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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJust days after the dinner, Pastor Mayo was appointed as the lead chaplain, tasked with organizing and overseeing the program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI felt extremely honored to be entrusted with that responsibility,\u201d he said with pride. \u201cIt\u2019s been an incredible honor to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President of Lincoln Health, Mary Beth Seals, saw the need for this type of program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was important to me that we started a chaplain program again in our hospital,\u201d she said. \u201cPatients, visitors, and staff need a safe place a comfort in their time of need. I am grateful to the men and women who are meeting this need for us. This is another small gift we can offer in our community hospital. What better way to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officially launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the program started with seven volunteer chaplains, including pastors from various denominations and a dedicated hospital and hospice volunteer. Now, with eight chaplains on call, the program ensures that spiritual support is always available to patients and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t make daily rounds unless a chaplain wants to,\u201d Mayo explained. \u201cInstead, we operate on an on-call basis. If a patient requests a chaplain, the nurse contacts the chaplain assigned for that month, and if they are unavailable, a backup chaplain is contacted. This ensures that someone is always there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impact of the Chaplaincy Program has been profound. Mayo remembered a particularly heart-wrenching case: a woman who had been admitted to the emergency room while her husband was tragically killed on the job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe was about to undergo surgery the next morning,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing able to sit with her, pray with her, and offer scripture \u2014 she felt a peace in the midst of her grief. I followed up with her the next day, and though she was still grieving, she had a deep sense of calm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another chaplain recently ministered to a patient in the intensive care unit, offering support not only to the individual but to the entire family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe described how a great sense of peace came over them,\u201d Mayo shared. \u201cKnowing that God had used him as an instrument of comfort \u2014 it\u2019s incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program provides 24\/7 spiritual support, with chaplains available for emergency calls after hours, particularly in end-of-life situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s never a time when someone in need won\u2019t have a chaplain available,\u201d Mayo shared. \u201cWe are here to walk alongside patients and families during their most difficult moments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Mayo and his team of chaplains, this program isn\u2019t just an act of service for his community; it is a calling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see people being ministered to, finding peace, and knowing that we were part of that journey,\u201d he said. \u201cThis program isn\u2019t just about religion \u2014 it\u2019s about human connection, compassion, and the power of presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the support of Lincoln Health System and a dedicated team of chaplains, Mayo\u2019s mission to integrate faith into healthcare continues to grow. \u201cWe are making a difference,\u201d he said with certainty. \u201cAnd that is the greatest blessing of all.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PASTOR CHARLES Mayo has always believed in the power of faith to heal, comfort, and guide people through life\u2019s most difficult moments. His journey with Lincoln Health System began in March 2021 when he was asked to serve as a volunteer chaplain. Seeing an opportunity to minister to people\u2019s spiritual and emotional needs, he eagerly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":23770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/fayetteville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/DSC03021-1024x683.jpg\")
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