Church of God Chaplains Commission

CHURCH OF GOD

CHAPLAINS COMMISSION

Choice Christian greetings!

As all of us know, violence in America and around the world is at an all time high. We read an article in the newspaper or watch an event on television thinking, “This is about as bad as it can get.” And then, another tragedy invades our brain matter, and again we are saying, “Wow! Can it get any worse than this?” Who would have ever imagined the event that took place at a remote Amish schoolhouse in a place, paradoxically named “Paradise,” PA.? This attack was the nation’s third deadly school shooting in only a week. Five girls from deeply religious families were killed execution style, before the gunman turned the gun on himself. Six other girls were bound and critically wounded in the attack. This violence, along with violence around the world, underscores the fact that the church had better train a core of pastoral counselors and chaplains who are ready to go wherever the critical event occurs. One of our highly trained chaplains, Chaplain Dennis DuPont, who serves as Senior Chaplain at a mental health hospital in Odenton, Maryland, sent this note in response to these tragic events: “Unfortunately, as a mental hospital chaplain, I hear so many stories of kids who feel like killing themselves, peers and parents. There is so much abuse and violence in their histories, and street survival simply means the ability to use a gun. Then, along with this is the unattended mental illness. We continue to under-fund, as a nation, both adult and child mental illness. Of course, we live in a culture of violence. The Pentecostal in me wants to preach prophetically like a fundamentalist about the media, the video games, poverty and the dangerous lack of mental health care. The chaplain within me reminds myself of my own inner violence, rage and pain that has to be daily transformed. I will be attending a Pentecostal Peacemakers’ Conference in Philadelphia next week, and all of us must continue to join in peacemaking efforts that will use this anger creatively.” Chaplain DuPont, like all of our chaplains around the world, must be on “ready alert” to respond to a deeply troubled and violent world. Our prayers go out to those little Amish girls and their families, and all the children of this world who need a healing touch. While we know the need is greater than any of us can accomplish, we have to believe that God has raised up chaplaincy caregivers for this very hour.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAPLAINS’ REPORTS:

We could not function effectively without our more than 2,000 volunteer chaplains serving around the world. These highly trained and committed chaplains, for the most part, receive no salary or even funds to cover their expenses in carrying out their work. The simply arise, faithfully, every day to go to jails and prisons, hospitals, juvenile courts, homeless centers and many other areas of need. They take this work seriously. Many put in more than 40 hours a week, and the results are phenomenal. Here are just a few of the hundreds of reports that we receive weekly from our “heroes of the week.”

Emergency Response Chaplain Michael White, Furitland, Maryland, reports: “I was given the opportunity to work with the paramedics who responded to the tragic death of a 4-year-old girl. Most of the crew had children near that age, and it affected them deeply. It was my responsibility to help them vent these deep feelings.” Community Service Chaplain Jessie Mae Newman-Munson, McDonough, Georgia, in only one month, ministered to 439 inmates, conducted 18 Bible studies, 9 counseling sessions and many church worship services. Community Service Chaplain Marvin Sparks, Cleveland, Ohio, this past month took part in 6 bereavement services, visited hospitals and nursing homes and took the time to write for his Union newspaper an interesting article entitled, “What’s in a Name.” In the article to fellow Union workers, he spoke of the many wonderful names and titles of our Lord. He encouraged other Union members to seek refuge and strength in the one and only Name of Jesus Christ. Community Service Chaplain Keith Honeycutt, Penrose, North Carolina, writes: “Thank you for the wonderful CSC Course held recently in Charlotte. Two of my volunteers attended the course.” Long-term Community Service Chaplain Ernest Pennington, a very successful pastor and missionary, Beaver, West Virginia, notes: “I continue to visit hospitals and nursing homes in my area. I have also begun a chaplaincy home visit program. I recently visited a pastor whose 29-year-old son died suddenly. He felt as if he had nothing to live for. Keep him and all the others who are in deep pain in your prayers.” Community Service Chaplain Frank Jones, Live Oak, Florida, reports: “I was recently certified as a Disaster Relief Trainer for a four-county area. This will enable me to train others to better understand the psychological affect of those experiencing disaster.” Community Service Chaplain David Wilburn, Woodbridge, Virginia, has a unique chaplaincy outreach. He reports: “I will be taking my chaplaincy programs on the road, to include Gospel concerts at four Life Care Centers in Arizona. I will also be singing at the Cowboy Rex Allen Days in Willcox, Arizona. There will also be opportunities for preaching.” Community Service Chaplain Marc Cutrell, High Point, North Carolina, reports that he just completed a mission’s trip to Argentina. There he spent ten days laying bricks and fellowshipping with local churches.

MILITARY CHAPLAINS’ REPORTS:

Military Order of the Purple Heart Chaplain Carlton Cannon, Wilmington, Delaware, was recently featured in the local newspaper, Crossroads. As a Retired Marine Corps Officer, Chaplain Cannon now serves as the only Church of God Military Order of the Purple Heart Chaplain. In his position, he provides counseling and support for more than 2,000 Veterans throughout his state. The newspaper article also cited his church for their youth mentoring program, food pantry, clothing ministry and computer training for senior citizens. Chaplain Cannon, as a result of his work, has been nominated for the Jefferson Award, given annually to uniquely committed individuals who conduct extraordinary public service. Army Chaplain (CPT) Dasha Somaratna, Fort Hood, Texas, is preparing for deployment with his unit for one year to Iraq. We have asked Chaplain Somaratna to give us materials for an up-coming special Evangel chaplaincy issue. Let me give you a taste of that article: “I came to the United States some 15 years ago from Sri Lanka. I have been a citizen of this country now for 10 years. I am constantly amazed by the miraculous founding of our great country and the Divine wisdom apparently in our Founding Fathers. Our Fathers realized that the freedom they yearned for was the natural state of humanity as intended by our God and Creator. Freedom works every place it has been tried because God created human beings with freedom and the ability to make live choices as an innate part of our being. I am convinced that our country, the U.S., has been successful and surpassed all nations in the world because we have embraced that truth.” I know all of you will be praying for Chaplain Somaratna. We are proud of him and all of our military chaplains. He will deploy within a week or so with his unit. Pray for his safety, and that he will win many to the Lord. Army Chaplain (CPT) Megan Hodge, Iraq, reports: “We are now 3 months into our deployment. Our brigade has lost a total of 6 soldiers. There is always much sorrow over these losses, but we have seen God do amazing things through the grief. The first soldier to be killed was one in our infantry units. The infantry is notorious for being rough and tough; sometimes they think they don’t need God. When this Sergeant was killed, everything went against that stereotype. He was a devoted Christian who loved the Lord. He told his family and friends, prior to leaving for Iraq, that if anyone died while in Iraq, he hoped it would be him because he knew he would be going home to be with his Father for all Eternity. The memorial service was so powerful. His fellow soldiers got up and talked about how they could never get him to use profanity or waver from his faith. That is just a brief sample of how God has been working with me and my soldiers during this deployment.” We will be sharing with you next week additional thoughts from Chaplain Hodge. I know you will keep her in your prayers. Chaplain Jacques Roffidal, Paris, France, noted his deep appreciation for our prayers for his wife, Francoise. I know you will continue to pray for her. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mickey Jett, Iraq, sends this inspiring note: “Every day we are sending out convoys of men and women, knowing they are in harm’s way. One of my battalion chaplains and I visited these soldiers last week, sat around and laughed until they got word that they were ready to go. We were in delay of their departure due to mortar attacks. Before they pulled out, I asked my battalion chaplain (a solid Christian) to pray for the troops. We met in briefing rooms and the Army personnel carrier areas. We handed out Psalm 91 bandanas, and prayed. By the way, next week I will be baptizing two new converts who are civilian workers from India. I prayed with one of these brothers; and as I was praying, I sensed the noise of flapping wings as if the Holy Spirit of God was saying, I called you out beyond the gates of the Church to do this very thing.” Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Matthew Boyd, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, reports: “Recently, I brought 30 Air Force Personnel to a retreat that was hosted by the encounter team from the North Cleveland Church of God, led by Larry Wilson. It was a wonderful time for fellowship and discipleship.” Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Jonathan Hurt, Okinawa , Japan , sent this report: “Thank you for your prayers for Amy in her loss of her grandfather. Continue to pray for her family. I was privileged to preach at his funeral. He was a World War II Veteran and a good Christian man. On another note, I just finished teaching the Christian Life and Witness Course as part of our preparation for a Franklin Graham Crusade on Okinawa.”=

Army Chaplain (LTC) Calvin Eastham, Fort Leavenworth, KS, request prayer for his son, Bobby, who will be deploying to Iraq with his military unit. This is Bobby’s second deployment to Iraq. Chaplain Eastham also reports that this past Sunday’s worship service was awesome. Many came to the Lord.

INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY (HOSPITAL, INDUSTRY, PRISONS, ETC.):

Nursing Home Chaplain Garth Hauger, Fredericksburg, Virginia, states: “The harvest is plenteous, even at these facilities. Let me give one example. One of the nursing home residents, a former truck driver, would often make off-colored jokes to the nursing staff. He came to our services for the first time and listened intensely to a message on the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. His hand was the first up during the altar call. Praise God for this ministry!” Trucking Chaplain David Manning, Hixon, Tennessee, reports that he recently traveled with other ministers and the President of Covenant Transport to Calabar, Nigeria for a leadership conference. He states: “I had the privilege of speaking at several local churches, and during one of these services more than 200 individuals came forward for prayer.” Correctional Chaplain Daniel Wessell, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, requests prayer for his wife, Cheryl, who suffers with extreme Rheumatoid Arthritis. Additionally, Chaplain Wessell reports: “I led a critical incident team in conducting debriefing for a group of 20 staff members of one of our larger units who experienced the suicide of an inmate. The officers who found him and attempted to revive him were struggling with deep loss, failure and anger. I also taught a 4-hour anger management skills course to two groups at our units. This is a course that is much needed in a prison setting.” Racetrack Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia, reports: “I will be conducting a prayer breakfast with Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day giving his testimony. The funds raised from this breakfast will be used to support this very unique racetrack ministry. This month, 7 have given their lives to Christ. One has already passed on to glory, and I had the privilege of conducting his funeral.”

FINALLY:

You cannot help but feel a sense of awe in reading the weekly reports of our chaplains. First, I am so impressed by the high caliber of our chaplains. They are highly trained, but they have never forgotten that initial call for “ministry beyond the gates.” Additionally, I am amazed at how many of our chaplains are at the point of some of life’s greatest tragedies. It is as if the Lord placed them there for this very moment. They, like the rest of us, are not simply by-standers. When they see or hear of five little girls being murdered, their eyes fill with tears and their hearts pulsate with grief. Yet, even with heavy hearts, they carry out their tasks with dignity, professionalism, and, if necessary, around-the-clock presence. Thank God for Church of God chaplains! They go places most of us are never privileged to go. They need our prayers; and do not forget to pray for their families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Crick

Director, Chaplains Commission

Director’s e-mail: cricksot@worldnet.att.net

Office e-mail: chapcm@bellsouth.net

Web Site/Page: www.cogchaplains.com

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