Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 11:48 am
Choice Christian greetings! Reminder; November 11 is Veterans Day!
With the prolonged war in the Near East, we know our chaplaincy ministries must be geared to support the thousands of veterans from this present war and previous wars. Following Vietnam, to my knowledge there were no serious programs of “debriefing” for our soldiers when they returned home. Even under the best of circumstances, a soldier leaves these combat areas with what many have termed a “disconnect” from family, friends, society and, unfortunately, their Lord. Debriefing helps soldiers and veterans “reconnect” to significant support persons, institutions and the Lord. This week-end, Army Chaplain (COL) Richard Pace, Chief of Chaplains Office and Dr. Jerry McNabb, our Assistant Director, will offer a workshop at a large Veterans Summit in Orlando, Florida. Their workshop will give focus to “Spiritual Disconnections and Reconnections.” They will be encouraging agencies and churches to join together in providing emotional and spiritual support for veterans’ recovery and empowerment. Chaplain Dennis DuPont, a long-term mental health chaplain, states: “As we celebrate Veterans Day and National Chaplains Week, we would do well to turn our attention to the needs of our veterans. I read in my local newspaper the tragic news of a 24-year-old Eastern Shore man who was found dead by police in his idling vehicle in a parking lot. His death is ruled a suicide, but we know there are other factors behind this simple announcement. The young man was honorably discharged last year from the Marine Corp after serving in Iraq. All we know is what is listed by the paper as his work experiences and hobbies; but it seems to me that he had trouble re-integrating back into his community. The nuance end of story was that he was unemployed at the time of his death.” Chaplain DuPont refers to the fact that in many communities, there is a great shortage of mental health professionals. He alerts us all to speed up the initiative that will assist these veterans; physically, emotional and spiritually. If we neglect those who sacrificed to keep our country free, we fail in our task as a nation and as the Church.
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS NEWS:
1. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, deployed to Iraq from Fort Riley, Kansas, reports: “In the past three weeks, I have seen a significant rise in attendance of our worship services; from 7 to 40. We thank God for your prayers.”
2. Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Jonathan Hurt, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, states: “I have settled into my new assignment at this large base. I have only been here a few weeks and have already conducted three funerals. I am the pastor for the Technical School contemporary worship service. Last week, I preached to more than 800 new recruits in a field service. I provided worship for two weeks for 167 convoy operations guys headed to Iraq. I was privileged to give the invocation at their graduation ceremony prior to their departure. One Airman instructor said after the invocation, I have been an instructor at this school for a long time; I even went through it as a student. This was the most powerful invocation I have ever heard. All I could respond with was that it isn’t me…God is the One who does it!”
3. Army Chaplain (MAJ-P) Mickey Jett, Iraq, sends this note as he prepares to return to the U.S.: “Today I was awarded by our nation the Bronze Star Medal for ministry to the troopers of the 82nd Support Brigade. I am proud to be a Christian pastor and a citizen of our nation. I believe God enabled me to bring about changes in our soldiers and civilians who serve here. I want to bring these experiences home to share with all our Church people. It is great to serve in a Church that is on the cutting edge of ministry outside the gates. I look forward to coming home to be with my family and my Church. Is this not the same way we should feel about anticipating heaven?”
INSTITUTIOANL CHAPLAINCY (hospitals, prisons, university campuses, etc.):
1. Dr. Lloyd Looney, Pastoral Counselor, Atlanta, Georgia, asked us to remember in our prayers his wife’s brother, who lost his wife of over 30 years. He states that this holiday season will be a difficult time without her.
2. Dr. Dale Ackley, Director of Pastoral Development, Link Care, Fresno, California, reports: “I presently serve in the Citizens Corp of Fresno in Madera County, which is directed by the Office of National Security Division for Disaster Preparedness. I am in charge of the chaplain and mental health division for the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC). I feel very blessed to be part of this National Security Division.” Captain Robert Tosatto, Director for the Office of Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corp, Office of the Surgeon General, stated: “As California faced this devastating wildfire, it was heart-warming to see the commitment of our Medical Reserve Corp volunteers (including chaplains.) You gave so much to those suffering from an immeasurable loss. Thank you for your dedication to your neighbors, community, state and nation.”
3. Correctional Chaplain James Stogner, Ely, Nevada, reports: “Several of our officers are being re-deployed to Iraq. Keep them in your prayers. Before they go, I make sure each one receives a Psalm 91 bandana and a promise card that we will be praying for them every day until they return.”
CHAPLAINS WEEK:
The Theological Seminary celebrated Chaplains Week with two special chapel services. On Tuesday, with our Chaplains Commission Board present, we were privileged to have two preachers: Army Chaplain (MAJ-P) Joseph Melvin, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Navy Chaplain (CDR) Gerald Felder, Jacksonville, Florida. They lifted up the opportunities for life changing ministry in today’s armed forces. In our Thursday chapel service, we had two of our institutional chaplains: Dr. Betty Standifer, Cleveland, TN, university professor and volunteer prison chaplain; and, College and University Chaplaincy Field Coordinator, Chaplain John Unthank, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Standifer alerted those present to remember to pray and care for incarcerated women. She stated, “these are our mothers and sisters, who come from some of the most devastating circumstances possible.” Chaplain John Unthank gave an overview of the Alpha & Omega Campus ministry, co-sponsored by the International Youth and Christian Education Department and the Chaplains Commission. He noted that this is “an opportunity to win back our sons and daughters who make their way to university settings; we not only want them to survive, but to be a spiritual force of taking the Gospel to their fellow students, faculty and administration.”
COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAPLAINCY:
1. Law Enforcement Chaplain Ron Countryman, Big Timber, Montana, notes: “I spent many hours with the family of a 30-year-old high school English teacher who committed suicide. Thank God for our chaplaincy program. In instances such as this, a chaplain must be there for the family.”
2. Chaplain Michael Cooper, Sheridan, Wyoming, states: “These Updates are so appreciated! It is as if I know most of these chaplains who are reporting their ministries. I work full time at a men’s inpatient drug and rehabilitation center; and the Lord has blessed this ministry and my chaplaincy outreach.”
3. Prison Chaplain Russell Terrell, Middletown, Ohio, reports that last month 32 inmates came forward for salvation…
4. Law Enforcement Chaplain Russell Holland, Norfolk, Virginia, sends an inspiring report: “Last month, I invested 116 hours, made 5 death notifications and had the privilege of giving pastoral services to our local police department.”
5. Scouting Chaplain Ken Golden, Leonard, Michigan, is, as far as we know, our only chaplain in this unique field. He states: “Last month, I covered two camping events. In one of our worship services, 6 scouts and 2 leaders came forward to accept Jesus Christ.”
6. Clinical Chaplain Joseph Schuck, Lanett, Alabama, has a program that produces a number of Community Service Chaplains. He states: “Janet Williamson, one of our CSC graduates, has been guided by the Lord to a local assisted living facility. She has been assigned to minister to hospice patients and to play the piano for residents. This is one of many testimonies of how our local church volunteer chaplains are involved in significant ministry following their training.”
FINALLY:
Like most weeks in our chaplaincy ministries, this has been one busy time! Our Board was in session the first two days of this week, reviewing our chaplaincy training and ministries now in 69 countries. It should be noted that the Board gives sacrificially of their time and funds to undergird this ministry. While the Board was meeting, Caribbean Chaplaincy Coordinator Ismael Ponce Hernandez was giving chaplaincy response to the devastating hurricane victims of the Dominican Republic. He notes that our Dominican Republic Chaplain, Chaplain Luis Velasquez, was on site at the hardest hit areas. The same goes with the tragedies of the California fires — chaplaincy response from highly trained men and women. Also, let us not forget our military chaplains being deployed or transferred to new assignments. Navy Chaplain (LTCMD) Barry Metzger this week left for his new assignment in Japan. He will be responsible for ministry to several ships and land personnel. We must believe God has raised this strong chaplaincy force for such a time as this.
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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