New Chaplain Shares Hope at Tillamook County General Hospital

Danny Parada knows what living the mission of Adventist Health is all about. As the new chaplain at Tillamook County General Hospital (TCGH), he gets plenty of opportunities to minister to patients and staff alike. About half of Parada’s time is devoted to tending to the spiritual needs of hospital patients and staff, while the other half is spent ministering to home care and hospice patients throughout Tillamook County, Ore.

“As a chaplain, I meet our patients where they are at,” stated Parada. “I love the opportunity that this job gives me to share with patients and their families the love of God and hope in the second coming of Jesus Christ.”

While it would be impossible for Parada to be available around the clock, TCGH has found a way to make spiritual care accessible to patients, family members and staff 24-hours a day. To that end, Parada works closely with community clergy from eight Christian churches (including Ralph Neidigh, Tillamook Adventist Church pastor) to ensure that pastoral care is always available.

Parada comes to TCGH from Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore., where he recently finished additional chaplaincy training in hospital and hospice services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Montemorelos University in Montemorelos, Mexico, and is fluent in Spanish.

Featured in: July 2004