Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 5/22/09
Friday, May 22, 2009 at 9:15 am
Choice Christian Greetings!
This week’s Weekly Update comes from the Philippines. Our chaplaincy and care teams are in the Philippines conducting a chaplaincy course for 200 pastors and leaders, as well as a weekend care conference. The theme is “An Effective Care and Chaplaincy Program for the Philippines.” These ministries are being headed by Dr. Donnie Smith, Executive Director of the Church of God Care Ministries Division, and Reverend Gerald Holloway, Director of the Word for the World Christian Fellowship, Manila, Philippines. Upon returning, I will give you a full report of these ministry endeavors.
I visited the Philippines for the first time in 1967. I was able to take a fully packed C-130 plane, full of more than 100 soldiers just out of combat zones, to Baguio City, Philippines. At that retreat, we were blessed by the ministries of Raymond Spain and Lovell Cary, along with other church leaders. Of the 100 soldiers that we took to the retreat, all either rededicated their lives to Christ, or came to Christ for the first time, except for one hold-out. Would you believe that when we got back to Clark Air Base to go back to Vietnam, the plane was delayed for several hours? All of the soldiers were wired up; still singing courses and hymns, praying for each other, which all goes with a Pentecostal celebration. They were so loud that the Sergeant in charge of the air terminal found us a private room, where we could do our “Pentecostal thing.” Just a few minutes before the plane was due to take-off, the one, lone hold-out gave his heart to Jesus Christ. That is but one testimony of our vast ministries “beyond the gates.”
Reflections from China
Our Administrative Coordinator, Ashley Shoemake, was recently blessed with the opportunity to travel to China with a family as they went to finalize the adoption of a fifteen-month-old baby girl. What an incredible experience this was for her, one that we have asked her to share.
In 2004, God spoke to LC and Annette Lynch and told them that they were to adopt children. God then gave them a burden for China, and in November of 2006 they brought home an 11-month-old daughter, whom they named Emma-Joy. Nine months later, God opened yet another door and made it possible for them to adopt 10-month-old twin girls from Guatemala, Astoria Elisabeth and Annah Elisabeth. Then, in January 2008, God led them back to China to adopt again; and, one year later, they received the news that they had approval to travel to China and pick-up their fourth daughter.
They named her Lola C; and she was discovered at the gates of a motorcycle market in the city of Fencheng when she was only one-month-old. I was blessed to be able to watch as the Lynch family walked into a room and laid eyes on their baby girl for the very first time. What an marvelous thing to witness; a mom and dad holding their daughter for the first time, and three sisters being introduced to their new “mei mei” (Chinese for “little sister”).
While in China, we were given the opportunity to travel to the city of Fencheng to see the exact place that Lola C was found, as well as to meet her foster mother. God also granted Annette the chance to pray with Lola’s foster mother. Although the foster mother understood no English, as Annette prayed for her, the Holy Spirit began to speak, and this foster mother began to weep. I will never forget how strongly I felt the presence of the Lord in that moment as Annette thanked and blessed Lola’s foster mother for caring for Lola for the first 14 months of her life. There are truly no language barriers with God!
Before leaving China, as part of the adoption process, Lola had to be examined by a Chinese physician. Going into the adoption, LC and Annette were made aware that Lola had hearing loss in one of her ears. However, during her doctor’s appointment, a hearing test was preformed, and it was determined that Lola had absolutely no hearing loss whatsoever! What a testimony!
Having adjusted so quickly to her new family, Lola C is doing fantastic! She is one of the happiest babies, always smiling and wanting to show off all six of her teeth. She even took her first steps a few days before we left China. So many times I have reflected on how this child’s destiny has been forever changed. Who knows what God has in store for her that He would bring her from China and place her in America, giving her opportunities that she would have never had otherwise? In many ways, I see her as a modern day Esther who has been moved into the “palace” for “such a time as this.” What a story she, along with her other three sisters, have to tell.
News From The Field
· Special congratulations to Dr. R.C. Hugh Nelson, pastor of the Church of God of East Flatbush Church of God, Brooklyn, New York, in his selection as the 2009 Distinguished Trustee Award by the Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. A reception held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on May 8, 2009. The award was given to Dr. Nelson in recognition of his tremendous chaplaincy and care ministries to his community. It should be noted that this local church has more than 100 trained and endorsed chaplains who give chaplaincy services to hospitals, prisons, low-income housing areas, court systems, even ministering to those young people who are affiliated with gangs. Recently, when three gang members were murdered, these gang’s family members turned to Dr. Nelson for support. Send your congratulations to Dr. Nelson and the East Flatbush Church at bishoprcnel@aol.com
· Civil Air Patrol Chaplain (LTC) Paul Harne, and pastor of the Hagerstown – Virginia Avenue Church of God, Hagerstown, Maryland, tells us that he has arranged for his sermons to be placed on CDs, and then played to a group of Ugandan Security Personnel in Iraq on a regular basis.
· Community Service Chaplain Patricia Dew, Madisonville, Kentucky, notes: “A few weeks back, your Weekly Update lifted up our women who are in chaplaincy ministries. I thank God that through chaplaincy, I was embraced, affirmed, and given the opportunity for a great ministry.”
Special Reports
· Veterans Affairs Chaplain Thomas Mills, Danville, Illinois, was recently selected as the recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs Award for Excellency in Chaplaincy. At a special event in August, in Washington, DC, he will be given this special award. Send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Mills at: t.h.mills@comcast.net
· Our special thanks to Army Chaplain (CPT) David Hall, Baumholder, Germany, for hosting 43 members of the Lee Singers, along with their Director, Dr. Brad Moffett, for an exciting and outstanding performance at his army chapel. In addition to this performance, our thanks also goes to Ministry to the Military Center Director Phil Burton, who arranged to house all 43 members of the Lee Singers; with a performance also at the K-Town Center.
Special Report: Surgery of Army Chaplain (Major) David Santiago-Cruz
Army Chaplain (MAJ) David Santiago-Cruz underwent open heart surgery this week at a German Medical Center in Stuttgart, Germany. Ministry to the Military Center Director Glenn Gravatt sent this report:
"Diane and I were with Chaplain Santiago before and after surgery. After the five hour surgery, the doctors reported that they had successfully done quadruple bypass using arteries from the chest area. They did the surgery without having to put Chaplain Santiago on the heart/lung machine. This will result in a quicker and more positive recovery. After 24 hours of recovery in the ICU unit, he will be required to stay 8-10 days in the hospital. We expect a normal and complete recovery. Loida (David’s wife), is doing well. Thanks for all your prayers."
Finally
In a course at the Seminary, which I have taught with Dr. Steven Land for the past 25 years, Foundations for Life and Ministry, I often ask the students during their first semester on campus, “Who sent you here?” It is interesting, in these times of individualism that most students respond by saying, “I guess I sent myself.” In other words, I am coming for three years of training without the prayerful sponsorship of a local church, a local pastor, a state bishop, or even a group of friends who will be praying that God will use this training for critically needed Kingdom work. In the old days, generally, when someone felt a call to the ministry, he/she had the support of a local pastor, a group of praying moms and dads, and a church who felt a keen responsibility for that person’s development in ministry. In the church today, we are not “over-supervised;” we are “glossily under-supervised.” When these students come for ministerial training, there should be a lifeline of prayer and financial support; ensuring that they are not coming alone, but with the passionate hearts of a local church, a regional bishop and a host of Christian brothers and sisters. And then, when they complete their training, those that have “prayerfully sent them,” should be “prayerfully ready to receive them back for ministry.” It is no wonder that ministers today, in too great of a number, are mavericks. Could it be that we made them mavericks? And, this certainly applies to chaplains. You are not out there, whether in a combat zone or in a prison, simply doing “your thing.” You have been sent by the Lord’s calling, by the Chaplains Commission’s requirements for training and development, and an endorsement by your denomination. Ministry is so demanding and critical that it takes “all of us” to carry it out. When those times are tough and stressful, when it seems as if you cannot go another mile, remember, “You are not alone.” I trust that we will get away from “my ministry” and turn again to “our ministry.” Continue to pray for our chaplains and family members; they are our sons and daughters that we have sent forth, hopefully with the deepest possible support, to do an impossible job in a crisis-ridden society.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.
Galatians 6:2-3
NLT
Contacts
Director, Dr. Robert D. Crick, cricksot@att.net
Full-time Chaplaincy and Public Relations, Dr. Jerry McNabb, jmcnabb@cogchaplains.com
Community Service Chaplaincy and Training, Dr. Doc Williams, dwilliams@cogchaplains.com
Community Service Chaplaincy Administrative Information, wroberson@cogchaplains.com
Disaster and Compassionate Care, Reverend Tom Offutt, tomoffutt@att.net
Prayer and Family Care, Elaine Offutt, elaineoffutt@att.net
General Information, chapcm@cogchaplains.com
Web Site/Page: www.cogchaplains.com
RDC/als
Correspondence
Categories: Weekly Update
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