David Efken

Background

About David Efken

My passion and life's mission is ministering to individuals and their families who are affected by an acute, chronic, or life-limiting medical illness. I view human beings holistically, as not just physical bodies, but also emotional, social and spiritual beings. Serious medical illness almost always provokes an intense existential crisis for the ill individual and also for all concerned friends and family members. Providing skilled spiritual and psychological care at the end-of-life is my specialty and love. My professional experience includes ministering as a hospital chaplain in the Emergency Room and on an Oncology Unit; and ministering as a hospice chaplain, providing a compassionate ministry of presence in the dying individual's home, whether a private residence or a room in an assisted living, skilled nursing, or memory care facility. Human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect - and not abandoned - at the end of their life. God has graciously blessed me with the spiritual gifts of compassion, mercy, and encouragement which empower me to joyously provide compassionate care and support to these individuals and to their families at this painful time. My passion is also to minister to these families after the death of their loved one by providing grief counseling and bereavement support, helping them to make sense of the loss and to make the difficult adjustment to reengage with, and continue living, their lives without the physical presence of their dear loved-one. I am humbled and honored every day to participate in this holy ministry.