- [Heather] As ChaplainRocky Walker walks the halls

of the COVID unit at Manhattan'sMount Sinai Hospital,

the Desert Storm veteran says

he's never experienced death like this.

- This is a nurse who'sbeen with us for 21 years

and what do you say to that,

I don't have any words for that.

I was fighting back my own tears.

- [Heather] Like every healthcarechaplain in the country,

Walker's job has changed dramatically.

He's often physicallyseparated from patients

and their loved ones and thatmeans connecting in new ways.

Chaplain Cathy Disher atthe James Cancer Hospital

in Ohio checks in by phonewith families these days

and says they welcome her call.

- Families are actually often looking

for some just conversation to let them say

what they would like to say,

to maybe be more engaged in conversation.

Someone just to chat with,someone just to share

their worries or concerns, tooffer that emotional support.

- [Heather] Chaplains alsospend more time than ever

caring for front line nurses,doctors and other staff.

- I'm observing what Ithink is a second wave

of this virus and thatis a wave of depression,

exhaustion and weariness on the part

of the healthcare workers themselves.

- [Heather] Disher offersstaff care packages

she calls tea for the soul on the go

and supports them with short breaks.

- We're offering a 10minute spiritual time

that they can call inand have a meditation,

listening to some instrumental music,

just a time to take a break to breathe--

- [Heather] There's alsoa more delicate battle

to assert themselves as essential care.

Southern Baptist leader, Russell Moore

is frustrated that somehospitals see chaplains

as just extra.

- My concern is we haveto see hospital chaplains

as an essential part of care for patients.

And so hospital chaplains have to be able

to have access in every way that is safe,

safe for the chaplain,safe for the patient

but this is an essentialpart of ministering

and caring for people.

- [Heather] Doug Carver

encourages the more than 700Southern Baptist Chaplains

he oversees to make their case.

- We need to be like thepersistent widow in the Bible

and continue to knock on the door

of those who are in authorityto remind the doctors,

the nurses, the medical staff,the hospital administrators

that the ministry of the chaplain

bringing in if you willthe presence of the Lord

through the Holy Spirit is anessential part of the healing

and the health and thelife for those patients.

That's it's about mind, body and soul.

- Carver also thinks the crisiscould strengthen the role

of chaplains as the brutality of COVID

prompts more conversationsabout suffering, death

and eternity.

They're topics thatchaplains live out every day.

Hospice Chaplain, DavinPhillips wears a cartoon mask

to comfort the childrenof the families he visits.

He'll do whatever ittakes to help the dying.

For one patient recently hesang "How Great Thou Art"

in full protective gear.

- I try to make eye contactand I have the gloves on too

and try to be able tominister through that.

It seems to be helping andmaking that eye contact

and touching but it's not the same thing.

It's obviously not the same.

- [Heather] Heather Sells CBN News.