Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Choice Christian greetings!
Local church chaplaincy is creating a new ministry paradigm for the Church of God! This new paradigm is based on the fact that in order to have an effective church in this post-modern world, every Christian should have a ministry “within the gates” and “outside the gates.” Whether Sunday school teacher, choir member or usher, in order to fulfill the mandate of Scripture one must extend ministry to those in desperate need of care in the broader community. Typically, this means the most faithful church members would be trained to go on a weekly basis to some specific place within the community that needs helping hands for desperate individuals and families. This mandate in based on the Scriptures. As we know, Jesus suffered and died “outside the gates;” and, in a sense, the new covenant temple was spiritually moved “out there.” That is why the Scriptures poignantly lift up the concept that as we do it unto the least of these, we do it unto Him. So, while He ministers to us “within the gates” of the local church, we minister to Him by going to those “outside the gates.”
Does this concept work? Consult with Reverend Gerald McGinnis, Park West Church of God in Knoxville, Tennessee. He will tell you that it will revolutionize a local church. He has dozens of faithful “inside the gates” workers who also have ministries “outside the gates” in the community. This involves outreach to University Campuses, jails and prisons, hospitals, homeless centers and the list goes on. Reverend Bob Collins at the World Outreach Worship Center in Newport News, Virginia, has trained more than 150 faithful laypersons in our chaplaincy program. They are workers “inside the gates,” but have specific places of ministry “outside” the local church within the community.
This is chaplaincy at its best. It is taking the principles we have learned for many years with “outside the gates” ministry to the military, hospitals, prisons and 34 additional agenciesand applies them to our local churches. Churches that are “islands unto themselves” continue to let God bless them within the gates, but fail to apply the same principle “outside the gates.” These churches will dry up and eventually be eliminated. If the Church of God is not known as an “outside the gates” care agency, we will end up with a handful of egotistical, self-serving people with little or no voice within the larger world. However, by embracing this concept, the Church will be known as a lighthouse of care and be blessed within the gates in order that all of us, including the pastor, will have specific “outside the gates” chaplaincy ministry. Let us wake up and realize that God has sent chaplaincy for such a time as this!
SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS:
1. Hospital Chaplain John Renfro, Conway, South Carolina, gives us this report concerning his wife’s father’s recent death: “Winford Emory was the ideal father-in-law and father. At his death this week, all seven of his children surrounded the bed giving thanks for this faithful layman. Being led by the Lord, my wife, Easter, and I took him fishing just a few weeks before he died. These are moments that will be forever burned in our hearts.”
2. Clinical Chaplain John Corcoran, Miamisburg, Ohio, sends this report: “I am still dealing with multiple fire deaths of a female fire department captain and a young firefighter. They were killed when the floor collapsed. Three others were trapped, but rescued. Our team held debriefing throughout the day and provided other professional individuals to be available for peer support. Keep these families in your prayers.”
3. FBI Chaplain Darrell Bewley, Bristol, Tennessee, reports: “Keep in prayer the family of one of our officers that was shot and killed during a police chase. I was involved with the death notification with the family of the deceased.”
4. Hospital Chaplain Gerald Smith, Titusville, Florida, requests prayer for his son-in-law, Sergeant Christopher Hatcher, who is serving with the 102nd Airborne in Iraq.
5. Mental Health Chaplain Dennis DuPont, Odenton, Maryland, sent a specific request for prayer for one of their nurses who, right before Easter, lost three grandchildren in a fire. He notes that she is a faithful Pentecostal, but is deeply struggling with this loss. In response to this tragedy, Chaplain DuPont notes: “This affected our entire mental health community. One of our patients, a recovering Vietnam Veteran with depression, saw a picture of the children posted at the nurses’ station and made a beautiful charcoal drawing of them for the grandmother. He can relate to this tragedy because years ago, one of his children was murdered. He uses his drawing as a way of caring for others and responding to his own deep losses.”
6. Clinical Chaplain Christian Sandru, Toronto, Canada, reports: “Last month, we held two memorial services for staff that died in tragic accidents. The Lord moved in divine ways with His presence and spiritual strength. Continue to pray for these grieving families.”
7. Prison Chaplain Bill Whittenberger, Panama City, Florida, requests prayer for his wife, Darlene, who has just completed major surgery.
8. Hospital Chaplain Angelo Betancourt, Fort Worth, Texas, reports that his wife, Priscilla, recently went through a kidney transplant. Chaplain Betancourt requests prayer for healing and the financial obligations connected with this procedure.
9. Law Enforcement Chaplain David Shepherd, Horse Cave, Kentucky, requests prayer for the victims of two recent traffic fatalities where he provided chaplaincy services. He reports: “In both of these accidents, occupants were killed. Keep the family members in prayer; especially the two drivers of the trucks involved in the accident. Both drivers let me know they were Christians; and received their greatest strength from the Lord.”
10. Becky Popejoy, wife of our InternationalField Training Coordinator, Reverend Jake Popejoy, Davenport, Iowa, underwent surgery this week. Any of you who know Becky, know what a positive, passionate Christian she is; and her dependency upon the Lord. We ask our entire chaplaincy family to continue to lift up Becky in your prayers. According to all reports, the surgery was very successful.
SPECIAL REPORTS:
1. Judi Moore, daughter of Dr. John D. Nichols, Sevierville, Tennessee, shares this report: “My dad is responding so well to chemotherapy that the doctors are going to give his body a break and see how the cancer will now respond. The physicians feel dad’s right leg is showing some signs of swelling due to blockage. They want him to have 4-6 weeks of physical therapy in Knoxville, their home. Mom and dad are thrilled to get back home. At the end of 6 weeks, he will return to Houston for re-evaluation. Genuine thanks for all of you who have been praying for dad’s recovery.”
2. Army Chaplain (CPT) Chris Wilson, Fort Hood, Texas, gives this wonderful report: “My wife, Meghan, delivered Andrew Christopher Wilson, our first boy. He was born April 2nd, and was 10 lbs, 4 oz. He joins our 4 daughters, who are very excited and will become his big-sister helpers!” Send your notes of congratulations to cmwilson95@yahoo.com.
3. Veterans Affairs and AF Reserve Chaplain Michael Doan, Marion, IL, just completed the requirements for the Doctorate of Ministries Degree with Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, TX. His dissertation is entitled, “The Effectiveness of Interpersonal Relationship Groups for Improving Communication Skills Among Parishioners in the US Air Force Chaplaincy Ministries. Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Doan at: Michael.Doan@va.gov
MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:
1. Chaplain (LCDR-P) Melvin Underwood, Virginia Beach, Virginia, reports that July, 2008, he will be transferred to his new overseas assignment in Guam. He will be establishing chaplaincy ministries for the Submarine Force in the Western Pacific Region; a most responsible and critical position.
2. Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Victor (Danny) Pagan, Korea, reports: “Our sunrise service at Osan Air Base was a cultural celebration with more than 150 Korean Servicemen joining a large crowd of U.S. military personnel. We had more than 250 who celebrated Resurrection Sunday.”
3. Virginia Military Chaplain Peter Shoars, Fredericksburg, Virginia, reports he is working as a chaplain with the Virginia Defense Force, with his main ministry at Walter Reed Medical Center. He reports that he held Protestant services at Fort Pickett Chapel; during that service, three Marines accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.
4. Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Jonathan Hurt, San Antonio, Texas, reports: “I was the project officer for our National Prayer Luncheon. We had 450 in attendance to hear Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Cecil Richardson give a marvelous sermon; endorsed by the Assemblies of God.”
INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY NEWS (Hospitals, prisons, law enforcement, college campuses, industry, etc.):
1. Prayer is requested for Dr. Tom and Lidia Grassano, Directors of Urban Harvest Ministries. Dr. Grassano reports: “Our Hope for the City – Detroit, includes seven days of continuous prayer and strategic outreaches that will take place as over 30 churches take to the streets for witnessing and care.”
2. Campus Chaplain Luther Caraway, Vidalia, Georgia, reports their Alpha-Omega Ignite services are awesome. He gives testimony of the students who are attending their worship, prayer and fellowship groups at Brewton-Parker College; and states revival is breaking out on campus. In one service, the singing, praying and worship lasted for three hours.
3. Law Enforcement Chaplain Terry Wigley, Saraland, Alabama, reports that he responded to the death of one of their long-term police sergeants. Also, he gives testimony of how God used him to intervene in saving a life. He states: “I noticed what appeared to be a disabled vehicle in the middle lane of a busy intersection. I activated my blue lights so I could get near the vehicle in very heavy traffic. When I arrived, it was apparent that the female driver was having a medical problem. I called for back-up and for the emergency response unit. The driver was going into a diabetic coma. We treated her at the scene; praise God, she is recovering!”
4. One of our busiest Community Service Chaplains is Chaplain Betty Moore, Fieldale, Virginia. Through her “Moore Ministries, Incorporated,” she not only ministers throughout her region, but overseas. In a recent 15-day mission trip to India, she was privileged to preach and minister to orphans, prostitutes and in many local churches. This international ministry, built on chaplaincy principles, is reaching a world in pain.
FINALLY:
Words cannot express the way in which our chaplains are changing the face of our denomination. Through our Basic Chaplaincy Course, we have already trained almost 6,000 pastors and key lay persons. We often say that the passion to care lies within the heart of every Christian. Our chaplaincy courses have helped ignite this passion into unbelievable chaplaincy and care ministries. Some of the greatest heroes of the Church are not serving in a high-level position; they are individuals like Law Enforcement Chaplain C. L. Brasfield, Charlotte, North Carolina, who, in his 80s, continues to work on a daily basis with law enforcement personnel and those within his community who are stricken with tragedy. It is a privilege to be connected with this team of chaplains who refuse to stay silent when there is so much devastation in our world. Chaplaincy is for everyone; it is God’s way of wrenching us from our comfort zones out into the world’s war zone.
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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