Nassau, Bahamas (August 2003)
The Chaplains Commission’s Community Service Ministry intensive chaplaincy training seminar was recently held in Nassau, Bahamas. The participants in this five-day training seminar included an outstanding cross-section of individuals who are committed to chaplaincy service - pastors, ministers, church workers, Bahamian Ministry of Health and Public Health Authority representatives, institutional chaplains and others.
The participants represented several different denominations to include not only the Church of God, but also Baptist, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Mennonite, Church of God of Prophecy and independent churches. The seminar was hosted by Bishop John Humes, Overseer of Bahamas/Turks/Abacos & Caicos Islands.
Instructors for the seminar were Ray Alexander, pastor of the West Minot Church of God, North Dakota, and Doc Williams, pastor of the Hendersonville Church of God in North Carolina. Both are former military chaplains, with extensive chaplaincy training and expertise in several critical areas of chaplaincy service. Reverends Williams and Alexander also teamed together in 2001 to present this training seminar in Haiti. Bishop Humes commented, “They make a superb instructional team – with a comprehensive presentation that focuses on practical caregiving ministry that can reach a hurting world for Christ.”
Bishop Humes noted that the timing of the seminar coincided with the implementation of the Bahamian State Chaplaincy Program. Reverend Mavis Hanek who directs this government program also spoke at the seminar. This training, she said, would establish standards for training and certification for the state program. As a follow-up to the training seminar, the participants will be required to complete 60 hours of clinical practicum service in three hospitals.
“This is the beginning of an outstanding partnership for the Bahamian Church of God with the Chaplains Commission and the Bahamian Ministry of Health. We look forward to the development of an effective caregiving chaplaincy service for our islands. God has opened the doors for a tremendous ministry opportunity to serve our island communities” said Bishop Humes. Over 3,500 persons around the world have now received this specialized chaplaincy training.
Jelgava, Latvia (November 2002)
'We just received an e-mail message from Chaplain Jake Popejoy, our Training Coordinator for Europe. He is currently conducting a chaplaincy course in Latvia. He comments: "The bad news is on the night that I arrived in this beautiful country by way of Poland and Lithuanian, my car was stolen, along with my Power Point Projector and other possessions. The good news is that this did not stop the course. In fact, instead of having an anticipated 100 in the course, we have 150. The course includes pastors, military personnel, military chaplains, prison chaplains, hospital/mental health chaplains, students and many others. There is so much enthusiasm. While we anticipated having five days, at their request, we have extended it to six. I believe God will enable us to have one of our strongest ministries in this country. Pray for me, and pray for our chaplaincy work in Latvia...The classes were great. With 150 in attendance, we had chaplains, pastors, military officers and law enforcement personnel. Even though my car was stolen, with no insurance, I can say that I felt that I was in the center of God's will in providing this needed Chaplaincy Course."(from the Weekly Update)
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