A Pastor There When It Was Needed Most: TogetherOne

National—When the Schwass family found their sister facing a medical crisis thousands of kilometres away, they discovered the comfort of knowing she was not alone, and neither were they.

Marie Bolton, nee Schwass, and her sister, longtime members of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) at First St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Ontario, learned that their younger sister (in her 70s), of Courtenay, British Columbia, had become critically ill and was hospitalized. Living far away, Bolton and her sister were unable to travel. While their retired brother eventually made the journey west to be at her bedside, they were still troubled, particularly for their younger sister’s faith.

Their sister was not active in the Christian faith, and they longed for her to receive pastoral care during her illness. They reached out to Rev. Jody Rinas of Clifford, Ontario, who connected with Rev. Robert Kubke, a local pastor in British Columbia.

Rev. Kubke faithfully visited their sister in the hospital, praying with her and offering Christ’s comfort to both her and their brother during an uncertain and emotional time.

Reflecting on the experience, Bolton said, “We were unbelievably thankful to our Lord for providing this man there. There was a pastor there! My brother said, “He kept on coming!” I was beside myself, and we needed the Lord’s help!”

The experience left a lasting impression on the sisters, and by extension their sisters in LWML who had fervently prayed. This deepened their collective appreciation for the Church’s ministry across Canada. In gratitude for the pastoral care their sister received, the Schwass sisters and their LWML family made a gift to the seminary, recognizing the importance of preparing faithful pastors to serve wherever they are needed.

Sometimes God’s provision comes through the simple yet profound presence of a pastor at a hospital bedside, a reminder that Christ continues to care for His people through those He has called to serve.

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