Church of God Chaplains Commission

Church of God Chaplains Commission Weekly Update

10 Dec 2006

Choice Christian greetings!

This week, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team hosted 55 families who had lost a loved one during the Brigade’s recent deployment to Iraq. Our own Church of God Chaplain (MAJ) Jimmy Nichols is the brigade chaplain. He, along with other chaplains, had the opportunity to be with these families as they came together with one common experience, a loved one who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Chaplain Jimmy Nichols’ wife, Patricia, also a military chaplain candidate, was present for this time of grief and sharing. She reports that prior to the ceremony, she prayed that the Lord would be with her and all the families in a very special way. She states, “As I entered the room with the family members of our soldiers, it was like a river from God flowing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.” Again and again, family members shared with Patricia and other chaplains their deep and almost profound feelings of loss. Being able to join their wounds with the wounds of others brought levels of relief and reconciliation. We can only imagine the stories of these 55 different families, and the many opportunities given to our chaplains and other ministers as these and hundreds of families go through the long and painful process of dealing with such profound loss. Our prayers go out to our chaplains, whose job is to be present among those who hurt the most.

WEEK- LONG CHAPLAINCY CONFERENCES:

Dr. Jerry McNabb, Assistant Director, and I had the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C. for a week of many different chaplaincy conferences. They included the Conference of Ministry In Specialized Settings, Federal Prison Chaplains Conference, the National Association of Evangelical Chaplains Commission Board Session, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces and the Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy. The common thread running through all these conferences was, “Chaplaincy has never faced so many opportunities and so many challenges.” The topics of keynote speakers and workshops tell the full story: Dealing with the Trauma of Returning Soldiers and Chaplains from Iraq and Other Critical Areas, Reconciling the Chaplains Deep Faith Practices with the Polity within the Institutions they Serve; Funding the Vast Need for Chaplaincy Services in the Military and other Governmental Agencies; Providing Genuine Spiritual Care through Budget Restraints; and Recruiting Chaplains with deep Personal Faith who can work within a wide Pluralistic Environment. These are just a few of the topics discussed during these important conferences. As most of you know, our Church of God Chaplaincy has been greatly enhanced by the opportunity to be a strong voice within professional agencies which recruit and place chaplains. As part of this week-long series of conferences, several of our chaplains and their spouses serving in the Washington D.C. area, Commission Board Members and Staff gathered for a special Christmas dinner/celebration.

SPECIAL REPORT:

This week, we celebrate with Army Chaplain (LTC-P) Charles Howell, and his wife, Sharon, his selection to the rank of 0-6 (Colonel). Chaplain Howell is currently serving in the Washington, D.C. area with a previous assignment to Korea. Prior to his Korean assignment, he was a Department Leader at the U.S. Army Chaplains’ School, Columbia, South Carolina. Send your notes of congratulations to the Howells at: charles.howell@us.army.mil.

INTERNATIONAL CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1) Dr. Jake Popejoy, Chaplains Commission Field Training Coordinator, recently conducted chaplaincy courses at our Church of God Bible College/Headquarters, Eldoret, Kenya. Dr. Popejoy taught a Specialized Chaplaincy Course on domestic violence for 21 chaplains/chaplains candidates; and the Basic Course with 27 students was taught by our Kenyan Chaplaincy Coordinator, Chaplain Reuben Orang’o. This is the second series of chaplaincy courses taught in Kenya. Our commendations to the Kenyan Overseer, Reverend Moses Njoroge, and Reverend Gordon Bloodworth, Kenyan Bible College Director, for their support and sponsorship of these chaplaincy programs.

2) Canadian Hospital Chaplain Christian Sandru, Kitchener, Ontario, reports: “We just completed a most significant Remembrance Day ceremony with more than 200 residents, family members, friends and staff. During this time, we honored Veterans of all of our armed forces who were involved in service around the world. Flags of Canada, U.S. and U.K. were provided for all those present. A wreath was laid in memory of each branch of service, symbolizing the significance of our military history and dependency on God.”

INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY REPORTS (Hospitals, prisons, law enforcement agencies, universities, etc.):

1) Hospital Chaplain J. Dwight Wilson, previously in Florida, has now transferred to the Adventa Hospice Program, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

2) Veterans Affairs Chaplain Thomas Mills, Johnson City, Tennessee, writes: “In my institution, we are enrolling 50 new residents each month. The majority of these are persons returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Many of them struggle with PTSD and other combat illnesses. The chaplains play a major role in giving these Veterans our best spiritual and emotional help.”

3) Prison/Jail Chaplain Keith Honeycutt, Penrose, North Carolina, requests our prayers as he is in the initial process of developing a half-way house for women who have been released from incarceration. His plan for this exciting ministry recently appeared in the Henderson County Newspaper. He states: “This is a means to significantly follow up the ministries we are already conducting in our jails and prisons. We hope to end the cycle of women leaving jail only to return to trouble.”

4) Retired Prison Chaplain Robert Dawkins, Troy, North Carolina, sent this note: “Chaplain Larry Sanger, who was my mentor when I was an active prison chaplain, passed away recently. He was a giant of the faith. Pray for his family, and continue to pray for me. Unfortunately, I had a recent fall which resulted in a lot of additional pain.” Send your notes of prayer support to Chaplain Dawkins at: rmdemd@earthlink.net.

5) Law Enforcement Chaplain Ronald Countryman, Big Timber, Montana, reports: “Thank you for your prayers for one of our officers who was killed in the line of duty. His funeral was the largest ever held in this area with over 1200 in attendance. Over 300 patrol vehicles traveled in the motorcade to the cemetery. He leaves behind two small boys.”

6) Prison Chaplain Mark Allred, Fort Mill, South Carolina, notes: “On Thanksgiving night, we were allowed to take pie and drinks to 65 inmates in our local jail. We gave a short devotional; and afterwards, 15 inmates gave their hearts to the Lord. This was a humbling experience and a great Thanksgiving!”

7) Remember in prayer Law Enforcement Chaplain Douglas Hardy, Carrollton, Georgia. Chaplain Hardy, one of our long-term serving chaplains, recently experienced a major heart attack and is currently in ICU at Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton, Georgia. Send your notes of support to Chaplain Hardy at: dhardy3@bellsouth.net

MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NOTES:

1) Army Chaplain (CPT) Jerry Hall, Baumholder, Germany, reflects on this holiday season: “Last year, I spent Christmas in Iraq. I am certainly glad to be home with my family. But, it is also hard for me to be away from my extended family serving in harm’s way. After having served two tours in Iraq, I am so thankful for God’s grace and goodness.”

2) Army Chaplain (MAJ) Terry Simmons, Fort Benning, Georgia, will move to join a combat unit in Colorado Springs, which will be deployed to Afghanistan. I know you will be praying for Chaplain Simmons and his family. As most of you know, Chaplain Simmons has already spent one year in Iraq. Recently, he received the Meritorious Service Medal for his ministry with soldiers and recruits at Fort Benning.

3) Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mickey Jett, Iraq, sent this big thank you: “My special thanks to the Chaplains Commission and my home church, Empire Church of God, Empire, Alabama, for the large Christmas tree that now sits prominently in front of our Command Headquarters. The tree is awesome! On a wet and windy evening, 150 people showed up for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Our Gospel Choir sang and the Brigade Commander brought greetings.”

4) Army Chaplain (MAJ) Stephen Sexton, Germany, just returned from a one-year deployment in Iraq. In a special ceremony, he was awarded the Bronze Star for outstanding service. Send your notes of welcome home and congratulations to Chaplain Sexton at: stepsexton@hotmail.com.

5) Army Chaplain (CPT) Dasha Somaratna, Iraq, sent this special thank you note: “Thank you so much for the hundreds of Little Debbie Christmas cookies, which will be distributed to my troops. Half of the mail for the entire battalion was from the Chaplains Commission with all these packages! God bless you and my chaplaincy family for not forgetting us!”

FINALLY:

I trust as you read these reports each week, you will pray for our chaplains, their families and those they serve around the world. Our chaplains need a strong body of believers within local churches lifting each week their names in prayers. By your prayers, you are spiritually linked to some of God’s most dedicated missionaries of care.

Sincerely, Dr. Robert D. Crick Director, Chaplains Commission

Director’s email: cricksot@worldnet.att.net

Office email: Chapcm@bellsouth.net

Website: www.cogchaplains.com

RDC/vja