Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Choice Easter greetings!
Two of the most significant events in the history of mankind take place this week. On Good Friday, we recognize, celebrate and reflect on the significance of the crucifixion of our Lord. And on Easter Sunday, we acknowledge His victory over the grave and our promise of eternal life with Him. These two universal events are inseparable. There is no eternal life without the pain, struggle and death. Neither event will carry the eternal results without the other. I know there are those, through symbols and theological discussions, who would almost want us to forget about that terrible Friday. In my early childhood, I was taught, “Thank God, He is no longer on the Cross.” Therefore, our empty crosses, all polished and shinny, hang in our sanctuaries or around our necks or on our lapels. While there may be some truth in these symbols, as chaplains, who work in the middle of the world’s struggles and pain, we can never ignore the passion, suffering and power of the Cross. That would be like receiving an award at some great celebration without acknowledging the moms and dads who worked in difficult places and long hours with sweat and blood, which made that celebration possible.
When I was involved in a clinical residency at the National Institutes of Health, I learned, through my dying patients, the power that is in the Cross… I was planning our Easter service for a cancer ward with patients so critical that they most likely would not survive the next few weeks or months. I asked some of them what they would like to do for Easter morning. They wanted me to have an open discussion about death. This surprised me; I was thinking they would want to put those thoughts a great distance from their minds. And it turned out to be marvelous. One of the things I learned on that day that has served me all these years is that while patients may be sick and dying, they are not without tremendous insight and power. Openly, honestly and with passion, they shared their thoughts of their pending deaths; but against the backdrop of the Hope that was to follow. They knew it would be impossible to separate Good Friday from Easter. If we do not celebrate them together, our Easter will be nothing more than Easter egg hunts, pretty dresses and light-hearted songs of joy. And without the hope of the Resurrection, our Good Fridays would be nothing but hopeless grief. Chaplains around the world experience this inseparable relationship on a daily basis. In working with inmates in prison as they await execution or Soldiers in combat, chaplains, like those they serve, chaplains come face to face with death but always within the context of the hope of the Resurrection. May your Good Friday be awesome; and may your Easter have depth, integrity and hope.
DISASTER RESPONSE MINISTRIES REVIEW:
The Chaplains Commission has an outstanding Disaster Response Ministries Program, connected closely to Operation Compassion. When there is a disaster, the first responders are the law enforcement agencies, medical personnel and agencies like Operation Compassion. Wherever the disaster takes place, Operation Compassion has the ability to instantly respond with food, water, emergency equipment and other resources that make them “first responders.” Within a day, we attempt to place on Operation Compassion’s disaster sites “immediate responders.” “Immediate responders” are trained chaplains, generally sent as a group, to set up counseling centers to offer immediate services to those who are traumatized, and as we experienced during Katrina, to help bury and honor the dead. Our Disaster Response Ministries are headed up by Reverend Tom Offutt, who has a good history in these ministries. In Alabama, our Disaster Response Ministries are headed up by Chaplain Joseph Schuck, who, during the recent tornado activity in Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas, helped organize teams that were on site a day or two after the tornadoes hit. One of the reasons for this groups’ ability to give immediate response is that in Alabama, we have very well established State Chaplains Association; chaplains who have taken our Community Service Chaplains Basic Course and continue to keep themselves up to date with Red Cross courses, FEMA instruction and other activities that qualify them for this task. If you have interest in the Disaster Response Ministries Programs, contact Tom Offutt at 423-478-7218, or by emailing: tomoffutt@charter.net.
NEWS FROM THE FIELD:
1. Dr. Betty Standifer, a University Professor, Cleveland, Tennessee, has an exciting ministry to female inmates in a local prison. She, with our encouragement, is currently conducting research that gives focus to the increasing number of women who occupy prisons throughout the world. She understands this to be a special group demanding specialized ministry. If you have an interest in this type of ministry, contact us and we will pass your information on to Dr. Standifer. Let me share with you one brief testimony of one of her many incidents of ministry. Dr. Standifer states: “I entered our lock-down section and sat “Indian style” on the cot next to a 22-year-old inmate. I could tell she had been crying; her hair was matted; she had very bad breath odor. She unfolded her story. She had been on crack since she was 10 years old; came from a bad home environment. She painfully shared with me the fact that her brother had raped her many times. She leaned down to whisper to me, I have never been able to tell anyone about this. She even showed me a letter that she had written to God following an attempt at suicide. Her comments to God, full of hopelessness, broke my heart. But in her letter, even in her hopeless state, she repeated I love you! I love you, God!” You can see why Dr. Standifer takes this ministry so seriously; and she is pleading for the entire Church to recognize that these are our “moms and daughters.”
2. Hospital Chaplain Rod Harwood, Pendleton, Oregon, sends this report: “In one of the surrounding small communities, a young 17-year-old girl took her life. The hospital where she died was made up of staff that knew her and her family. I had the ministry privilege of helping the local staff and students from the young girl’s school cope with their grief and lingering thoughts. Many of the kids at the school knew me as “coach” because of the years I spent coaching them when they were middle school students. On another note, I have been chosen to be part of a group of care-givers to be trained as facilitators of a program called the Sacred Art of Living and Dying Workshops. The term Sacred Art of Dying was used 1,000 years ago in hospice-type programs. They believed there was a sacred art that could be learned that would help people die well. This training has opened many doors for ministry within my community.”
3. Prison Chaplain Joseph Miller, Newland, North Carolina, notes: “I have begun a new ministry within my institution called Mug Shot Café. This is designed for Christian inmates to come and bring others to dialogue and enjoy treats. It is not a church service, but we play Christian music, share testimonies and present the Gospel in an informal manner. We have already had converts in this ministry. Keep us in your prayers.”
SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS:
1. Pray for our chaplains around the world who will be conducting Holy Week services in jails, prisons, on University Campuses, hospitals and in combat settings.
2. Keep praying for the family of Valerie Abbott, our executive secretary, as they continue to process the grief of losing her mother.
3. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Terry Simmons, Fort Carson, Colorado, is asking us to pray for his father, who is experiencing physical and financial problems. As most of you know, Chaplain Simmons recently returned from a one-year assignment to Afghanistan.
4. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, serving in Iraq, sent a special prayer request for his troops as they begin to make transition into the extremely hot months in that part of the world. He reports that this week the temperatures soared to 105 degrees.
DR. CHARLES W. CONN:
Dr. Charles W. Conn, distinguished leader, passed away on March 18, 2008. He was no stranger to Church of God chaplaincy ministries. He was always one of our greatest supporters. Dr. Conn served as General Overseer, Lee University President, State Overseer, pastor, Editor-in-Chief of all Church of God publications and published many books, to include Like a Mighty Army. In 1961, when I was a chaplain stationed in Germany, Dr. Conn was instrumental, as an Executive Committee Member, in helping us get our first Church of God Ministry to the Military established. He was present at the first retreat in 1962, and up until his death, he has always been friend and treasured supporter of chaplaincy ministries. There was hardly any place I was assigned during my many years as a military chaplain that he didn’t find a way to be with me and other chaplains; whether in the U.S. or in Vietnam. When he was the General Overseer, I had the joy of hosting him in some pretty rugged terrain at our base camp and remote areas in Vietnam. Our Commission honored him with the title and distinction of being our “Chaplain Emeritus.” I know all of you will be praying for his family; and will never forget the tremendous impact he had on the Church of God generally; but more specifically, our chaplaincy and Ministry to the Military endeavors.
FINALLY:
Holy Week is a great time to ask the question, “What identifies you?” As very busy chaplains, administrators, international and regional leaders, how are you identified? Is it by the tons of administrative endeavors, trips throughout the U.S. and abroad or all the Board and Committee meetings you attend? Is it by the classes you teach, the worship services you hold or your financial portfolio? Some years ago, I was asked to give a briefing to military leaders concerning a new clinical pastoral education program being made available on many military bases. I will never forget that experience. I had a well-rehearsed and refined PowerPoint presentation, with facts and figures and all the other things that go into a presentation given to such a prestigious audience. But right in the middle of that presentation, one of those present asked, “Does this program provide anything for those suffering difficult family situations?” I learned after the meeting that this high-ranking officer has recently experienced a devastating divorce, with the loss of not only his wife, but that of his children. His identification was not as a high-level administrator, but as a person in pain and in need of help. So really, what identifies us is our family, those significant relationships and the loved one that will be by our side long after we retire from all these awesome responsibilities. That is what I love about Easter…the Cross and the Easter excitement brings it down to the simplicity of “who are you, really?” Looking on His face, as He hung on that cross, the disciples finally had to decide, “is He really the Savior, and am I willing to also die for Him.” Who are we? Are we the things we do or the relationships we have with Him and those that really love us?
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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