Many people move through life looking for a place to belong, to be truly seen, to be valued, appreciated, and even respected. Many at the Bethany Children’s Health Center have found a place among the loving staff, patients, and family members who can empathize and walk alongside them in their journeys. Dorothy (McGuire) Bayles found her place as Chaplain at Bethany Children’s Health Center, and her compassion, calmness, and empathy have given her unlimited opportunities to help others, from patients to family members to staff.
Chaplain Dorothy Bayles
One of seven sisters, born directly in the middle, Bayles remembers searching for her “place” and to be seen in the midst of a busy family. She felt a profound longing to be close to God and to have a personal relationship with Him. Dorothy describes herself as “intense and driven,” recalling how, even as a child, she wrestled with deep questions about God, her purpose in the world, and the path to eternal security.
Almost 50 years ago, Bayles volunteered at St. Paul Hospital in North Dallas, Texas. At the time, she was a student at the local Junior High School and doesn’t remember having aspirations of hospital work. She also volunteered at the YMCA on Saturdays, helping children with special needs. Reflecting on that time in her life, Bayles says, “The experiences we give our children, that my parents gave me, we don’t know what they’ll do, what effect they will have.”
A Young Dorothy (McGuire) Bayles (Far Left) Serving at St. Paul Hospital in North Dallas
At 15 years old, she found herself grounded for the summer after sneaking out of the house and attending a party. Her parents, however, allowed her to attend a Billy Graham gathering and a YoungLife youth camp, where she felt her heart stir like never before. Here, she would finally enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, resulting in a “radical transformation.” Bayles is thankful for the YoungLife leaders who took a special interest in her; they gave her books to read and 7 am classes to attend that helped to deepen her understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for her. When her family and friends saw the changes in her, they began to be curious about what brought this to be. Her younger siblings often accompanied her to these meetings, learning and growing in faith alongside her.
Bayles went on to study English at the University of Texas at Austin, where she would meet her husband-to-be, Christian.
Dorothy and Christian Bayles Today
The Bayles have been married for 41 years, with five children and 15 grandchildren. Bayles focused on raising her children for many years before returning to the workforce when her youngest was five; at that time, she began working at a local hospital (the Deaconess) as a Chaplain. After five years, she was asked to do some contract labor at Bethany Children’s Health Center. Eventually, she accepted a full-time position where she continues to serve. Chaplain Bayles completed her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) credits and even chose to study further, obtaining a Doctorate in Clinical Psychotherapy just two years ago. In total, she has been a chaplain for 20 years, with 15 of those at the Bethany Children’s Health Center in some capacity.
Bayles with Bethany Children’s Medical Center Resident
Bayles with Bethany Children’s Medical Center Staff Member
Bethany Children’s Health Center is a special place. Considered a rehabilitation hospital, the children who are in residence here come for an average of a two-month stay. While here, the staff try to make their stay as normal as possible, allowing for them to have many of the same experiences that children outside of the Health Center would have in their everyday lives. The facility includes dedicated classrooms where patients participate in educational programs tailored specifically for each patient’s needs. Throughout the year, they also take part in a variety of meaningful and celebratory events that mark important milestones. In May, for example, the gymnasium is transformed for a festive prom, complete with formal attire and joyful entertainment. Around Easter, patients engage in an immersive “Road to Easter,” a sensory journey through the events of Holy Week. Other annual activities include adaptive Easter egg hunts, candlelight Christmas services, baseball games, water activities, concerts, plays, and many more enriching experiences.
Recently, Chaplain Bayles has been embarking on a season of introspection, having come across some journals from when she was young. She has enjoyed looking back over the years and comparing what she thought she knew about God and her purpose on earth with what she has discovered to be true. She says, “Life is more beautiful – and full of more suffering – than I thought it would be.” Chaplain Bayles explains, “God shows up in people’s suffering; Jesus hangs out with the broken and the hurting in the dark. By proximity, working here, I get to be close to Jesus.”
Praying for Others Is an Integral Part of Bayles’ Job
Praying for Others Is an Integral Part of Bayles’ Job
Chaplain Bayles’ work at the Bethany Children’s Health Center is essential for the patients, the families, and the staff. She has found her place and has helped others do the same. She now leads a team of five chaplains at the Health Center, and she is still immensely enjoying this calling that she has embraced: “It’s going to be hard someday not to do this.” She works daily to keep her mind sharp and her relationship with the Lord “fresh,” explaining that she wants to have “unadulterated Living Waters to pass onto others. To be a conduit of His grace.” And that she is.
