ASHLAND, Ky. - When visiting a hospice patient, Ironton resident Ralph Holbrook keeps a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs in the inside pocket of his coat - and only brings it out when asked.

Since 1996, Holbrook has been a volunteer chaplain for Hospice of Ashland, an organization assisting patients referred by physicians after the patients receive a terminal diagnosis. The organization, along with Hospice of Huntington, serves Lawrence County. Besides offering medical and social services, the organization also offers visits by volunteer chaplains like Holbrook upon patients' requests.

Holbrook was already doing outreach work in hospitals and nursing homes while working at Channel 61, a Christian television station, when he later met Hospice representatives on his visits. He was encouraged to take bereavement classes, and it opened the door, he said.

When a patient begins to receive hospice services, the paperwork has a section for the patient to mark whether or not he or she would like a chaplain visit. To Holbrook's knowledge, he has not known of anyone who has said "no." When he sees the patient, he explains who he is and why he is there.

"I'm out front about the religious aspect," he said.

Then, Holbrook said he will take a person's "spiritual temperature." Sometimes, that temperature can be rather cold. He has experienced people who will say they do not believe in God and will not grant him the permission to pray with someone when he asks, which is something he always asks. The permission not being granted is rare. If he receives that response, he will remain silent for 15-30 seconds, and make a mental note to put that person on his prayer list.

Even though John 12:48 reads, "He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same that will judge him on the last day," Holbrook said he will not try to overwhelm the patient, making him/her uncomfortable.

"Silence is a powerful tool. They can think about it," he said.

"I must say, I've experienced some going into eternity never changing," he said.

After waiting for the person to talk to him, Holbrook said he may talk with someone about sports or the weather. With patients who do want to talk more extensively about religion, he keeps the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs in the case that someone would like him to read a scripture. He may also talk with someone about his/her church or pastor.

Because he does not seek to preach to someone who would be a captive audience, while trying to get someone to be comfortable and receptive toward him, Holbrook is sometimes amazed by the people he meets through his volunteer work. While talking with a World War II veteran years ago, he said the man had a golf cap that said "U.S.S. Missouri". The man asked Holbrook if he had ever seen a photo of General Douglas MacArthur signing a peace treaty with Japan on the decks of the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The man then told Holbrook to look in the left-hand corner of the picture - the man in that corner was him.

The most common fear Holbrook said he has noticed in terminal patients is the fear of being alone, and he tries to combat this feeling. A useful chapter in the Bible for these people seems to be Psalm 23, he said.

"I'm seeking to become their friend," he said.

Sometimes, Holbrook will eventually conduct the funeral of the people he befriends through Hospice or assist their pastors in this. He also provides ministerial services to friends and family of the patient, during the time the patient is still alive and after their deaths.

Holbrook has been in their positions. When he was a teenager, his mother died in her sleep. She had not been sick beforehand. Later, his father was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live. During this time, he said, he watched his father go from weighing 180-190 pounds to 75 to 80 pounds.

"My heart hit the floor," he said.

"There was no hospice then like there is today," Holbrook said. "Family and neighbors practiced it."

Besides his hospice work, Holbrook also visits nursing home residents and works with hospice's Camp Nabi, a camp for children dealing with the death of a loved one. His wife Betty is not only supportive, but she is also a volunteer herself, he said. She is currently inactive because of health problems.

Dr. Lee Gussler, spiritual care coordinator for Hospice of Ashland, complimented Holbrook's ability to not force his religion or beliefs on the patients he encounters.

"It's a very important part of who we are and what we do," Gussler said.

Gussler also had praise for the job that Holbrook does in general and complimented Holbrook's sense of philanthropy in his work with Channel 61 and nursing homes as well as hospice.

"He has a sense of calling; it makes him work all the harder," Gussler said.

Holbrook advised anyone who has any interest in hospice work, both spiritual and secular, to take the classes or even just sit with someone, spending time with a person who may feel alone.

"When we're born, we come into this world with every need supplied. We have contributed nothing," he said. "Shouldn't it be the same when we depart after we have contributed so much?"