Life After Loss Support Groups

Throughout the year Valley Baptist Health System provides support groups for those experiencing grief because of the loss of a loved one. Our Life After Loss groups are held for six weeks, with a new group beginning every six weeks. Life After Loss provides an opportunity for learning, processing emotions with other grieving people, and mutual support. An American Cancer Society trained chaplain facilitates each group. If you have lost a loved one and are passing through grief, we warmly invite you to join a Life After Loss group.

Please call Pastoral Services at (956) 389-1194 for specific times and dates.

Surviving the Holidays During the holidays, we provide several one evening "Surviving the Holidays” educational grief support groups for members of the community. Two will be offered in November before Thanksgiving and two in early December.

For more information on Surviving the Holidays contact Pastoral Services at:
(956) 389-1194.

Minister Orientation

Area ministers who wish to provide hospital visitation to parishioners here at Valley Baptist Medical Center are strongly encouraged to register with the Department of Pastoral Services. Upon registration and completion of a one-hour orientation session, the minister will receive an identification badge that will help identify you to Valley Baptist staff as having a supportive professional relationship to patients and family.

This badge will identify that individual as a minister representing his or her local faith community. Use of this badge will facilitate better ministry within the medical center by quickly identifying that individual as a minister. Valley Baptist Medical Center staff and security officers recognize individuals with a Visiting Minister badge as ministers who are oriented to hospital procedures and visitation guidelines.

The one-hour orientation session is required of all ministers’ who wish to be registered with us. The purpose of the orientation is to:

1) Develop a relationship between the Department of Pastoral Service and the local religious community

2) Help facilitate the ministry of local churches at Valley Baptist

3) Communicate our support of spiritual care delivered here by the local minister

During the orientation, participants will learn procedures for locating and visiting hospitalized church members in different areas of the medical center such as Day Surgery and intensive care. Ministers will be oriented to services and assistance offered to them by the Department of Pastoral Care. Ministers will also be oriented to the culture of the hospital setting. During this time, a picture will be taken and the minister will receive his or her identification badge at the end of the session.

Please contact the Department of Pastoral Care for more information at (956) 389-1194 or karensmith@valleybaptist.net.

Pulpit Supply

Valley Baptist Health System chaplains are often called upon for pulpit supply by area ministers. If you or your church would like for a chaplain to fill in for you, please contact the Department of Pastoral Services.

Please contact the Department of Pastoral Care for more information at 389-1194 or karensmith@valleybaptist.net.