Virgil Fry, DMin

Director of the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition

Dr. Virgil Fry serves as the Institute’s Director of the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition (ISCC). In this role, Virgil facilitates several training and placement opportunities annually. Under Virgil’s leadership, the ISCC program focuses on providing trained spiritual care volunteers for underserved Houston area facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes. This engaging outreach program is allowing qualified volunteers to make connections with clients and residents of these communities, offering to journey alongside them at this juncture in their life. Virgil joined the Institute in May 2021. 

For 36 years, Virgil served as the initial Executive Director for Lifeline Chaplaincy, a ministry to hospital patients and caregivers in multiple Texas medical centers. He has authored two books, Disrupted: Finding God in Illness and Loss and Rekindled: Warmed by Fires of Hope (Leafwood, 2007).  He has contributed articles on spiritual resources on loss, crisis, and grief in numerous publications.

Virgil is an adjunct graduate professor for Abilene Christian and Pepperdine Universities, teaching a course entitled Theology and Ministry in Times of Crisis. He is a frequent presenter for community and chaplaincy sessions on effective ministry with the seriously ill and grieving. Virgil is also a resource for chaplaincy and clergy groups for self-care while providing spiritual care in crisis settings, and retreats offering spiritual resources in times of grief.  His own experience of losing his wife, Caryl, greatly impacts his awareness of these issues.  

Virgil earned his Doctor of Ministry in Christian Nurture at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biblical studies and a Masters of Science degree in Biblical Studies from Abilene Christian University. He is a retired Associate Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.  He has received several Christian Service Awards from universities.

Virgil enjoys recruiting, training, and connecting spiritual care volunteers through the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition.