By Loretta Fulton

Wesley Erickson, Director of Mission and Ministry at Hendrick Health, will speak on a topic he knows well at the Wednesday, Sept. 23, meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations.

Erickson’s topic will be, “A Day in the Life of a Healthcare Chaplain.” The public is invited to the luncheon meeting, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church, 1202 S. Pioneer Drive. 

Serving begins at 11:45, followed by a devotional, brief business meeting, and the program. A $3 donation is requested for lunch. The meeting, which ends at 1 p.m., is co-sponsored by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. 

Wesley Erickson

Erickson was born in London, where his parents were missionaries, and moved to Abilene in 2016 to be with his wife, Nicole, a physician assistant at Hendrick. While completing his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology at ACU, Erickson began working as a chaplain intern under former director Bruce Lampert in 2019.

He joined the Hendrick Hospice staff in March 2020. Erickson said his calling for chaplaincy grew during his time at hospice, as he learned from diverse teams like nursing, social work, and volunteers about offering compassionate care in end-of-life cases. 

He decided to pursue his calling for chaplaincy by enrolling in Clinical Pastoral Education at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. After completing his residency, he returned to Abilene to become the Director of Mission & Ministry at Hendrick in August 2023. Since taking on the role, he has been committed to expanding the holistic role of chaplaincy and spiritual care by professionalizing chaplaincy services to patients, families, and employees.

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene