2023 Fall Newsletter

A President’s Gratitude . . .

Hope is hard to come by when health crises mount -- what if no one speaks my language? Understands my fear? Our faith takes action from the Holy Spirit’s revelations! Our eyes and ears are opened more fully to see and hear our neighbor. Deep soulful movements are expressed in many beautiful languages of God’s wondrous world. In 2014, POP was contacted and responded by providing spiritual care and prayer for Spanish-speaking patients in one location. More locations desired Spanish-speaking Lay Chaplains. A bold solution was prayed for and by God’s grace, here we are! Meet the inaugural class of POP Lay Chaplains ready to serve Spanish-speaking patients! Your support is key to the bold solution! Our eternal gratitude to each of you!

HEARING THE HEART STARTS THE HEALING

CONGRATULATIONS NEW POP LAY CHAPLAINS!

Ready to visit Spanish-speaking patients in the Hospitals!

Ministerio del Corazón

Throughout POP’s history the call from God has been simple: remember the under-served. Serve and care for those who are sick and suffering; and those whose first language is not English.

In 2014, the King, as Christ is referred to in Matt. 25:40, opened POP’s eyes and heart to a growing populatin of the sick and suffering. Despite the faithful work of Chaplains visiting patients throughout the City of Houston

a growing need exists for Spiritual Care to Spanishspeaking patients. Through prayer and reflection, the POP Staff heard Christ’s clarion call to act. His promise remains, He will go before us and with us into the harvest fields.

In His perfect timing, God brought about a pathway through local churches with Spanish-speaking congregations to train bilingual POP Lay Chaplains.

POP has trained 23 of Christ’s beloved from San Pablo-Trinity Presbyterian Church and Iglesia Fuente de Esperanza, an active worshiping community of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.

Join us as we watch how God cares for the many soulful expressions in the first languages of His people! Congratulations to the following POP Lay Chaplains!

Damaris Abreu, Domitila Aldana, Gleide Ávila, Imelda S. Carrillo, Waleska Cepeda, Daniel Chávez, Reverend Gregory Davis, Israela Francisco, María Galván, Anastacio Gonzalez-Ixcoy, Raul Montejo, Oriana Olívio, Silvia Ontiveros, Maria del Carmen Pecero, Marina Porras, Mario Porras, Yvonne Ramírez, Angelly Silva, José Toro, Norma L. Valdery, Brenda Vega, María Villarruel

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40)

POP STAFF

Cherie L. Brown Manager of Communications

Rev. Kelvin C. Cox, Sr.

The Jones W. Roach Director of Operations & Spiritual Care

Rev. Victor E. Harris, Jr., MDiv, ThM Director of Spiritual & Community Care

AnneMarie Wallace, MDiv President

The Webb Family Chair for Σώζω

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brady Head, Chair

Colleen Jernigan, Secretary

Rachel Ramirez

Omana Abraham

Michael S. Douglass

Rev. Christopher Moore

AnneMarie Wallace

IN MEMORIAM

John C. Marshall, III

John T. Leslie, Sr.

BOARD EMERITUS

Josephine Helland

Wonderful individuals, Churches, Hospitals, Foundations and public entities sustain POP through prayers and support; helping us serve one patient at a time!

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Tomas Arredondo

Jan & Fred Barton

Melissa Carbajal, MD

Ruth Cooper

Eleanor “Tee” Stowe Couch

Rev. Dr. Andy Dearman

Linda Douglass

Alan R. Evans

Jody & Jack Evans

Art Fallon

Ellie & Ryan Fanning

Rev. Cannon Bruce Gillingham

Carin A. Hagberg, MD, FASA

Ann Stewart Hardy

Rev. Dr. Bill Heston

Renee & Alan Helfman

Joyce & David Kadjar

Carter & Bill Lee

Carol & Jay Loucks

Donna & Judge Gordon Marcum, II

John McCreary

Mary Lee Merrett

Rev. Dr. Charles Millikan

Katy & Sam Murray

Edet Okon

Helen & Ron Stenzel

Donna Walden

Carol & Michael Watford

Phillip R. Webb

Nouha & Nadim Zacca, MD

Please pray for POP as we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and meet with God’s precious sick & suffering in their sacred need.