An Interfaith Ministry – Mind, Body & Spirit

“You don’t come here to give up. You come here to live again,” says Dr. Gloria White Flowers, the Interfaith Chaplain at Sheltering Arms Institute.

The chapel is a place for everyone of all denominations to worship, offering respite for patients, family, friends, and staff members. She adds, “You will see every known faith on the beautiful stained-glass windows.”

“The Sheltering Arms Institute Chapel is an oasis – not just for prayer and reflection, but for solace and strength. I am grateful to Sheltering Arms Institute for recognizing that the rehabilitation journey not only involves the patient, but the family as well. And that journey can be lonely and overwhelming. The opportunity to reboot and find sanctuary in such a peaceful place is deeply appreciated,” says Madeline Mayhood, a family member of a patient.

Honoring the mind, body, and spirit connection, Chaplain Flowers meets with every single patient that comes to the Institute. She wants them to know she is always available to help. “As an interfaith chaplain, I provide a ministry of care and support, which respects the personal integrity and religious traditions of all persons. I assist our patients and families in using their inner strength, faith, and relationships to work toward understanding their present experience from a faith or spiritual perspective. Ultimately, their faith will lead them to full healing and wholeness.”

Her main objective is always to listen. Thanks to copious amounts of research, Chaplain Flowers honors all of the patients’ religious beliefs and brings a message of healing in a language they understand. For example, if the patient is of the Jewish faith, she uses messages from the Torah to help with recovery.

Chaplain Flowers has been with Sheltering Arms for more than 25 years. She concludes, “I have been called to a field where I can work with every faith, which I find very rewarding.”