Valley Baptist Health System Presents “Minister’s Day”
June 10th, 2004

HARLINGEN, June 10, 2004 - Minister’s Day is a community service initiative sponsored by the Department of Pastoral Services at VBHS through the Pastoral Services Foundation Fund.

Donations to this fund help to ensure educational opportunities for hospital chaplains and the local religious community. If you are interested in making a donation to this fund, or attending our June 10th program, please contact Joe Perez at (956) 389-1194 or at joe.perez@valleybaptist.net.

Speaking this year, is Dr. Jim Somerville, pastor of First Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C.  Dr. Somerville holds a Master of Divinity in preaching and teaching and a PhD in New Testament studies from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  He graduated from Georgetown College, Kentucky, with a degree in Fine Art and from the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.  Before going to First Baptist, he was pastor of Wingate Baptist Church, in Wingate, North Carolina, for nine years. A native West Virginian and a lover of the outdoors, Jim is perhaps best known for his remarkable gift of storytelling.

Dr. Somerville has been published in Christian Century, Leadership, Preaching, Lectionary Homiletics, the Upper Room, Christian Reflection, and Preaching Great Texts. His church’s website is http://www.firstbaptistdc.org

This Minister’s Day is intended for the education of the professional ministers of the parishes in the Rio Grande Valley.

• There is no cost to the participants but space is limited to the first 125 registrants.
   
• Registration deadline is June 8, 2003.
   
• To make reservations or for more information, please call the Pastoral Services office at 389-1194 or email joe.perez@valleybaptist.net.
   
• The event will take place June 10th from 8:30am to 12:30pm at the Woodward Conference Center.

We believe to better facilitate the spiritual care of Valley Baptist Health System, we must interact and integrate our services with the local religious community. We affirm our participation in this ministry and service of spiritual care in partnership with the groups and organizations that symbolize and provide this care in our community. It is our aim to become a resource to the local religious community and also see them as our resource. Our patients’/families' best care is our goal. VBHS’s philosophy of service is spiritual at its core; and therefore, we seek to join forces with other spiritual caregivers to provide the best possible spiritual (holistic) care.