Surviving to Serve
Donation protected
We are telling the story of a humble man who strives to serve, and continues to share the love of God, life and family with others. In the time I've known him, he has not complained or stopped serving others, even through his pain he continues to minister to those in need. This is a call to get to know God and others by helping John with a donation to help him continue to serve. Please join us and at the same time get to know God by helping with an open heart and financial support. Your donation will help him reach his medical treatment and battle cancer. Bless you all, and read the beautiful story written by Misti Johnson-Arce.
Rev. Dr. John Nganga was born in Kenya, Africa. He is an ordained Anglican priest, and a board certified chaplain. He and his wife Faith and their two sons James and Jacob have been living in the United States since 1991. John came to the States to complete his Master’s program and clinical education. He loves the work of a chaplain. After working in hospital systems and the prison system in Ohio for 11 years, they moved to South Florida in 2005. John has been a chaplain for VITAS HealthCare (hospice) since then and holds dual citizenship. He returns to Kenya to work with the mission he founded in 1998. He continues to serve this organization as the CEO and actively leads this worthy mission and its people. Rafiki Children’s Center and Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry includes an orphanage, a school, a school of music, computer laboratory, health clinic, school of tailoring, credit union and a farming program. John served as a priest in parishes in Kenya, Missouri, Ohio and Florida. John has a Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology, and Masters of Arts in Counseling & Guidance, plus a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Supervision from the United Theological Seminary in Ohio. The title of his thesis was “A 21st Century Vehicle for Enhancing Effective Non-Judgmental Pastoral Care to Persons Living with HIV -AIDS”. In 2007 he published a book titled, A Covenant With God. A Personal Journey of Faith and Obedience Encountering HIV/AIDS.
In reference to John’s work with hospice, he has touched many lives over the last 10 ½ years with patients, families and staff members. He has a heart of gold and is a very humble man who definitely lives his life to serve others and serve God.
One Thanksgiving holiday, John was asked to attend a death at an Assisted Living Facility. When he called the estranged spouse to notify her of her husband’s death and express condolences she said she wanted “nothing to do with (her) husband” and left if up to John to do “whatever he wanted.” She indicated that she did not want the ashes either. After calling various places John found a funeral home and crematory willing to provide cremation at a reasonable price and got the wife to agree to pay for it. He arranged for a service that included a scattering of the ashes. When he called the estranged wife back to share all the details, she expressed gratitude for taking care of everything on her behalf. He was motivated to do this based on his belief that all persons, regardless of what has been done in the past, deserve to die with dignity and have their life be honored in some way. This is one example of how John goes above and beyond to help others.
One team nurse shared the following story that highlights his love and care for others. “One day I entered a nursing home planning to visit three of my patients on Continuous Care. The facility was under review and as soon as I walked a state reviewer asked to see me. I asked to at least go and let one patient know I was there and told her I’d be back to check on her. When I returned to that patient’s bedside, she died. After taking care of that I went to the next patient and the same thing happened. The patient died minutes after I arrived. I went to the third and they died as well. It was as if they each waited to say goodbye.” The nurse shared that one family in particular needed a lot of support and she felt badly that she didn’t have the time to give them that day with three deaths and the state being in the facility. “Then suddenly I looked up and who did I see? My chaplain walked in with a big smile. I told him I was SOOO glad to see him and asked, ‘How did you know that I needed help?’ John shared, I listened to report and heard all the things you had to do today and thought you might need me.” She gave him a hug and they worked together to provide care to all of the patients, their families and the staff involved…” It was a very hard day for me and I couldn’t have done it without John. The thing is, he does that often – shows up when we need him even if we haven’t called. He’s very receptive to our needs and takes care of our team.”
Before being diagnosed with an aggressive and rare stage 4 prostate cancer in August 2014, John would be the first to take on-call shifts for his chaplain colleagues when they were sick or needed to change plans. For many years, he covered Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays so that others could have off. He is well loved and highly respected.
While we have been deeply saddened to learn of this diagnosis for John, we have been amazed at the depth of his faith and commitment to serving others. While John no longer visits with patients, he continues to offer bereavement support to our patients’ families after they have experienced a loss. In spite of significant pain and heavy doses of medication, John finds a way to come to work in between doctor’s appointments and radiation and chemo therapy treatments. It is important for him to continue to come to work, to serve others, to have a sense of purpose and be a part of a community. John is grateful for the upper management’s willingness to adapt to his needs. He is a walking testimony. His desire to live, and humbly serve, helps all of us remember how important it is to continue praying, holding on to hope and living in faith. While John and his family do not know what each day will hold, they continue to trust that God is with them. This inspires many and creates in us a strong desire to find ways to help where we can.
As friends of the Nganga family, we now extend the invitation to others for help and hope. John’s wife is a hospital intensive care nurse, who works third shift and takes many extra shifts to bring in money to help cover the medical costs that have accumulated. In addition to these expenses, they have college expenses for their two sons and financially support their aging parents in Kenya. The medical needs and expenses are overwhelming. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. To close with John’s words from Rafiki Ministries is “Your love has touched us".
Rev. Dr. John Nganga was born in Kenya, Africa. He is an ordained Anglican priest, and a board certified chaplain. He and his wife Faith and their two sons James and Jacob have been living in the United States since 1991. John came to the States to complete his Master’s program and clinical education. He loves the work of a chaplain. After working in hospital systems and the prison system in Ohio for 11 years, they moved to South Florida in 2005. John has been a chaplain for VITAS HealthCare (hospice) since then and holds dual citizenship. He returns to Kenya to work with the mission he founded in 1998. He continues to serve this organization as the CEO and actively leads this worthy mission and its people. Rafiki Children’s Center and Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry includes an orphanage, a school, a school of music, computer laboratory, health clinic, school of tailoring, credit union and a farming program. John served as a priest in parishes in Kenya, Missouri, Ohio and Florida. John has a Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology, and Masters of Arts in Counseling & Guidance, plus a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Supervision from the United Theological Seminary in Ohio. The title of his thesis was “A 21st Century Vehicle for Enhancing Effective Non-Judgmental Pastoral Care to Persons Living with HIV -AIDS”. In 2007 he published a book titled, A Covenant With God. A Personal Journey of Faith and Obedience Encountering HIV/AIDS.
In reference to John’s work with hospice, he has touched many lives over the last 10 ½ years with patients, families and staff members. He has a heart of gold and is a very humble man who definitely lives his life to serve others and serve God.
One Thanksgiving holiday, John was asked to attend a death at an Assisted Living Facility. When he called the estranged spouse to notify her of her husband’s death and express condolences she said she wanted “nothing to do with (her) husband” and left if up to John to do “whatever he wanted.” She indicated that she did not want the ashes either. After calling various places John found a funeral home and crematory willing to provide cremation at a reasonable price and got the wife to agree to pay for it. He arranged for a service that included a scattering of the ashes. When he called the estranged wife back to share all the details, she expressed gratitude for taking care of everything on her behalf. He was motivated to do this based on his belief that all persons, regardless of what has been done in the past, deserve to die with dignity and have their life be honored in some way. This is one example of how John goes above and beyond to help others.
One team nurse shared the following story that highlights his love and care for others. “One day I entered a nursing home planning to visit three of my patients on Continuous Care. The facility was under review and as soon as I walked a state reviewer asked to see me. I asked to at least go and let one patient know I was there and told her I’d be back to check on her. When I returned to that patient’s bedside, she died. After taking care of that I went to the next patient and the same thing happened. The patient died minutes after I arrived. I went to the third and they died as well. It was as if they each waited to say goodbye.” The nurse shared that one family in particular needed a lot of support and she felt badly that she didn’t have the time to give them that day with three deaths and the state being in the facility. “Then suddenly I looked up and who did I see? My chaplain walked in with a big smile. I told him I was SOOO glad to see him and asked, ‘How did you know that I needed help?’ John shared, I listened to report and heard all the things you had to do today and thought you might need me.” She gave him a hug and they worked together to provide care to all of the patients, their families and the staff involved…” It was a very hard day for me and I couldn’t have done it without John. The thing is, he does that often – shows up when we need him even if we haven’t called. He’s very receptive to our needs and takes care of our team.”
Before being diagnosed with an aggressive and rare stage 4 prostate cancer in August 2014, John would be the first to take on-call shifts for his chaplain colleagues when they were sick or needed to change plans. For many years, he covered Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays so that others could have off. He is well loved and highly respected.
While we have been deeply saddened to learn of this diagnosis for John, we have been amazed at the depth of his faith and commitment to serving others. While John no longer visits with patients, he continues to offer bereavement support to our patients’ families after they have experienced a loss. In spite of significant pain and heavy doses of medication, John finds a way to come to work in between doctor’s appointments and radiation and chemo therapy treatments. It is important for him to continue to come to work, to serve others, to have a sense of purpose and be a part of a community. John is grateful for the upper management’s willingness to adapt to his needs. He is a walking testimony. His desire to live, and humbly serve, helps all of us remember how important it is to continue praying, holding on to hope and living in faith. While John and his family do not know what each day will hold, they continue to trust that God is with them. This inspires many and creates in us a strong desire to find ways to help where we can.
As friends of the Nganga family, we now extend the invitation to others for help and hope. John’s wife is a hospital intensive care nurse, who works third shift and takes many extra shifts to bring in money to help cover the medical costs that have accumulated. In addition to these expenses, they have college expenses for their two sons and financially support their aging parents in Kenya. The medical needs and expenses are overwhelming. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. To close with John’s words from Rafiki Ministries is “Your love has touched us".
Organizer and beneficiary
Jeff Rodriguez
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
John Nganga
Beneficiary