Staff and Students

Amy, Staff Chaplain, is a graduate of Covenant’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency program and is endorsed by the Christian Churches / Churches 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 chaplaincy, 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.

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 is attending Slidell Baptist Seminary and he is also a certified Men’s Health Coach. 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.

Christopher serves on our team as a chaplain resident. He embraces awestruck wonder, personal identity, and human flourishing as essential companions along life’s walk. Christopher was born and raised in South Texas (y también habla español), though he officially considers himself to be from Berrien Springs, Michigan, which is where he began maturing emotionally and spiritually, and developing as a leader. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and a Master of Divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Andrews University, then served as a teacher for teens at Bethany Christian Services, where his favorite subject to teach was Social Psychology. Christopher also finds intrigue in other topics such as literature, philosophy, journalism, and philology. Alongside his chaplaincy, he serves his faith community actively through church ministry. Beyond spiritual care, Christopher finds joy in sharing time with his wife Lusanni, reading, board games, and disc golf.

Clever is a graduate of Covenant’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency program and currently serves as a Duty Chaplain. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology and a Master of Ministerial Studies from Global University, Springfield, MO. With more than a decade of pastoral leadership in multicultural, multiracial urban communities, Clever served as a full-time pastor with the Assemblies of God in South Africa from 2012 to 2023. Appointed pastor in 2015, he oversaw church administration, Christian education programs, and pastoral care and counseling. His clinical chaplaincy training and extensive ministerial experience inform a practice grounded in dignity, respect, and unconditional care for all. Clever brings proven servanthood leadership, cross-cultural pastoral expertise, and a commitment to compassionate care to his role as Duty Chaplain.

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.

Emily, a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Resident, is a published author, playwright, director, and choreographer whose works have been performed across the United States, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. An Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she currently pastors St. Matthew AME in Lansing, MI, and previously served eight years in Jamaica, where she also held major leadership roles in the Annual Conference. She is the immediate past Connectional Director of Liturgy and Worship for AME Women in Ministry. She earned both her Doctor of Ministry in Formational Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary, where she has also taught and advised doctoral students. Emily’s joy and legacy is her family: son Donald and daughter-in-love Hadley; grandsons Adonis, Donald III, Richard, August; and great-grandchildren Miah, Kai, Ayla, and Halo.

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.

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.

Jules is a Resident in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Covenant HealthCare. A Roman Catholic priest ordained in 1999 after completing studies in philosophy and theology at the Catholic University of Central Africa (Cameroon), his journey later took him to Rome, where he earned a master’s degree in Family and Matrimonial Theology at the Lateran University. He then continued his academic formation in France, in the Archdiocese of Strasbourg, where he obtained another master’s degree in Catholic Theology, specializing in Social Sciences (2016). Since his ordination, Jules served in various teaching and pastoral care ministries, always maintaining a special closeness to the sick. Over time, this ministry of care and presence with those in vulnerable situations has become the very heart of his priestly vocation. This vocational journey has now led him to further his training and respond more deeply to this calling through participation in Covenant’s CPE program.

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.

Kathy, who is one of our duty chaplains, graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance and minors in management, law, and accounting. She spent many years in the banking industry and working at a casino in the finance and guest service departments. Kathy was raised in Ogemaw County and has always felt a strong kinship to the northern Michigan area. Kathy attends St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Gladwin, where she is a Lay Worship Leader and a Lay Preacher and has completed the two-year program for Congregational Development training provided by the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. She also completed 1 unit of clinical pastoral education (CPE) here at Covenant in May of 2025. Kathy and her husband Chris live in Beaverton and have 4 dogs, 2 English Springer Spaniels, Pearl and her son Sven, and 2 Papillons, Crystal and Mic, and a cat named Tiana.

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-year-old 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. In May of 2024 and May of 2025, Lafayette completed his 2nd and 3rd units of CPE here at Covenant. He is currently engaging in his 4th unit of CPE which will end in August.

Liz is serving Covenant HealthCare as a Certified Educator Candidate in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. She has earned eight units of accredited CPE with a specialized focus in palliative care, most recently completing a Palliative Care Chaplain Fellowship at Covenant. Her training also includes a CPE residency at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor and a CPE internship at the Servants of the Sick Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Before discovering her passion for chaplaincy, Liz worked in higher education, serving as Assistant Director of Campus Ministry and Director of Residence Life at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Saint Mary’s College and her Master of Divinity from Loyola University Chicago. Liz enjoys spending time with family, running, and her bulldog, Oscar.

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, who serves Covenant HealthCare as a duty chaplain, is a proud 1987 graduate of Saginaw High School and Cheyney University of PA in 1993. He later completed a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Saginaw Valley State University. In 2018, Roy began his formal chaplaincy training through Covenant’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, completing his internship, and earning certification for one unit of CPE. In 2024, he went on to finish the CPE residency program at Covenant. Before entering chaplaincy full-time, Roy dedicated nearly 25 years to education as a teacher at Saginaw High School, retiring in 2020. Roy currently serves as Superintendent of Christian Education at Lewis Temple COGIC. From 2020 to 2023, he also served as Interim Pastor of 9th Street Community Church (Mennonite) in Saginaw. Roy remains committed to his community as a coach and mentor, investing in the lives of youth throughout Saginaw.

Wally has completed two units of CPE here at Covenant and now is a duty chaplain. He 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 two grandchildren. Wally has been a high school football and basketball official with the MHSAA for the last twenty years.