About Us
Lifeline Chaplaincy has been serving the needs of the seriously ill in Houston and the Texas Medical Center since 1983. We are a ministry of the Churches of Christ and we place a high emphasis on supportive care of members and community, believing such hospitality is a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ. Inspired by the ministry of hospital volunteers, especially Marie Banister, we feel called to carry on the ministry of Jesus by providing comfort and compassion to the broken and hurting. We have been in Dallas and the surrounding areas since September 2005. We expanded this ministry into Central Texas July 1, 2008. And, now—2009 has seen it advance into Ft. Worth/Tarrant County. We are dedicated to providing compassionate support to the seriously ill, their families and caregivers, and to being an educational resource for crisis ministry.

Our Formal Ministry is the outgrowth of and an extension of a much longer tradition of volunteer service by members of the Churches of Christ. Volunteers are at the heart of our ministry. Our ministry has been expanded to include a professional staff, accredited formal education in crisis ministry, and other expanded services to meet the non-medical needs. We are supported by individuals and churches who have taken a special interest in our work. Our services are available to any and all Texas Medical Center, Dallas, Central Texas & Tarrant County area patients and their caregivers who have special needs. We provide a “lifeline” to the critically ill who have to contend with large metropolitan areas.

Our People are the heart and soul of our ministry. From our professional staff of chaplains and instructors to our trained volunteers, it is the personal touch that makes the difference. Our board of trustees, office staff and various individuals and churches provide administrative and financial support to our ministry. Our chaplains bring the expertise and training needed to provide quality care. Our trained volunteers extend that care to an ever growing number of patients and their families and/or caregivers. Interns, pursuing an education in crisis ministry, add even another element to the services we offer. All combined, we provide a network of caring people who offer a lifeline to those facing serious illness and loss.

Patient Visitation and Family Support are the heart and soul of our ministry. Our board of trustees, office staff and various individuals and churches provide administrative and financial support to our ministry. Our chaplains bring the expertise and training needed to provide quality care. Our trained volunteers extend that care to an ever growing number of patients and their families and/or caregivers. Interns, pursuing an education in crisis ministry, add even another element to the services we offer. All combined, we provide a network of caring people who offer a lifeline to those facing serious illness and loss.

We Attempt To Be Available To All Patients who desire visitation, and to provide any help we can in ways that will facilitate healing. A chaplain from the Church of Christ is available at the Texas Medical Center hospitals, the Dallas Metroplex and major hospitals in Austin, Temple, Tyler and Tarrant County.

Dealing With a Serious Illness whether one’s own or that of a loved one, is a load to bear in itself. Add to that the financial obligations, both medical and non-medical, that always accompany a critical illness. One quickly feels overwhelmed by the demands made upon one’s resources.

The Texas Medical Center, the Dallas Metroplex, and major hospitals in Central Texas & Tarrant County offer some of the best medial care available anywhere in the world. People come from every part of the globe hoping to return home sound in body and mind. For some the trip is affordable, but for others it is not. In fact, many do not make the trip simply because the expense of staying in a hotel, eating out, paying for parking and numerous other hidden expenses are beyond their means. Some come in spite of the unknown expenses and get by as best they can. Even if that means they have to sleep in the waiting room of the hospital or in the back seat of their car.

Lifeline Chaplaincy's Compassionate Touch™ Program seeks to ease this burden by providing a non-medical one time funding to in-patients being seen at an hospital.

Lifeline Chaplaincy's Compassionate Touch™ Program since June 1997 has continued to help provide some comfort to patients and their families whether the need is short-term housing while undergoing treatment, parking assistance, or just a meal to help feed a family member. Patient or their family member may contact the hospital's social worker in their area concerning qualifications for our program.