The Blessing Room by Karen and Craig Ruhl

from Faith On Every Corner - June 2022

A Teacher's Belief by Chrystal Gilkey

A few months ago, we were at the Charles George Veterans Administration Hospital in Asheville, NC, where Craig was to undergo an exploratory heart catheterization to prepare for the replacement of his aortic valve at a later date. Once Craig was taken back to the preparatory area, they escorted Karen to a nearby waiting room. The procedure and recovery would take several hours, and Karen had brought reading material, a word game book, and her electronic tablet to occupy her while she waited. She also looked forward to chatting with others who would also be waiting.

A man entered the waiting room where Karen and several others were sitting. Karen struck up a conversation with one of the ladies and they were chatting about their husbands. The man that entered the waiting room said hello and started telling them about Jesus. Karen was excited and so was the lady she was talking with. The other two in the room were keeping to themselves for a little while. But Jay is not one to be ignored! He wanted everyone to know that they were not alone, and that Jesus was watching over us all. He quoted scripture and engaged people in conversation through questions. He kept looking at Karen and at one point stopped and said, “Your smile is amazing.” Karen was excited to find another person on fire for Christ and was amazed that he walked into this room and brought comfort and peace to people he didn’t even know. After he finished speaking, Karen introduced herself and told him about the magazine. She told him that he was her God appointment for the day and would like to talk to him soon.

When Karen could join Craig in the recovery area, she was excited to share about her meeting with Jay Blount, the man in the waiting room. Craig and Karen agreed that Faith On Every Corner readers would be interested in learning more about Karen and Jay’s conversations and that he would be an exciting person to interview. Recently, Craig interviewed Jason Blount (Jay) via Messenger. The following is a recap of that interview.

Jason (Jay) Blount was born in Brooklyn, NY, grew up in James City, NC, and moved to San Diego, CA in junior high school. He and his wife, Ann, now live in Swannanoa, NC. Jay served in the Army, from 1981 to 1987. During that time, his duty post was in Germany. Ann also served for close to 15 years in the Army–active duty and National Guard. Their family includes two daughters and a son.

When asked about how he came to know the Lord as his Savior, Jay related his grandmother raised him. She was a strict guardian and rigid in her faith. Although he felt he had known the Lord all his life, in 1998, the Spirit moved him to get serious about his faith. He had always been told that he had a special gift. His environment included many people who were always down and had little hope. Before long, he was coming alongside those in need and sharing his spiritual gifts with them, encouraging and sharing the good news of Christ Jesus.

Jay used to work at the VA hospital in the ICU unit. He would see so many people, patients, and loved ones, in pain and not knowing what to do about it. The chaplains seemed to minister mainly to the family of patients who had died, but not so much to the others in the waiting rooms. Jay made it his mission to visit those who were at the hospital waiting while a loved one was being treated. That is when he started referring to the waiting rooms as The Blessing Room. It occurred to Jay that people were there for a special reason on that day. He doesn’t believe in coincidence. So, he feels it is a place where if people would just carry on a conversation with those around them, they truly will leave with a blessing. Jay says that this makes his day and, “It is a blessing to be a blessing.”

During his visits to the Blessing Rooms, Jay does not use or hand out written literature such as tracts or testaments. He says that it all comes from within him. What the Holy Spirit puts on his mind, he shares with others. Jay says many people know the Word, but in these times they find themselves in, they need someone to remind them. When asked how people respond to his ministry, Jay explained most of the time people are overwhelmed. But some do not want to hear his message and don’t want others to hear it either. He said he doesn’t let those people bother him as he is there to reach and comfort those who are willing to receive it.

Visitors sitting in Blessing Rooms are not the only people Jay speaks with while on the hospital grounds. He talks with other veterans from the moment he gets there, encouraging them and thanking them for their service.

Jay and his wife, Ann, attend Hope Community Church in Asheville, NC. They also volunteer at a local food bank twice a month where they fill boxes with food and necessities that are passed out to those in need. Jay told us, “There is nothing better than doing what we have been called to do.”

At the end of our interview, Jay added, “That’s it. I’m just grateful and thankful to our Lord Jesus, who is the Christ, to be a Blessing to those whose paths I cross. Have a Blessed Day.”

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21 KJV)