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Hospital Chaplains Learn To Be There for Patients, Family

Decatur Memorial Hospital student chaplin Bob Jelks shares a prayer with Mike Poston and his wife, Linda, while he recovers from knee surgery. 9Herald & Review/Lisa Morrison)

DECATUR – Bob Jelks felt he was called to his latest endeavor by a higher power.

“I knew that God was after me,” he said. “I just knew his hand. He was after me, and I was running and ducking and dodging from him.”

Jelks, a prostate cancer survivor, is well-known around town for his work advocating for men who are dealing with the disease and promoting early detection. Now he’s taking on a new challenge as he completes a 10-week training course at Decatur Memorial Hospital to become a volunteer hospital chaplain.

“I’ve been taking care of men’s physical health, trying to encourage them to stay healthy,” he said. “Now I’m trying to help them take care of their spiritual side of life.”

Jelks said in his 63 years, he’s had “spurts” and “moments” of peace and contentment in his life, but since starting his chaplaincy training, he’s felt more at ease than he has in years. He said he appreciates the chance to help people in some of their most raw and emotional moments.

“I’m a field servant,” he said. “I like being out touching people personally, dealing with them one-on-one.”

The other members of the small class are the Rev. Terry Leach, pastor of Cerro Gordo Brethren Church; Rev. William Mitchell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Stonington; and Phyllis Howley, a current DMH staff chaplain. Under the direction of the Rev. Dan Spruell, manager of pastoral services at DMH, the students learn about skills and topics relevant to hospital chaplains and do four hours of patient visits each week.

Mitchell said one of the most important skills he has practiced so far is active listening.

“We’re asking questions that will help them talk about whatever their situation is right now, with the idea that there’s a spiritual component to their healing as well,” he said.

“We talk a lot about being present in the moment, focusing on the person,” Spruell said.