Church of God Chaplains Commission

Church of God Chaplains Commission

WEEKLY UPDATE 18 DECEMBER, 2006

Choice Christmas greetings!

Christmas is a time to pause and give thanks to Almighty God for the marvelous gifts of life and ministry. We begin with the gift of Christ; unbelievable, unimaginable, almost unspeakable! Then there is the gift of our families. I think of the many families of our chaplains and other military personnel, who on Christmas Day, will pause for a moment to pray for their loved ones, who are deployed to Iraq and other dangerous areas. There is the gift of those who daily serve with us, giving their all to see that our chaplaincy ministries reach those in need in the most remote areas. We cannot help but give thanks to God for the gift of a wonderful Pentecostal faith, which began with an initial salvation experience at an obscure altar; reminding us that the faith we enjoy has the same ingredients of that initial birth experience of the Messiah. Thank God for the gift of a denomination that loves and prays for our chaplains, giving them enormous support. There is also the gift of our colleagues from many different denominations, professional agencies and the institutions they serve. Finally, there is the gift of faithfulness; more than 2300 chaplains serving in 69 different countries, who on Christmas Day will serve communion to a dying patient at a clinical site; will lead men and women in worship in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other remote areas; will offer the salvation of the Lord, Jesus Christ to inmates and staff. The list of gifts goes on; but one of the greatest gifts to me personally are those who carry the title "chaplain" and make this ministry one of the greatest ministries of the Church. We all send our greetings to you and your family members.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS:

The Chaplains Commission offices will close at 5 p.m. Friday, December 15, and will reopen at 8 a.m. January 2, 2007. If you have a critical need to reach a Commission staff person, you may do so by calling: 1) the office at 423-478-7706 and leave your name, contact information and message on our answering machine; 2) Dr. Robert Crick at 423-472-9056 (home) or 423-240-8031 (cell); 3) the Assistant Director, Dr. Jerry McNabb at 423-650-1080 (cell); or 4) the Coordinator of CSC/Training, Dr. Doc Williams at 423-650-2536 (cell).

MESSAGES FROM COMMISSION STAFF MEMBERS:

1) Assistant Director, Dr. Jerry McNabb: "As we enter into this holy time of the year of the Christian Church, I want to thank each of you for your ministry to the hurting people of this world; and for going "where the Church cannot go." You and your families pay a price each day for carrying the precious Gospel to this world. So, during this Christmas Season, May the Christ be more real to you than He has ever been, may God the Father shower you with His eternal love and may the Holy Spirit overshadow you with His power and blessing. Trish and I pray for you each day and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

2) Director of CSC/Training, Dr. Doc Williams and his wife, Theresa (Administrative Staff): "Theresa and I want to take this opportunity to wish you a most blessed Christmas Season as we celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ’s incarnate birth in Bethlehem’s stable, and a prosperous New Year. We pray for God’s blessings of health and happiness for you, your family and your ministry in 2007. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers as you pursue the care ministry God has called you to in Jesus Christ."

3) Valerie Abbott, Executive Secretary: "May the grace and mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with each of you in such an overwhelming way that it flows through your vessel to others during this Holiday Season and always; and may His peace be the result of your daily faithfulness! Thank you for your continued labors of love outside the gates. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

4) Pamela Kay Overbey, Administrative Staff: "Merry Christmas! Thank you for your generous spirit of giving – not just in finances, but with kind words, pleasant attitudes, deeds of kindness, prayer support, phone calls, emails, etc. Your generous spirit has made this a joyful year for me personally. I pray many blessings for your Holiday Season."

5) Otto Pesel, Administrative Staff: "My prayer is for God to bless each of you in a special way during Christmas. Thank you for having vision to reach outside the U.S. to train others for chaplaincy ministries around the world."

6) Tom and Elaine Offutt, Liaison for Disaster Ministries, are our newest Chaplains Commission Staff members. Though they were out of town at the development of this Update, I am sure they send to all our chaplains and families their whole-hearty support, love and prayers.

SPECIAL PRAYER NEED:

This past week, Sheena Palmer, the daughter of Retired Army Chaplain, and now Pastoral Counselor, Randy Imhoff, Carthage, New York, was involved in a critical car accident. She is in an intensive care unit at the Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York. Her husband, Grant, is with her on emergency leave from his assignment in Afghanistan. Sheena’s injuries include bruising to the top and back of her brain, along with swelling; fracture along the left suture line of her skull; fracture of the vertebrae at the top of her spine; bruised lungs; fracture of the left arm and a tear in her spleen. She was able to sustain surgery to repair some of her fractures. She continues to be listed as critical. Chaplain Imhoff states: "through all of this the Lord has provided strength in multiple ways. We continue to believe that God will completely heal Sheena." I am asking our entire chaplaincy family to pray for her. If you would like to send a note of prayer support for her to Chaplain Imhoff, do so at: rimhoff@twcny.rr.com

NEWS FROM THE FIELD:

1) Prison Chaplain Carol Johnson, Longview, Washington, notes: "Last Sunday, I heard my name being called; I turned face to face with one of my former inmates in church with his wife and new son. It dawned on me that this man was one of my first converts in our local prison, who was baptized ten years ago. My spirit was uplifted; this is what chaplaincy is about."

2) Clinical Chaplain John Corcoran, Miamisburg, Ohio, reports that he recently had Veterans Affairs Chaplain Pablo Gonzales at their local church for a revival. Chaplain Corcoran, chaplain/therapist at a large medical center, states that this past month he was involved in the following ministries: chairing the local suicide prevention program; assisting the State Fire Marshall in interviewing a family whose wife had died in a fire; as a CISM member, defusing a situation at the site of a construction accident where a worker died after being trapped in a stone-crusher; and a number of other crises which speak to the life of a chaplain during just one month’s span.

3) Racetrack Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia, notes: "Christmastime can be a very difficult time for those in need on the backside of the racetrack. In this ministry, I have been given the privilege of preaching to hundreds, and more recently, conducting many funerals. In one funeral service, many gave their hearts to the Lord, Jesus Christ."

4) Gospel Rescue Chaplain Julius Martin, El Paso, Texas, recently had a massive blood clot in his lungs. He spent 8 days in the hospital. The doctors told him that under normal circumstances, this clot would have taken his life. But, with a strong heart and the grace of the Lord, Chaplain Martin states, "Praise be to God Almighty; I am still here." He also reports that during the Thanksgiving period, they fed some 5,000 individuals at a large gathering at the Civic Center, which amounted to 350 turkeys. Send your prayer notes of support to Chaplain Martin at: Chaplainm@sbcglobal.net5) Clinical Chaplain Raymond McCranie, Chatsworth, Georgia, recently returned from an extensive trip to Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. He states: "While in Poland, I preached at a friend’s church that came to my Army Chapel in Pirmasens in 1988. This dear brother has an awesome ministry to alcoholics, drug addicts and others in need."

6) Community Service Chaplain Steve Garay, Vinton, Virginia, reports: "As you know, I am working with the 24th Battalion Highland Brigade, a local military support group. Through my church, I was able to gather $3100 worth of items to be placed in Christmas stockings going to our troops in Kosovo. On December 9th, I conducted my first military funeral for a medical officer of the 24th Battalion. Recently, I was promoted to the rank of Captain."

7) Women’s Prison Chaplain Dr. Betty Standifer, Cleveland, Tennessee, during the past month, ministered to 648 women inmates’ children. She reports that this was a "grand party, which brought joy to these kids whose moms are serving jail sentences."

Veterans Affairs Chaplain Michael Doan, (formally an Air Force chaplain), Marion, Illinois, reports: "Pray for Cindy’s grandmother who is having serious health problems. I am glad to report we are now settling down in our new hospital chaplaincy appointment. I am the Director of Pastoral Care, supervising two part-time chaplains. I am gaining much ground in building great relationships in the hospital and in our community." If you would like to make contact with Chaplain Doan, do so at: MichaelDoan@VA.gov9) Army Chaplain (CPT) Thomas Lesh, and Lora, Fort Carson, CO, writes: "It is good to be home from a deployment to Iraq. We are serving as an interim chaplaincy team to a unit who has no assigned chaplain. Many of these soldiers have been deployed two times to Iraq, with accompanying PTSD and marriage issues. I am performing many funerals for the Post. I am also OIC of Veterans Chapel and Pastor of the Post Contemporary Worship Service."

REFLECTING ON THE YEAR 2006:

It would be impossible to cover in any detail all the activities of our Chaplains Commission ministries over the past year. Let me just highlight a few:

1) Expansion of our overseas work, especially in the areas of training. We have been in Kenya, Germany, England, Bulgaria, Romania, many South American countries and the list goes on. Some of our overseas work would come close to equaling our work in the U.S.

2) Our new partnership with the International Youth and Christian Education Department in the development of our Campus Ministries, now in some 50 colleges and universities with fantastic testimonies of those who have been deeply affected by this new outreach.

3) The pain and joy of sending chaplains to combat areas: Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and other dangerous places. The pain involves separation from family, memorial services for those who have given their all for their country and particularly the heavy price a nation pays for a prolonged conflict of this nature. Of course, there is the joy of thousands led to the Lord, Jesus Christ; hundreds being baptized in improvised pools in the middle of the desert; and lives deeply touched by the dedication and passion of our Church of God chaplains. Even as we anticipate Christmas, our hearts go out to those chaplains who will be serving in these remote areas on this special day.

4) The vast work that falls under the category of Community Service Chaplaincy. These are unsung heroes, volunteers who give their all to reach out into law enforcement agencies, shopping centers, hospitals and prisons and all the other institutions of our communities. They raise millions of dollars to care for those in need; and, without pay, most spend 20-40 hours a week in giving chaplaincy services to those "outside the gates."

5) Our Board, donors, pastors and State Administrative Bishops and a host of laity who help us keep this ministry strong through their financial support and prayers.

FINALLY:

Our chaplaincy ministries speak for themselves. It has been a great year with tremendous personal and family sacrifices. Jeanette and I send our chaplains our love, wishing all of them a genuine Merry Christmas. We love you all and deeply respect you; you are truly a Christmas gift from the Lord to the entire body of Christ.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert D. Crick

Director, Chaplains Commission

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

Office email: Chapcm@bellsouth.net

Website: www.cogchapalins.com

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