Pastoral Care

Bio coming soon

Chaplain Jenny Schindler grew up in Missouri City/Sugar Land, Texas and now calls Galveston home. She obtained her bachelor degree in public relations from Texas Tech University. She earned her master degree in Christian Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Chaplain Schindler completed her CPE residency at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, TX and a chaplain fellowship in pediatrics at McLane Children’s Medical Center also in Temple, TX. She is a board certified chaplain through the Association for Professional Chaplains.

Jenny has been serving in ministry for over 20 years. She enjoys camping, and is currently on the board of a Christian camp in the Texas hill country. She has been involved in pre-school ministry, youth groups, and singles’ ministry. She enjoys being outside, going to the beach, biking, hiking, photography, and spending time with friends and family. She attends Coastal Community Church in Galveston.

The basis of Jenny’s ministry is God’s love. 1 John 4:11-12 says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” Showing God’s love to someone will hopefully help them with whatever they need whether that is healing, forgiveness, finding hope, peace, or meaning in their situation.

Rev. Simon John, M. Th, BCC, APC is an Ordained and commissioned Minister by the Pentecostal Church. His theology is: God created human beings in God’s own image. It means all human beings are God’s creation, and life is a God’s valuable gift. “God so loved the world” it implies each life is scared and each person has equal worth and dignity.

Born in India, Chaplain John completed seven units of Clinical Pastoral Education at both Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center (TMC), Houston, (3 Units) and Memorial Hermann Hospital (TMC), Houston (4 units) where he attained working experience in ICU, MICU, SICU, Neuro, Ortho/Trauma, Family Medicine, Transplant unit, Children Hospital and ACE unit in a Level I Emergency center. Chaplain John’s ministry in the church includes 17 plus years of licensed and ordained Pastoral Ministry experience.

His work outside of the church includes his work as a Registrar and Professor in a Theological Seminary with 13 years of experience in managing the academic administration of more than 200 students. Chaplain John has served as a Volunteer Social Worker and his hobbies include: cricket, watching TV, andr reading. Chaplain John is married to Seny and they have three children: Gladson, Gladys, and Gloria.

My name is Chaplain Vera Lewis. I am a contemplative, and an empathetic listener who seeks to share joy and peace in all moments of life. I interact well with different personality types. I look forward to offering authentic acceptance for patients, their family, and staff. I enjoy creating contemplative and safe sacred spaces, and a caring and confidential environment in which people can share their sacred stories, emotions, values, hopes and dreams for life. I feel privileged to witness those times when people experience transforming love, acceptance, and healing.

For enjoyment and self-care, I do Tai Chi and Qigong, work in my garden, listen to calm meditative music, meet with my personal spiritual director, and participate as a member of a Peer Supervision Group. I plan to be a reliable asset to the UTMB Organization.

I am Linh Nguyen. You can call me Chaplain Nguyen. Dr. Nguyen or Rev. Nguyen. I was ordained Deacon and Elder in the United Methodist Church in Redland, CA. I came from Vietnam, my homeland, through a refugee program and settled in Los Angeles in 1983. I became a US citizen in 1988. My theology is: God is always actively at work through Jesus Christ of Nazareth in the power of the Holy Spirit to save, to heal and to deliver people and so am I.

My undergraduate degree was BA in Psychology at California State University, Northridge in 1990. I pastored for 8 years in Southwest Houston since 996 to 2004 to develop a ministry among the Vietnamese refugees and immigrants. I completed my Clinical Pastoral Education program in Houston at the Texas Medical Center in 2004 and I have worked as a Chaplain ever since. I love to engage with people and connect with people through listening and offering the graces of Jesus Christ.

I have been hosting a radio program on KREH 900 AM about youth and Social Issues since 2001 and I hosted a TV program called the Religious View.

I attend a local church with my family and I am loving God’s people as I have learned to love myself and grow in His grace. I love to walk along the beach, take pictures and listen to music.

I am married to Caroline and we have 3 children Lisa, Steven and Ricky.

Jim Joseph George (Yes 3 first names) grew up in a tiny island in the Middle East called Bahrain. After schooling he moved to India (the Motherland) for higher studies. He completed an Advance Diploma in Flight Operations Management and Dispatch. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Southern Asia Bible College.

Jim is compassionate about reaching out to the less fortunate which is why he worked with a NGO in India in Interventions that was involved in identifying, rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking for Labor and Sex Slavery for 3 years.

Jim moved to the US in 2018 with his one and only older sibling, Jean and stays with and takes care of his parents. Jim completed 3 units of CPE as a resident with Houston Methodist Sugarland and 1 more unit of CPE as an Intern with Houston Methodist Hospital in the Medical Center.

Jim plays the keyboard in church and has been doing so for a very long time. He enjoys listening to and playing music, cooking with the family, road tripping and the occasional computer gaming.

Ezekiel 22:30 serves as the basis of his ministry and passion to serve all those who might be less fortunate and do what others might not consider doing. Living a life to give freedom, hope to those who might not have it or have never seen it.

Rev. Sam Varughese is originally from South India but was born and raised in Kuwait. He, along with his parents and family were forced to move back to India during the Gulf War in 1990-91. He has a BA in English Language & Literature and moved to the US in 2004 to further his higher studies. In 2008, he graduated from Criswell College in Dallas with a Master of Divinity degree.

Rev. Varughese is an ordained minister with a Pentecostal Organization. He began his chaplaincy journey in 2010 and has completed Level I & II CPE training with 9 units, all from Children’s Medical Center in Dallas (now Children’s Health). His primary focus of ministry was Pediatric GI & Transplant units, as well as on-call chaplain for overnight ED & Trauma calls. Sam has worked as a Chaplain for Children’s Health, Baylor Scott & White Health System and as a Hospice Chaplain.

In 2016, he and his family moved to Houston to serve as Associate Pastor at a local church. After completing his 5-year tenure at the church, he is taking a hiatus and is currently pursuing his Doctoral studies at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie.

He is married to his love of 13 years and are together blessed with 3 princesses. He loves to play the piano, to travel and go biking.

His Pastoral Theology in Chaplaincy is based of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “… the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”.

I am Fr. Johnson Pappachan, an ordained Priest of the Orthodox Church with 29 years of parish ministry experience in India and the United States. I am a spiritual care minister with hospice experience, providing emotional and spiritual support to a diverse population. I counsel individuals who have difficulties in life or are facing end-of-life issues and provide spiritual support to my fellow staff members and Caregivers.

I earned four units of CPE from EMORY in Atlanta and a residency in Chaplaincy at Memorial Hermann in Houston, TX.

I am well-versed in performing end-of-life rites, Holy Anointing, and Holy Sacraments. I believe that I am a diligent, highly motivated, passionate, and results-oriented person in all facets of my ministry. I have four years of experience working as a Chaplain, offering emotional and spiritual support to patients and families facing illness and complicated medical decisions. Additionally, I have experience providing end-of-life care to Covid-19 patients and their families. I am a life-long learner to incorporate educational background and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Chaplaincy.

My Theology

"All may be one." It would be a significant step toward Christians recognizing one another across denominational lines. Our Lord Jesus Christ inspired us, encouraged us when difficulties arose and guided us past all abstract and material impediments to a satisfying conclusion: "They are birds of the same feather flying in different directions toward a common goal." Regardless of race, social class, religious beliefs, or position of influence within the church and community, my attitude and actions will treat all my fellow human beings with dignity and respect.

My goal is to be a better human being.

Chaplain Donna grew up in Clear Lake City, Texas. Though her college and seminary years took her to other places, she now calls Clear Lake City home. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Howard Payne University. She earned her Master’s degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Chaplain Hussey completed her CPE residency at Houston Methodist Clear Lake in Nassau Bay, Texas. She is currently in the process of becoming a board-certified chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Donna has served in various student ministries for over thirty years. She will be celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary with Mark and has three children. She enjoys vacationing with friends and family, spending time with people, and enjoying the beauty of nature, particularly the bluebonnets! She is a lifetime member of PTA, been involved in Girl Scouts with her daughters for over twenty years, and serves on the Alumni Board of her alma mater, Howard Payne University. She attends Sagemont Church in Houston, Texas.

Donna’s ministry focus is following the example of Jesus who “sees” people where they are. Through hearing their story, being present with them to support or guide them, it is her hope that whatever need they have, she can provide for that need and be the hands and feet of God.

Rev. Dr. Tammy Isaac is a Houston, TX native, a licensed ordained Minister, a Chaplain, a Certified Life Coach, Certified Grief Counselor, Board Certified Christian Counselor, and author. Dr. Isaac holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Speech Communication from Texas Southern University, and Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology. She did post graduate studies abroad at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. There she studied Coexistence in the Middle East and experienced the challenges of human diversity overseas where civilizations, religions and cultures converge. Dr. Isaac received her Doctor of Ministry degree at Houston Graduate School of Theology. She volunteers at the Star of Hope Women’s Shelter, participates in numerous outreach efforts in the community and is an advocate of breast cancer awareness and heart health awareness. In her spare time Dr. Isaac enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with family, and loving on her two dogs, Birdie Blu, and Bailee Rae, whom she loves dearly. Dr. Isaac founded a private counseling practice called Breathe Counseling Center where she focuses on Grief Recovery Support and Christian Counseling.

Rajagopalan RAVI Iyer is from Hyderabad, India (7th largest city – population 10.8 million). He graduated from a Roman Catholic High School (1969). He completed his Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University (Hyderabad 1975) and a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater 1976).

He is a retired Chemical Engineer pursuing Chaplaincy to serve humanity. He has been a beneficiary of Chaplain services for a couple of decades. They impacted him positively when he served in the US Air Force Reserves, and as a patient in Hospitals. He was an elected Chaplain for the Reserve Organization of America (ROA) for two years.

He had the privilege and honor of giving the first Hindu Invocation in Texas ROA history, as a Chaplain, at its annual State Convention in 2015. He has given back to his community as a Volunteer EMT for 8-years. He has a Certification of Spiritual Care Training from the Prayers of the People. He has completed the Dharma Ambassador certification by the Hindu American Federation. He has completed 12-graduate credits in Hindu Spiritual Care. He has also completed the Buddhist Vipassana course and participated in an Eckhart Tolle retreat. He is presently pursuing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at UTMB. As a Hindu, he has been and continues to be associated (congregation member) with the Mata Amritanandamayi Center (San Ramon, CA) since 1998 as an active Texas volunteer.

He grew up in Hyderabad with Muslim, Christian, Jain and Hindu friends and classmates. He served in the US Armed Forces along with Christians, Mormons and Jews. His Mata Amritanandamayi Center volunteer activities have also been with global people of all the prior mentioned faiths. His multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-national upbringings and involvements, have provided the varied lifelong exposures and sensitivities, to prepare him for chaplaincy. In retirement, he wants to give back to society as a Volunteer Chaplain. He is thankful to UTMB for initiating this journey in earnest through the Clinical Pastoral Education in 2022.

Ravi is passionate and compassionate about providing humanitarian and holistic value-based empathic spiritual care unconditionally and non-judgmentally to all.

Chaplain Wayne Skinner is a life-long follower of Jesus Christ and he is the son of a retired Pastor.

Wayne holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Divinity Degree in the field of Chaplaincy. He worked for over 20 years in the Southern California mortgage industry. He then spent 4 fruitful years at a non-profit organization that provided job placement for adults with developmental disabilities.

Wayne has been co-leader of a unique Men's Ministry group since the year 2000. He also was engaged as the Master Facilitator for Fatherhood Academy, a twelve-week course designed to enrich and enhance the lives of fathers, their families, and their communities.

Chaplain Wayne is a published author. His first book, "Heavenly Romance" was released in the winter of 2019 and has been read and enjoyed by many.

Wayne is the Men's Ministry Leader at the Fondren SDA Church in Missouri City, TX.

He is married to the lovely and talented Dr. Fiona Lindo. They currently reside in Spring, TX.