Church of God Chaplains Commission

Choice Christian greetings!

You have often heard me say that good relationships undergird our chaplaincy ministries. We could never accomplish what we do alone. These partnerships include many professional organizations, such as the National Conference for Ministry to the Armed Forces, Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy, the Commission for Ministry in Specialized Settings and the list goes on. This also includes partnership with all the Departments of our general church, particularly the Care Ministries Division; and one of our strongest links, the Church of God Theological Seminary. All of our key staff persons in the Commission, to include me, Dr. Jerry McNabb, Dr. Doc Williams, and Dr. Jimmy DuPree are members of the faculty at the Seminary. The Seminary leans heavily on us for specialized courses and other programs, and we lean heavily on the Seminary for candidates for full-time and volunteer ministry.

We just finished our Seminary retreat. Dr. Steven Land, President of our Seminary, spoke of the importance of this strong relationship. Also, we had the privilege to say goodbye to Dr. Rickie Moore, who left the Seminary this summer to take a supervisory position at Lee University in their Bible Division. Dr. Moore has been one of the Chaplains Commission’s greatest supporters. One of the things that make Dr. Moore and his wife, Jean, so close to us is the fact that they have dealt with many adversities. Hannah, their beautiful daughter, was born with a permanent, crippling disease. In spite of that, this unusual family has turned their pain into so many victories. As we said goodbye to Dr. Moore, faculty member after faculty member attested to the fact that his life and ministry had a profound impact on their lives and ministries. I led our faculty in a time of "anointing" and "blessing" for Dr. Moore as he goes to Lee University to do what he did at the Seminary over the years.impact ministers and all those around him with a prophetic voice in a hurting world. Dr. Moore would have made a great chaplain; on second thought, in my book he is a "chaplain among chaplains."

2008 GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

Please be advised that the International General Assembly is scheduled for August 4-9, 2008. The official opening session of the General Assembly will take place on Monday, August 4, at 7 p.m. The General Assembly will close with a final service on Saturday, August 9. As of this date, we do not know when we will have our chaplaincy events at the General Assembly. They will either take place prior to the General Assembly, or immediately following. We will give you additional information concerning our chaplaincy events within the next several weeks. I just wanted to pass on these dates, particularly for our military chaplains, as they will need to request financial support to attend the General Assembly before the new military fiscal year, October 1, 2007. Additional information concerning the General Assembly and chaplaincy events will be provided as they are finalized.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1. Mental Health Chaplain Dennis DuPont, Catonsville, Maryland, reports that the Delmarva area had its first Chaplains’ Board meeting during July with members Chaplain DuPont, Navy Chaplain (LT) Brian Jacobson, Army Reserve Chaplain (CPT) Aaron Jones, and Pastor/CAP Chaplain Paul Harne present. Through this State Board, chaplaincy courses and other events will be planned and developed. Chaplain DuPont also sent this report of his ministries: "Pray for one of our adolescents whose mother committed suicide three days before Christmas when he was only four. His Psychiatrist requested I interview this individual, who I found had lots of anger at God, Christmas, Easter and other religious events. I recognized immediately that one of the reasons he had difficulty talking to some staff members was because of his need for spiritual expression. For the first time ever, he began to ask, Why, God! Why did You allow my mother to die this way? The Doctor expressed his appreciation for me being able to help this individual talk of these deep struggles. He stated, you came at the right time, and I felt God was there." (This is an example of why professionally trained chaplains like Chaplain DuPont are so needed on the staff at all of our clinical institutions. They use their special gifts to reveal a better picture of the person’s total needs.)
2. Veterans Affairs Chaplain Michael Doan, Marion, Illinois, reports: "Pray for our daughter, Bethany, who injured her ankle and foot and is on crutches. We are proud to report that she took an assessment and was approved by the Dean of the local college to take English Composition for college credit." (This is no small accomplish for one who is only 13!)
3. Race Track Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia, requests prayer for his ministry. He states that the ministry is going through some trying times; but in spite of serious opposition, lots of those at the track are being saved, and churches in the area are 100% behind the track’s chaplaincy programs. Chaplain Mann also gave this testimony: "One of our personnel came up to me to ask me to pray for her grandfather who was dying. I visited this individual, prayed with him and he accepted Christ. Just a few days later, he passed away; and I was given the privilege to preach his funeral. Following the funeral, I heard that the granddaughter had gotten in trouble and was put in prison. I had shared the Gospel with her, but she had not been receptive. When I enquired of a relative of this young lady, I tragically learned that she had died in prison; but that before she died, she called the prison chaplain and was gloriously saved. Prior to her death, she was granted her request to be baptized in water." (Chaplain Mann carries out a fabulous ministry of many dimensions. In addition to his worship services and Bible studies, he heads up drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, manages a large volunteer chaplaincy staff, takes care of medical and other benevolence needs for personnel at the track and the list goes on.)
4. Dr. Doc Williams, Chaplains Commission Training Coordinator, reports that 30 students took our Community Service Chaplains Course at Kenly, North Carolina. The primary instructors were Dr. Doc Williams and Pastoral Counselor Raymond McCranie. If any of you need additional information concerning the organization and development of a chaplaincy course for your area, contact Dr. Williams at: <mailto:doccc@bellsouth.net> doccc@bellsouth.net.
5. Dr. Dianne Walker, Atascadero, California, reports: "I am delighted to be certified as an associate chaplain with the Commission. As you know, I am a full-time Treatment Psychologist at the Forensic State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. I am also on the critical incident stress team for the county. I am also involved with a group of intercessors, a local church ministry called War Room Strategies, on topics regarding spiritual warfare."
6. Army Reserve Chaplain (MAJ) Taz Randles, who is also a member of the Lee University Counseling Ministries, reports: "This summer, I trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma as part of my annual requirement. My duty station was the Reynolds Army Hospital, and I was able to carry out some ministries at the local correctional facility. One of my greatest contributions with my Reserve Unit is that of helping integrate moral restoration training into the other military programs. This program uses Kohlberg’s moral reasons, not unlike A.A. that requires persons to enter a period of introspection and complete a moral inventory. It was a privilege to work with the chaplain who has developed this program; and to help him add some safe guards to ensure the psychological safety of those going through these programs. In the hospital ministry, I felt God put me in the path of a Drill Sergeant and his wife who needed Godly intervention. Through this encounter, God restored the husband’s faith, resulting in a wonderful expression of forgiveness toward his hurting companion. I was blessed to be part of this ministry."

SCHEDULES OF INTEREST:

August 28, 2007 – Seminary new fall classes begin.
September 17-19, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic Course, Bismarck, North Dakota
September 20-22, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic Course, Montana
September 27-29, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic, San Antonio, Texas
October 4-6, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic and Specialized (Domestic Violence) Course, Mobile, Alabama

October 18-20, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic Course, Homer, Georgia
November 4-10, 2007 – Chaplains’ Week
November 5-6, 2007 – Chaplains Commission Board Fall Session
November 15-17, 2007 – Community Service Chaplains Basic Course and Specialized (Addictions) Course, Roanoke, Virginia

A COUPLE SPECIAL REPORTS:

1. Our first military chaplain, Chaplain Retired (LTC) Edward Shoupe, Ocala, Florida, sent me a note which reminded me to once again thank Ed and Doris for opening the door for Church of God military chaplaincy. Chaplain Shoupe, an Air Force Chaplain, entered active duty in 1958. He was our "first" and one of our "best" chaplains.
2. I just received the annual report from one of our supervisory chaplains, Chaplain Eugene Wigelsworth, Director of prison chaplaincy services for the state of Mississippi. Chaplain Wigelsworth manages hundreds of full-time and volunteer chaplains; and an unbelievable array of chaplaincy programs. For the year, he reports more than 5,000 worship services were conducted by their full-time and volunteer chaplains; some 4,000 counseling sessions were held, hundreds of death notifications and Bible studies to include college educational programs. Through their chaplaincy services, 320 offenders made application for marriage. In some of their institutions, a Seminary extension program allowed inmates to receive degrees in Christian Education and Christian Ministry. The bottom line is that God has given us many outstanding chaplains; some now Command and Supervisory Chaplains at the highest level.

FINALLY:

One of my sermon illustrations, used more times than I would want to admit, has to do with things that are "too broke to fix." I tell the story of one of my children who received a remotely driven toy airplane; which, on our first try at taking it through the various maneuvers, came crashing to the ground and broke into several pieces. Disappointingly, my child made the statement, "Dad, this thing’s too broke to fix." Like any father, I was motivated to prove him wrong. It took several hours; but, eventually, the toy plane was fixed and, remotely controlled, it left the ground, went through its various maneuvers and landed safely. Isn’t that what chaplaincy work is about? We are dealing with persons in hospitals, prisons, military and all the other institutions, many of whom have reached the conclusion, "I am too broke to be fixed." And yet, testimony after testimony tells us that, through our chaplains, God "contradicts our contradictions." Whether it is the military sergeant who is a long-term alcoholic, a young woman who has just experienced rape or an inmate whose long sentence feels like a death notice, time and again, that which was too broke to fix is fixed by the Hand of God. Chaplains are instruments God uses to give hope to the hopeless, blessings to the helpless and salvation to those who have lost their way. I know you will be praying for our chaplains and their families as well.

Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Crick
Director, Chaplains Commission