Church of God Chaplains Commission

CHURCH OF GOD CHAPLAINS COMMISSION

Choice Christian greetings!

This week’s Update is being sent early due to Staff travels.

The war continues in Iraq, and so does our outstanding chaplaincy ministries. In last week’s Update, we cited the ministry of Army Chaplain (CPT) Megan Hodge, assigned to a forward combat unit near Baghdad. In that first report, Chaplain Hodge gave a review of three months into her one-year deployment. She noted the fact that her unit had already lost 6 soldiers. For this week’s report, let me continue to share with you from Chaplain Hodge: “In the last few weeks, I went on a mission to see how the Iraqi and Kurdish people live. It was heart-breaking. The children would run after us as we drove down the road in the hopes of some candy or toys. I felt helpless. I wanted to reach out and do something for them. The good news is the Officer/person in charge of working the civil affairs projects is one of my best friends. Right now, there are several projects geared specifically for the children. We are building a sports facility with soccer fields, indoor basketball courts, baseball diamond and a swimming pool. We are also working with the local orphanage, run by a small Catholic community, providing upgrades to their facilities and toys for the children. The last project is making available baseball and softball uniforms for two teams of teens between the ages of 15-19. One of the teams is boys and the other is girls. They will be the first and only teams in this area. In talking with the Iraqi coach, he related several months ago they were invited to play in a tournament, all expenses paid, in the United States. The got all the children’s visas and passports; but then, one of the coaches was kidnapped. It is apparent the insurgents did not want their children to taste and see freedom. Currently, the teens are wearing miss matched uniforms, but we would like to do something about that. If any of you know of a uniform shop that would be willing to help out these kids by sponsoring the teams, let me know. I know God is at work through this and other projects. As for the ministry to our soldiers, there is nothing better. I believe I have the best job in the world. There is no place I would rather be than here with soldiers who risk their lives every day. We have six different types of services per week. I have seen many soldiers get saved, make new commitments and become new creations right before my eyes. I am in an amazing place. I daily look outside and see shepherds guiding their flocks…it is so beautiful! Also, I am only a few miles from Nineveh. I have seen with my own eyes the tomb where Jonah is said to be buried. When God said Nineveh would never be rebuilt, He meant it…Nineveh is still in ruins today! Keep this ministry in your prayers.” I know you will be praying for Chaplain Hodge and all of our chaplains who make such sacrifices to go where the need is great.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD:

Dr. Leticia Gonzalez, Medical Missionary to South America, sent us this report from Uruguay: “Recently, we had 16 persons who came from the Volunteers In Medical Missions, led by Dr. Stoney Abercrombie, a Church of God Doctor/Minister. The work was intense throughout Uruguay. We were able to see more than 900 patients free of charge and give them medicine according to their needs. Several of the patients were taken to local hospitals because they were diagnosed with serious illnesses. The group also participated in evangelistic services. Various local television channels and radio stations covered this fantastic work. I was privileged to be in charge of this group. As you know, I was appointed by the Church of God World Missions, during the last General Assembly, as a medical missionary/chaplain for all of Latin America. Keep this work in your prayers.” The Church of God Chaplains Commission recently sent a two member team to Paraguay to train chaplains and law enforcement personnel in various subjects, to include crises intervention, critical incident stress debriefing, death notification, trauma and other timely subjects. The two trainers were Law Enforcement Chaplain Jerry Cox, Knoxville, Tennessee, and FBI Chaplain Darrell Bewley, Bristol, Tennessee. According to our Chaplaincy Coordinator in Paraguay, Reverend Paul Stockard, these trainers helped build a strong bridge from other Church of God ministries to law enforcement and prison agencies. Both Chaplains Cox and Bewley were given certificates and plaques with commendation for their outstanding contributions. United Auto Worker Chaplain Vasile Floarea, Troy, Michigan, just returned from Romania where he participated in a prison baptismal service. Forty-five new inmate converts were baptized in that special ceremony. Chaplain Floarea was assisted by his son, Jason Floarea, and Prison Chaplain Daniel Husar. Funds were raised to provide a meal for all the inmates of the prison, T-shirts for those being baptized and new windows for the prison chapel. A large portion of the funds came from the Romanian National Soccer Team coach. Thirty pigs were prepared as a meal for all the inmates in celebration of the baptismal service. The Commander of the prison was so impressed with this event that he has now authorized 200 additional new converts to be baptized during November, 2006. Community Service Chaplain Patricia Wallace, Mint Hill, North Carolina writes: “Derrick Press will be publishing a new book for me, “When the One You Love Hurts You.” This is a guide to aid in recovering from domestic violence. Also, my song, “Women of Rejection,” is being aired throughout America. I recently presented the song to the Mayor of Union, North Carolina, and to court judges in Union County. As you know, I have given my life to helping the victims of domestic violence.”

OTHER TESTIMONIES AND PRAYER REQUESTS:

Law Enforcement Chaplain Ronald Countryman, Big Timber, Montana, requests that we continue to remember those in Sweet Grass and Stillwater Counties who lost homes, barns, out-buildings, horses, cattle and pasture in the Derby Mountain and Jungle fires. (Chaplain Countryman has been at the forefront giving aid to firefighters, victims and others.) Clinical Chaplain Kathryn Schuck, Lanett, Alabama , sends her genuine thanks for prayers and support from her chaplaincy family during her recent illness. Even though Chaplain Schuck suffered from stroke-like conditions, she has continued to minister to others in similar situations. She reports, “I have been ministering to a friend who suffered a stroke sometime back. After the stroke, she never spoke another word. Ministering, or attempting to, was difficult at first, until I realized how much she loved the Lord.” Our commendations go to our oldest active Law Enforcement Chaplain, Chaplain C. L. Brasfield, Charlotte, North Carolina, He recently gave a week of his time as a disaster response chaplaincy team leader in Chalmette, Louisiana. While there, he had the opportunity to serve as our Chaplains Commission Pastoral Counselor to walk-in clients, victims of Katrina. Navy Chaplain (CAPT) Jessie Tate, Suffolk , Virginia, recently received the Legion of Merit for his outstanding chaplaincy services during his tour in Washington, D.C. Our sincere congratulations go to Chaplain Tate and his family. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Terry Simmons, Fort Benning, Georgia, reports: “Continue to remember my father and sister in your prayers. They are both facing critical decisions in their lives. I am glad to report that we have had wonderful Saturday night services with 200 Basic Training soldiers. During these services, a special performance by SPLAT (graphic artists) was presented, followed by a sermon. Many of these soldiers accepted the Lord as their Savior during this service. Navy Chaplain (CDR) David Gibson, Newport, Rhode Island, was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star) for outstanding chaplaincy ministry as Deputy Command Chaplain and Protestant Chapel Pastor, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Our congratulations go to Chaplain Gibson and his family. As most of you know, a few years ago the Church of God launched our college and university campus ministries program. This special program is a partnership between the Chaplains Commission and the International Youth and Christian Education Department. University Chaplain John Unthank, our Campus Chaplaincy Coordinator, has been instrumental in establishing chaplaincy programs on many campuses. When pastors sign up their Church of God students attending campuses, Chaplain Unthank contacts them by email. He shared this response with us from a student at a large secular university. She states, “Thank God for your e-card. It could not have come at a better time. Things in my life are horrible and I don’t know how to escape. I have no one to talk to and my parents don’t trust me…I am so alone. My mom is sending me to a counselor and I am scared. Pray for me.” Keep this developing ministry and Chaplain Unthank in your prayers.

FINALLY:

We could not do without our ministerial colleagues. One of these is Pastor Steve Molton of the Killeen Church of God, adjacent to one of our largest military posts, Fort Hood, Texas. Pastor Molton has a church with many military personnel and their family members. Many of these soldiers/members are deployed to Iraq. As a support system while in Iraq, Pastor Molton has asked each of them to keep a daily diary, letting them and others know how the hand of God has guided them through this difficult time. One of these soldiers, Sergeant Richard Howell, recently wrote the following in his diary: “We lost another soldier a couple days ago. This one was in my platoon. He was shot in the head by a sniper while standing on the front spade of his recovery vehicle. My Lieutenant had just handed up to him the last of the chain to store that they were using to move barriers before heading back to safer ground. His loss is a massive blow to all of us. The memorial service is scheduled for October 12. Pray for this soldier’s wife and his three girls.” It is notes like this from soldiers, chaplains, patients, inmates and others that let us know we are “right where the Lord needs us.” We are outside the gates, where it is hot, dangerous, and uncomfortable; and with little pay; but with the presence of the Lord, and right in the center of His will. We know we are where He is because He is always at the heart of pain.

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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