Church of God Chaplains Commission

Church of God

Chaplains Commission

Weekly Update           19 Feb 2007

Choice Christian greetings!

This week, we want to give special thanks to Operation Compassion, Directed by Reverend David Lorency.  As most of you know, the Chaplains Commission, along with Operation Compassion, are a part of the Division of Care, under the leadership of Dr. Donnie Smith.  The Chaplains Commission could not operate without this unique partnership with Operation Compassion and other members of the Division.  When there is a disaster or any special benevolent needs around the world, Operation Compassion is always the first on site.  Even if other benevolent distributors are working in the area, normally they got there by way of Operation Compassion.  In a single year, Operation Compassion makes available more than $200,000,000 of good for the poor, those who experience disasters and other special needs around the world.  This is an unbelievable ministry, and it is part of the Church of God.  When Operation Compassion goes to a disaster area, the Chaplains Commission sends chaplains to be attached through and with them for our special disaster response.  Our disaster ministry is headed by Reverend Tom Offutt and his wife, Elaine.  This unique couple came to us from the Winchester Church of God, Virginia.  They work very closely with Operation Compassion in seeing that, in addition to goods, fresh water and the other necessary support to survive, spiritual and pastoral care is given to the victims and relief workers.  If you would like to learn more about Operation Compassion, and possibly make a donation to this ministry, contact David Lorency at (865) 453-4644    banny@aol.com

LIAISON, TORNADO DAMAGE IN FLORIDA:

As stated above, our chaplaincy ministries are going full force as we work side-by-side with Operation Compassion and other benevolent organizations.   Our many thanks go to our disaster response liaison, Reverend Tom Offutt, for organizing our chaplains for an immediate response.   Our thanks go also to Civil Air Patrol Chaplain John Gordy, Disaster Response Chaplain Raymond Pettitt and Clinical Chaplain Joseph Schuck.  These, along with the Offutts, were on site for chaplaincy services just a day or two after the tornado hit Florida.  Working with Operation Compassion, we were able to assist in getting shower and housing trailers for the workers to the disaster area.  Chaplain Schuck organized a team of four chaplains from the Lanette, Alabama area.  A recent report from Chaplain Raymond Pettitt gives an idea of the value of having chaplains on site following a disaster:  “My many thanks to Chaplain Schuck and his team.  They walked the neighborhood hardest hit, letting those whose homes were destroyed express their pain.  They prayed with many victims.  Following each day, we conducted a formal debriefing of our chaplains.  We were all thankful for these opportunities of ministry, and greatly impressed by the ministries that were being provided by the local community, and especially by the State Office under the leadership of Bishop Martin Taylor.  We know these families will be a long time rebuilding their lives after this devastation.”

OTHER  CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1.      Community Service Chaplain Marlene Giordano, Bellvue, Nebraska, gives a special touch to her hospital ministry.  She states:  “In visiting a critically ill patient, I felt led of the Lord to sing several hymns to her.  I told her many times between the songs how much we all loved her and how much Jesus loved her.  I met her husband and we went back to the room for more singing.  The patient slightly opened her eyes with a nod of appreciation.  I had the opportunity to join this couple in giving the Lord thanks for their lives together.”

2.      College/University Campus Chaplaincy Ministry Coordinator John Unthank reports: “During the past year, we have taught campus ministry courses in Knoxville, New York City, Atlanta and Mauldin, South Carolina.  We have developed a comprehensive training manual for those interested in this unique ministry.  We have now certified 134 individuals as volunteer campus chaplains.  Forty local churches have been certified as campus “lighthouse” churches through the Youth and Christian Education Department’s Alpha and Omega Campus Ministries.  Our State Youth and C.E. Directors, like never before, have embraced this ministry.  More than 160 pastors in cities where major universities/campuses are located have been contacted and encouraged to be a part of this developing ministry.  We are getting many enquiries from outside the United States requesting we conduct campus chaplaincy courses for them.  If you are interested in beginning a campus chaplaincy ministry, contact me at:  revjeu@yahoo.com.” 

3.      Army Chaplain (CPT) Everett Franklin, Fort Rucker, Alabama, reports that his family has now settled in from the Chaplains School assignment to his new assignment at Fort Rucker.  As most of you know, Chaplain Franklin has completed two deployments to Iraq.  Prior to being sent to the Chaplains School and this new assignment, he spent 13months in Iraq with an infantry battalion.  At Fort Rucker, Chaplain Franklin is responsible for the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, the Warrant Officers’ Academy and pastor for the main post early service.  He reports that Lindsey, their daughter, is doing great.  She recently went on her first youth retreat with the chapel youth group.  If you would like to make contact with the Franklins, do so at: everett.franklin@us.army.mil.

4.      Racetrack Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia, reports: “In our drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, we have 30 residents.  In just one month’s time, I conducted two funerals, worked with several jockeys and other clients in our twelve-step program, handed out hundreds of pounds of used clothes, held several marriage counseling sessions, worked on various committees to include the Affordable Housing Committee, United Way, Purple Iris and others, and in the process, donated a pint of my blood.  It is a privilege to be on the cutting edge of such an exciting ministry.”

5.      This week, Training Coordinator Dr. Doc Williams, Dr. Jake Popejoy and I conducted a Community Service Chaplains Course in Florida.  This was the first of several chaplaincy courses for this state.  Administrative Bishop Martin Taylor has set a goal to give every pastor and many of their key laypersons the opportunity to be involved in chaplaincy outreach ministry.  He, along with other Administrative Bishops, sees this as a means of broadening the ministry base from local churches to entire communities. 

FINALLY:

Ministry in America, according to many agencies who conduct research, is in trouble.  This short analysis of ministry in the U.S. comes from Pastoral Mentoring Network, headed by Dr. Paul Johnson.  His research reports the following:  1)  Most Protestant pastors make their greatest impact in a church between the 5th and 14th years of their pastorates; yet, the average length of a pastorate is less than 5 years; 2) 70% of U.S. pastors report they do not have a close friend, confident or mentor; 3) 90% say their Bible College/Seminary training did not prepare them to face today’s ministry challenges; 4) Only 10% finished the race and reached the age of 65 as a pastor; 5) 80% of those reporting state their spouses wish they had chosen another profession; 6) 1500 U.S. pastors leave the ministry each month due to burn out, moral failure or conflicts in their church.  That is an overwhelming 18,000 per year; 6) 50% leave the ministry after their first pastorate. 

The striking thing about this report is the fact that it does not seem to apply to chaplains.  Could it be that doing ministry “beyond the gates” on a regular basis, rather than depleting us, energizes us?  Could it be that more of our pastors need to become volunteer chaplains to get out of the local church into the community where the needs are deep and profound?  Jesus told us, “As you do it unto the least of these, you do it to me.”  Could it be that by not getting to these desperate places, we allow Him to minister to us, but we do not minister enough to “Him;” a process that truly restores vision and ministry hope?  Our goal is simple:  to get every pastor, who falls into the above ministry statistics, certified as a volunteer chaplain so that as they broaden their ministries and discover a new hope and vision for staying in the trenches.  We welcome your comments concerning this statistical data.  Our prayers are for our chaplains and their families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert D. Crick

Director, Chaplains Commission

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

Office email:  Chapcm@bellsouth.net

Website:  www.cogchapalins.com

RDC/vja