Church of God Chaplains Commission

Church of God

Chaplains Commission

Weekly Update           20 Apr 2007

Choice Christian greetings!

At a luncheon this week, we had five different generations of Church of God military chaplains in attendance.  First, there was the Director, who served during the Vietnam era; next, was Retired Chaplain (CAPT) Hugo Hammond, who shortly followed me as the first Church of God Navy Chaplain; then, Assistant Director, Retired Navy Chaplain (CPT) Jerry McNabb, who retired three years ago; fourthly, we had with us Army Chaplain (COL) David Smartt, currently serving in the Chief of Chaplains Office, representing the present generation of Church of God chaplains; and finally, joining us for that generational lunch was our newly assigned Active Duty Chaplain, Army Chaplain (1LT) Danny Claypoole, who, after Basic Chaplains School, will be sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  These chaplains represent 47 years of ministry to our military services.  They represent deployments, ministry in combat areas, aboard ships; or, as one of them at the table said, “The good, the bad and the ugly!”  We will leave it to our Update audience to decide which of these chaplains fits best these categories.  We know, without a doubt, that the Church of God has produced many outstanding military chaplains; and none are any better than those currently assigned around the world in many critical and some dangerous areas.  Thank God for Church of God chaplains; whether in the military, prisons, hospitals, industry, college campuses and all the other ministries “outside the gates.”  They take the very best of the Pentecostal Gospel to a wounded world.

VIRGINIA TECH INCIDENTS AT THE HEART OF OUR PAIN AND PRAYERS:

Some years ago, God lay on the hearts of those who serve our chaplaincy ministries and our youth and Christian education ministries that we must have a vital ministry on every college and university campus around the world.  As this campus ministry strategy developed, it was determined that the college and university campus is the new spiritual battleground for the souls of the next generation of committed Christians.  Someone stated in those early meetings, “If we lose this battle, we lose the war.”  Recently, while glued to the television, we saw one of the greatest tragedies of our nation unfold.  Who would believe this could happen on a campus considered “out of danger” and in “a serene, safe area.”  Dr. Dennis McGuire, Church of God General Overseer, put out a plea for prayer for the victims, their families, the University and all of those places where our sons and daughters are at risk.  Virginia State Administrative Bishop, Dr. Michael Baker, put together a task force of Virginian Church of God Chaplains to join with those at Virginia Tech for crises counseling of students, faculty and staff and families of students. It should be noted that Dr. Baker had the vision, long before this incident, to develop a strong chaplaincy program throughout Virginia.  Already, in partnership with the Chaplains Commission, Virginia has trained more than 200 pastors and lay persons for this specialized crises response ministry.  I trust other states and communities will get the message – that is, train now; because the next catastrophe could be at your front door.  I know all of you will be praying for the Virginia Tech community and our entire nation which has been brought to its knees as a result of this and so many other tragedies.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1.      Susan Gregory, wife of deployed Army Chaplain (CPT) Clayton Gregory, serves as a volunteer with the Chaplains Commission to make weekly contact with the families of other deployed chaplains.  In this week’s comment, she states the following:  “I have talked to several military chaplains’ wives whose husbands have been extended in Iraq for three months.  With these extensions, the morale across the board goes down.  One of the spouses tells me as a result of these extensions, her husband is dealing with soldiers who have suicidal thoughts and struggles.  Another chaplains’ wife frankly said I am not handling this extension very well.  As an Army spouse with my husband on deployment, I know what these families are feeling; and I know what these military communities are feeling.  These are spouses that not only take care of their own families, but take care of many other military families who are hurting.  The war is getting old, and I sense the soldiers and families are beginning to wonder if it will ever end.  One spouse told me, I keep these feelings to myself; I keep them from the people I work with and attend church with.  Another spouse said, I have yet to attend a church service and hear a prayer offered for our men and women in uniform.  I am asking all of you to join with me in prayer for the families of our deployed chaplains.  They need to know they are not forgotten.”

2.      Continue to pray for Retired Prison Chaplain Robert Dawkins, Troy, North Carolina.  On several occasions in the past few months, he has had to be hospitalized with complications due to his long-term, extensive illness.  While Bob and Libby, his wife, have a wonderful attitude, they bare burdens that are almost unbelievable.  If you would like to send a note of encouragement to Chaplain Dawkins, do so at:  rmdemd@earthlink.net.

3.      In light of the critical incident at Virginia Tech, keep in your prayers our new and most exciting campus ministry at some 50 colleges and universities.  Our coordinator, Chaplain John Unthank, has begun a Studentnet Prayerforce which includes prayer groups from all 50 states, representing many local churches, state and regional office and a prayer group from our general offices.  This Studentnet Prayerforce allows students to send in their prayer requests, knowing that a host of Spirit-filled Christians lift up their names regularly in prayer.  For many students, as has been expressed in notes sent to Chaplain Unthank, “This is my spiritual lifeline.”  If you would like more information about this and other campus programs, you may contact Chaplain Unthank at:  revjeu@yahoo.com. 

4.      Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Matthew Boyd, Alaska, tells us that his new assignment will be Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.  He will be at his new site in August, 2007.

5.      Army Chaplain (MAJ) Daniel Kinjorski, Fort Hood, Texas, reports:  “I had the privilege of co-teaching with Dr. Doc Williams in our recent Community Service Chaplains Basic Course at the Texas state offices.  Sixty pastors and lay leaders enrolled in this extensive one-week course.  I gave a 4-hour block of instruction on critical incident stress debriefing.  My debriefing experiences in Kuwait, Iraq and other critical areas were particularly relevant for this course.  I would encourage all pastors to take this Basic Course.  It will change your life and ministry.”

6.      Army Chaplain (MAJ) David Santiago-Cruz, Fort Hood, Texas, notes:  “I will finish the 15-month family life training course this summer.  I had the opportunity to attend the Family Life Annual Conference held in Rome, Georgia.  Two of our own chaplains, Chaplain (COL) David Moran and Chaplain (MAJ) Jeff Walden also attended this conference.  It was an awesome experience for Church of God chaplains in these specialized areas to come together for dialogue, fellowship and worship.”

7.      Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mickey Jett, Iraq, sent this testimony:  “I just came out of our Gospel worship service with over 200 in attendance.  The Holy Spirit visited in a most unusual way.  Twenty of my soldiers were in the altar, two were saved, two sanctified and two filled with the Holy Spirit.  We had all ranks in the service, from Colonels to Privates; many were at the altar weeping.  There was much grief over the possible extension of our assignments, but God works in the middle of our grief.  In my message, I talked of a God who sees today, tomorrow and the future.  I talked of a God that moves us towards greater commitment and sacrifice.  I am grateful to Him who allows me this privilege of ministry.”

8.      We have received numerous messages from around the world assuring us that the Virginia Tech community, and our entire country, is in their prayers.  Let me share with you just one of these messages, coming from Prison Chaplain Donald Williams, England.  He states:  “All of England’s hearts go out to the families and loved ones who have gone through this traumatic experience of sadness and loss.  You can be assured that we will not forget to pray for these families, hurting beyond measure.  All of the United Kingdom Christian community are asking God to heal the hurts, bind up the broken hearted and to allow His love to cover all those who has experienced such a terrible tragedy.”

9.      Congratulations go to Chaplain (COL) David Moran, Washington, D.C., who has been selected for the War College Education Program; and to Chaplain (MAJ) Jimmy Nichols, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who has been selected for the Family Life Residency Course.

10.  Army Reserve Chaplain (Major) Ray Alexander, Colorado Springs, CO is now re-activated into the active reserve. You can contact Chaplain Alexander at:  rayandruthann@msn.com  

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:

Law Enforcement Chaplain C. L. Brasfield, Charlotte, North Carolina, requests urgent prayer for the families of Sean Clark and Jeffery Shelton, police officers killed while on a domestic call.

AN EVENING WITH A PRISON CHAPLAIN:

The following comes from the weekly report of Dr. Betty Standifer, Cleveland, Tennessee, who is a full-time university professor.  She is also an endorsed volunteer chaplain, faithfully attending to female inmates located at a nearby prison.  She relates the following that describes just one evening as a prison chaplain:  “I really did not want to go to the prison today, but the Holy Spirit impressed on me to go.  While talking to the guard as I was checked in, she stated, We have a mad woman in lock down.  When I entered this area, I could hear the woman screaming the foulest language I have ever heard.  The guard said to me, You must know that this prisoner has no clothes on; she tears them off every time we put them on.  The lock down room is a small room with several cells around the wall.  One of the inmates I have spoken to in previous weeks shared with me a couple poems she had written.  She even began to sing a song for me.  We talked about Psalm 139 and I prayed with her; but in the background, the foul language continued.  And, in another cell, my eyes were fixed on a beautiful young woman.  She seemed ready to talk; we shared for a long time about how God loves her.  I read Psalm 139 with her also.  Before I left, this young woman was gloriously saved.  But in the background, you could still hear the foul language and screaming.   The screaming woman in the cell nearby reminded me of the demon possessed people the Bible tells us about in Matthew and Mark.  I walked to the cell where the screaming was coming from and immediately I wanted to cry as I saw this poor, destitute person.  A large, thick piece of glass separated her cell from me.  I held up my Bible and said to her, God loves you, too!  The woman immediately stopped screaming and fixed her eyes on my eyes and began to stare at me as if she recognized His name.  She seemed to become calm.  I hated to leave this soul.  The only thing I could do was say, God loves you.”

FINALLY:

We can never take for granted the sacrifices made by our chaplains.  One of our nursing home volunteer chaplains, Chaplain Marlene Giordano, Bellevue, Nebraska, puts chaplaincy in its right perspective.  In a recent report, she told of visiting a man who was reported by the nursing staff to have a contagious disease.  She told of the loneliness in his eyes, his feeding tube dripping onto the floor and very little attention being given to him by anyone.  In her complaints to the nursing staff, she received the news, “If it was me, I wouldn’t visit him.”  She was told about the disease and the risks; that if she was going to visit him, she would have to wear protective clothing.  Somehow, as happens with so many of our chaplains, she could not stay away in spite of the warnings.  She said, “The Lord kept putting his face in my heart.  I must visit him and pray with him.”  This story is repeated hundreds of times every week through the ministries of our military, hospital, prison, marketplace and all the other places our chaplains serve.  It is that “look” in the eyes of a wounded person that will not let us “stay away.”

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/via