Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 6/12/2009
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Choice Christian Greetings!
Much of what chaplains do is what we call in the “meanwhile.” As we all know, life is more than being “on the top of the world,” or “totally in the dumps.” Much of our lives are lived between these two extremes; it is that long, dry season between the good times and the bad ones. It is what chaplains know as “waiting for the news.” For military chaplains who work with soldiers in far-away, distant places, it is that experience with soldiers of waiting for news from home. For hospital patients, it is after the test is taken, waiting for the radiologist to read the c-scans, not knowing whether it is going to be good news or tragic news. For the inmate, it is after meeting the parole board, awaiting their decision, the difference between spending ten more years behind bars or returning to one’s family.
In a sense, that is where the church in America is today. It is stuck, finding itself in a cul-de-sac, not knowing whether to hold fast to our deep, Pentecostal roots or, like the rest of the world, cave in to what is “politically correct.” When in the stage of meanwhile, it is hard to even identify key, critical leadership. It is a time of waiting for someone to stand up with the courage to say, as Moses did, “This is where we stand; you are either for God or against Him!” For Martin Luther, it was the challenge of Mother Church, pinning his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Church door, and making a statement saying, “God help me; this is where I stand, I cannot do otherwise!”
Being in the meanwhile, between those terrific times and those ugly ones, is not all negative. For the children of Israel, as reported in the 29th chapter of Jeremiah, the meanwhile came in Babylonian captivity. The war is over; their families have been resettled out of Jerusalem along the artificial Babylon canals, and the prophet Jeremiah sends them a letter that goes something like this: “Settle down; you are in the meanwhile. You have 70 years to reflect. This is a time to get to know your kids and your spouse. Go back to the basics; take time to pray. Let this period of silence return you to my law and grace.” Not so bad. The Lord uses the meanwhiles to correct our dysfunctional courses in life and to bring us back to the basics. It is in the meanwhile that we once again hear His hope for us and future generations.
So to our chaplains, who may be sitting in the valley wondering what awaits them, remember our God is ever present in the “meanwhile.”
Chaplaincy News From the Field
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Daniel Claypoole, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who just returned from deployment to Iraq, is being transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Also, we learned that he was recently awarded the Bronze Star for his ministry in Iraq. He, Leah, and Eli are all excited about the new baby they are expecting in October. Send your notes of congratulations to the Claypoole’s at: daniel.claypoole@us.army.mil
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Ismael Serrano, deployed to Iraq, notes: “I am continuing to enjoy wonderful ministry with soldiers and sailors, with a recent very successful prayer breakfast. In one month, I have had the opportunity to visit more than 250 soldiers and sailors.”
· Clinical Chaplain Richard Gilbert, Vancouver, Washington, tells us that his dear mom is still experiencing grief over the loss of her husband, Richard’s stepdad, who died a year ago. His mom faces many difficulties; one being foreclosure on their home. On another note, he states: “I was recently involved in two separate incidents at our local hospital that required critical incident stress debriefing. One of those incidents involved the death of a two-year-old baby whose dad abused the child, which resulted in its death. The mother was an employee at the hospital. The staff still struggles with this harsh reality. Another incident involved an unexpected suicide of an employee.”
· Veterans Affairs Hospital Chaplain Thomas Mills, Danville, Illinois, sent this note: “This past month I had the opportunity to take ten of our veterans fishing; which turned out to be a very therapeutic event. One veteran told me that this was the most therapeutic treatment that he has received.”
· We just received a follow-up report from Reverend Connie Uy, Manila, Philippines, concerning our recent chaplaincy course that was given to some 200 participants. He notes: “Following the course, we had a meeting with volunteer coordinators from different churches who participated in the chaplaincy course. We will be organizing these 200 people to do chaplaincy ministries throughout the Manila area. I have appointed Bishop Boy Manrique to assist me in heading up this program. The name of our new chaplaincy program is ‘Beyond the Gates Chaplaincy Commission.’”
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Neal Durham, who just returned back to his home base in Germany from a 14-month deployment to Iraq, sends this note: “I am thankful to be back with my family. By God’s grace and mercy I had a great ministry. Upon leaving Iraq, I received the Meritorious Service Meal and the Field Artillery Saint Barbara’s Medal. I am grateful for this, but more grateful for His grace and your prayers.” Send your notes of welcome home to Chaplain Durham and his family at: nealdurham@yahoo.com
· Gaylene Kennedy, who took our chaplaincy course in the Philippines, sent this testimony: “I thank God for the chaplaincy course, as it has provided me with tools to not just deal with chaplaincy ministries, but some of my own problems. I am happy to tell you that the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem has accepted me for an internship as a teacher/child care worker at the Feast of Tabernacles Center. Last January, the Lord showed me in a vision, that I was in a parade dancing joyfully before the Lord; and it was in Jerusalem. God even provided the seed money for my airfare. In Jerusalem I will be ministering to families of Holocaust victims, as well as the hundreds of Jewish Sudanese refugees that come in from Africa almost daily.”
Anticipating Future Events
Ø June 15-17, 2009: Community Service Basic Course, Montego Bay, Jamaica; Dr. Doc Williams, Lead Instructor.
Ø June 25-27, 2009: Dedication of the Chaplaincy Building Facility on the Campus of the South American Theological Seminary, Quito, Ecuador; Dr. Robert D. Crick, Executive Director, and Reverend Tom Offutt, Disaster Response and Compassion Ministries Director, will be present.
Ø July 21-23, 2009: Community Service Basic Course, The Church of God at East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York; Dr. Hugh Nelson, Senior Pastor.
Ø July 30-August 1, 2009: Community Service Basic Course, New Life Church of God, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ø August 2, 2009: Chaplaincy Weekend Conference, Fort Mill Church of God, Fort Mill, South Carolina; Reverend David Kemp, Senior Pastor and Chaplains Commission Board Member.
Ø August 13-15, 2009: Community Service Basic Course, King George, Virginia.
Ø August 27-29, 2009: Community Service Basic Course, Centerville Church of God, Centerville, Maryland.
Finally
This week I had a unique experience with a group of relatives; some were present when I was saved at a Church of God altar in 1948 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was given the opportunity, as well as several other relatives on Jeanette’s side of the family, to give my testimony of how I remember that “initial” experience. During this gathering, we had Communion and longed for our children and grandchildren to experience what we experienced when the Lord convicted our hearts and baptized us in the Holy Spirit. How do you, in these modern times, find a place whereby you can once again experience God’s initial touch? And, maybe even more importantly, how do you pass on that dynamic, revolutionary, life-changing experience to your kids and grandkids? Have we reached the place where we are simply telling our story, but not experiencing it in its original form? My sister-in-law, who is now near 90, recounted what she remembers of my salvation experience. She stated: “You prayed a prayer as a young man with unbelievable fervor and depth. It was more than just you; it had to be the Holy Spirit giving you words that were far beyond your experiences in life.” In our fast-paced world, we all must take the time to gather again at His table to experience once again that life changing “initial experience.” Let’s hear from you: how are you reclaiming those initial, transforming experiences in your daily walk with the Lord?
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
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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