The “El Shaday” Iglesia del Nazareno, located in Acarigua, in Portuguesa, Venezuela, is practicing compassion with purpose and passionate evangelism.

Once a month, church members go to the Central Hospital of Acarigua, “Jesús María Cazal Ramos,” to bring hope and a sign of love to patients and their families. During these visits, the church members distribute up to 400 arepas to the families of the patients, the medical staff, and the hospital nurses.

This initiative aims to alleviate hunger and comfort those going through challenging situations in the hospital environment. But the action is not limited to delivering food. 

The team also takes the opportunity to worship God with praises and share a message of hope and salvation with those present. In addition, a group of church members are in charge of collecting prayer requests from the people who they encounter at the hostpital. In the end, prayers are said for the needs of each person and the speedy recovery of the hospitalized patients.

Yessenia de Mendoza, who is part of the visitation team shared: “It is a beautiful work that we do, and it is gratifying to see how, the moment we arrive, people in need line up to receive an arepita.”

Isbely Sereno, the local coordinator of the church’s compassionate ministries, shared her experience. 

“I thank God because he controls everything,” Sereno said. “What impacted me the most was when, during prayer, the relatives of patients would come asking us to pray for their loved ones who were hospitalized. We do this believing that God is the one who can free us from all illness and do great wonders, trusting first in him.”

--Church of the Nazarene South America