NEWTON, Kan., (February 20, 2025) – NMC Health is proud to announce the appointment of Erin Johnson as the inaugural recipient of the Marvin H. Ewert Endowed Chaplaincy Position.
About the Endowment Fund
The Marvin H. Ewert Chaplaincy Endowment Fund will provide long-term support for Chaplain Services at the NMC Health Medical Center in Newton, Kansas. This endowment honors the legacy of Marvin H. Ewert, a respected community leader whose dedication was instrumental in strengthening the role of chaplaincy in healthcare.
“We are honored to steward the Marvin H. Ewert Chaplaincy Endowment Fund,” said Patty Meier, NMC Health’s executive director of development and outreach. “We also appreciate the Central Kansas Community Foundation’s interim management of these funds during the period when the hospital was without an active Development Department.” With the department now re-established, NMC is fulfilling the family’s wishes that the funds reside within the hospital. “In addition, we are pleased that Marvin’s family has committed this fund to endowing a chaplain position at NMC Health, ensuring their father’s legacy for new generations.”
Vallerie Gleason, President & CEO of NMC Health, expressed her enthusiasm. “The Marvin H. Ewert Chaplaincy Endowment Fund represents an ongoing and profound commitment to nurturing the spiritual well-being of our patients and staff. Rev. Ewert’s visionary leadership demonstrated how healing is enhanced by the integration of mind, body, and soul. This endowment will ensure his ideas and legacy continue to flourish. I can’t think of any better person to serve as our first endowed Chaplain than Erin Johnson. She’s a remarkable source of comfort for our patients, their families, and our staff.”
Brian Ewert, son of Marvin Ewert, shared his thoughts on the lasting impact of his father’s work: “My father was deeply passionate about the intersection of faith, healing, and community. This endowment is a fitting tribute to his life’s work, and I am grateful to see his vision for compassionate care being supported for future generations.”
For more information about the Marvin H. Ewert Chaplaincy Endowment Fund, to learn about supporting the fund and chaplaincy services at NMC Health, or to find out how to create your own endowment at NMC, visit www.mynmchealth.org/donate or contact Meier at patricia.meier@mynmchealth.org and 316.804.6219.
About Marvin H. Ewert
Marvin H. Ewert was born in 1925 and grew up on a small farm in South Dakota. His educational journey began at Freeman Junior College and continued at Bethel College, where he graduated in 1950 with a major in social studies and a minor in mathematics. It was during this time that Marvin became fascinated by comparative religions and psychology.
In 1950, Marvin enrolled at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago, and subsequently pursued a Master of Divinity at the University of Chicago. His studies centered on the interplay between religion, psychology, and sociology, leading him to engage deeply with Clinical Pastoral Education and chaplaincy.
In 1955, Marvin was recruited by H. J. Andres to serve as chaplain at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, KS. The evolving role of chaplaincy provided an avenue to continue the tradition of addressing the spiritual needs of patients as the deaconess era waned. By 1957, Marvin transitioned from chaplain to hospital administrator, maintaining a steadfast commitment to the spiritual and emotional care of patients, employees, and students alike.
The Marvin H. Ewert Chaplaincy Endowment Fund was established to perpetuate Marvin’s dedication to holistic care and to ensure that the crucial role of chaplaincy endures at NMC Health.
About Erin Johnson and the Endowed Chaplaincy Position
Erin Johnson brings a wealth of compassion and expertise to her role as chaplain. When asked about the value a chaplain brings to NMC Health, Johnson responded, “As chaplain, I am trained to identify and attend to the distress which can arise from health disruptions and crises.”
Johnson’s unique ability to offer empathetic support and guidance helps foster a healing environment where patients can find emotional and spiritual solace.
A self-proclaimed lover of stories, Johnson cherishes her role in listening to the personal narratives of patients and their families. “I love listening to people’s stories,” she shares. “Whether those stories are told to me by a patient as they review their life and engage in meaning making or by a patient’s family as they enter into the grief process, those stories are such a precious thing and it is always such an honor to be trusted with them.”
Johnson’s journey to becoming a chaplain is deeply personal. Reflecting on a pivotal moment in her life, she recounts, “My son was in the hospital when he was 8 months old. Sitting in that room with him was so scary and so lonely. It would have been so nice to have someone to talk to, to cry with, to pray with during that time.” This experience inspired her to pursue chaplaincy to be that supportive presence for others.
“I choose to be a chaplain so I can be that ‘someone’ for patients and their families,” Johnson explains. “In this endowed position, my goal is to make sure that patients and their families have the opportunity to process their illness and hospitalization and to receive care to meet their emotional and spiritual needs.”
