A 55-year-old woman was dying of breast cancer. She believed she was being punished by God, and wondered what, if anything, was beyond this life. That's when she met Linda Liu, a volunteer chaplain at Adventist St. Thomas Hospice.

"When I first met her, she was terrified of dying, terrified she would be outside of God's love," Linda recalled.

Linda spent the next seven months ministering to the woman. She didn't know much about the Bible but was eager to learn more.

"Journeying with her over those seven months, we had a really incredible walk together," Linda recalled. "She would always challenge me if I said, 'Jesus said this' or 'the Bible says that.' She would make me point out chapter and verse. She wanted me to back it up."

Just before she died, the woman told Linda it was the first time in her life that she knew true peace and was genuinely happy.

"That had the biggest impact on me," said Linda, who has been a chaplain for five years and is enrolled in Adventist Midwest Health's clinical pastoral education program. "That moment, that journey was very, very sacred."

Linda is one of two volunteer chaplains at Adventist St. Thomas Hospice in Burr Ridge, Illinois. They are part of a team of professionals and volunteers providing medically directed, quality care in the comfort of the patient's own home or nursing home. Care is available to anyone who has a limited life expectancy verified by a physician.

"Our volunteer chaplains are such an important part of our team," said Pam Mezyk, executive director of Adventist St. Thomas Hospice. "They are very dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization, and they give very generously of their time."

Ed Partyka has served as volunteer chaplain for Adventist St. Thomas Hospice since 1989. For Ed, one of the challenges is helping patients reconnect with their faith. Many have been away from church for years, often because of illness, disability, or relocation to a nursing facility or family member's home. That disconnection can create anxiety and feelings of unworthiness. "We try to help the patient get reconnected with God. We always meet them where they are spiritually and never try to impose our own faith or belief system. Each person's faith journey is respected."

"Being part of such an intimate time in a patient's life is very rewarding," remarked Linda.

"People often ask me, 'How can you work in hospice—isn't it depressing?'" Linda said. "It truly is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. As odd as it sounds, there's great joy in it. It's a privilege."

Lisa Parro is a public relations specialist at Adventist Midwest Health.