, is a member of our congregation and has served in hospital chaplaincies. So, from many angles, Brian is a man well suited to advise us in these matters.
In this little volume, Brian helps us to think straight-forwardly and faithfully about God’s truth and God’s people. His advice is as sound as it is simple. Some parts of this may be about matters you’ve already figured out. But isn’t it better to be told something twice than not at all? Let Brian’s be that reinforcing voice. And don’t be surprised if you read some things that you hadn’t thought of before. Read this book, and let Brian help you in helping others.
Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC