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INTRODUCTION
2001 may go down as the most
significant year for Church of God Chaplaincy Ministries. Two important
factors contributes to this reality: 1) We now have more than 1,300
chaplains, serving around the world in 32 different specialized areas of
ministry; and, 2) with the September 11 terrorist attacks, chaplaincy
has suddenly become a household word for the Church of God and the
people around the world. September 11 gave focus to the tremendous need
to have persons with specialized, professional training, expertise and
calling to respond to families who lost loved ones in terrorist attacks,
the thousands of inmates who are confined to our jails and prisons, and,
the misery experienced by those confined to hospitals or in other such
desperate situations. The Church of God can be proud of the fact that it
has a highly dedicated core of chaplains and other specialists to give a
response of care to a hurting world. During 2001, through chaplaincy,
the Church took its ministry of care "beyond the gates" to
unbelievable places. This report underscores the challenge and success
of Church of God Chaplaincy.
MILITARY CHAPLAINCY
CRITICAL ASSIGNMENTS
 This past year chaplains were assigned to many areas, both within the United States and outside. These assignments included Bosnia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Korea, Macedonia, Okinawa, and some combat areas that we are not privileged to mention. Many military chaplains were also sent out on short assignments with their specialized units. One of our reserve chaplains, Army Chaplain Ray Williams, is currently assigned to Bosnia, where he serves as a regional chaplain. Along with several other military chaplains, Chaplain Williams celebrated Christmas in Bosnia with worship services, gifts for his troops and other special events. On Christmas Day, he volunteered to pull some eight hours of guard duty in order that his soldiers could have that day free. In these remote assignments, our chaplains led hundreds to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as well as took care of military personnel, whose lives had been seriously interrupted by these overseas and special assignments.
 Without a doubt, Church of God chaplains receive some of the military’s most prestigious awards/commendations. Let me list just a few: Army Chaplain Robert Jenkins, Navy Chaplain Larry Cripps, and Air Force Chaplain Paul Stewart were all given special commendations for their work during and following the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Army Chaplain Richard Pace, following his assignment at the Chief of Chaplains Office, was selected for the distinguished assignment as the 82nd Airborne Division Command Chaplain. Chaplain Pace was the first Church of God Chaplain ever to be assigned as a Division Command Chaplain. Army Chaplain Charles Howell, upon completing the Army’s prestigious Command General and Staff College, was assigned to the US Army Chaplain’s School as one of its Directors. Army Chaplain Bryan Walker was selected to attend the Army Command General and Staff College. A number of military chaplains were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and other unit ribbons and awards.
Military chaplain’s families are greatly impacted by the current world situation facing our nation. They are asked to maintain the home front, with dignity, while their companion is on a short or long combat or other critical assignments. They have done so with much success. Brenda Pace, wife of Army Chaplain Richard Pace, continues to serve as the President of the Protestant Women of the Chapel. Other chaplain’s wives work in special compassion relief programs, serve as music ministers in chapels, and, as in the case of Army Chaplain Calvin Eastham’s wife, Barbara, teach school in one of the Army educational systems.
CHAPLAINCY TRAINING
2001 found Church of God Chaplains in many post-graduate training programs. Army Chaplains Joe Melvin, Randy Imhoff, and Mickey Jett were involved in specialized post-graduate program in Family Life Ministries. One of these programs is under the directorship of Church of God Chaplain (Ph.D.) David Moran. Church of God chaplains were also selected for military war colleges, staff colleges, specialized post-graduate university and seminary training and other such programs. As a result of the on-going training opportunities for military chaplains, our chaplains receive Clinical Pastoral Education Training, internships in Family and Marriage, training in suicide prevention, domestic violence, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other needed care areas.
EVANGELISM/WORSHIP
Church of God Chaplains are not only great caregivers, but they exceed with unbelievable results in their preaching and worship leadership. Most Church of God Chaplains, in addition to their other duties, are responsible for general worship services, as well as Pentecostal and contemporary services. They prove themselves to be most effective in their evangelistic outreach, singing, and tremendous gospel messages. In just one service, conducted by Army Chaplain Charles Howell, more than 400 came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is estimated that more than 3,000 new converts are won to the Lord each year through our Church of God military chaplain’s ministries.
DENOMINATIONAL ACTIVITIES
 Military chaplains, in addition to their base and post assignments, are very active in denominational ministries. Military Chaplains Robert Jenkins and Ridley Usherwood (pictured at right) serve on the Ministry to the Military Board, Navy Chaplain Jerry McNabb on the Chaplains Commission Board, and a number of our chaplains serve on state and other boards. Church of God Chaplains serve as leaders in local churches and military centers, teach in Ministry to the Military Retreats and, are often called upon for special Camp Meeting and God and country services.
SEPTEMBER 11 AND ITS IMPACT
 September 11 had a serious impact on military chaplains and chaplain’s families. A good number of our chaplains were called to active duty from Reserve service in response to this international crisis. Several Church of God chaplains worked directly, on-site, at the Pentagon, Ground Zero in New York. With chaplains being called out with their troops, their families have also been impacted. We expect that 2002 will be no different. Chaplains and chaplains’ families are already gearing up for the reality that many military chaplains will be joining their units for duties in such places as Afghanistan, Korea, Bosnia, and other hot spots.
NEW APPOINTEES
During 2001, the following chaplains were assigned to active duty, Reserve or National Guard service: Gloria Tyner, Chuck Popov, Eugene Mack, Everett Franklin, Lance Gianonne, Scott Ingram, Jonathan Hurt, Roderick Swanson, and Dasha Somaratna.
CORRECTIONAL CHAPLAINS
CRITICAL ASSIGNMENTS
 The Church of God has more than 500 full-time or volunteer prison and jail chaplains, many in high-level supervisory positions. Chaplain Gene Wigelsworth, Mississippi, and Chaplain Hector Chiesa, New York, are directors of statewide programs. Several of our chaplains are senior directors at local jails and prisons. Chaplain Raymond Lankford, with a staff of ten chaplains, is director of one of the largest prisons in the world. Parchman Penitentiary has almost 10,000 inmates. Other prison directors are Chaplains Gary Cox, Arkansas, Ralph Garofano, South Carolina, Raeford Wiggins, North Carolina and Frank Vloch, Ohio. With more than two million men and women incarcerated in the United States, this is a great opportunity for ministry.
CHAPLAINCY SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS
Because of the complexity of prison ministry today, correctional chaplains, for the most part, must have a Masters Degree level of training. Their training must consist of Clinical Pastoral Education, domestic violence, racial reconciliation, conflict management and other special programs. Many of our chaplains who serve in prisons are trained ethicists, drug and alcohol counseling specialists. Chaplain Bill Whittenberger, Yuma, AZ, attended the FBI’s Hostage Negotiator’s Course and is a Team Leader of his prison’s Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team. Prison Chaplain Gary Cox, Arkansas, has developed a nationally renowned program called Life Skills, which is designed to help inmates cope with present family issues and gain social skills to function when they return to civilian life.
DENOMINATIONAL ACTIVITIES
During 2001 our jail and prison chaplains were deeply involved in local, regional, and statewide Camp Meetings, prison ministries training programs, and in advance prison training programs for pastors and other prison workers. Prison Chaplain Ron Padgett serves as the Commission’s Coordinator in the development of these denominational programs.
AWARDS/COMMENDATIONS
Many of our prison chaplains received special commendations for their personal and professional ministries. Dr. Hector Chiesa, Director of New York Prison Ministries, was given special recognition for hosting several 18-wheeler loads of Operation Compassion goods in support of the victims of the terrorist attacks on New York. Prison Chaplain Ralph Garofano was certified as a Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor. Many of our jail and prison chaplains were honored by city and county police and correctional agencies in response to the September 11 terrorist attack.
EVANGELISM/WORSHIP
During 2001 our jail and prison chaplains won hundreds to the Lord. They sponsored local and state-wide special prison worship and teaching sessions, conducted workshops for the Church of God National Jail and Prison Conference, and led Life Development Training and many other evangelistic programs.
CLINICAL CHAPLAINCY
GROWTH IN CRITICAL AREAS
Church of God chaplains are now serving in many clinical areas to include Veterans Affairs Hospitals, denominational hospitals, hospice programs, hospitals within prisons, and, a number of Clinical Pastoral Education supervisory programs. In these areas, chaplains serve on many critical boards and committees as medical and rehabilitation centers deal with such questions as organ donors and transplants, committees looking at pediatric special issues, euthanasia, and more recently, ethics involving the possibility of cloning.
TRAINING/RESEARCH
During 2001 Church of God clinical chaplains were involved in Clinical Pastoral Education, physical rehabilitation, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, suicide prevention, and several programs dealing with special care for children. At the present time the Church of God has the following CPE supervisors: Robert Crick, Ralph Garofano, Keith Munford, Randy Shoun, and Dean Luther (in training). The Church of God is most fortunate to have these specialists as we face new ethical questions involving the relationship between the physical/emotional and the spiritual.
NEW APPOINTEES
Chaplain John Renfro, Conway Medical Center, Conway, South Carolina, Chaplain Ralph Garofano, CPE Supervisor assigned to Greenville Hospital System, Chaplain Gloria Tyner, Mental Health Chaplain, Mississippi State Hospital, Chaplain Susan Harper, Hospice/Home Health Chaplain, Hutchinson Hospice, Georgia, and a number of chaplains in Clinical Pastoral Education and other clinical specialist programs.
DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES
Church of God Clinical Chaplains have served as trainers for our local and regional pastor’s conferences giving focus to community, and clinical ministries. This training has focused on alcohol and drug rehabilitation, domestic violence, pediatric care, suicide prevention and other clinical emphases. All of our Church of God clinical chaplains are trained at the Masters Degree level with residencies in clinical programs, as well as, for a large number, Doctoral level training.
PASTORAL COUNSELORS
CRITICAL AREAS
During 2001 the Church of God Chaplains Commission put great emphasis on the development of the local church and regional pastoral counselors. These counselors are now working in industries, a drug and alcohol counselor at the race track, social service agencies, counselors as part of the Seaman’s Ministries, local churches, the trucking industry, counselors at large universities, and counselors at several drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and domestic violence shelters.
TRAINING/RESEARCH
During 2001 several of our endorsed pastoral counselors completed Doctoral level training in such areas as Community Service Ministries, Pentecostal models for counseling, dealing with children who are terminally ill, and the development of Pentecostal pastoral counseling programs for local churches. In addition to those in Doctoral work, Church of God pastoral counselors conducted many workshops and other training events for local pastors and statewide ministry conferences.
SOME NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During 2001 Pastoral Counselor Ray Alexander became a trainer in the Community Service Ministries Program, Rudy Burroughs was certified with state and regional counseling associations, and Lloyd Looney completed the work for a Doctorate, focusing on the history and process of Pentecostal Counseling.
CIVIL AIR PATROL CHAPLAINS
 With the terrorist attack of September 11, Civil Air Patrol Chaplains are very much in the spotlight. As you know, these chaplains are involved with Civil Air Patrol units during times of search and rescue operations, drug interdiction operations, leadership training, and, in many cases, joining with the homeland security efforts to protect government and other facilities and individuals. During 2001 several Church of God pastors were commissioned as Civil Air Patrol Chaplains and are deeply committed to this specialized ministry.
COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAPLAINCY
OUR FASTEST GROWING MINISTRY
During 2001 the Church of God Chaplains Commission trained and endorsed hundreds of new Community Service Chaplains. These are pastors and other workers who volunteer their services to prisons, hospitals, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, rape crisis intervention centers, youth detention centers and a number of other social agencies. This ministry enables the local pastor to be involved in a very direct way in their community to help shape the way that community responds to present-day personal and family crisis.
 During 2001 the Church of God Chaplains Commission sponsored training in many US and overseas sites. These included Oakland, California, Moose Jaw, Canada, Rudersburg, Germany, Fresno, California, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Lanett, Alabama, Rapid City, South Dakota, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Desert Hot Springs, California, Jackson, Mississippi, Cleveland, Tennessee, Donetsk, Ukraine and other areas. At the present time, more than 3,000 pastors and workers have taken either the basic Community Service Chaplaincy course or one of the ten Advanced Community Service Courses. The basic course is a designed 40-hour course to introduce pastors and workers to the great opportunities for working in these various social agencies. The Advanced Courses give focus to particular areas such as domestic violence, drug and alcohol addictions, critical incident stress and other such areas. Chaplain Jake Popejoy (pictured at right) continues to be the primary developer and teacher in our Community Service Chaplaincy training programs.
 Only eternity will tell the true story of the many ministries of our hundreds of Community Service Chaplains during the year of 2001. They were involved in jails and prisons, hospitals, juvenile courts, hospice associations, public and private schools, fire departments, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and many other agencies and unique places of ministry. Just one of our hundreds of Community Service Chaplains dealt in a single week with three families who had a loved one to take their life. You can imagine why this is one of the most necessary ministries of the Church.
Community Service Chaplains, in many different agencies, during 2001 received high commendations for their work. Many received the "Mayor’s Annual Award," special commendation for working with the homeless, and in the case of Law Enforcement Chaplains Gerald McGinnis and Raymond McCranie and Urban Ministries Chaplain Tom Grassano, special commendation for their work at "Ground Zero" in New York. There is no way to tell all the stories of special recognitions and awards of this large force of Community Service Chaplains who are changing the way ministry is carried out today.
INTERNATIONAL CHAPLAINCY
GROWTH IN CRITICAL AREAS
 2001 found the Church of God Chaplains Commission with chaplaincy programs now in 40 countries outside the United States. During 2001, the Commission was able to launch new programs into several countries to include Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, several South American countries, and more recently, in the small country of Latvia. Since the Iron Curtain fell and many of the former Eastern Bloc Countries are now seeking entry into NATO and/or European Union, they are required to have "an inclusive" chaplaincy rather than "an exclusive one." Therefore, the Church of God Chaplains Commission is being invited to help these countries develop programs for their military, prisons and hospitals. The best example of our international growth is in the Caribbean and the Philippines. Our ministry in the Caribbean is directed by Chaplain Ismael Ponce Hernandez from Puerto Rico. Chaplain Ponce, who is certified by law enforcement agencies and by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), directed key emergency assistance programs in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes and floods in 2001. His work also reaches Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Our work in the Philippines, under the directorship of Dr. Ernesto Sacro, has more than 500 pastors involved in government and social agencies throughout that nation. Undoubtedly, our chaplain’s work will continue to grow around the world.
THESE OVERSEAS AREAS DEMAND THEIR OWN STRUCTURE
In most of our work overseas, these countries have their own directors, boards, and their own special approach in doing chaplaincy ministry. In many of these countries they have joined with other social reforms taking place in government to add that extra dimension of ethics, specialized training for wounded individuals and families, and a strong bridge between the local church and these social agencies. Because of a greater demand for a strong relationship between church and state, in almost every one of these countries overseas we are able to put chaplains in public and private schools. In just one of these areas, Dr. David Ramirez, who has for many years been our chaplaincy coordinator for South America, has now implemented chaplaincy training in all of their Bible College and graduate training programs, and, as a consequence now has chaplaincy work in all ten South American countries. In the country of Bulgaria, through the efforts of Overseer Pavel Ignatov, the church there has been invited to help design the new chaplaincy programs as Bulgaria considers entry into NATO and the European Common Union. This partnership with the World Missions department, in the development of chaplaincy programs wherever there are Church of God members, will continue to be one of our greatest and most productive areas of ministry.
COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS
While it will not be possible to list all the activities and accomplishments that took place in our chaplains work during 2001, let us lift up some of the significant ones:
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January
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Chaplaincy Training Program, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Jackson, Mississippi |
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Community Service Chaplaincy Course, Rudersburg, Germany |
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Chaplaincy programs integrated into our Seminary Extension in California. |
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February
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Chaplains Conference, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri |
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Local Church Chaplains Conference, Lanett, Alabama |
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March
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Chaplains Grief Support Program, Cleveland, Tennessee |
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Community Service Chaplains Course, Rapid City, South Dakota |
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Prison Chaplains and Spouses Retreat, Cleveland, Tennessee |
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Community Service Chaplaincy Course, Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
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April
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Chaplains Commission Board Session, Cleveland, Tennessee |
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Chaplains Commission participation in Lee’s Career Exploration Fair |
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May
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Chaplains Commission participation in the Care Ministries Leadership Conference |
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Chaplains Conference at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
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Community Service Chaplains Course, International Bible College, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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June
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Chaplains Conference, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
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Special Chaplains Day Celebration, Norfolk, Virginia |
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July
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Community Service Chaplains Course, Patten College, Oakland, California |
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Retirement of Air Force Chaplain Ben Perez, the longest serving ever Church of God Military Chaplain |
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August
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Special Chaplains Promotion Ceremony, Ft. Benning, Georgia |
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Community Service Chaplains Course, Cleveland, Tennessee |
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September
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Chaplains Conference, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina |
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Chaplains Commission participation in Hospice Grief Program, Cleveland, Tennessee |
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Military, Clinical and Law Enforcement, chaplains participation in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and the Pentagon |
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Army Chaplain Robert Jenkins awarded special commendation for his heroic activities following the terrorist attack on the Pentagon |
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October
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Several FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Law Enforcement chaplains participate in ministry at "Ground Zero" New York City |
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Special commendations given to FBI Chaplains Gerald McGinnis and Jake Popejoy, and Law Enforcement Chaplain Raymond McCranie for their work in New York. |
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Law Enforcement and Prison Chaplain Hector Chiesa, New York City, responsible for arranging for several Operation Compassion 18-wheeler’s to deliver goods to the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York |
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The Director and others from the Commission trips to New York in response to the needs following the terrorist attacks |
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First-ever Chaplains Conference in the Ukraine |
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Advanced Community Service Chaplains Course, Lanett, Alabama |
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Advanced Drug and Alcohol Community Service Chaplains Course, Desert Hot Springs, California (led by Dr. Harold Spellman). |
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November
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Continued chaplaincy activities both in New York and Washington, DC, in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. |
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Chaplains’ Week celebrated throughout the United States with special chaplain keynote speakers at many churches. |
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Law Enforcement Chaplain Raymond McCranie received special commendation by his local church and community for his work at "Ground Zero." |
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December
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Chaplains Commission participation in the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces and the Endorser’s Conference for the Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy, Washington, DC. |
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The end of 2001 with commendations to all of our 1,300 chaplains around the world who have brought great honor to themselves, the Church and especially their Lord. |
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SUMMARY
 2001 was filled with some of the greatest grief this world has ever experienced, but, on the other hand, the response of chaplains was almost unbelievable. Like never before, when there is a crisis, such as the magnitude of September 11, some very insightful person cries out, "send for the chaplain." It is most appropriate that the Church would have a core of trained professionals with a calling to minister to those that are in greatest need. We must give much credit to the Church of God for the effort it has produced over the years in making chaplains work a household word, not only in the agencies within our community, but now even in the local church. It is the belief and vision of the Chaplains Commission that chaplaincy is not just a position, it is a way of thinking in a world broken by pain and devastation. Every minister must have a chaplain’s mindset as he/she faces a Post-September 11 world. Otherwise, they will find themselves out of touch with that which can bring genuine healing, reconciliation, and peace.
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