It was in Westfield hospital on a Friday evening. We were visiting one of the men’s wards.  The Matron had asked us when we were making arrangements to take Gospel meetings in the hospital. “Yes we could have weekly meetings on Sundays in the beautiful day lounge but could we also go around the other wards to sing to those unable to come. The many sick dying folks, who are unable to leave their wards.”?

We agreed to begin meetings on a Friday night and rotate the seven wards every week.   So it was we were singing the old favourite hymns and Gospel songs on this men’s ward.   As we sang “I. need thee, Oh I need thee”, we noticed a man beside us singing.  He had his hands raised in the air, he was weeping .

When we finished the meeting we went around the beds saying goodbye and   God blessing”  folks. Sometimes we would be led to pray with someone. That night our hearts were strangely warmed as we left the hospital.   Some weeks later we heard that the man who had been weeping had made a request to the night nurse. “Could he get out of bed to pray” ?    No, definitely  not, he was to weak, to frail.

Later when the nurse returned to the Ward, she found that the man had struggled to get out of bed and had somehow knelt down at his bedside to pray. The nurse found him dead. He had been called home to the Lord. How wonderful to meet the Lord in prayer.Absent from the body, together with the Lord which is far better,

2 Cor 5 v 8.