One challenge Christian doctors face is how to raise spiritual issues with patients. In this issue of FireSeeds, our staff interviewed Buck Reid, M.D., an orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon from Beaumont, Texas. He has been sharing his faith with patients for many years and is still excited about how God is using him to change lives. He has good suggestions for other medical professionals who want to know how to approach patients with the gospel.

FireSeeds: What do you see as your spiritual role in your practice?

Dr. Reid: My first priority is sharing Christ with people. Medicine is second. But I’ve learned as I’ve gone along that my first priority for the patients is taking care of their medical needs. That’s what they came for. Once I address their medical needs, I earn the right to talk about spiritual things.

FireSeeds: Can you give a recent story about the results of witnessing to your patients?

Dr. Reid: Last Friday I spoke at a conference and met a man I had treated six years ago. At that time, I had the opportunity to lead him to Christ. He came up to me and said, "The best thing you did for me was to get me straightened out spiritually." He is still involved with his church and walking with the Lord. There’s no greater joy than seeing someone like that.

FireSeeds: How do you prepare yourself for sharing your faith?

Dr. Reid: I ask God to bring people to me before I ever start the day. Then I look for opportunities to share my faith. I have a busy office so I can’t just sit down and witness to everybody. I have a plan to reach my patients in the most natural and efficient way. If I don’t feel like I’m hearing God, I’ll pray before each patient. Sometimes I just take a break and pray.

FireSeeds: Explain your approach in bringing up spiritual issues with patients.

Dr. Reid: First, every patient gets one of Campus Crusade’s JESUS videos and the evangelistic questionnaire that goes along with the video. I address the patient’s medical problems first. Then when I finish, I give him or her the video and the questionnaire. I ask the patients to bring the questionnaire back to me at their next visit.

The questions it asks are designed to help the viewer respond to the video. The last question is: Did you pray the prayer at the end of the movie? Patient responses open the discussion to spiritual matters.

FireSeeds: When the patient comes in for a return visit, how do you approach spiritual subjects?

Dr. Reid: I ask patients if they have brought the questionnaire back. If they say they have watched the video or if they have a question or a comment, I pursue the subject. If a patient hasn’t watched the video, I don’t say anything unless I feel led by the Spirit. Instead, I silently pray that God will minister to them through the video at a later time. Just because patients haven’t watched it yet doesn’t mean they won’t later. Some may give the video to someone they know or let their children watch it.

FireSeeds: What kind of answers do you get that help you know that you can proceed?

Dr. Reid: I ask patients if they’re Christians and they’ll hesitate and say, "Yes, but . . ." That’s a lead. Or I’ll say, "You’re struggling some?" They answer, "Yes." Usually the reason they’re struggling is that they’ve never been born again. Sometimes a patient comes in who’s troubled about something. That gives me an opening to talk about the Lord. Sometimes I’ll tell them I’m a minister. I have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to the person I am dealing with. If you just care about the person and try to help him, that opens more doors than anything. I’m ready to back off if the patient doesn’t express some kind of need. The biggest obstacle I have is religion. Most people who are established in some type of religion—whether it be Christian or otherwise—don’t want to talk about the Lord. They’ll say, "I’m fine," in such a way that they shut the door to more conversation about Christ.

FireSeeds: How often do you encounter someone who is ready to receive Christ?

Dr. Reid: Probably several times a month.

FireSeeds: What do you do when that happens?

Dr. Reid: I am prepared to lead them to Christ. I have a prepared gospel presentation, basically the Four Spiritual Laws booklet, but I use it differently depending on the situation or on the person. I pray with everyone who has surgery. I also throw out little questions. Sometimes I’ll just ask them if there’s a spiritual issue that they’d like to talk about. Depending on their response, I’ll ask them if they know Jesus, if they’re a believer, but I don’t proceed unless I’m led to or unless there’s some kind of response that allows me to. If there’s any kind of problem, like a patient comes in after a bad accident, I’ll bring up spiritual things. If a patient comes in with a diagnosis of cancer, I’ll bring up spiritual things. When I see them in the hospital, I’ll ask them how they are spiritually.

FireSeeds: When you have a patient who responds to the gospel, do you do any follow up?

Dr. Reid: It depends on the patient. I see a lot of people from out of town. I’ll send them back that way to whomever they know who’s excited about the Lord. I say, "Do you know anyone who is a Christian that you hear talking about Jesus?" If I ask, "Do you know someone who’s a Christian," they’ll answer yes, but that person may not know Christ personally. But if I ask patients if they know someone who talks about Jesus or who has talked to them about Jesus before or encouraged them to become a Christian, then I encourage that patient to seek this person out. I point them in the direction of someone they already know. I also encourage them to go to church and read the Bible. I usually suggest something to read like the Book of John. If they live in my area, I invite them to my house for a weekly Bible study. If a patient asks where he or she can go to church, I’ll invite him or her to my church. If they live outside Beaumont, I encourage them to find a church close to home.

FireSeeds: Do you see patients who respond after some time has passed since your first meeting?

Dr. Reid: Most of my patients come in, I see them, then they’re gone. But I’ve had people I’ve been seeing for a year or two who are not open when I first meet them. Then something will happen in their life that will open the door and I’ll be able to witness to them. Some patients may come in a for a new problem they have. It’s only then that I get to minister to them. You have to be led by the Lord. Patients tell me all the time, "You’re the first doctor who’s prayed with me." "You’re the first doctor that’s talked about God." What a joy to be an instrument in God’s work!

TO ORDER JESUS videos, call (800) 29-JESUS or e-mail your order at: order@JESUSvideo.org.

Buck Reid, M.D.
Orthopedic and Sports
Medicine Surgeon
Beaumont, Texas