Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Choice Christian greetings!
Since September 11, 2001, our nation, church and especially our chaplaincy ministries have been in tension and transition. Being in tension and transition does not mean your ministries are shut down. In fact, since that tragic event, our overall chaplaincy ministries have come close to doubling. This, along with other threats to our nation and family stability, has caused the Church of God to realize we must be ready with a vital ministry whatever befalls us. In a crisis, terrorist attack or some other catastrophe, we have discovered that we can be more than simply “victims”; in fact, we can be a dynamic response to a crisis which creates “victims.” That happens, from my perspective, primarily through our training programs at the most grass roots level. Our Community Service Chaplains training programs have alerted pastors and other leaders to the mountains of need sitting at their front doors. It would be like awakening one morning, opening your front door and being surrounded by hospitals, prisons, the homeless, victims of terrorist attacks and numerous other catastrophes. In actuality, those needs have always been there; but for many reasons, our eyes were blinded to not only these needs, but the opportunities for ministry which exist within them. I thank God that we have responded to this “wake-up call.” As chaplains, as never before, your value and credibility have risen ten-fold since September 11, 2001. When those twin towers fell, it was as if God said personally to all of us: “Do not put your faith in buildings or your own ingenuity; awaken and realize that I am your only hope.”
SPECIAL PRAYER NEED
Pray for the family of Army Chaplain (Col) David Smartt. David’s Dad, Walter E. Smartt, died Friday, October 12, 2007. He was a devoted Christian, husband, father and grandfather. Funeral services will take place Tuesday, St. Augustine, Florida.
OUR CHAPLAIN OF THE WEEK:
For almost 30 years, Navy Chaplain (CAPT) Larry Cripps, High Point, North Carolina, has an exemplary record of outstanding ministries as a Navy and Marine chaplain. Chaplain Cripps’ ministries include ship duty, ministry coverage of submarines, Marine expeditionary forces, combat duty, administrative assignments, chaplaincy coordinator following Katrina for the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas and the list is almost too extensive to put on paper. Recently, Chaplain Cripps was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptional meritorious ministries by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Let me share with you an excerpt of that commendation: “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the 4th Marine Division, Marine Force Reserve, Marine Forces North, New Orleans, Louisiana, from October, 2003 through November, 2007. During high tempo operations, Chaplain Cripps implemented a Strategic Ministry Plan that was adaptable, responsive and relevant in meeting the needs of warriors and their family members before, during, and well after redeployment and demobilization. He orchestrated unparalleled pastoral care and religious ministry support widely dispersed over 38 states and 108 sites. His compassion for warriors and their families greatly enhanced their spiritual fitness in facing the various challenges of the battlefield and in dealing with its trauma. Captain Cripps has reflected great credit upon himself in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
In response to this award and other commendations, Chaplain Cripps stated: “I am extremely honored, and yet humbled, to think that the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division would esteem my ministry with such high regard. However, what makes this award really meaningful to me is that it symbolizes a journey of faith in prayer. I’ve learned over the years that worldly possessions and personal awards are no substitute for the One to whom we owe everything—the Lord, Jesus Christ. My heart has been broken many times by the number of young warriors either killed or seriously wounded in action. But in my brokenness, the Holy Spirit always leads me to pray. I am reminded that the effective prayer of a righteous man (woman) can accomplish much.” (James 5:16)
MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:
1. We were just notified that Army Chaplain (MAJ) Robert Sinnett, an instructor at the U.S. Army Chaplains’ Center and School, Columbia, South Carolina, was selected as the “Officer Instructor of the Year.” Send your personal notes of congratulations to Chaplain Sinnett at: Robert.sinnett@us.army.mil.
2. Army Chaplain (MAJ-P) Mickey Jett, Iraq, notes: “This past Sunday was my last Sunday as pastor of the Gospel services. Within a month or so, I will redeploy back to the U.S. When I took over the Gospel service, it was running around 100. We have been averaging 200-250 each Sunday. We increased our Bible studies >from 2 to 6; and, as is typical in our worship services, last week we had individuals come forward to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The experience here is building up the Body of Christ in order that these ministries are enhanced in Iraq and extended to our churches back home. Though we have been hit several times with rounds from the enemy, God has protected us like it says in Psalm 91.”
3. Army Retired Chaplain Randy Imhoff, who is now a full-time pastoral counselor in Syracuse, New York, sends us this update on his daughter, Sheena: “Sheena is doing well. We still expect God to move and heal her completely. Through her illness, we have met many people who have prayer needs. Let us pray particularly for healing for those in our hospital with cancer.”
4. Air Force Chaplain (MAJ) Eddie Jones, currently assigned to England, but shortly redeploying to San Antonio, Texas, sends this note: “We just completed our Inspector General Unit Compliance Inspection. Praise God, my chapel staff and programs were rated Excellent. This is a great way to end my tour in the U.K. We were also awarded the Headquarters’ Award for Excellence and personally given commendations by the 501st Wing Commander. Some of the remarks that came out of this assessment were: This Chapel staff significantly enhanced community relations with civilian congregations by Thanksgiving Eve Services, hosting chapel dinners, honoring local British retirees, etc. Other remarks stated: This staff pursued and secured thousands of dollars to pioneer an Airmen’s Ministry Center strategically located in the heart of the base dormitories. This ministry substantially boosted morale.” Our congratulations go to Chaplain Jones; and we welcome him back to the U.S.
Air Force Chaplain’s visit to our offices:
Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Gloria Tyner took a few days of professional leave to revisit the Chaplains Commission and Seminary campus. While here, we had the opportunity to reflect on her significant ministries at a large Air Force base in Japan. She is currently the pastor of that base’s Gospel and Contemporary worship services. Additionally, we learned she has a counseling case load of 30-40 clients per week. Since entering Active Duty, Chaplain Tyner has brought much honor upon herself, her Church and her Lord. Prior to this current assignment in Japan, Chaplain Tyner was selected at her large base as the “Officer of the Year.” She gave an enthusiastic overview of the many opportunities given to her for ministry at her present assignment. Let me give you an example of her review. In her Contemporary worship service, some 200-300 individuals make this the most dynamic ministry on her base. In this worship service, she normally has an altar call, anointing with oil and praying for the sick and other ways of attending to the needs of her congregation. She states that God has given her a special anointing for this and other worship opportunities. The Church of God is blessed to have chaplains of her caliber.
OTHER CHAPLAINCY NEWS (Prison, hospitals, hospice, campus, industry, etc.):
1. Community Service Chaplain Arliss Beavers, Burnside, Kentucky, reports: “During the past five months, every teenaged boy who has come through our Burnside group home has given their heart to the Lord, except one. My ministry with the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice has given an opportunity to be a powerful witness to the love and grace of the Lord. Many of these kids, including the one who did not receive Christ, are reading the Bible for the first time in their lives.”
2. Hospital Chaplain Bob Rudichar, Gillette, Wyoming, states: “God continues to bless our clinical ministries. I am currently a team coordinator for our County CISM team. We recently organized and trained two response teams to provide intervention for 29 forest service firefighters, hotshots, and law enforcement personnel. I was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Regional Disaster Mental Health Institute.”
3. Long-term Prison Chaplain Robert Dawkins, now retired due to illness, Troy, North Carolina, sent this note: “Our youngest child recently married a beautiful Christian woman. Steve Haas, Vice President of World Vision, conducted the ceremony. We have been close friends for 15 years.” (Chaplain Dawkins has lived with a debilitating disease for many years; but he has never lost his chaplaincy passion, love and integrity. Living a life centered in pain puts him in touch with the realities of the Cross.)
CLINICAL CHAPLAINS CONFERENCE:
This past week, some 55 people attended our Clinical Chaplain/Spouse Conference held in Cleveland, Tennessee. The theme for the Conference was: “Bridging the Gap: Clinical Chaplaincy and the Church.” A review of some of the keynote speakers and workshops will give you an idea of the significance of this conference:
ü A look at the state of clinical chaplains and their ministries through the eyes of the Director, Dr. Robert Crick, and practicing pastoral therapist, Dr. Lloyd Looney. Drs. Crick and Looney encouraged conference participants to think about the movement of our ministries from simply being “mine,” to “ours;” and eventually, “His.” We have never had a greater opportunity to see this ministry grow locally, regionally and globally.
ü Dr. Jim Philpott, long-term pastoral therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist, Chattanooga, Tennessee, spoke of the relationship of the clinical chaplain with their denominational, sponsoring body. He viewed the good, the difficult and only occasionally, the ugly.
ü A special workshop considered ways our lives get crowded; leaving little space for personal, family and spiritual enrichment.
ü Dr. Steven Land, Seminary President, gave an address which encouraged the development of a “Clinical Chaplaincy/Seminary Ministry and Teaching Partnership.”
ü Dr. Donnie Smith, Director of the International Care Division, looked at the ways in which clinical chaplains and other chaplains enhance the overall ministries of the Care Division, which includes benevolence outreach, children’s ministries, ministries to displaced persons, and other care programs…
ü In addition to these general sessions, the group had opportunity to fellowship with fellow chaplains and spouses, share testimonies, small group reflections and other enhancing experiences. One of the participants, Hospital Chaplain Beverly Burkins, Forth Worth, Texas, stated: “What an awesome conference! I returned home feeling informed, challenged and spiritually renewed! The accommodations were super, but the fellowship is what it is all about.”
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FINALLY:
Chaplaincy is undergirded by “tough love.” While this ministry believes in caring for others, it also believes in empowering people so they can “care for themselves.” Many years ago, I had the opportunity to work at a large military hospital where we had in one section more than 100 persons who had lost arms and limbs during the Vietnam conflict. It was in this hospital assignment that I began to embrace the concept of “wounded healers.” A soldier who had serious wounds was often called upon to assist other soldiers who had more serious wounds. If it was at all possible for wounded soldiers to take care of their own needs, tough love would come to the forefront. For some soldiers, caring for themselves meant going through excruciating exercises. Can you imagine telling a soldier who has lost one or more limbs, “Get it for yourself?” But it was that principle that gave an individual the courage, sometimes through lots of struggle and pain, to “try again.” These amputees taught me the real meaning of “tough love.” They not only learned to care for themselves; many of them without legs learned how to ski, ride horseback and many other tasks with artificial limbs, that would have been difficult even for the most healthy. Sometimes it takes more faith to let individuals “do it for themselves” rather than “do it for them;” to believe that deep inside them, however wounded they may be, lies the passion and gifts to accomplish unimaginable tasks. God has great confidence even for the most wounded. Lying within them are the gifts of the Lord, just waiting to be matured from the status of “wounded” to the ministry of “wounded healers.”
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert D. 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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