Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 12/4/2009
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Choice Christian Greetings!
Here in the United States, we just celebrated our annual “Thanksgiving Day.” For me, it was a week of joy and grief. The grief came as a result of the death of Jeanette’s oldest sister, Virginia, who was buried the day after Thanksgiving. She was the oldest of 10 children; born to John Herman and Della Lee. John Lee was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit prior to World War I. He and his wife – and later their large family – were truly some of the earliest Pentecostals. His life reflected that time honored Pentecostal motto: “I am glad that I am saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, a member of the great Church of God and on my way to heaven.”
Dr. Steven Land, President of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, once said that you can identify Pentecostals because at an altar of prayer, “They are crying and rejoicing at the same time.” And so, as we gathered as a family this last week, we wept and rejoiced for our family and for many others who are faced with tragedy. Thus, the Thanksgiving table is just that; it is the place where we gather to reflect on our lives and on our world and offer thanks to our Lord. It is to remember and grieve for those who are lost; for those steeped in poverty; for the 150,000 military troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other critical areas; for that hospital patient that is dying of a terminal illness; for the four law enforcement officers who were murdered by a deranged individual in the state of Washington; and for all individuals, families and nations in crisis.
Of course, we also rejoice, for truly “He has come,” and “He is coming!” We give God praise for the fact that our Church of God chaplaincy ministries are found in 72 countries with chaplaincy outreach and care ministries in almost every nook and corner of this wounded world. What about your Thanksgiving week? Did you, once again, look around and realize that, in spite of all the distressing news of the world, you have friends, chaplaincy colleagues, and local churches filled with members who care and pray for you. And, did you take the time to say, “Lord, you told us in your Word that you dwell among the least of these; so send me to them, to discover their needs, and in the process, to discover You.” It’s about joy; it’s also about attaching ourselves to the grief of this world.
Chaplain’s Thanksgiving Day Notes
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Michael White, Fort Hood, Texas, noted: “During the Thanksgiving week, we continued to minister to the families affected by the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.”
· Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Jonathan Hurt, currently assigned to Afghanistan, reports: “I spent Thanksgiving at one of our detachments with airmen who are part of our rescue squadron. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force were present during those celebrations.”
· Law Enforcement Chaplain John Aiton, Rock Hill, South Carolina, states, “During Thanksgiving, we gave out 150 food baskets and had a special prayer service for the four officers killed in the state of Washington.”
· Emergency Services Chaplain David Bagwell, Rembert, South Carolina, reports, “I was privileged to be a part of one of the largest Thanksgiving gatherings in the United States held at Central Park in Pasadena. This event brought together thousands of volunteers to serve more than 6,500 meals on Thanksgiving Day to the homeless, senior citizens and others in need. The event involved rabbis, pastors, preachers, chaplains, and community leaders.”
· Prison Chaplain Harry Lee Long, Birchwood, Tennessee states that he was given the privilege to minister in a local county Jail on Thanksgiving night. He reports that faces were lit up as they spent three hours with inmates, fellowshipping, worshipping and counseling. Two inmates came to Christ on Thanksgiving night.
· Army Chaplain (LTC) Mickey Jett, currently deployed to Afghanistan, states that Thanksgiving brought together individuals from numerous nations: “Under the most difficult conditions, we are continuing to have a good gathering for our worship services; we are also preparing many small things like a chaplain’s portal page, emails of encouragement, Bible studies, and other avenues to proclaim that ‘Our God is amazing.’”
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Thomas Lesh, currently deployed to Korea, reports: “I had the opportunity to serve the Thanksgiving meal to our troops, along with my family who has joined me in Korea.”
· Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Thomas Baize, Kuwait, reports that during the Thanksgiving period, he visited with Army Chaplain (COL) Richard Pace. Chaplain Pace, along with Army Chaplain (COL) David Smartt, were in Kuwait during the Thanksgiving period.
Other Chaplaincy News
We welcome back from deployment to Afghanistan Army Chaplain (MAJ) Roderick Swanson, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was one of our featured speakers at our annual Chaplains Commission Christmas Luncheon, held at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. We just received news that two of our Command Chaplains have received new assignments which are scheduled for next summer. Army Chaplain (COL) David Smartt, presently the Washington, DC IMCOM Command Chaplain, will become the new Commandant at the US Army Chaplains School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. And, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Command Chaplain, Chaplain (COL) Chuck Howell, will move next summer from that position to become the new IMCOM Command Chaplain, Washington, DC. Hospital Chaplain, Hazel Caldwell, WellStar Cobb Hospital, Austell, Georgia, recently received commendations for her outstanding 10 years of hospital service. England Bikers and Community Service Chaplains Mike and Becky Troke, Portsmouth, inform us that they are now pastors of a new Church of God in their area. The church began with 15 individuals.Finally
All of us want to avoid crises. When a crisis occurs, one of our first reactions is that of denial. We cry out, “Oh, my God, it cannot be happening to me!” Like a scene at a military base; there comes a knock at the door and standing before you is a military line officer and a military chaplain. Again, our hearts rebel against that terrible news that our son or daughter has been killed in combat. And, yet, through our lifetime, we will face crisis after crisis many, of which will wrench our souls.
The question which confronts all of us is, “How will we come out of these crises?” In working with a hospice group made up of those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, I always raise the question, “What does God expect of you beyond this crisis?” I force myself and them to wrestle with the Word of God which challenges us that following a crisis there are godly expectations. Otherwise, our crisis would be for naught. God not only wants us to get through the crisis, but, following the crisis to form a new covenant with Him. He wants us to know Him, not only as one who takes us through these difficulties but as the one who works through these difficulties to form a deeper and more profound relationship with Him. For many, this is not the case. Some of us will suffer devastating losses and struggles; the loss of a loved one, the collapse of our business, or, for many of our chaplains, a pass-over for a promotion. And when we come out of that crisis, we are not as God would want us to be; that is, a more critical thinker and a better person. Rather, we often resort to cynicism and bitterness. What a loss! We suffer the agony of that crisis; and, rather than becoming a person with deeper integrity and a more significant relationship with the Lord, we find ourselves stuck in our past. It’s almost as if we suffered for naught. Our chaplains know that their toughest task is not those agonizing moments with their patients or parishioners in the initial stages of a crisis, but in helping individuals and families to get beyond the crisis and to form a new and deeper covenant relationship with each other and with the Lord. I bless you, our chaplains, in your crisis and in all the crises that you will be dealing with in the years to come. May we come to understand that we are “wounded healers;” that is, having gone through the crisis, with our scars still showing, but able to touch individuals at the point of their greatest need.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
Psalm 89:1-2
Contacts
Director, Dr. Robert D. Crick, cricksot@att.net
Full-time Chaplaincy, Dr. Jerry McNabb, jmcnabb@cogchaplains.com
Community Service Chaplaincy and Training, Dr. Jake Popejoy, jakepopejoy@aol.com
Public Relations and Recruitment, wroberson@cogchaplains.com
Special Projects, 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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