Church of God Chaplains Commission

Chaplains Commission Weekly Update

Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Choice Christian greetings!

They are called “volunteers,” but they are more than that! They are our Community Service Chaplains, more than 2,000 around the world. Even though they are “volunteers” working generally without recompense, they are some of the most committed chaplains. We began this program in 1978; and many of those we endorsed in the early years are still regular, faithful CSC chaplains. One of those chaplains is Law Enforcement Chaplain Douglas Hardy, Carrollton, Georgia. In just one month, he made 30 “one-on-one” visits with law enforcement personnel, averaged more than 20 hours per week on duty, dealt with grieving family members who had lost loved ones and made several emergency calls during automobile and other tragedies. Another example is the ministry of Chaplain Ernest Pennington, Beaver, West Virginia. His volunteer chaplaincy ministry began when he was an Overseer and pastor, and has not ceased in his “retirement” years. He makes regular visits to nursing homes, delivers food to widows, preaches funerals of those within his community who are without pastors, and the list goes on. Community Service Chaplain Marlene Giordano, Bellevue, Nebraska, works with nursing facilities, hospitals and other clinical areas. Recently, she organized her local church’s first health fair; and is known in her community as the “first chaplain on site.” Finally, visit with me the ministries of Chaplain Andrew and Cherry Landrus, Crab Orchard, Tennessee. Andrew and Cherry had outstanding careers in the military; always wherever assigned, they were leaders in support of chaplaincy and other military ministries. Following the military, Andrew had a second successful career with a civilian government agency, and retired to what some would say was a “quiet, serene area” of mountainous middle Tennessee. It did not take him long to discover that, in addition to beautiful, gated retirement communities, this area also had a large number of poor, uneducated and distressed families. Through their tireless efforts, the Landruses have developed chaplaincy programs for public schools, homeless and especially the underprivileged kids who went to school every day hungry. Their feeding, clothing and health programs are second to none in this area; and their chaplaincy endeavors are connected with numerous other community social agencies, giving care around the clock to those in need. It is not accidental that their daughter, Army Chaplain (CPT) Heather Landrus, also received the call to chaplaincy ministries. She just returned from a most successful assignment in Korea, and will most likely join a unit that could be deployed to Iraq. These are just a few of our outstanding Community Service chaplains. They, along with our full-time chaplains, are fulfilling the mandate of ministering “outside the gates.”

2008 Pre-General Assembly Chaplains Conference:

Every two years, the Church of God Chaplains Commission sponsors a conference for our full-time chaplains and other guests for three days prior to the General Assembly. This year’s conference theme will be “Sustaining Hope for our Chaplains, their Families and Those They Serve.” The conference will begin with 7 p.m. worship on Saturday, August 2, at the Hilton Palacio del Rio, San Antonio, Texas. The Pre-Assembly Conference will end on Monday, noon, August 4. Of course, the 2008 General Assembly begins Monday evening, August 4. While our full-time chaplains are required to attend this event, we also invite our Community Service chaplains and other guests to register for this conference. There is no registration fee, but you would be expected to cover all your own expenses (hotel, travel, etc.) If our CSC and others are interested, you need to send your name to us at: trainingcc@bellsouth.net.

MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1. Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Gloria Tyner, who just rotated from a three-year assignment to Japan, has now been deployed to Iraq for 6 months. As soon as Chaplain Tyner gets settled into her new unit, we will pass her email address on to you so that you can lift her up in your prayers and assist in sending goods for her troops, especially during the holidays.

2. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Clayton Gregory, station near the Korean DMZ, writes: “As you know, the U.S. Army has a program whereby our spouses can visit with us in Korea for several weeks, sharing alongside their spouse in ministry. My wife, Susan, made a recent visit where we had the opportunity to conduct ministry together on the DMZ, be involved in special events such as prayer breakfasts; and in a special ceremony, Susan received the American flag that was flown over one of our farthest outposts. This special occasion was afforded Susan by a very supportive commander. Back in the U.S., Susan volunteered at the Church of God Chaplains Commission where her assignment was to call other spouses whose husbands were deployed to Iraq and other critical areas. On one occasion, she was able to provide care to a chaplain’s wife whose husband had been wounded while on assignment in Iraq. Susan’s joining me in Korea was a special blessing from the Lord.”

3. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Taz Randles, Reserve Chaplain serving as a pastoral counselor at Lee University, has been mobilized for 365 days to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to work with the Warrior Transition Brigade. He will report to active duty April 15, 2008. This brigade is made up of Soldiers that have suffered various life-debilitating conditions that require remaining in a medical hold status until which time they can be released back to their units or to their home of record. Many of these Soldiers suffer with physical problems, as well as trauma. Incidentally, the command chaplain at Walter Reed Hospital is another Church of God Chaplain, Chaplain (COL) Charles Howell. God has a way of putting our chaplains at the right places at the right times.

SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS:

1. Chaplain Samantha Cadet, Hollywood, Florida, is praying for a car/van to transport her 11 year-old daughter to school and to carry out her chaplaincy ministry. If you know of someone that would like to donate a used car/van, have them contact Chaplain Cadet at: slcadet@yahoo.com.

2. Pray for the family of Rubye Culpepper Corbett, Valdosta, Georgia. Sister Corbett passed away recently after a long illness. Sister Culpepper Corbett, the Great Aunt of Dr. Raymond Culpepper, First Assistant General Overseer, was a great supporter of our chaplaincy ministries for many years. Every year at her local church, she would coordinate a chaplaincy event to raise funds for chaplaincy ministries. In a ceremony at her church, I had the honor of making her a “chaplain emeritus.” On one occasion, she and her daughter, Carolyn, accompanied our Chaplains Commission Board on a 10-day trip to Europe. Sister Corbett, like so many who love this ministry, will be greatly missed; but her life and ministry will always be burned in our hearts.

3. Law Enforcement Chaplain Mike Owens, Dawsonville, Georgia, requests prayer for a young mother who lost her husband and her 7 month-old unborn child in an automobile accident. Chaplain Owens made the death notification and continues to work with this family.

4. Law Enforcement Chaplain William Howard, Saginaw, Michigan, requests prayer for his wife, Sue, as she anticipates her third surgery on her hip. Additionally, Chaplain Howard sent us a heart rendering prayer request for their area child protection agencies. An article that appeared in the Saginaw News tells of a family where there was extreme abuse resulting in the death of a 9 year-old boy and his father and step-mother. Apparently, the young boy, along with the father and step-mother, ingested night-time pain relievers and breathed carbon monoxide which the father pumped into the home from a pick-up truck. Chaplain Howard feels that we need better protection of our children throughout the U.S.

5. Law Enforcement Chaplain John Hudnall, Woodland, California, requests prayer for the family of an elderly couple, married more than 60 years, who both died within hours of each other from natural causes. Chaplain Hudnall was called out to attend to this loss and minister to family members. Chaplain Hudnall also hosted a luncheon/fund drive on behalf of one of their local law enforcement officers who was killed in the line of duty. Present at the luncheon was another officer who has been deliberately run down by a motorcyclist at a road block. In that incident, the officer lost his right leg. Chaplain Hudnall requests prayer for police officers around the world who put their lives on the line every day.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAPLAINCY NEWS:

1. Jail and Prison Chaplain Connie Pettitt, Millbrook, Alabama, reports that her chaplaincy division is sponsoring a Kairos Inside Weekend, ministering healing and forgiveness to inmates.

2. Prison Chaplain Lee James, Longview, Washington, reports, “A revival is going on in our local jail. Recently, a 21 year-old man accused of aggravated murder gave his heart to the Lord. Another man, facing 65 years to life, also came to the altar; along with 44 other men on that same day.”

3. Law Enforcement Chaplain Carl Adams, North Hampton, Ohio, reports: “As you know, many inmates cannot read. In my prison, we are providing new picture Bibles for our inmates. This is an answer to prayer!”

4. On February 6, long-term Community Service Chaplain Neal Kight, Silver City, North Carolina, officially launched a new local law enforcement chaplaincy program. City Police Chief Gary Tyson stated: “Thanks to Chaplain Knight, we will have chaplains around the clock for officers and the community who will be trained in grief counseling, trauma and other critical needs.”

FINALLY:

Like all our Updates, this one lets all of us know that chaplaincy is expanding around the world. I would encourage our State and Regional Overseers to offer chaplaincy courses for all their ministers and key lay persons. By building a chaplaincy bridge between the local church and the surrounding communities, a pastor and his/her local church is no longer shut out from the masses that need the healing touch of our Lord. For, after all, He came not just for the elite, but for the hurting.

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