One Man’s Faith Strengthens the Hearts of Many

One day can change everything. On, May 9, 2009, Scott Scalf’s life changed forever. Scalf, a long time assistant softball coach at Hoban, collapsed in the porta potty near the field after suffering an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation).

Moments later, he was found by fellow assistant Rebecca Adkison, who called 911.  He was rushed to the emergency room and given last rites.

“They told my wife to not expect a positive outcome,” Scalf said. “They said even if he does survive, he will be in a vegetative state.”

Despite the seemingly impossible odds, thanks to the providence of God and a lot of people being in the right place at the right time, Scott Scalf lived to tell his story and has now regained his mobility.

At the time of his healing, however, he had to essentially start his life all over. Scalf had to learn to walk again, talk again and function again.

While he was in the hospital he longed for someone to bring him communion. In addition, he could not read his bible properly due to having a deficiency with his left peripheral vision. When he was finally able to read again, he read Matthew 12:20, which states, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains.”

Little did he know, this verse would soon be the cornerstone of his ministry.

Upon leaving the hospital, Scalf began to search for a purpose in his new life. Unable to return to his previous tech job due to his cognitive impairment, Scalf knew that with the faith found in his favorite Bible verse he would eventually find a way.

“I kept thinking, there is something else I could be doing,” Scalf said. “There is something the Lord is pulling me to do, I am just not sure what it is yet.”

After a long process of discernment and praying, Scalf decided to use his abilities as a eucharistic minister to bring communion to those who were in assisted living facilities. As he began the new journey, he realized that the people living there needed a lot more than just communion.

“I knew what it was like to be in their position,” Scalf said. “You have a room and you are just kind of there.”

Most disturbingly, Scalf noticed the lack of crucifixes in their rooms. So, he began buying crucifixes and rosaries with his own money. Soon, however, it became quite expensive.

Scalf sought the advice of a spiritual advisor who suggested a patron saint guide him. He gave Scalf attributes of saints without showing their names. It was then that he read about a saint who was often sickly and worked with other sick people. He would have them pray to St. Joseph and many were healed. This saint, as he later found out, was St. Andre Bessette.

“I said ‘this is my guy.’ I could go sit and pray with these people for hours. Just like he did,” he said.

His ministry began to flourish. Scalf handed out hundreds of St. Andre Bessette rosaries, prayer cards and large-print Bibles. He even engaged several friends to help him along the way. Just as St. Andre Bessette wanted the Oratory to St. Joseph built in Montreal and God helped make it a reality, so too God helped Scott Scalf make his dream a reality.

Today, this ministry is called The Small Seed Ministry. They work diligently to visit and pray with nursing home residents who need to feel God’s presence. Together, they also deliver various items such as prayer cards, crucifixes, positive newspapers and word search books. Their impact has been invaluable.

“My wife and I went to hand out Nativity prayer cards on Christmas Eve,” Scalf recalled. “To see a woman crying and kissing it, saying ‘this baby, this baby has saved me!’ was absolutely amazing.”

Hundreds have been touched by Scalf’s new purpose, and thousands more will be reached in the future.

In this way, Scott Scalf has become a living embodiment of Matthew 12: 20.

Even a small amount of faith can move mountains.

One man can change the lives of many.