Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 7/31/2009
Friday, July 31, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Choice Christian Greetings!
Chaplaincy demands a high level of ministerial experience and maturity. There is little room, in any of our chaplaincy assignments, for the “novice.” For example, when our military chaplains are assigned to active duty, at the moment they arrive at their station, they are expected to be one of the Commander’s primary staff members. Within their first few days on the job, they are facing critical issues which demand pastoral professionalism. It may be an attempted suicide, a violent incident of child or spousal abuse, or some other critical issue. Whether a military, clinical, or prison chaplain, the requirements call for one who is already well trained and able to provide pastoral care at a very high level.
This week, I had the privilege of discussing with retired Air Force Chaplain Paul Stewart his 20 years in the military, as well as his many years as a missionary prior to military service. When Chaplain Stewart began his Air Force active duty ministry, he had already had several significant missionary appointments in South America. As a seasoned missionary, a certified pilot who flew to remote missions areas, as well as his other experiences, he was ideally selected for many very important Air Force assignments. While in Panama, in addition to his active chaplaincy ministries, he was often called upon to serve as a Spanish interpreter during visits of national and international VIPs. He provided this same service while at Andrews Air Force Base (the base where Presidential Air Force One and Two are located), as well as, a central reception area for international leaders visiting the US. This is but one example of why chaplains’ maturity, pastoral experiences and administrative skills add to and enhance their ministry from the moment they take on the title “chaplain.”
Because the task of chaplaincy is so great, much needs to be considered in the selection and preparation of these individuals, including maturity, skill, experience, and support systems. Therefore, we must continue to seek only the best and the most mature chaplains. When dealing with a sick or dying person, with an inmate who is taking his last steps to his place of execution, or a soldier who is dealing with unbelievable fear as s/he is getting ready for a very difficult combat mission, there is little room for chaplains to do “on the job training.” In addition to professional skill and maturity, chaplains must have a strong support system. This includes a family unit that fully supports this ministry, especially if the chaplain has a spouse. Chaplains also need a supportive local church, a Commission that passionately cares for them and their family, as well as, a general church that incorporates chaplaincy ministry into a vision to reach a wounded world with unconditional love and care.
Chaplaincy News
· Continue to pray for Scotland Chaplaincy Coordinator Dr. Sheila McLaughlan, who recently suffered a rupture of blood vessels in her brain. We are told that she still remains hospitalized, and that she faces several months of rehabilitation. Send your notes of prayer support to her through her family at: docshe@hotmail.co.uk
· Army Chaplain (LTC) Calvin Eastham, and his wife Barbara, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, are asking their chaplaincy family to pray for their son Robert, who is currently in his third deployment; this one in Afghanistan. Send your notes of prayer support to the Eastham’s at:calvin.eastham@us.army.mil
· Law Enforcement Chaplain John Haywood, Saint Joseph, Missouri, reports: “I responded recently to a call at the home of Mike Hilter, a former police commander who died of a heart attack. Commander Hilter was responsible for establishing our law enforcement chaplaincy ministries in Saint Joseph. He will be missed by all of us.”
· Community Service Chaplain Joseph Kaskadden, Oskaloosa, Iowa, sent this testimony: “I had the privilege of sponsoring a Christian concert, which was held at Vennard College. We had a band by the name of 7th Day Slumber. Seventy-five came forth to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior during the altar service.”
· Nursing Center Chaplain Bobby Williford, Jesup, Georgia, expressed his appreciation for his fellow chaplains who have been praying for him and his family. He states: “As all of you know, on April 1, our son took the life of another person. Through this difficult time, we were reassured time and again that ‘God is always faithful.’ While my son sat in jail, 40 miles away, I was sharing the gospel with residents of our nursing home, where recently, four loving souls confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts. Two of the four have already gone to be with the Lord for all eternity. Continue to pray for our son Mark.”
· Retired Navy Chaplain Jairo Moreno, Houston, Texas, is now a full-time, Church of God endorsed chaplain to the Lakewood Church, where Joel Osteen is the Senior Pastor. This large church has more than 8,000 Hispanic members/participants. Chaplain Moreno, a trained therapist, serves in the church’s Hispanic counseling center. He reports: “It is a privilege to be able to provide healing for so many, with so many needs. They include drug addicts, mentally distressed, those with PTSD, depression, bi-polar disorder, and other problems. The Lord is blessing marriages with our restoration and healing couples program.”
· Law Enforcement Chaplain Marvin Ellis, Canton, Georgia, reports: “I am doing great following radiation treatment for cancer. In my recent visit to the physician, I was declared ‘cancer free.’ My PSA count is now undetectable. Praise be to God!”
Special Reports
Caribbean Chaplaincy Coordinator Chaplain Ismael Ponce, Puerto Rico, reports that his chaplaincy team is working with other governmental agencies in response to the AH1N1 (swine flu) virus. He reports, “In Puerto Rico there are a reported 10 deaths, and 135 suspicious contagions of 1701 cases. We have a well-organized chaplaincy team ready to go into action if this virus turns into a pandemic.”
This week, we received an update from Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Tom Baize, who is currently stationed at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. He states:
It has been my honor this past week to minister to the families and units of the F-15 crew lost in Afghanistan on 17 July. These two pilots were lost in a non-hostile crash. Both were young captains and newlyweds. One had twin daughters that are only 8-months old. The wife of one was deployed to Iraq. The Army evacuated her to Kuwait and she served as the escort officer for her husband’s remains from Kuwait to Dover. The units are greatly impacted. I have spent many hours in meetings and ministry of presence as we coordinate the effort to support so many affected people.
Finally
The Church of God of East Flatbush, with Senior Pastor Dr. Hugh Nelson, has a “model” Local Church chaplaincy program. With more than 100 of their laity trained as chaplains, this church covers almost every aspect of need within the surrounding community. Chaplains are assigned in hospitals, prisons, businesses, juvenile courts, college and university campuses. In addition, they even have chaplains assigned to take care of the tragedies that happen in gang conflicts. Dr. Doc Williams, Director of Ministries for Training and Community Service Chaplaincy, as well as Law Enforcement Chaplain Roger Daniel, recently completed two courses at this thriving chaplaincy-centered church. Fifty-one were in attendance for the Basic Community Service Chaplains course, and 17 received the Specialized Law Enforcement Chaplaincy course. Dr. Nelson is no stranger to chaplaincy ministries. Wherever he has been assigned, whether in Canada or the US, chaplaincy has been at the center of his thinking in developing a lighthouse of care for his entire community. To Dr. Nelson, we must never simply “pastor a local church,” but “pastor the entire community.” With models like this, I am sure that our local church chaplaincy ministries will now be seriously considered by all local churches throughout the US and around the world. Continue to pray for our chaplains; they are where the pain is the greatest.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 (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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