What is
the Center?
The James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging is an interdisciplinary, Christian organization that seeks to enhance the spiritual, emotional and physical health and well-being of elders and their caregivers through sustainable, inter-generational ministries with and through faith-based communities. It is named in honor of/after one of world’s great theologians, Dr. James Houston, a colleague and contemporary of CS Lewis at Oxford and Founder and Chancellor of Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.
Who is
Involved?
The field of aging includes a range of disciplines in medicine, theology, psychology, law, accounting & finance, military chaplains, the social sciences, engineering, architecture, physical therapy, nursing, and history. Our center’s founder, Dr. Michael Parker, has a history of organizing interdisciplinary teams of Christians interested in translating the latest research on successful aging through and with local congregations and faith based ministries using a “think global and act local” strategy that utilizes modern technologies, regional conferences, education material and online programs including AgeReady, a dynamic, interactive tool that helps family members and friends of older adults plan for the challenges and joys of aging.
Core Values
& What
We Believe
Faith-based
Finishing well
Caring
Age is an asset
Family focused
Proven research
Purposeful living
Respectful
What We
Promise
Enhancing the spiritual, emotional, economic and physical well-being of elders and caregivers
Confidence and satisfaction that programs & elders have impact
Positive inspiration
Access to varied ministries
Dr. Michael W. Parker (1947-2025) - Founder
Michael W. Parker, Sr., LTCR, Ph.D./DSW, BCD (Board Certified Diplomate), Lieutenant Colonel – US Army Retired, was the founding principal and the Executive Director of the James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging. He actively collaborated with interdisciplinary teams of faculty and directors of late life ministries around the world. He was a retired Professor from the University of Alabama and held an appointment as Adjunct Professor with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care and served as a Research Associate with the Duke Center on Spirituality, Health, & Theology. He completed a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship in Gerontology at the University of Michigan funded by the National Institute on Aging. Parker has over 90-peer highly referenced, scientific articles on spirituality, aging, and caregiving. He served as Co-PI & Co-investigator on the NIA-funded R01 UAB Study of Aging and was a John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Social Work Scholar (2001-03) and Mentor (2011-13). He also co-authored with Dr. Houston on A Vison for the Aging Church (2011), and A Vision for the Aging Christian (2024).
Parker died on December 26, 2025 after a five year battle with Parkinson's disease.
Ethan Asters - Executive Director
Ethan Asters (MA, MSW) is the Executive Director of the James Houston Center for Faith & Successful Aging. He works alongside an interdisciplinary network of volunteer professionals who partner with faith communities to build relationships and share resources among congregations, older adults, and both current and future caregivers.
Ethan grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi and has worked in various ministry contexts throughout the Southeast including Birmingham, New Orleans, and Nashville. An ordained Baptist minister, he holds masters degrees in Religion and Theology, and Social Work. Following his father’s diagnosis of early-onset-dementia in 2019, and the loss of his father-in-law to CJD, Ethan experienced firsthand the challenges of caregiving. Ethan previously served as the Program Coordinator for the James Houston Center for Faith & Successful Aging. As executive director, Ethan is committed to exploring the intersections of spirituality, social work, and successful aging to resource individuals and their caregivers across the state of Alabama and beyond.
He and his wife Hannah live in Hoover, Alabama with their children Evie and August. Ethan is a graduate of Samford University, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and the University of Alabama’s School of Social Work.
Advisory Team
Dr. James A. Martin, Dr. Cindy Roff, & Thomas McCulley