PEOPLE
rom the Texas-Mexico border to the communities of west Dallas and throughout the hallways of Baylor Scott & White Health , Mark Grace has spent a lifetime in joyful service to others . The steadfast faith of his parents — his dad a minister — fueled his passion at an early age . As a teenager , he worked as a missionary volunteer , ministering to small rural communities along the Rio Grande River , partnering with local organizations to meet the needs of asylum seekers , deportees , immigrants and refugees .
“ That really served as my model for what it means to serve people of all faiths and those of none ,” he said . “ Baylor Scott & White is not a church ; we ’ re a mission — we meet people where they are . I learned the importance of that as a 19-year-old working along the border .”
Throughout his tenure at BSWH , Mark led innovative efforts to create the System ’ s robust spiritual standard of care , which continues to have a profound impact on patients , families , communities and colleagues . Mark established the Office of Mission & Ministry ( OMM ), a pillar of the System ’ s Christian roots that paved the way for BSWH to provide direct spiritual care to patients . He also expanded the System ’ s clinical pastoral education programs , established Faith in Action Initiatives and created the Sacred Vocation and Faith Community Health programs — accomplishments he credits “ to the grace of God and the incredible creativity , faithfulness and dedication of my OMM colleagues .” Additionally , his spiritual leadership has most recently served as a guidepost for many as BSWH
After 33 years of faithful service to Baylor Scott & White Health , Mark Grace , vice president and chief mission & ministry officer , retired on January 31 , 2021 .
Amazing Grace
responded to the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Mark ’ s passion for ‘ serving people of all faiths and those of none ’ is a testament to his belief that spiritual health is an integral part of healing and well-being ,” said BSWH CEO Jim Hinton . “ Over the past three decades , he inspired all of us to be better versions of ourselves and to meet each day with compassion and grace — a legacy that will continue .”
“ It was a privilege to experience the heartbeat and soul of this organization firsthand and work with so many people who have a genuine calling to heal ,” said Mark . “ The faith-filled determination of our teams to bring their very best to those who rely on us for care , their courage and humanity in the face of so much need … I ’ ll miss that the most .”
An active member in his community , Mark is pastor emeritus at his home church in west Dallas , Iglesia Bill Harrod , a multicultural and bilingual community of worship . After retirement , he plans to continue supporting the underserved and underrepresented .
Since the start of the pandemic , the Office of Mission & Ministry has not wavered in its commitment to faithfully serve BSWH patients , staff and communities through innovation and teamwork that goes above and beyond . It ’ s an effort that will continue to bring hope , love and comfort through the end of the pandemic and after . For information on how you can support these efforts , please contact Craig Foster at 214.820.8196 or
Craig . Foster @ BSWHealth . org .
Ministering Throughout a Pandemic
While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a tremendous physical toll , it has also threatened the emotional and spiritual well-being of communities and caregivers alike . The BSWH Office of Mission & Ministry has been steadfast in helping thousands find strength throughout this challenging time . Examples of this commitment include : Ministry During COVID : Retooled video-based chaplaincy for inpatient care , allowing chaplains to safely minister to COVID-19 patients and their families using smart devices . Spiritual Resources for Staff : Created spiritual and emotional care resources for employees to support their well-being , including daily prayer blogs , support groups , etc . Family and Bereavement Support : Developed a process to better equip staff for supporting isolated patients as well as new bereavement plans for families , providing compassionate moments of support in times of physical distancing . Faith Community Health : Shared
COVID-19 health information , provided hygiene products , collected and distributed food , and maintained weekly telephone visits to support the
mental and emotional needs of patients and communities in vulnerable populations . Faith in Action Initiatives : Engaged community members and other individuals to create masks and face shields to help meet the personal protective equipment needs of BSWH frontline staff as they battled the pandemic from its outset .
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE DALLAS FOUNDATION NEWS / SPRING 2021