Pam Proudfit and Wanda Vaz, both chaplains at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore., were commissioned with ministerial credentials during an April 15 ceremony at the hospital.
Proudfit was born and raised in Jamaica. In 1988 she moved to the U.S. She began her secondary education in medicine with degrees in respiratory therapy and dietetics. She felt called to ministry and received a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary. She believes chaplaincy at Adventist Medical Center is her true calling and finds the mission consistent with her values and faith.
Wanda Vaz was born in San Antonio, Texas, and two weeks later moved to Florida. At age 11, she joined her mother singing in concerts around the state. At Southern Adventist University, she began her studies in psychology and religion, and then transferred to Andrews University. Vaz had an encounter with the Lord that changed her life. As a student missionary she had the opportunity to share her testimony of God's redeeming love and saving grace in concerts throughout Bolivia. After college, Vaz felt called to the seminary to study chaplaincy. In 2006, Vaz joined the Adventist Health Hospice team as a chaplain and considers this her dream job.
Those attending the ceremony included: Tom Russell, AMC president and CEO; Paul Crampton, Adventist Health assistant vice president for mission and spiritual care; Don Marsh, Steve Rude and Russell Cooper, AMC chaplains; Larry Roth, U.S. Navy, retired, and General Conference assistant Adventist chaplaincy ministries director; and Al Reimche, Oregon Conference president.
Dave Allen, Oregon Conference vice president of administration, and Al Reimche, Oregon Conference president, present Adventist Health Chaplains Wanda Vaz and Pam Proudfit with commissioning certificates. (Gary McLain)
(Gary McLain)
