Church of God Chaplains Commission

Chaplains Commission Weekly Update

Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 1:45 am

Choice Christian greetings!

For almost 30 years, the Chaplains Commission has been built on the foundation of “good theology, good chaplains and good ministry practice.” We believe our chaplains function best with a clear, definable theology. From our Church of God perspective, this is based on our uniqueness, Wesleyan, holiness and Pentecostal heritage. We are not a Commission looking for “warm bodies.” There may be others willing to take individuals with divergent views, some of them so radical that they hardly fit within the Word of God! That is not the Church of God Chaplains Commission. That is why we encourage most of our chaplains to attend our Church of God Theological Seminary; and, for the few unable to attend our Seminary, we work with other Seminaries to ensure our future chaplains receive minimally 18 hours from our Seminary (through directive study or some other means) in the areas of Pentecostal Theology, Pentecostal Approach to Scripture and Pentecostal Practice of Ministry. Secondly, we look for “good chaplains.” When working “outside the gates,” character means everything. It is not who can leap over tall buildings in a single bound, run faster than a bullet train; it is those individuals who, in the good and difficult times, remain true to themselves, their family and Lord. It means they hold true to the personal disciplines of the Scriptures whether fighting in a combat zone, preaching from a pulpit or riding on an airplane away from anyone’s attention. There is little room in chaplaincy ministries, from my perspective, for “shady individuals.” We need women and men of character. Finally, good ministry practice means that, whether in worship, counseling or all the other practices of ministry, our chaplains are consistent with the ethics of Scripture and professionalism in the best interpretation of the word. Ministry practice is doing the “right thing” for the “right reason.” As we move into this New Year, I have taken time to pray and reflect. Looking back over our chaplaincy history, I can tell you without equivocating, that those chaplains who finished the race well fit this category. Those who took short cuts, or took liberty with “truth,” or are simply there to make the rank or gain status, for the most part stumbled and fell by the wayside. May 2008 continue to be a great year in attracting full time and volunteer chaplains who have deep, Biblically based theology; men and women of character who practice ministry with the very best personal and professional integrity.

AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS:

1. Our sincere congratulations go to Chaplain (COL) Charles L Howell, Command Chaplain for the Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. In a special ceremony on January 2, with Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (MG) Douglas Carver, present, Chaplain Howell was officially promoted to “Full Colonel.” Chaplain Howell has had an outstanding Army chaplaincy career. What I remember most about Chaplain Howell is, even when he was a student at the Seminary, he was “pastoral…through and through.” He never forgot his roots as a pastor, and that was apparent at every level of his exemplary chaplaincy career. His numerous assignments include Deputy Command Chaplain of INSCOM, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Instructor and Director at the Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Germany; Korea; and many others. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (8^th Award); Army Commendation Medal (3^rd Oak Leaf Cluster); and many others. Chaplain Howell, his wife, Sharon, and their family represents the very best of “ministry beyond the gates.” Send your congratulations to Chaplain Howell and his family to: charles.howell@us.army.mil.

2. Army Chaplain (CPT) Chris Wilson, Korea, notified us that in February, he will be redeploying from Korea to Fort Hood, Texas. It should be noted that upon leaving Korea, Chaplain Wilson was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The justification for this award included the following: “Among other ministries, he arranged for 105 Soldiers and their family members to construct a 24-family housing unit for homeless Korean families; he developed a superb program for a local orphanage, caring for 175 children; he had an outstanding Contemporary Worship Service with 45 volunteers for his children’s church, praise band and other programs; his accomplishments bring great credit upon himself, our unit and the entire U.S. Army.” Chris and Meghan, his wife, have four daughters, all under the age of 8. Additionally, his wife is 6 months pregnant (boy or girl?) Our sincere congratulations go to Chaplain Wilson and his family; a job well done in Korea!

3. Our congratulations go to Chaplain (COL) David Smartt, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C., who was recently notified that he has been selected by the Whitman School of Management, Syracuse Ministry, to receive the James F. McCall Award for distinguished service. This award is presented annually at graduation ceremonies to an outstanding alumnus in recognition of demonstrated achievement in the area of professional management. Our sincere congratulations go to Chaplain Smartt. Send your notes to him and his family at: davidsmartt@hqda.army.mil.

PRAYER NEEDS:

1. Continue to pray for our chaplains who are deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and other critical areas. Also, keep their Soldiers and their families in your prayers.

2. Law Enforcement Chaplain Russell Holland, Norfolk, Virginia, underwent spine surgery on January 7. He will experience a long recovery process.

3. Ireland Chaplain John Walsh has requested prayer as he makes a missions trip to Indonesia during the next month. In Indonesia, he will be ministering to street kids, in schools and other critical areas.

MILITARY CHAPLAINCY REPORTS:

1. Navy Chaplain (LT) Brian Jacobson, Joppa, Maryland, reports that during the holidays his unit provided meals for the under privileged, holiday grief group meetings and single parent networking; unfortunately, he also conducted a death notification and grief follow-up to a family whose only son was killed in an automobile accident.

2. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, deployed to Iraq from Fort Riley, Kansas, states: “Christmastime in Iraq is tough on our Soldiers, primarily because of the longing to be with family. Therefore, we had a full Christmas Eve service with a nativity scene, wonderful singing; as well as a New Year’s Candlelight Service to ring in the New Year and connect our Soldiers to those who would be experiencing similar celebrations at home.”

3. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Jeff Walden, Belgium, informs us that he will be PCSing to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas this summer. In his new duties, he will have the privilege of helping to train Army chaplains in a new community model of Clinical Pastoral Education.

4. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Terry Simmons, Afghanistan, gives this holiday report: “Our chaplains’ department provided a Christian concert for the Forward Operating Base, filled with the story of Christ’s birth, Christmas songs and good food. Many attended who seldom participate in worship services. We had a group of Polish Soldiers who were drawn to our services by the music. In our New Year’s Eve service, we sang and preached right up to the midnight hour. We had Communion, began to pray and gave praise into the New Year. Many came to the altar.” (We just heard that Chaplain Simmons was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his ministry to the joint environment of OEF VIII.)

5. Newly assigned Navy Chaplain (LT) Harry Hansen, on the Island of Crete, reports that he had the privilege of conducting his first military candlelight worship service. Chaplain Hansen, formerly a pilot with Delta Airlines, is our newest assigned Navy chaplain.

6. Army Chaplain (MAJ) David Santiago-Cruz, Germany, reports that their son, David, Jr., will be deploying to Iraq shortly after the holidays. He is requesting we keep him in our prayers.

OTHER CHAPLAINCY NEWS(International, Law Enforcement, Prison, Hospital, Campus, etc.):

1. Community Service Chaplains Drew and Cherry Landrus, Crab Orchard, Tennessee, last month through their care center, ministered to 99 families, feeding a total of 445 individuals. Through this care ministry, they continued to assist needy children in elementary schools throughout their area. They also liaison to ministry through several other agencies who work with the underprivileged. Drew is a Retired Army Colonel. He and Cherry are the parents of Army Chaplain (CPT) Heather Landrus, who just completed a successful two-year assignment to Korea.

2. Our volunteer chaplains are noted for doing “hands-on” ministry. Chaplain Kimberly Mynatt, Knoxville, Tennessee, recently raised almost $3,000 for a grandmother who unexpectedly received custody of her three grandchildren. Chaplain Garth Hauger, Fredericksburg, during the holidays collected socks and slippers for residence of an assisted living home; stuffed animals for the residents and their grandchildren; and other small, but significant, items of care. Volunteer Prison Chaplain Tammie McConnel, Charlotte, North Carolina, provided special treats of pizza and cokes for juveniles in a detention facility, with the result of some 130 kids giving response to their need for salvation.

3. New Zealand Chaplain/CPE Supervisor Ray Bloomfield was recently awarded the “Queen’s Service Medal” for his outstanding ministry services to his hospital and the surrounding community. The award states: “We are happy to present you Her Majesty The Queen’s special recognition for your services to the community. This medal recognizes your outstanding contributions to a wide range of service.” This award was officially announced December 31, 2007, with media and dignitaries present. Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Bloomfield at: rabloom@ihug.co.nz.

FINALLY:

We often reflect on the significance of strong relationships with others who are involved in care and chaplaincy ministries. One of our strongest partners is medical Doctor Leticia Gonzalez, who, because of her wide range of medical and preaching ministries, is titled as “Medical Missionary at Large.” Chaplain/Doctor Gonzalez recently conducted medical missions programs throughout Central America, with significant ministries in Guatemala and Honduras. Dr. Gonzalez goes to some of the most remote areas of the world. She sets up a medical clinic, and at the end of the day, conducts a village-wide preaching crusade. She is as passionate in the pulpit winning the lost as she is in her clinic caring for the physical needs of the destitute. She believes these two aspects of her call are unequivocally woven together. While in these remote areas, she gave medical and ministry services to hundreds of orphans, worked with other doctors in public hospitals and gave free medical service to pastors and their family members. We count it a privilege to network with Dr. Gonzalez and so many others who have taken seriously the mandate to go where the need is the greatest. Keep our chaplains and their family members in your prayers throughout 2008. Again, Happy New Year!

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