Sustaining Courage for Caregivers

The Bridge Center at Messiah University is hosting 8 educational courses for entry and mid-level Long-term care leaders. Each course will focus on a unique aspect of spirituality and will encourage Long-term care leaders in their personal journeys as well as provide tools to support their co-workers and team members. Courses can be completed as standalone events; or participants can earn a Certificate of Completion if they complete the “4 Core Courses” and 2 of the Elective Courses.

This is an elective course. REGISTRATION LINK

Marjorie Thompson and Henri Nouwen and other researchers have focused on the discipline of care while not taking responsibility for cure.  Such a role demands courage and spiritual development of the caregiver.  This course will develop understanding of how self-care and spiritual practices sustains a caregiver when there is no cure for the patient.

Presenters: Eldon Fry, D.Min is an ordained pastor with over  fifty years of service and founder of the nonprofit Open Hands- Spiritual Direction but most importantly the primary caretaker for his wife, Ginger, of 68 years who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.  He is a mentor to many, author of three books including “Spiritual Formation: Attention Along the Way”. He values stories and how they fit in with our larger story.     

Rev. Julia Bruton-Sheppard, M.Div. is ordained as a Baptist Minister. She is the Program Facilitator for Communication and Leader Development at the Philadelphia Baptist Association where part of her work is providing spiritual direction for pastors and writing diversity curriculum on Cultural Humility. Julia’s previous career was as a hospice Registered Nurse. She recently renewed her nursing license to join the COVID vaccine effort. She is a seasoned Spiritual Director and Kairos SDT alum.