From Bedside to Baptism

Hope, Transformation, and New Life in Christ

While surgery heals bodies, compassionate care transforms hearts. At CURE, we offer both to the young patients who step through our doors.

A comforting hug. Kind words. Hope. Because of your faithful partnership, CURE can provide those living with or caring for someone with a life-limiting disability the empathy and support they yearn for.

While we treat our patients’ physical disabilities, our commitment to their spiritual well-being makes CURE special. It fills every aspect of our hospitals. All CURE coworkers—from administrative to medical to facilities and support staff—are trained to offer prayer and provide compassionate care.

But one particular aspect of our spiritual care is just as transformational as surgery—perhaps even more so.

1:1 Connections

“When children come here, they are really lost,” says Grace Mangwende, CURE Zimbabwe’s Spiritual Director. “They can’t imagine themselves growing or becoming anything more than what they are subjected to.”

That’s why CURE’s spiritual ministry team members, who are trained in trauma and crisis care, offer one-on-one bedside counseling and prayer to every child and caregiver.

According to CURE’s Chief Ministry Officer, Earnest Kioko, it’s important for spiritual ministry team members to build a trusting relationship with the patient or caregiver. This allows them to work through their feelings while getting to the heart of where they are in their faith journey. The relaxed setting of bedside ministry helps them feel comfortable and more open to discussing the emotional and spiritual challenges they are navigating.

Through this unique connection, spiritual team members help the patient and caregiver understand their value as dearly loved children of God created in His image.

“Being created in God’s image is more than the body—it’s body, soul, and spirit. Spirit connects us with God. We want to help patients and caregivers see beyond just their body and to their soul and spirit,” Earnest says.

As staff shares the truth of who Christ is, His love becomes more real because of the physical healing patients experience at CURE. “They see Scripture become alive because we have moms and dads who probably have been praying for so many years for this miracle,” Grace emphasizes. “So when they come to CURE, they experience Christ in reality.”

This Christ-filled reality can lead to a significant spiritual transformation—like it did for CURE patient Edmercy.

Edmercy: A New Creation

Edmercy was born with a knee condition that made walking painful, prevented her from attending school regularly, and isolated her from her community. By the time she came to CURE at 14, she felt broken, discouraged, and angry.

CURE Zimbabwe’s skilled surgeons provided the life-changing surgical care Edmercy needed to walk upright. And while she recovered, spiritual ministry team members spent one-on-one time at her bedside helping her navigate the trauma that had made her feel so dejected. They shared the story of God’s great love and His promise to make all things new.

Because of these bedside chats, Edmercy decided to put her faith in Jesus. “I want the old person in me to die, and I want to be a new person in Christ!” she shared.

Once Edmercy was well enough, the CURE team visited her at home, and Grace baptized her. Thanks to the physical and spiritual care Edmercy received at CURE Zimbabwe, today she walks pain-free on straight legs, enjoying the spiritual and emotional freedom a life with Christ has to offer.

“I want to be a good person,” she says. “I want God to help me in that both my legs are very well like anyone else’s, but that I live a good life as well.”

With support from generous friends like you, CURE’s ministry team can introduce more children like Edmercy to Jesus’s love. Thank you for making this possible!