Chaplain Robert Smith has always been drawn to the water.
“I grew up on the coast and loved spending time in the pulsing, unending power of the surf. During seminary, I decided to become a river raft guide, something I have continued for over eighteen years,” shared Christian Living Communities (CLC)’s new Executive Director of Chaplain Services, at Holly Creek Life Plan Community office. Chaplain Robert Smith is coming up on one year since he started last April, after Chaplain Jim Kok retired from the position.
While they might sound completely different, guiding and chaplaincy have common ground.
“Sometime during my first years of guiding, I pondered what drew me so deeply to whitewater and rafting,” Smith shared. “The river is powerful, constant, and unstoppable. You cannot fight it, at least not for long. To navigate safely, you must work with its flow, understand its currents and work as a team with others in your boat. God, like the river, is eternal and powerful, inviting us to join His flow. But stepping into that flow is a choice; one we must continually make.”
Over the years, Smith realized that he enjoyed guiding not only because of rafting, but because of the opportunity to take others out on the river who might not otherwise get to experience it. The spiritual parallels are obvious. Smith’s path into chaplaincy, however, was not quite so straightforward. It was a journey that equipped him uniquely for his current role.
Smith grew up in North Carolina and initially got his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and explored a unique co-op opportunity with John Deere. While he “enjoyed the work, I didn’t feel like I was called to it,” he explained.
Smith decided to pursue ministry, beginning seminary classes through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 2009, he and his wife moved to Denver for Robert’s first pastoral placement. After various church roles, Smith began working at a retirement community where he’d led a Bible study while on staff at Cherry Hills Community Church. Smith discovered his skillset made him a perfect candidate for the community’s Security Supervisor position. He excelled at serving others in crisis situations but also knew he eventually wanted to return to ministry. After an eye-opening residency as chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital’s level 1 trauma center, Smith decided to pursue chaplaincy full-time and started as pastoral coordinator serving older adults.
Early in this role, he reached out to the current Executive Director of Chaplain Services Jim Kok for insight. “I wanted to talk with someone else in my shoes and found and reached out to Jim for coffee,” he explained.
Their initial meeting blossomed into a long-term mentoring relationship, and when Chaplain Kok announced his retirement, Smith submitted his application for the position. Both Kok and Smith’s current ED encouraged him to pursue the opening, and he was selected for the position after a careful vetting process.
“I chose to come to Holly Creek for a number of reasons. I wanted to work with a team that I can learn from,” he explained. “I also really value CLC’s vision to make quality senior care affordable to those who need it, and that the executive team invites chaplains to the table.”
Shortly after taking the position, Smith rediscovered old connections in both residents and staff who had encouraged him along his journey, including the former Cherry Hills Executive Pastor who is moving to Holly Creek in his retirement.
Smith’s new role “is multifaceted. I am first a chaplain at Holly Creek. I welcome new residents and get to know them,” he shared. “Then I can help people through crises and other needs.”
Smith coordinates with CLC’s other chaplains to lead church services every Sunday at a different community and they each lead small groups, classes (Wired Word at Holly Creek) and support resident-led spiritual life groups like Conversations that Matter and the Spiritual Life Committee. Smith is aware that it takes more than one person paddling to move a boat as big as Holly Creek – it takes partnerships.
“Partnerships and connections are key,” he shared. “I have partnered over the years with various outside churches and groups. Spiritual care is a group effort. Having more people involved is always better.”
One of Smith’s favorite aspects of working at CLC in his director of pastoral ministries role is leading the team of five chaplains, who are specifically trained to work with those of all different walks of faith.
“It is a very diverse team. We try to be true to our own backgrounds but with a broad reach. I always want input and love learning from them,” Smith said. “They all have different skills too, which provides an opportunity for us all to share what we have found successful and provide each other backup as needed.”
Last year, the combined team logged over 23,000 interactions, 17,500 of those with residents (in groups or one-on-one) – an average of 50 residents per day.
In addition to his pastoral roles, Smith is also serving CLC in his executive role. “I am encouraged to bring ideas to the executive table and keep us on mission,” he said.
Smith is currently helping CLC’s executive team launch a podcast called “Aging Unscripted,” interviewing Clermont Park resident Jane Vennard on an initial episode focused on spirituality and aging.
Smith expected his transition to Holly Creek and CLC to be positive, but it has been even better than he could have hoped. “The community here is smaller, which I enjoy. The people are very gracious, and both Chaplain Kok and CLC as an organization have set me up well for success.”
As he navigates the new, Chaplain Smith is also excited to continue and build upon the CLC’s solid pastoral foundation. He is particularly grateful for the generous support of the donor relations fund to support chaplain services, which is helping his team serve and meet unexpected needs. He’s also looking for opportunities to improve and share what Holly Creek/CLC are doing well.
“We know we are doing good things, but how do we know that we are meeting all the right needs?” He asked. “That is one of my goals this year – measuring our effectiveness. I also want to help other senior communities who do not have chaplains to improve residents’ spiritual health and empower them to address the loneliness epidemic.” he explained.
Older adults in a community aren’t on their own – they are in the same boat, literally. “Community living adds years to life, and life to years. I truly believe communities like Holly Creek add quality to life, but I also believe they add quantity too.”
Located in at 5500 E. Peakview Avenue in Centennial, Colorado, Holly Creek is owned and operated by Denver-based not-for-profit Christian Living Communities. CLC has been providing quality senior care in the south Denver metropolitan area since 1972.
