Church of God Chaplains Commission

Chaplains Commission Weekly Update

Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 4:22 pm

Choice Christian greetings!

The success of our chaplaincy ministries is due, in part, to the great network of partners we have locally, regionally and internationally. In addition to our full-time staff, the Chaplains Commission selected a number of Field Coordinators who help us in the development of our specialized areas of chaplaincy ministries. Chaplain Jake Popejoy directs our international chaplaincy training and development; CPE Supervisor Keith Munford coordinates our expanding clinical ministries; Chaplains Gerald McGinnis and Jerry Cox coordinate the expansion of our law enforcement chaplaincy; Dr. Doug Slocumb undergirds and supports those endorsed as pastoral counselors; Correctional Chaplains Frank Vloch and Gene Wigelsworth, two long-term prison chaplains, assist in the development of our jail and prison ministries; and some 35 of our more experienced chaplains have attended our trainer’s course and have been certified as chaplaincy course instructors. Additionally, through the efforts of Prison Chaplain Donald Williams, England, we have now developed a European chaplaincy network in support of our chaplains and chaplaincy programs. Army Chaplain (COL) David Moran, a Diplomate Pastoral Therapist in the College of Pastoral Supervision in Psychotherapy (CPSP), is in the process of creating a Western European Chapter in support of military and civilian chaplains involved in these special clinical areas. These are examples of why our chaplaincy ministries are successful and expanding. While we serve as a “coach,” we have many players around the world who are helping to expand chaplaincy and care ministry. It is all about good relationships. By unifying our gifts, we amplify the greatest gift the world has ever known, the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is all about Him; and the more we unify, the clearer His mission becomes for all of us.

PRAYER NEEDS:

1. Community Service Chaplain Eleanor Talley, Lanett, Alabama, needs prayer for health problems related to recent surgery.

2. Prison Chaplain Jessie May Newman-Munson, McDonough, Georgia, testifies that prayer has led to much better health from heart problems; this past month, she preached ten sermons at the local county jail, with 30 coming to Christ.

3. Law Enforcement Chaplain Russell Holland, Norfolk, Virginia, needs prayer for back problems; surgery is scheduled for January 7, 2008.

4. Law Enforcement Chaplain Marc Cutrell, High Point, North Carolina, needs prayer for ten of his officers who are going through divorce.

5. Nursing Home Chaplain Garth Hauger, Fredericksburg, Virginia, requests prayer for a number of clients who are seeking the Lord; also that the Lord would send more workers.

6. Army Chaplain (CPT) Baron Wester, currently deployed to Iraq, requests prayer for those soldiers dealing with depression and other emotional problems. He states: “I received the shipment of Little Debbie brownies, and they have been a big hit with the soldiers.” (As most of you know, Chaplain Wester was wounded in action, air evacuated to a hospital in Germany; and, upon his own insistence, rejoined his unit in Iraq.)

7. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ray Williams, Iraq, requests prayer for his soldiers; many of them under the stress of continuous combat operations. Chaplain Williams reports that his chapel sponsored a Thanksgiving ecumenical service and a very successful prayer breakfast.

8. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Terry Simmons, Afghanistan, requests prayer for his father who has physical problems. He also states, “Pray for all our military forces and their loved ones, especially as we go through this Holiday Season.”

9. Hospital Chaplain John Renfro, Conway, South Carolina, requests prayer for their first grandson, who is scheduled to be born this week at the Conway Medical Center. Also, he requests prayer for their other daughter, who recently had a miscarriage. She is expecting again and is due to deliver in April, 2008.

10. Continue to pray for all of our military chaplains who are deployed, and the soldiers whom they pastor.

INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY NEWS (prisons, hospitals, college campuses, industry, etc):

1. Our many thanks go to our Caribbean Chaplaincy Coordinator, Chaplain Ismael Ponce Hernandez, for his fantastic ministries to Panama, Columbia; and more recently, to those affected by the hurricanes and flooding in the Dominican Republic.

2. Ireland Chaplain John Walsh sends this report: “As you know, we have an active ministry to bikers. Many of these bikers are involved in the collection of toys for a local orphanage.”

3. Hospital Chaplain Bob Rudichar, Gillette, Wyoming, reports: “Recently, I coordinated a CISM team for the debriefing of Civil Air Patrol staff who dealt with a downed plane, resulting in the death of 3 individuals.”

4. Prison Chaplain Russell Terrell, Middletown, Ohio, coordinates one of our most outstanding local church prison outreach programs for the Stratford Heights Church of God. He reports that during this past month, 6 prisoners have come to receive the grace and forgiveness of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

5. Hospice Chaplain John Adams, Birmingham, Alabama, personally went to the home of a handicapped couple and cooked a meal for them. This is one example of the type of “in the trenches” ministry given by our chaplains around the world.

6. Correctional Chaplain William Whittenberger, Lynn Haven, Florida, only recently transferred from Arizona to this new assignment. He reports: “The Florida Department of Corrections recently issued all full-time chaplains official gold shields. This is a great honor that tells chaplains that they are fully accepted as valued members of the team.”

7. Clinical Chaplain John Corcoran, Miamisburg, Ohio, reports: “I was part of a debriefing team of the fire department following an incident where 3 children died. Sadly, the fire was due to careless smoking. In addition to this ministry, I serve as chairman of a board for suicide prevention; and was recently elected as the President for the Ohio Association of Alcohol and Addictions Counselor’s Association.”

MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NOTES:

1. Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Gabriel Rios, Germany,reports: “I am the young adult ministries chaplain. My worship service is made up of young airmen who live in the dorms; and young couples with children. This service has grown over the past few weeks. The first Sunday of December, we had 105 in attendance.”

2. Air Force Chaplain (CPT) Victor Pagan, Korea, sent this report: “I just returned from a 2-day prayer retreat with men of the Air Force and Army. We went to Yoido Prayer Mountain in Seoul. The Holy Spirit moved among our troops in a very special way, delivering from the power of lust and pride; and the Lord challenged us to make a close unity between Christians from different races. A Korean Retired Navy Officer joined us after he overheard us praying and singing.”

3. Army Chaplain (CPT) Heather Landrus, Korea, is preparing to leave Korea after a successful 2-year assignment to attend the Army Career Course, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Our congratulations to Chaplain Landrus for an outstanding ministry in Korea; and our prayers go with her as she begins this new course.

4. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, Iraq, reports that he recently conducted a very successful community Thanksgiving worship celebration. The popular entertainer/speaker, Dave Roever, was in these services, inspiring troops with his testimony.”

5. Army Chaplain (CPT) Danny Claypoole, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, recently conducted his first prayer luncheon for 40 soldiers. Our congratulations go to Chaplain Claypoole, in that on December 7, 2007, he will be promoted from the rank of 1LT to CPT.

6. Retired Navy Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor Jairo Moreno, Portland, Texas, reports that his son, Nicolas, will soon graduate from the University of Texas and be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

SPECIAL REPORT:

U.S. Coast Guard Chaplain Brian Jacobson, Curtis Bay, this past week arranged for 70 Coast Guard members to assist him in cleaning from to stem to stern the USCG Cutter Roger B. Taney. This cutter was highly decorated for its heroic service during World War II, and is now part of the historic Baltimore Inner Harbor, Baltimore Maritime Museum. In addition to cleaning this vessel, Chaplain Jacobson held a special memorial remembrance service on board for his Coast Guard personnel. The USS Taney was responsible for giving protection to Hawaii and the surrounding islands during a critical phase of our U.S. history. The vessel was responsible for searching for survivors in the waters around Midway Island following the bloody battle of Midway. It was also responsible for conducting several round-trip convoy escort missions. In her later operation off Okinawa, the Taney was responsible for downing four suicide planes, and assisting in numerous other operations. As if the German and Japanese menaces were not enough, in 1945, a typhoon forced the Taney to take evasive action, leading a convoy eastward. The Taney continued in service up until the time she was formally decommissioned on December 7, 1986; and with her glorious history, was maintained as a significant “museum ship.”

FINALLY:

Chaplains know well that they could not carry out their unique ministries without the support of a mature, highly committed family. While a military chaplain, my family was deeply involved in all my ministries; whether preparing bulletins for a chapel service, serving coffee and goodies at an event, leading music and singing specials, handing out tracts and all the other activities that go with chaplaincy service. Special commendations go to spouses of military chaplains…persons like Brenda Pace, wife of Chaplain (COL) Richard Pace, who has helped direct at the highest level the Protestant Women of the Chapel. Who takes care of the families left behind during a military deployment? Of course, it is individuals like Kendra Kuhlman, wife of Chaplain (MAJ) Charles Kuhlman, currently deployed to Iraq. During Chaplain Kuhlman’s first deployment, Kendra was often the first one on site to give loving support to families who received death notifications. She was even called upon to escort grieving families to burials at sites hundreds of miles from the post. The same goes for spouses and family members of clinical chaplains, who volunteer their services to shut-ins, AIDS victims and so much more. Chaplains’ families are an integral part of this ministry. They are our “heroes” of the faith. They feel the call just as intensely as do those who are the assigned as full-time chaplains. They hear the stories of those who live and suffer “outside the gates;” and they respond sacrificially with love and service. We are blessed with a great chaplaincy family; I know you will be praying for all of these vital team members.

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