Meet our board of directors
Chaplain gALE kRAGT, Ph.d., DIRECTOR
Chaplain Gale Kragt co-founded Spiritual Care Consultants in 2007, and currently serves on the Board of Directors as President. Gale brings over twenty years of experience as a Hospital Chaplain and Senior Pastor delivering Christian maturity across all denominations. Currently, Mr. Kragt works with Pennock Hospital in Barry County as a Lifeline Coordinator and has worked in various Hospitals in Western Michigan as a Chaplain, along with serving as an Ordained Elder with the International Ministerial Fellowship, and as an adjunct professor with Kingswood University in New Brunswick, Canada.
Gale’s demonstrated passion for Christian curriculum development and work as a short term missionary has resulted in his ability to become an accomplished author. Currently, Gale Kragt has written both practical manuals and workbooks for Church leaders, college students, and medical professionals. Highly recognized, “Called to Serve,” is his book on the training of future church leaders to effectively serve in a hospital setting.
Pastor Gale is also involved with missions work with the Oglala Lakota Nation on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. This all started over 30 years ago when Pastor Gale was 18 years old. He went to live and work at Brainerd Indian school located near Hot Springs South Dakota in the middle of the black hills. There Pastor Gale Met Rev. Darrell and Rose New Plenty Stares and lived with them for three months. Over the past thirty years he has kept in contact the Rev. Darrell New Plenty Stares family. Then in July 2010 Pastor Gale was invited to Pine Ridge to be adopted as a part Pastor Darrell’s Family. Pastor Gale’s Lakota Name is “Wakan Wounspe Gluha Mani” which means “Walks With Spiritual Wisdom”. God has opened the door for Pastor Gale to continue the Lord work with the Lakota People. Pastor Gale would ask that you please keep the First Body of Jesus Christ and the Oglala Lakota people in your prayers.
Mr. Kragt is a graduate of Kingswood University with a Bachelors degree in Religious Studies, along with a Doctorate degree in Christian Counseling Psychology, from Carolina University of Theology.
E-mail: gale@spiritualcareconsultants.com
Dr. r. troy carlson, m.d., CHAIRMAN
Dr. R Troy Carlson is a board certified family physician. He is co-owner of Family Tree Medical Associates. Dr. Carlson completed both his undergraduate and medical degrees at Michigan State University.
Dr. Carlson has been a resident of the Hastings community since 1994. He has been an active leader and community servant during this time. He has served as both a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church of Hastings and currently serves his church as a member of the choir, Sunday School teacher, and Senior High Youth Group leader. He supports the Hastings Area School System as the athletic team physician. He serves as a current board member of the Department of Human Services and Thornapple Manor.
Dr. Carlson has worked more recently with Chaplain Gale Kragt to successfully develop and organize the vision of Spiritual Care Consultants to Western Michigan and his local community. He recognizes that the medical community has made great strides in providing healing services to the patient, however there has been a missing piece to the care provided, the spiritual component of a person’s being and therefore, health. Dr. Carlson is very excited to bring this aspect of care to the office setting.
Dr. Carlson is blessed to work with his outstanding staff at Family Tree Medical Associates. He invites all health care providers and patients to explore this component of health and incorporate it into our daily lives as we all strive to reach optimum health.
Jeff weiden, Chief Financial Advisor
Picture and Biography to come soon!
Barb pietrangelo, Finance Manager
Biography to come soon!
karen jousma, grant writer
Karen Jousma joined Spiritual Care Consultants of West Michigan as a grant writer and Board Member. She has assisted in obtaining financial support through grants she has written. Karen and her husband live in Hastings and have three sons and one daughter, and eight grandchildren. Over the course of twenty years they had twenty-two foster children and still maintain contact with some of them. Karen worked for seven years at Thornapple Kellogg Schools and in 1999 became the Executive Director of the Family Support Center of Barry County (formerly the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Barry County). The Jousmas’ are members of the Community of Christ Church in Hastings. Through life experiences she believes the mission of SCC a very important element in the future of healthy Barry County families.
Dr. james spindler, m.d., clp, prayer network & newsletter
Picture and Biography to come soon!
Judge Amy mcdowell, member at large
Amy currently serves as Circuit Judge for Barry County, originally appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Synder, in June of 2011, following the retirement of Judge James Fisher. With her vast experience and many qualifications in the practice of law, Amy is known as a “Judge for All People.” Previously, Amy was an attorney in Barry County for over 16 years and held a private practice for 10 years; with her last practice being with McPhillips and McDowell, PLC. Throughout the years, Amy has kept a consistent focus on trial litigation, criminal law, family law, including divorce, custody and support, and civil matters. Her areas of expertise have included Domestic Relations, Criminal Law, Estates, Corporations, Contracts and Bankruptcy. These are all areas of practice related to her current position as Circuit Court Judge and essential to the position.
Amy, along with her husband Brian, and their two children, Eddie and Katie, reside in the wonderful small town of Hastings, Michigan. Amy loves to relax while reading a great book, but also stays active while spending time with her family, enjoying hiking, biking, and camping.
norman barlow, Member at Large
Born in Hastings, Michigan september 6, 1941. Graduated from Hastings High in 1959. Attended Grand Rapids Baptist College, Grand Rapids Junior College, and Graduated from Western Michigan University in 1966. Major in Psychology, minor in social studies, History and Bible BA Degree. Certified Florist of Michigan State Florist. Married Carole Nelson October 7, 1966, with 4 Children, Star, Taune, Indya and Theron. Past Presidents of Barry Co. Chamber of Commerce, Grand rapids Area Allied Floral Association, Barry Co. Historical Society, Hastings Rotary Club Served on the Boards of Barry County Christian School, First Baptist Church, and Living Waters Church served on the tri county consortum , and spiritual Care Consultants, downtown parking, and downtown business team.
Been if the Floral Business since I was 12 years old at Barlow Gardens Florist owned by my parents Eugene and Norma Barlow...presently in Business with My Wife at Barlow Florist & Christian Bookstore 109 W State St. Hastings. Trusted Christ November 22, 1959 under Rev. Russell Houseman, First Baptist Church of Hastings, Michigan.