Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Monday, March 31, 2008 at 12:30 am
Choice greetings!
When doing chaplaincy ministry, Truth is paramount. As we have seen in the current political arena, “truth” is often distorted, individualized or just simply ignored. Even when there seems no apparent reason or benefit in distorting the truth, politicians, so used to exaggerations and false claims, seem more comfortable with “shady truth” than “real truth.” And, of course, this same behavior is found in ministers, of which chaplains are included. Both in the church and in the marketplace, these actions bring discredit to the minister, the church and to our Lord. We often say, it is not even enough to “do the right thing;” we must always “do the right thing for the right reason.” Truth, in its purest form takes into consideration not just “the fact,” but, how the facts will be used or abused by those that hear the facts. Truth must always be dispersed with the highest motives and understanding. Just to throw out the facts may tickle the ears, but could wound those we are called to heal.
Someone stated that chaplains are the moral conscience of the institutions or settings they serve. What an awesome responsibility. With that responsibility, what guides our behavior? First, we must always be who we proclaim ourselves to be. “To be” is far more important than “to do” or “to know.” Secondly, when speaking or preaching, we must be able to think outside our own narrow perspective. That is, we must make sure our language is Word centered, and, is properly understood within the pluralistic settings of our assignments. How often do we speak as if our audience is all one gender or race; and comes from just a small section of the world? We live in a post-modern, pluralistic society, a society that needs a Gospel that is “truth centered” and which speaks to hearts of all of us. And finally, our words and deeds as chaplains need to be free of “hidden agendas.” Sometimes when I hear a message in church I find myself saying, “What is the real agenda here?” Is it to proclaim Jesus, or is it proclaimed for some other, less than pure, reason? Do we preach the same way whether to privates or generals; to the poor or the rich? Everyone, the store clerk or the store owner, needs a chaplain who they “know” to be morally sensitive to who they are and the needs they bring to this sacred setting. Jesus Christ is our model for being trustworthy. His spiritual conduit was so pure that anyone, the prostitute or the tax collector, could share their need or plight in life with Him without His “hidden agenda” getting entangled with their need for salvation, acceptance and healing. This world deserves chaplains and ministers with clean hearts and minds; who “do the right thing for the right reasons.” Thank God for Church of God chaplains of that caliber. Keep them and their families in your daily prayers.
NEWS FROM THE FIELD:
1. Air Force Chaplain, CPT, Gloria Tyner, just recently was deployed to Iraq. She writes: “Greeting from Balad, Iraq. The Lord has been good! I am the hospital chaplain at the biggest hospital in theater. We have the best doctors and nurses in the military; giving great service to our servicemen and women. My ministry to our staff, our US military patients and Iraqi contractors is wide open. I had the privilege of meeting with Air Force Chief of Chaplain Cecil Richardson at our hospital. Keep this vital ministry in your prayers.”
2. National Guard Chaplain (LTC) Ray Williams is on his way back to the US after a deployment to Iraq. We will give you a full report of his outstanding ministry in a later Update. He can now be contacted at: ray.williams@us.army.mil
3. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, Iraq sent us a report and pictures of his Combined Aviation Task Force Easter Sunrise and regular services. Like all our chaplains in these distant and critical areas, many US military and civilian personnel have been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit
4. Army Chaplain (CPT) Barron Wester, Iraq sent this urgent prayer request: “Pray for my soldiers. We are very close to coming home after a 15 month deployment. We recently had our 19th KIA (a 19 year old by a sniper). Obviously this is a tremendous blow to our unit. We have had numerous other “close calls” from mortars, IEDs and the other dangers of our area. Pray for me also as I seek to minister to these young men.”(Chaplain Wester was seriously wounded some months back by a sniper’s round. But, after recovering in Germany for several weeks, he requested and was granted the opportunity to return to this unit. Pray for Chaplain Wester and all our deployed military chaplains; also, their families and the soldiers and the families they serve.)
5. Army Chaplain (Major) Randy Imhoff wasrecently recalled to active duty as a Family Life Chaplain, Fort Drum, NY. He sent this report on Sheena, his and Darlene’s adult daughter: “We took Sheena to Church today. She wanted to go to the altar. With some help, she stood and raised her right hand to worship. Before the accident, she was always in the altar, worshipping the Lord. Several of the youth came to pray with and speak with Sheena. In a sense, she is again fulfilling her calling as a youth pastor.”
6. Air Force Reserve Chaplain (LTC) Charles Perry, Chippewa Falls, WI, will retire with honors from the military reserve service in a formal ceremony on May 4, 2008. Chaplain Perry, with several deployments to combat areas, has had an outstanding ministry; leading many to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. In his civilian ministry, he serves as a counselor at a Vet’s home. He writes: “These vets have many deep needs. Many of them have mental and emotional problems. Each morning before I go to work, I take up my cross and die to self so that Christ can live His life through me. I want to solely depend on the power and love of Christ.”
7. Puerto Rico’s Chaplaincy Coordinator, Ismael Ponce, reports that his only brother recently died. He is currently in the Dominican Republic taking care of the funeral and giving care to a grieving family.
8. Teresa Bartels, wife of Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Bartels, (Jeff is on deployment to Iraq) sent this urgent prayer request: “Pray for my sister, Lisa. She just came out of surgery; with an infection from a previous surgery. Also, pray for my Mom, who is caring for her.
FINALLY:
Within a few days, we will be presenting to the Care Division and the Executive Council our 2008-2009 budgets and a report of last year’s ministry. In reflecting on this past year, consider the following: (1) We just dedicated our new Chaplaincy Training and Development Center in Quito, Ecuador; (2) While in Ecuador, we had the opportunity to set up the first ever Chaplaincy Chair. The professor, who is assigned to this special academic Chair, will see that chaplaincy and care courses are given to every student and to ministers in extension classes throughout South America. And, the Chair has already been funded for the first two years. (2) We now have chaplaincy ministries in 70 countries; with a great working relationship with our World Mission’s Department; (3) since the events of 9/11, 42 of our Church of God military chaplains have been deployed to combat areas; with reports of hundreds being saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit; (4) our hospital and prison chaplains are serving with distinction. Several of these clinical ministers are CPE Supervisors, directors of local and state-wide pastoral care programs and specialists in medical and social care areas; (5) this past year, hundreds of pastors and other leaders have take our Basic Chaplaincy course and our specialized courses in Additions, Domestic Violence, Campus Ministries, Suicide Intervention and Grief, Death and Dying and Trauma. These are just a few of the reasons why God is using chaplaincy to lift up a new ministry paradigm for the entire Church. The fact of the matter it is not new; this paradigm of care comes form our Lord, who says, “As you do it unto the least of these, my brothers, you do it unto Me.”
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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