Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 8/14/2009
Friday, August 14, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Choice Christian Greetings!
There is no doubt in my mind that Paul the Apostle had a “chaplain’s heart.” Here he is chained to a Praetorian Guard on his way to Rome for his execution(Philippians 4); and, yet, he is giving thanks for his unusual opportunities for ministry. If you did not know Paul had been given such difficult ministry assignments, you would assume that he has never had a hardship in his life; for, he states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
How can Paul be so content with such a difficult ministry calling on a terminal deployment? It is like asking Army Chaplain (CPT) Patti Nichols, who just recently left Jimmy, her Army Chaplain husband, and her four boys, for a deployment to Iraq to rejoice. How could anyone rejoice with such a difficult assignment? As chaplains, you know how. You are exactly where the Lord wants you to be. And, you are confident in your calling, because it was not simply your calling. Somewhere in your experience you caught the vision of doing ministry “beyond the gates.” You may have even been discouraged initially; someone telling you, “Surely you do not want to get involved in chaplaincy!” And, yet, the mission was bigger than the difficulty. Is that not what Paul was feeling and what every chaplain feels, whether assigned to a prison, an emergency ward in a hospital, a college campus, or Iraq? If only the church could understand that our greatest peace is in that place where “the Lord wants us to be.” Thank God for chaplaincy ministries; do not feel sorry for us. For, whether in a deployment to Iraq or (in the case of Chaplain Rick Mann) dealing with the immigrants on the backside of the race track, we are exactly where we want to be. I know you will be praying for all of our chaplains, as well as, their family members.
Military Chaplaincy News
Army Chaplain (MAJ) David Santiago-Cruz, Stuttgart, Germany, reports: “I want to thank my chaplaincy family for your prayers as I went through open-heart surgery. I am now back at work full-time. No doubt, God answered your prayers. I feel healthier and stronger every day.”
Army Chaplain (CPT) Timothy Staggs, Fort Knox, Kentucky, tells us that, “I just conducted the funeral of one of our soldiers. He was 40 years-old and died due to a motorcycle wreck. Please pray for his wife and children.”
Navy Reserve Chaplain (LCDR) James Mucha, San Antonio, Texas, reports: “My ministry in the newborn intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital is going great. I was pleasantly surprised in receiving the ‘Friend of Nursing Award’ for the Methodist Healthcare System.”
Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Jonathan Hurt, San Antonio, Texas, informs us that he will be deploying in September for four months to Afghanistan. Chaplain Hurt and his wife, Amy, recently held a vacation bible school in their chapel for 120 children. He also tells us that he ministered to 453 airmen in a warfare squadron unit following the suicide of one of their members.
Army Chaplain (MAJ) Randy Imhoff, Fort Drum, New York, reports that Sheena, their daughter, is doing extremely well. All of us, for several years, have been praying for Sheena, and have witnessed how God has moved in mysterious and miraculous ways. Chaplain Imhoff states, “On August 4, Sheena’s feeding tube was finally removed. She is now eating and drinking everything by mouth. She is so excited. This is another answer to prayer.”
Army Chaplain (MAJ) Mitchell Tulloss, formerly at the West Point Academy, has now been transferred as a Brigade Chaplain to Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Chris Underwood, currently deployed to Afghanistan, reports: “I am assigned as a chaplain to one of our hospitals. It is a hands-on chaplaincy position; whereby, I even assist with the loading and unloading of patients. This gives me wonderful opportunities to counsel and pray with injured soldiers and hospital staff.”
Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Thomas Baize, recently deployed to Kuwait, sent this note: “I arrived in 131 degree temperatures. My family is now at Blanca’s mother’s in Illinois; keep her and the kids in your prayers. The ministry here was immediate. Families deeply struggle during these deployments. The conditions are difficult; blowing sands and high temperatures. But the support of our soldiers is robust in this area.
Army Chaplain (COL) David Moran, Chief of Chaplains Office, Washington, DC, just completed the US Army War College. The graduation ceremony was held at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Send your notes of congratulations to the Moran’s at:
Army Chaplain (CPT) Thomas Lesh, currently stationed in Korea, states: “In the recent days I have performed four retreats for our soldiers. Being the only chaplain on a small installation, giving area coverage to a large number of troops, my unit responsibilities keep me busy around the clock. We are hoping that Lora and the kids can join me within the next few weeks.”
Army Chaplain (CPT-P) Eugene Mack, formerly at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has now been reassigned to the Army Chaplains School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Following his five-month advanced course, he and his family will be assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado. As most of you know, Chaplain Mack was selected for the rank of Major, and will pin on that rank during October or November. Our special congratulations go to Chaplain Mack and his family.
Institutional Chaplaincy Reports (Hospital, CSC, Prison, Law Enforcement, Etc.)
Law Enforcement Terry Wigley, Saraland, Alabama was instrumental in helping the police and fire departments to establish an alternative building to house victims during times of tragedies. He was also instrumental in working with his department in setting up a city-wide response team and volunteers for this and other crisis ministries.
Law Enforcement Chaplain Sam Saylor, Bismarck, North Dakota, was recently honored by his agency for 10 years of service as a Law Enforcement Chaplain. As part of his duties, he helped lead a critical incident debriefing team following a shoot-out with four individuals during an attempted robbery. Two of the suspects were shot while attempting to escape.
Celebrate Recovery Chaplain Russell Lawley, Cordova, Alabama, reports that in their ministry this past month, 12 came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Law Enforcement Chaplain Jack Bridges, Boardman, Ohio, sent this testimony: “I was privileged to be selected to attend a special training of law enforcement chaplains, and I am now officially the Police Department Chaplain for the Boardman Ohio Police Department.”
Congratulations
Mental Health Chaplain Dennis DuPont, Cantonsville, Maryland, just completed his 15th year as a psychiatric chaplain. In reflecting on these 15 years, Chaplain DuPont states: “I have had the privilege of ministering to nearly 500 patients each month, in one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the United States. Their clinical needs and prayers challenge us each week. Our staff support includes doctors, nurses, housekeepers, maintenance workers, and many others, who come to us with their losses, their cancers, their marital conflicts, family needs, as well as the celebrations of retirements, promotions and spiritual growth. In 15 years, I cannot begin to count the funerals, the weddings, communions, and other special events. It has been deeply rewarding with great joy and great pain. I am thankful for my local church that has supported me during these 15 years.”
Army Chaplain (LTC) Terry Simmons, US Army Chaplains School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is one of several Church of God Chaplains who has had the privilege of being an instructor/administrator at this special assignment. It is especially delightful for our new Church of God Army chaplains to discover that one of the instructors/directors at the school is “one of our own.” Chaplain Simmons was recently responsible for conducting a marriage retreat with 35 of the chaplains/students from the school. Another Church of God Chaplain, Army Chaplain (LTC) Joseph Melvin, was one of the leaders of this retreat.
Hospital Chaplain Director, Chaplain Timothy Cranfill, San Antonio, Texas, just completed 15 years as an endorsed clinical chaplain. He also just celebrated five years as a Board Certified Chaplain member of the Association of Professional Chaplains. He notes his journey as follows: “I want to express my appreciation to my Commission and chaplaincy colleagues for this significant journey. We have all been greatly impacted by a Commission that loves and cares for us.
Finally
One of the special privileges that we have at this office is that of ministering on a daily basis to our chaplains, their families, our Board and their families, and a host of others who are in a significant relationship with us through this specialized ministry. We are not about numbers; we are about individuals: their joys and their disappointments. This week, Chaplains Commission Board Member and Pastor of the Harvest Temple Church of God (Griffin, Georgia), Tommy Powell, lost his mother, Thelma Winters. Our office was able to spend time on the phone in prayer with Pastor Powell. I shared with him the fact that when I was a chaplain in Vietnam, I was called back to the bedside of my dying mom. I told him how much I regretted that, when I got back home, she was in a coma and died a few hours later. I shared with him my grief of not having that final experience with mom. Pastor Powell told me that just a couple of days before his mom’s death, they had a meal together at the nursing home. And, like all good moms, Pastor Powell was simply “her boy.” She always kept special things there at the nursing home just for him. It was in these sacred moments of sharing our common grief and joy that bind us together in life and ministry. Our Commission exists for one reason: to support our chaplains, their family members, those they serve, and all those others who love this “ministry beyond the gates.”
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (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
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Correspondence
Categories: Weekly Update
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