One Mission

THREE INDIVIDUALS SHARE THE UNIQUE “WHY” BEHIND WHAT BROUGHT THEM ALL TO ADVENTHEALTH

One of the most important things that separates a faith-based health care system from other systems is just that – faith. At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, team members feel connected to the organization’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ. They sense the presence of God in their work, and that lifts them up and gives them a greater purpose. And through their God-given gifts, they each bring something unique to the table as they live out AdventHealth’s mission in their individual roles.

BY JULIE BUSCH

On May 22, Esther Jarrette, a lifetime member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, celebrated 50 years of service with AdventHealth’s Great Lakes Region. She is currently the project coordinator for Mission and Ministry, under the leadership of Mark Bondarenko, executive director of Mission Integration for the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. In addition, her husband, Michael, has been a team member at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale for 35 years.

Jarrette came from Trinidad & Tobago, where her father, E. F. de Gannes, was a Seventh-day Adventist minister and publishing director for the South Caribbean Conference. “My choosing to live a life in service to God and to be attuned to following the promptings of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life can be attributed to the foundation laid and example set by my father,” she said. “Daddy was unwavering in his commitment to his family and to doing the Lord’s work.”

After earning an associate degree in Trinidad, Jarrette came to Berrien Springs,