Staff and Students

Amy, a 2023-2024 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Chaplain Resident, is ordained for chaplaincy by the Mt. Pleasant (MI) First Church of Christ. She graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible (MO) with a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership and has also taken graduate courses at Lincoln Christian University and Cornerstone Theological Seminary. Prior to beginning the CPE program, Amy served at a Christian camp, overseeing programs for retreats and for summer camps. Additionally, she has led church youth programs and has participated in outreach service trips. Amy and her husband are blessed with two adult daughters. Her family also includes a dog, Sammy, and a cat, Pepperwood. In her free time, Amy enjoys reading a variety of literature. She is honored to be a part of the Covenant HealthCare Team.

Betty serves as part of the Pastoral Care Team after many years of ministering in Saginaw area churches and in children residential foster care facilities and substance abuse recovery programs for adults and teens. Her background includes a BA in Education from the University of Toledo, an MA in Pastoral Studies from Marygrove University and another MA in Counseling from Spring Arbor University. She has additional educational experiences in Clinical Pastoral Experience (CPE) units through Covenant’s CPE program. Chaplain Betty enjoys ministering to patients, staff and visitors at Covenant with the WE-CARE values.

Chris, a former Clinical Pastoral Education intern at Covenant, is now an occasional duty chaplain. He is also a minister At New Life Baptist Ministries. Chris has been a Minister of Music for over 45 years. He was born and raised in Saginaw. He attended Jones Elementary School, Central Junior High School, Saginaw High and Delta College. Chris left Michigan after the plants started closing and lived in Tennessee for 25 years working as an unemployment manager. God placed in his heart to return to his hometown after retiring from the State of Tennessee to be with his mom and his brother in the work of God. Chris and his wife, Linda, have been married for 43 years and they have 4 adult children and 13 grandchildren.

Elsie feels honored and blessed to serve as an occasional chaplain at Covenant HealthCare after completing her four units of CPE residency in August 2021. She has brought a variety of experiences from her diverse pastoral background. As a pastor's daughter, Elsie has served in outreach programs across rural southern India and serves as a volunteer hospice chaplain. She spent 18 years in the quality engineering industry before being called into full-time vocational ministry. Elsie completed her BA in Ministries and BS in Community Development from Central Michigan University. She is continuing her education in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries. Elsie is ordained by the FRC/IAC chaplain’s network. Elsie completed her previous CPE unit from the Spiritual Living Center for Education and Training. She is passionate about people and caring for others in need. Elsie enjoys spending time with her daughter Sheena, her dog Missy, and two cats, Max and Jack.

Gabriel, Duty Chaplain, is a licensed minister in the Church of the Brethren. Previously, he was a Clinical Pastoral Education intern at Covenant HealthCare. He graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2023 with his Master of Divinity. In addition to chaplaincy, Gabriel works as a minister at a local church and helps lead a campus ministry. He grew up in the Great Lakes Bay region, and enjoys visiting his family who lives out West, walking trails throughout Michigan, and catching up on his reading list.

Henry is a 2023-2024 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Resident Chaplain. He is an ordained Priest of the Anglican Communion (Nigeria). Henry received a Master of Divinity degree (2013) from Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and a Master of Arts in Theology (2018) from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria. He has served in pastoral ministry for 13 years in the Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Nigeria. Prior to his call to pastoral ministry, Henry worked in the IT industry with various organizations, specializing in software development and database design and administration. He is enthusiastic about God, family, writing, and indoor games. He is happily married to Esther, and they are blessed with three children.

Janet, Staff Chaplain, is an Elder in the United Methodist Church and is endorsed as a chaplain by The United Methodist Endorsing Agency. She brings several different areas of experience with her. Janet has earned ten units of accredited clinical pastoral education with a specialized focus in adult behavioral health. She served the local church for seventeen years as a pastor, six years as a Life & Safety Officer at Wichita State University, two- and one-half years at the Department of Corrections and seven years in The United States Air Force. While serving in the military she had the opportunity to live overseas in Japan and South Korea. Janet earned her Master of Divinity at St. Paul School of Theology and BA from Southwestern College, Kansas. She grew up in Indiana and lived in Kansas for several years after serving in the military. She enjoys spending time with family, fishing, gardening, and her toy poodle, Teddy.

Jeff is a graduate of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship and residency programs here at Covenant and served as a duty chaplain before coming on staff full-time. Jeff received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Akron. He spent five years working in the engineering field before being called into full-time vocational ministry. Jeff and his family moved from Ohio to Michigan in 2000 so he could attend Grand Rapids Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2004. Jeff has pastored three churches and was ordained in 2009. He has served as a fire chaplain, hospice chaplain, and marketplace chaplain. Jeff and his wife have three children. He is a sports fan and enjoys running, skiing, golf, and yardwork. His dream is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews, the Old Course in Scotland.

Jeremy loves to connect with and encourage people. As a chaplain resident, he supports Covenant patients and their families alongside a great team of caregivers. Before entering this program, Jeremy served in pastoral ministry for seventeen years in multiple states and two countries. He earned a Th.M from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2005 and has also learned much about life's twists, turns, and adventures. He anticipates his life experience and formal training will help him empathize and offer hope to others. When not at the hospital, Jeremy enjoys being active, spending time with family, contemplation, and prayer.

Jimmy is a 2023-2024 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) resident chaplain. He is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. Jimmy holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University and previously taught theology at the collegiate and secondary level. In his free time, Jimmy enjoys writing and running. He recently completed his first unit of CPE at the Cleveland Clinic in the summer of 2023 and is excited to join the chaplain team at Covenant Healthcare.

Kathy, Director of the Pastoral Care Department, is a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She brought a variety of experiences to the role of director in July 2007, including being a high school math teacher, college professor, and Hospice volunteer. During her chaplaincy training, Kathy did her CPE internship at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center (in La Crosse, WI) and her CPE residency at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center (in Toledo, OH). For her Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry she specialized in hospital chaplaincy, and her Ph.D. is in Curriculum & Instruction. Kathy can be reached at 989.583.6037.

Lafayette gained ministry knowledge by attending Midwest Bible College in Pontiac, MI. He completed his 1st unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in 2014 and joined Covenant’s Department of Pastoral Care and Education as an occasional duty chaplain in October 2015. In 2014, Lafayette was installed as the second pastor of the 63-yearold congregation of the historic Bethlehem Baptist Church of Saginaw. Along his journey serving in ministry, he has been ordained and appointed as the Chairman of the Deacon Board, licensed and ordained as a minister. In December of 2023, Lafayette became a full-time duty chaplain, and is currently doing his 2nd unit of CPE.

Morgan, Administrative Associate, joined the Department of Pastoral Care & Education in May of 2022. She was born and raised in Mid-Michigan, and married her husband Thad, in June of 2022. Morgan previously worked as an administrative assistant for three years at a non-denominational church and found her niche for ministry service. In 2021, Morgan graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, with an emphasis in Biblical Studies, from Grand Canyon University. She is delighted to work closely with the chaplains and be a part of the Pastoral Care Department here at Covenant HealthCare. Morgan can be reached at 989.583.6042.

Ron, CPE Program Manager, Department Pastoral Care & Education, is an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He retired as an Active Duty Army Chaplain (Colonel) in 2022 and held hospital chaplain positions at every level of Army Medicine concluding his career as command chaplain to the U.S. Army Medical Command and Army Surgeon General. His CPE Residency was at Madigan Army Medical Center, his ACPE Certification Education Training at Brooke Army Medical Center where he was the CPE Program Manager and Director of Ministry and Pastoral Care. Ron earned his Bachelor of Arts, Religion from Asbury College, Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary. Ron is passionate about Practical Theology and ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education. He can be reached at 989.583.4279.

Roy is serving Covenant as an occasional employee. He married Delicia and is the father of Destiny and Dakari. He’s a 1987 graduate of Saginaw High and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1992. He earned his Master of Education in Educational Administration and an endorsement in Emotional Impairments from Saginaw Valley State University in 2000. In 2018, he completed a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship and received his CPE Certification of 1 Unit from Covenant’s CPE Program. He has been an educator at Saginaw High School for nearly 25 years and retired in 2020. Roy received leadership training with the Chamber of Commerce in Leadership Saginaw County, 1000 Leaders, and the Great Lakes Bay African American Leadership. Roy is ordained clergy in the Church of God in Christ and serves in the capacity of Superintendent of Christian Education at the Lewis Temple COGIC where he was trained in ministry for over 30 years. In his current capacity, he finds time to serve as Interim Pastor at the 9th Street Community Church (Mennonite) of Saginaw since March 2020. He is also a mentor for the youth of Saginaw City.

Seth loves to connect and encourage people. As an intern at Covenant taking on his first unit of CPE, Seth is excited to see how this unfolds in the aspect of his ministry. He is also a senior at Andrews University and plans to graduate in May of 2024. He plans to continue towards his MDiv in the fall. Seth loves to play basketball and watch basketball, draw, and listen to audiobooks in his free time. Seth enjoys looking at God’s creation and is in awe at the beauty of it all. Seth feels honored and blessed to be a part of the Pastoral Care team.

Wally is a current student of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship program here at Covenant. Wally received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Southern Indiana Baptist College in 2008 and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. He was ordained for pastoral ministry in 2010. Wally has served as Lead Pastor of a local church ministry in Lapeer County for almost ten years and as an Associate Pastor in Genesee County for nine years. Most recently, Wally has served as Lead Chaplain in two Michigan county jails and is currently a hospice chaplain in Flint. Wally and his wife Jennifer have been married for 30 years and have four adult children and one grandchild. Wally has been a high school football and basketball official with the MHSAA for the last twenty years.