Church of God Chaplains Commission

Choice Christian greetings!

This week, 69 students are taking our 40-hour Community Service Chaplaincy Basic Course.  32 of these students are in a Master’s program at the Seminary, while the other students represent pastors, laity, business men and women, social workers and a number of other disciplines.  The principles taught in our Basic Chaplaincy Course can be applied to many areas; to include the pastorate, colleges/universities and especially businesses.  One member of the class is a manager with Boeing Aircraft, located in Los Angeles, California.  He relates that the subjects of this course are most relevant to his day-by-day activities in management; whether it is dealing with a disgruntled employee, or setting principles of care and morale for the corporation.  It still comes down to caring for people as “real” people.  An individual on an assembly line may sometimes look and act like a robot, simply carrying out a routine task; but that human being is a son, daughter, sister, brother, friend and certainly a child of God.  All of us, regardless of where we find ourselves, want to be treated with basic dignity that requires eye-to-eye contact, respect and all the other things that make for good human relationships.  In a sense, that is what chaplaincy is about; we are in all these places of ministry to bring spiritual dignity to individuals who, for a number of reasons, feel bruised, battered and unwanted.  Jesus, when He encountered the woman at the well, in spite of her dark history, treated her with basic respect and care.  For that reason, she went throughout the community declaring, “Come meet a man who told me everything I did.”  Thank God for Church of God chaplains.  They bring spiritual dignity to a world and people that feel detached and unwanted. 

 CHAPLAINCY NEWS FROM THE FIELD:

1. Our prayers are with Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Victor Pagan, who has completed a three-year assignment at Warner Robins, Georgia and is on his way to a two-year, unaccompanied assignment in Korea.
2. We are thankful for many of our volunteer chaplains who conduct fantastic work. Law Enforcement Chaplain Mitch McClure, Hixson, Tennessee, during just one week of service with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office gave many hours in several areas to include a leadership breakfast for department personnel, staff meetings, memorial services, one-on-one counseling, visitation of law enforcement personnel in several hospitals and a number of other events.
3. Jail and Prison Chaplain Russell Lawley, Cordova, Alabama, reports that during the month he was privileged to minister to 214 inmates; and 20 gave their hearts to the Lord. Community Service Chaplain Lynn Kelsey, Dayton, Ohio, sends this report:  “One never quits being a chaplain.  Recently, when I discovered a new person was picking up our garbage, I immediately entered into conversation and witnessed to him.  Right there, he repented, told me he was backslidden and accepted the Lord!  To me, this was a “Divine encounter!”
4. Chaplain John Renfro, Director of Spiritual Care at the Conway Medical Center, Conway, South Carolina, reports:  “I had the opportunity to provide spiritual support and conduct a funeral for the spouse of one of our senior nursing clinical coordinators.  He was killed in a motorcycle accident this past week.” 
5. Clinical Chaplain Thomas Phythian, Falls Church, Virginia, tells us he has been accepted as a full-time chaplain in the Manassas Office of Capitol Hospice, effective July 9, 2007.  He reports:  “I know this is the hand of God because my wife had just been hired in the same area as a school teacher.” 
6. Racetrack Chaplain Wayne Rouse, Burlington, North Carolina, reports:  “I thank God for my ministry as a chaplain at the Lowes Motor Speedway.  This is an open field for God’s harvest.  Recently, 10 came forward to receive the Lord.” 
7. Community Service Chaplain Jennifer Compton, Strasburg, Virginia, reports:  “Continue to pray for our homeless shelter ministry.  This ministry began when a local business owner allowed the homeless to sleep on their premises.  In April, a local church allowed us to use their former rectory as a temporary shelter.  Since that time, many churches and other organizations have formed a committee whose purpose is to establish a permanent homeless shelter.  We have now leased a house with the option to buy.” 
8. Community Service and School Chaplain Linda Johnson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, reports:  “Thank you for your continued prayers for Richard, my husband, who is serving in Baghdad’s green zone; also, I am thankful for your prayers for Chris, our son, who has also been serving in Iraq, but is home on leave.  He returns to Northern Iraq this week.  We are making preparations for my husband’s homecoming on July 4th.”
   
9. Army National Guard Chaplain (MAJ) Ray Williams, Glen Burnie, Maryland, reports that his unit is beginning their mobilization cycle at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  He reports he now has an open invitation to volunteer for another one-year assignment to Iraq.  Recently, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
   
10. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mickey Jett, Iraq, reports:  “Recently, the place I stayed while visiting troops had an enemy rocket shell hit prior to my arrival.  The prayer in Psalm 91 is most special for me and our troops.  Also, I am happy to report we had two outstanding prayer breakfasts, and recently completed a revival of 100+ in attendance each night.  During that revival, 11 were saved, 11 sanctified and 2 baptized in water.  As you know, our soldiers have been extended for several months.  They and their family members need our prayers.”  (Of course, most of you know that Chaplain Jett was recently selected for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.)
11. Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Mathew Boyd, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, reports that he recently organized a large racially and denominationally diverse choir to sing with Alvin Slaughter in Anchorage, Alaska.  He tells us that represented in these events were members from 22 Alaskan churches, including Church of God members.  Administrative Bishop Gary Harris gave his whole-hearted support and was in attendance for this significant event.
12. Mental Health Chaplain Dennis DuPont, Odenton, Maryland, asks us to pray for several staff members at his hospital whose children are deployed to Iraq.  He also reports that he recently conducted a funeral of a World War II Veteran who died on Memorial Day.  Chaplain DuPont states: “This old Veteran was involved in Normandy and other World War II operations.  His story, as told to me by his daughter, was that he joined the military with two of his brothers.  His company (of about 50 men) was floating the Seine after a battle when snipers slowly picked off everyone in the boat, including his brothers.  He was the only survivor.  As a result of that traumatic experience, he came out of the war with serious problems which led to years of alcoholism.  In a sense, he never returned to reality.  I had the opportunity to visit with his family before the funeral.  I saw the pictures of this young soldier and his decorations.  The funeral at the military cemetery was with full honors.  This causes me to reflect and pray for the early and continued intervention for our young soldiers as they return from combat.” 
13. Clinical Chaplain Joseph Schuck, Lanett, Alabama, reports on the Alabama Chaplains Association:  “As part of our on-going chaplaincy development in Alabama, we attended, with about 100 other persons, a conference giving focus to disaster relief.  These classes will serve well as we prepare ourselves for the next disaster.  In my hospital work, I spent the better part of a day with an un-churched family whose mother/wife was the supervisor of the hospital’s cardiac intensive care unit.  She was having major cancer surgery.  The family expressed to us how much they appreciated this support and care.”
14. Army Chaplain (CPT) Barron Wester, recently wounded in Iraq and sent to Germany for several weeks of recuperation, is back with his unit.  He reports:  “Hardly a week goes by without one or two memorial ceremonies at our Forward Operating Base.  Continue to pray for our safety and a quick end to this war.  On a positive note, I had the privilege of baptizing two new converts this week.  One of them was married to another soldier, who is also in Iraq.  His wife was able to attend the service, and afterwards commented, I never thought in a million years I would ever see him get baptized.  I cannot believe what God has done!  Also, I conducted a memorial service for one of our soldiers.  Just a few days prior to his death, he was in attendance at one of my field services.  The sermon I preached was the last one he ever heard; a sobering thought.  It is a strong reminder for all chaplains and Christians to be faithful and diligent in proclaiming the Gospel.”

FINALLY:

How do you say thank you to so many chaplains, in some of the most dangerous and critical areas of our world?  No amount of words, regardless of ceremony, affirmations or awards, can genuinely tell the full story.  Our chaplains are literally snatching individuals and families from the fire of this world.  Jude talks of that as an “awesome task;” sons and daughters consumed by the fire of this world, who must be snatched out of the fire; knowing that even the clothes they wear have been defiled with the stench of the world.  Thank God for Church of God chaplains who take seriously their role as shepherd.  I know you will be praying for them and their families.

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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