Church of God Chaplains Commission

Choice Christian greetings!

Many years ago, I wrote that “chaplaincy” best represents “optimal moments” in ministry.  Optimal moments are special occasions when God breaks into our normal routine of life experiences for spiritual enlightenment.  Some optimal moments we are all familiar with includes the first time we fell in love, the birth of a child and many spiritual times of renewal and enlightenment.  There are occasions when optimal moments force us to either hold strongly to our convictions, or, in many cases, to let go of them.  How many of our military chaplains find themselves at an officer’s cocktail party confronted with the issue of, “Come on, Chaplain, one drink won’t hurt you”?  It is not enough to simply turn down the drink with the words, “I don’t drink.”  But on these occasions, we are given the optimal moment to relate, regardless of how briefly, our testimony as to why we do not drink.  How many times have most of us decided to simply sit out these optimal moments?  The other day, I was having my early morning coffee at a local restaurant when a beggar/homeless man came in asking for money.  I found myself thinking I hope he doesn’t end up at my table.  That is precisely what he did.  How often does God send such a man my way?  Normally, like most of us in our middle class enclaves, we seldom see the beggar; those hungry; those asking for bread and all the others Jesus speaks of as “the least of these.”  Not only did I buy his breakfast, but he sat with me for awhile.  To my utter surprise, we had a most intelligent discussion.  He was everything but what I had imagined; and he was not a wine-o, simply a person who had hit many bumps of hard luck.  I left that restaurant thinking, my Lord, I almost missed this special moment!  That optimal moment lightened my load; and, at least for a few hours, gave me some relief from all the stress of daily activities.  The words from this unkempt person strangely warmed my heart.  Chaplaincy is about “optimal moments.”  We are allowed to enter people’s lives regardless of their color, gender or religious background.  We get to go to the soldier in the motor pool or accompany him on a convoy through a combat zone.  As law enforcement chaplains, we get to participate in a ride-along in the early hours of the morning with a young policeman.  The list goes on; into the rooms of AIDS victims, alongside workers in assembly plants; or, in the case of our prison chaplains, down the long corridor of death row.  Optimal moments…  The privilege of chaplaincy!

 MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

Army Chaplain (MAJ) Joseph Melvin, recently selected for Lieutenant Colonel, and his wife, Linda, are packing as they complete their three-year assignment in Germany and head to their new assignment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He informs us that one of their daughters, Rebekah, will have to remain in Germany for a semester to complete her work at the University of Maryland.  She, as many military families experience, will be living with a high school friend; just one of the many trusting relationships that our kids make with so many wonderful people in chaplaincy ministry.  Our prayers are with the Melvins as they leave a deep and significant mark of ministry at Baumholder, and begin a new ministry endeavor at Fort Bragg. Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Jonathan Hurt, Okinawa, reports:  “At our base, we recently had 400 Airmen return from deployment to the Near East.  One of those returning was our Catholic Priest.  As you can imagine, there are many problems that go with these deployments, especially with families left behind.  God has given me the privilege to minister to many of these families.  Recently, we took 25 singles and young couples on a weekend camping trip to one of our nearby islands.  This is just another privilege given to chaplains for ministry.” Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, Fort Riley, Kansas, reports that he represented military chaplaincy at the recent Kansas Camp Meeting.  He notes:  “It is a joy to spend time with some of God’s most quality Pentecostal brothers and sisters.  The Camp Meeting congregation gave me a standing ovation; but I quickly asked them to be seated so I could tell them of the sacrifices of so many of our soldiers who make this a great work.” Be sure to be on the look-out through our international Faith News Network for a story that involves Veterans Affairs Chaplain Thomas Mills, Mountain Home, Tennessee.  I will briefly wet your appetite for this fantastic story with just a few remarks:  Chaplain Mills heard of a young man, Abel, who was at Saint Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Chaplain Mills, as he says, “Being directed by the Lord,” felt compelled to contact a Church of God chaplain in Iraq, asking that chaplain, who also was on the brink of life and death in that destructive area, to take one of his Psalm 91 bandanas, gather some soldiers around him anoint it and pray for young Abel.  This chaplain, Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mickey Jett, did so; and even more.  In addition to the anointed bandana, which all the soldiers who prayed over it signed, Chaplain Jett sent a stuffed bear, a certificate inducting Abel as an honorary member of the Saint Michael’s Airborne society, a unit medallion of the 82nd Airborne, pictures of the troops; and most striking of all, a flag that had been flown over the base from August, 2006 until it was taken down to honor Abel.   You can imagine the impact this had on Abel, as well as his father.  His father responded:  “Enclosed is a picture of Abel in his hospital room at Saint Jude.  Hanging behind his bed, you will note the flag you sent; underneath it is the signed and anointed Psalm 91 bandana.  This has not only inspired our son, but has inspired all of his family and everyone at Saint Jude.”  This article, in much more detail, will appear on Faith News Network within the next few weeks.  It is amazing how God works within our Church of God Chaplaincy family! Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Danny Pagan, recently assigned at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, left this week for a two-year unaccompanied tour in Korea.  Retired Army Chaplain Randy Imhoff, Syracuse, New York, who is now working as a pastoral counselor in a clinical center, gives us this update on his daughter, Sheena.  “Sheena is doing well; the doctors have cleared her to come home.  God continues to be faithful and we believe he will bring complete healing to our daughter.”

INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY REPORTS (Prisons, hospitals, industry, college/universities, etc.):

Prison Chaplain Richard Paul, Silver City, New Mexico, is recovering at M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Houston, Texas, from a recent stem-cell transplant.  By phone, Chaplain Paul gives the following report:  “I will be in the hospital until the end of June; but will have to remain in this area for up to three months.  It will be necessary that I avoid people in order to fight infection.  I know this will be a long recovery process, but my desire is to get back to chaplaincy ministry as soon as possible.  Continue to pray that my body will accept the stem cells from my sister.  She was a 10-point match; something that is exceptional.” Law Enforcement Chaplain Terry Wigley, Saraland, Alabama, gives us an idea of the significance of this special ministry:  “During the last two weeks, I assisted at the pool of a drowning of a four-year-old boy, and ministered to his family.  I gave death notification of an out-of-town accident victim.  The driver was injured, but his companion was killed, along with two young children who were ejected from the vehicle.  Three other children were injured.  I assisted families of victims of a school bus rollover, where the driver was ejected and injured.  Two children and a teacher’s aide were also injured.  I would encourage others to get involved with our law enforcement agencies; it is a great ministry.” Pastoral Counselor Lloyd Looney, Dacula, Georgia, reports:  “I have joined the ranks of proud grandparents!  My daughter delivered a baby girl May 10th; both are doing great.” An article which appeared in the Gastonia Gazette, Gastonia, North Carolina, featured the ministries of long-term Prison Chaplaincy Coordinator Mable Manning.  The article cited Chaplain Manning’s 25 years as an endorsed chaplain.  Chaplain Manning stated in the article that this was a “special ministry” that required “special anointing.”  This past month, Chaplain Manning coordinated ministries in 8 different facilities, with 420 inmates in attendance at several worship services.  During those services, 35 came forth to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You cannot help but be amazed at the vast ministries of Racetrack Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia.  Let me share a few of his many ministries during one month’s time:  12 alcohol rehabilitation sessions; meeting with horsemen for weekly prayer; providing hundreds of items of clothing and food for those in need; providing affordable housing for destitute families; several worship services and prayer groups; working with the United Way as an advisor; and the list goes on.  In addition to being a certified chaplain, he is also a certified alcohol and drug counselor.  Chaplain Mann represents so many of our chaplains who, while dedicated to this wonderful Pentecostal faith, are trained professionals in many special areas of ministry. Gospel Rescue Chaplain Julius Martin, El Paso, Texas, gives us this report following his heart attack and treatment:  “I had a heart attack on February 16th; I am doing fine.  The surgery that followed was successful.  I am now back working full time at the Mission.  We now have 12 chapel services each week, along with many Bible classes and other opportunities of ministry.  I have seen many come to the Lord.” Campus Ministries Field Coordinator John Unthank, Knoxville, Tennessee, reports that he has joined the ranks of “grandfather.”  His first grandson, Daniel Branson, was born this week.  Our congratulations go to Chaplain Unthank and his family.

FINALLY:

The USS NEW YORK, a new class of warship is under construction in Louisiana.  You will find it interesting that this ship is being built to include 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.  It is designed to carry a crew of 360 Sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopter and assault craft.  We are told that when this World Trade Center metal was melted down and poured into the molds on September 9, 2003, “big, rough steel workers treated it with total relevance.”  Navy Captain Kevin Wensing, called it a “spiritual moment for everyone.”  Junior Chavers, Foundry Operations Manager, said that when the Trade Center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the hair on his neck stood up.  The ship’s motto is “Never Forget.”  This account of the USS NEW YORK gives reason why our nation is great.  There are so many unsung heroes connected with 9/11:  firemen, police officers, workers and others that simply “didn’t give up.”  Many of them died trying to save others. From the rubble of disappointing experiences, we build new lives and bring forth new hope.  Thank God for Church of God chaplains.  We pray 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

RDC/vja