Church of God Chaplains Commission

Chaplains Commission Weekly Update

Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 6:38 pm

CHURCH OF GOD

CHAPLAINS COMMISSION

Weekly Update 15 September 2007

Choice Christian greetings!

September 11, 2001 has been burned in our hearts forever. On this day, 3,000 innocent souls died at the hands of terrorists. Little did we know how much this day would permanently impact our chaplaincy ministries? Immediately, our chaplains and troops were deployed to Afghanistan; and later Iraq. Church of God chaplains have experienced some 50 deployments to these combat areas since September 11, 2001. It was the Commission’s responsibility to raise additional funds for Psalm 91 bandanas, thousands of Little Debbie cookies for our troops, new convert packets, devotional materials and much more in support. Today, 9 Church of God chaplains are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan; and another 5 are preparing for deployment. September 11 also impacted our institutional ministries. Following this tragic day, the Commission knew it had a responsibility to develop an extensive disaster response ministry for regions and local churches. We now have a full-time Coordinator of Disaster and Care Ministries, Reverend Tom Offutt, long-term Board Member. While the enemy meant September 11 for evil, God has transformed that tragedy into many positive ministries. These ministries, as far as I am concerned, are memorials to the 3,000 lives lost on September 11; and the more than 4,000 U.S. troops killed in the line of duty since. We know our country and other countries have not yet recovered from these and other tragic terrorist events. But, we serve a loving God who will see us through every crisis. We are in a covenant relationship with Him, as is stated clearly in Leviticus 26:12: “We are his people, He is our God; and He walks with us every day.” With that assurance, chaplains around the world will continue to give an immediate and long-term response to these and other crises; whether in a prison, hospital, military or other institutions where our chaplains serve. Pray for them…as human beings, they feel the pain like the rest of us. And be sure to pray for their families.

MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1. We were just informed by Chaplain Brigadier General Cecil R. Richardson, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C. that Chaplain (CPT) Peter Fischer will be officially promoted to Major on Friday, September 28, 2007. Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Fischer at: peter.fischer@pentagon.af.mil.

2. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, Fort Riley, Kansas, left this week for his second deployment to Iraq. Teresa, his wife, sends this note: “I want to let everyone know how much we appreciate your support, prayers, kindness and love. As soon as Jeff gets settled, we will send you his new email address.” (As most of you know, Jeff and Teresa recently adopted Meygan; therefore, this deployment becomes very personal. Jeff will be leaving his beautiful daughter for one year; and I know all of you will burn in your hearts a reminder to pray for this family every day.)

3. National Guard Chaplain (MAJ) Ray Williams, Glen Burnie, Maryland, is now on deployment to Iraq. He notes: “After 10 days on the ground here, I found my place. Right now, I am ministering to our home town guys that came with me from Maryland. Our soldiers will be on dangerous missions, escorting supply convoys to protect them from IEDs and other dangers. I know you will be praying for them. I am co-pastoring the contemporary worship service and having a great ministry. I am also the coordinator for all non-Christian faith groups. I ensure all soldiers are able to exercise their free expression of religion without prejudice. I take great pride in knowing that by ensuring they can worship in their own way, I am preserving my own right to practice my Pentecostal faith. This is fundamental to our American way of living.” If you would like to add personal support to Chaplain Williams, contact him at: ray.williams@us.army.mil.

4. Navy Chaplain (LT) Brian Jacobson, Joppa, Maryland, writes: “Continue to keep Keersti, my wife, in your prayers. She has undergone several surgeries. I am also requesting prayer for the family of one of our personnel, a 30 year old, who recently died; for a 21 year old who was paralyzed in a tragic motorcycle accident.”

5. Civil Air Patrol Chaplain John Gordy, Cleveland, Tennessee, is recovering from neck surgery. In addition to his active CAP ministries, Chaplain Gordy also serves the Cleveland police department and Blue Knights law enforcement motorcycle club as their chaplain. Pray that God will give him a quick recovery.

6. Army Chaplain (CPT) Charles Popov, Iraq, sent this message: “My unit will return to the U.S. in 20 days. This has been a long 14 months. Unfortunately, as we prepare to return, some who came with us will not be going home. Be on the lookout for a special two-day program on chaplains in combat that will be aired on the Discovery Channel sometime in Oct/Nov. The Discovery crew has been embedded with us for three months.” My response to Chaplain Popov’s note was as follows: “We look forward to your return home. We grieve with you over those who have suffered as a result of this war. But, like all difficult challenges in life, we know God uses this for His good. Thank God for those who have come to the saving knowledge of Christ through your and other chaplains’ ministry. What would our soldiers do without that chaplaincy presence?”

7. Navy Chaplain (LCDR) Barry Metzger, San Diego, California, graduated >from a one-year Clinical Pastoral Education program on September 14^th. Following his graduation, he will complete the Navy Supervisory School in Newport, Rhode Island; and shortly thereafter, leave for his new assignment in Japan. Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Metzger at: barry.metzger@va.gov.

WALTERREEDARMYMEDICALCENTER:

Army Chaplain (LTC-P) Charles Howell is the Command Chaplain at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Walter Reed is the Army’s largest healthcare facility, and one of the largest in the Department of Defense. According to Chaplain Howell, consider these realities: Walter Reed has treated approximately 6,600 service members from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as of August 31, 2007. This includes more than 2,330 battle casualties. This Medical Center also sends their own medical soldiers to war, having deployed more than 345 to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and another 290 to Operation Enduring Freedom. Walter Reed operates 66 graduate medical education programs, more than any other military medical center. Walter Reed’s surgical residency program has had 100% first-time pass rate for Board Certification for 10 years. The national average is only 75%. The list of services goes on. In order to understand the complexities of soldiers and their families being cared for by this and other medical centers, our chaplains must have specialized clinical training, be highly trained in medical ethics and be able to give the very best professional pastoral care under adverse circumstances. We highlight the mission of Walter Reed; and underscore the importance of having chaplains of the caliber of Chaplain Howell to be part of these fantastic military medical teams.

CHAPLAINCY REPORTS FROM THE FIELD):

1. Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, Dean Luther, Anderson, South Carolina, reports that his wife had extensive back surgery on Tuesday, September 4. I talked to Dean and Liz and got a very good report. The doctors fused two vertebrae in her lower back. I know you will continue to pray for Liz.

2. Racetrack Chaplain Rick Mann, Martinsburg, West Virginia, sends this testimony: “My praise report is that I now have a ministry council that stands behind me all the way. They have picked up my work that I cannot do because of my internship, and are carrying it out with dignity. They pray daily with me; I feel I am in heaven. As a result of this team ministry, we have seen several saved. We are involved in helping establish low-income housing for our workers, as well as many other special events. Our annual barbeque, where we had more than 300 present, and horseshow will raise some $3,000 for the chaplaincy.”

3. Chaplaincy Coordinator Jackie Smith, Gloucester, Virginia, gives this report: “We just graduated 32 who completed our local church chaplaincy program. These 32 will be assigned to ministries throughout our area.” (Our local church chaplaincy development and training programs are new; but most significant. Several of our chaplains are now taking the “chaplaincy good news” to local pastors and churches. We believe this is a way to get our people into those areas where the pain is the greatest.)

4. Community Service Chaplain Douglas Hardy, Carrollton, Georgia, recently completed the Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Chaplains Certification Training. He also completed a course on critical incident stress management: crisis intervention and peer support.

SPECIAL REPORT:

Law Enforcement and Indian Reservation Chaplain Ron Countryman, Big Timber, Montana,

has a most unique ministry to several Indian reservations. He was recently honored to be a part of a significant funeral; that of Lenora Turns Plenty. This lady, known by her native Indian name, Uuta-bishiash (Weasel Woman) was the daughter of Frank Pain Bull. She was the granddaughter of Chief Plenty Coup. After she accepted the Lord, she used her job as an “Avon lady” to share the message of Jesus Christ from door to door. Her rich, Native-American heritage made her “one of a kind.” It is significant that Chaplain Countryman, who is not Native-American, was given the honor to help celebrate the special lady’s life and ministry.

FINALLY:

Someone once described the complexities of the Pentecostal experience as “praising God and crying at the same time.” That really describes our weekly Update. There is so much celebration: souls saved, revivals in the middle of the dessert, a hospice patient giving her life to the Lord at the point of death. And yet, the tears that come with deployments, soldiers lost in combat, the long, tiring hours at a hospital caring for many patients who simply will not make it. We all remember that sermon that has been recaptured in many ways, “Friday is here, but Sunday is coming!” Whether on the mountaintop or in the valley, thank God, He is the same! Keep our chaplains and those they serve in your prayers. And let us not lose that Pentecostal distinction…shouts of joy interspersed with tears, which keep us connected to the heartbreaks of this world.

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

Categories: Weekly Update