Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 8:28 pm
CHURCH OF GOD
CHAPLAINS COMMISSION
Weekly Update 23 September 2007
Choice Christian greetings!
This week, I had the privilege of meeting with the Alpha-Omega Campus Ministries National Advisory Board. This Board is made up of individuals >from the International Youth and Christian Education Department, Chaplains Commission and, most importantly, active campus chaplains. We had the opportunity to review our vision and mission for establishing Church of God ministries on secular campuses throughout the world. While we know this work is barely off the ground, it is most significant to note the enthusiasm of our trained chaplains and students who are the recipients of this new ministry. In addition to reviewing this program, we heard testimonies of the students who have been deeply transformed by this care outreach. There were students considering suicide; students addicted to meth and other drugs; and many students who simply felt they were living in a “spiritual vacuum.” Our field coordinator, Chaplain John Unthank, has developed an internet prayer/support website that goes around the world. Church of God students have the opportunity to correspond with Chaplain Unthank and others concerning their spiritual and emotional needs. One student in the Czech Republic sends Chaplain Unthank a weekly message with her prayer needs and the needs of her fellow students. She states, “Just knowing someone out there knows my struggles and is praying for me gets me through lonely days on this large campus.” Chaplain Unthank has also had opportunities to personally visit and respond to immediate needs of Church of God youth attending his host campus, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The Alpha-Omega Campus Ministries goals are to:
1. Place trained chaplains on site at secular institutions.
2. Certify Campus Chaplains who serve as members of Campus Religious Advisory Boards as “insiders” rather than “outsiders.”
3. To develop religious support programs for Junior and Senior High School students to prepare them for the “secular campus experience.”
4. To assist local churches adjacent to universities in developing programs for students and university personnel.
5. To inform the entire Church of these campus ministries opportunities.
We cannot afford to lose the next generation who are being educated on these secular campuses. They are our future pastors, missionaries, church executives and the list goes on. If you would like first-hand information regarding the Alpha-Omega Campus Ministries Program, visit their website at: www.campusalpha-omega.com.
RETRACTION FROM LAST UPDATE:
Please forgive a grievous error on our part last week in requesting prayer for the Rainwater Family on the death of Chaplain Warner Rainwater, one of our Community Service Associate Chaplains. The family does, in fact, need prayer; but it was Chaplain Rainwater’s wife, Margie, that died from a heart attack. We apologize sincerely for this error, and for any inconvenience this may have caused the Rainwater Family!
NEWS FROM OUR CHAPLAINS:
1. Air Force Reserve Chaplain (CPT) Christopher Underwood, Cobbs Creek, Virginia, reports: “Our church is growing, and I am still enjoying my Reserve chaplaincy ministries. I recently spent a two-week tour at Langley, where I had the opportunity to pray with and counsel a group of Security Forces Airmen being deployed to some of the hottest spots in Iraq. This experience made me proud to be a Reserve Air Force chaplain.”
2. Prison Chaplain James Stogner, Ely, Nevada,reports: “I am requesting special prayer for my oldest son, James. He has been restored in fellowship with God, but needs continued development. He was married in June to a lovely young woman, Amber; I had the privilege of performing the ceremony. Also pray for our facility as it is suffering from a serious lack of correctional officers. I am on the recruitment committee and have been tasked with producing radio and video advertisements for recruits.”
3. Army Chaplain (CPT) Danny Claypoole, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, sent this note: “I am thrilled to be a full-time, Active Duty chaplain at my base. Leah, my wife, and I are expecting our first child the first week of October. My Air Defense Brigade Supervisory Chaplain is another Church of God Chaplain, Chaplain (MAJ-P) Joseph Melvin.”
4. Navy Chaplain (CAPT) Jessie Tate, Norfolk, Virginia, sent me an outline of a number of strategic chaplaincy conferences and programs in response to stress that is being placed on our soldiers and families due to the prolonged war in Iraq and other critical areas. I was most impressed with a range of outstanding programs developed to give training for chaplains and other military leaders to effectively respond to Navy and Maine personnel and their families’ needs. One program, called “Warrior Transition” addresses the needs of Navy and other military personnel and their families following deployments. This program zeroes in on the following situations: Traumatic Stress Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders of Military Personnel; How to Provide Emotional and Mental Support to Thousands of Active Reservist; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Trends; Warrior Transition Programs Proven Successful, and Evaluation of those Unsuccessful; and especially How Chaplains Partner with Medical and Other Agencies to Provide Support. Since Chaplain Tate is heading up and developing many of these programs, I am asking him to give us additional information on how these programs can be utilized by other chaplains and how we can share this information with pastors and local churches who give pastoral care and support to soldiers and their family members.
5. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Roberson, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, recently graduated from the Air Assault School. This past Sunday, he and Amanda dedicated their new daughter, Abigail Grace, to the Lord during a chapel service. Jeff’s dad and mom, Wayne and Charlotte Roberson, were present for the graduation and the dedication service. In fact, Wayne, Chaplains Commission staff member, directed the dedication ceremony.
6. Army Chaplain (CPT) Neal Durham, Germany, reports: “I had the privilege, along with my wife, Valarie, to sponsor a couples’ dinner/conference. I spoke to the couples on the five love languages from Gary Chapman’s book.”
7. Army Chaplain (MAJ-P) Mickey Jett, Iraq,sends the following note: “I am happy to report that we recently baptized three new converts; and in our worship services, had ten who came forward to recommit their lives to the Lord. Our worship services are running more than 250. We have a great choir; and this past Sunday, we had 25 or more in the altar seeking the Lord. We conduct the largest worship service on our installation. We also have an evening service that runs 60-80 in attendance. In our services, we have Americans, Romanians, Aussies and many other nations represented. These services remind me of the experiences described in the book of Acts.”
CHAPLAIN PROMOTED ON THE “BRIDGE OF NO RETURN”:
Army Chaplain (MAJ) Clayton Gregory, Korea, was promoted from Captain to Major on the infamous “Bridge of No Return” on September 11, 2007. The “Bridge of No Return” is located in “No Man’s Land” between South and North Korea. This bridge was used in 1953 for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War. The name originates >from the fact that prisoners were given the choice to remain in the country of their captivity, or cross over to the other country. If they chose to cross the bridge, they would never be allowed to return. The last time the bridge was used for prisoner exchanges was in 1968 when the crew of the U.S.S. Pueblo was released in order to cross into South Korea via the bridge.
Let me share with you Chaplain Gregory’s reasons for being promoted on this historical landmark. He states: “I wanted to be promoted on September 11 in that this is a day burned in our hearts forever. My day began with a prayer breakfast in memory of September 11, 2001; and from there, I had the privilege of spending the day at the Joint Security Area (DMZ) with a dear friend, LTC Anastasia, one I served with both in Germany and Kosovo. At 4 p.m. Korean time, the ceremony began. Prior to the ceremony, I witnessed nuclear inspectors from our State Department being led down conference row to walk into North Korea; before they could enter North Korea, they stood in a single file line and awaited the South Korea and American representative to talk to the North Korean leaders. Being promoted on this historical site was an awesome reminder of God’s grace and mercy. During the ceremony, I began to reflect on how thankful I was; being promoted in this significant place, being able to minister to soldiers who are in such a critical area, and to have Commanders who support chaplaincy ministries. My Battalion Commander said this was one of the best promotions he had ever witnessed. On the bridge with me were my Battalion leaders, most who had never been privileged to stand on the “Bridge of No Return.” This reminded us all of why we are here; the enemies we face, and the awesome God who loves and sustains us. My only regret is that Susan and my girls could not be present for my promotion. Susan is my rock. The Lord has done exceedingly and abundantly more than I could ever imagine.” Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Gregory at: jimmie.gregory@us.army.mil.
FINALLY:
These are truly, as Charles Dickens once wrote, “the best of times, and the worst of times.” It is overwhelming to look at all the opportunities afforded our chaplaincy ministries. Today, we have chaplains in 37 different types of agencies, ranging from university campuses, military, hospitals, prisons and many specialized areas. We are privileged to have chaplains who have some of the highest expertise of any ministers in the Church of God. We are humbled by the fact that God has allowed us to have revivals in Iraq, dying hospice patients to turn to the Lord, and all the worship services and Bible studies that are conducted on a daily basis in so many institutions. But these times also present some of the biggest hurdles and challenges ever faced by chaplains and the Church in general. Who would believe that chaplains in New York State are being asked to take out of their libraries certain books that may be offensive to other, non-Christian persons? How far will these “politically correct” tactics go? Someone stated recently that today there are more Christians being persecuted and killed around the world than ever in the history of Christianity. So, using Francis Schaeffer’s words, “How, then, shall we live?” Of course, like Christians have always lived…day by day, knowing that today, while we may be enjoying prosperity, health and peace, tomorrow could very well be different. Who knows what storms await the Church, and for that matter, each of us in the body of Christ? But, we know that whether in times of calm or storm, He remains the same. That is why our chaplains are so effective; whether in a large chapel or an Iraqi desert, their message is the same…that it, Christ, who offers a hurting world care, grace, reconciliation and redemption.
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
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