Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 9:38 am
Choice Christian Greetings!
This will be our last update – following the closing of our offices for Christmas – until the first week of January, 2010. So, let me say, “I love you”; send my Christmas greeting; and offer you my prayers, as we celebrate a wonderful 2009 ministry filled year and anticipate another great year for 2010. Wherever you are during this holy season, my prayer is that you will experience a glorious outpouring of His spirit, once again, knowing both in your life and your ministry that “He has come!”
Christmas, especially for me, is a time for memories. It is hard to believe, but it is true, that God has allowed me some 50 years of chaplaincy ministries. Fifty years ago, when we began this marvelous chaplaincy journey, you could have stacked all of our chaplains in a phone booth or in a Volkswagen Bug. Little did we know that God was allowing us, as one of those earlier pioneers, to help build a vast ministry representing thousands: 41 different types of chaplaincy institutions and ministry in 72 countries. I can tell you exactly how I spent Christmas day in each of those years. Let me just briefly share with you two of these – representative, not of just my ministries, but the vast ministries of the Commission.
In 1960, I was assignment to a large, 2,000 bed, mental hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. That Christmas there were more than 1,000 residents present, but one stood out. Her name was Myrtle and, like so many residents in those earlier days, she had spent almost her entire life in this institution. She occupied one of the small cottages on that large complex. When she would get terribly depressed, we would encourage her by saying, “Myrtle, you have got to get up. If you don’t water your flowers (that were so tenderly taken care of and surrounded that small cottage) they will die; no one else can do it like you.” That Christmas, I had the privilege of announcing to that large congregation, “The flowers on the altar today come from Myrtle’s garden.” Everybody knew Myrtle. She was beautiful woman, now in her eighties. I asked her to stand. As we began our Christmas celebration with a glorious ovation, we proclaimed “Look what God has done through one of His saints!”
My second memory takes me to Vietnam, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in the highlands of the Pleika/Kontum region. On that Christmas day in 1966, with a brief break from combat, I had the joy of baptizing a number of our recent converts. Most of them were won to the Lord through the “tough love witness” of a black sergeant who basically “told it like it was.” The river where we baptized these converts was so swift that we tied a rope around those who were overweight or could not swim so we did not lose them. My fellow sergeant-minister jokingly said, “Chaplain, if we lose them, at least we know that they will go straight to heaven.”
These are but two of the many memorable chaplaincy Christmases. Wherever you are – in Afghanistan, Iraq, or some other critical combat area; in a small or large prison; a mental health hospital; a low-income housing area delivering Christmas presents and groceries to those in need; or in a worship service at your local church – remember it is all about Him! Thank God it’s Christmas; because He came, our lives will never be the same.
Chaplaincy News
· Alaska State Administrative Bishop Gary Harris, Anchorage, sent this encouraging note: “Thank God for your Weekly Updates; they are the encouragement that we all need. You seem to always be on target with timely messages of hope and blessing. Recently, when I was a little overwhelmed with ministry responsibilities, I stopped to open the mail and found a letter from a pastor which stated, ‘God has given me a “Rhema” word for you.’ He actually took the time to write me a two-page, very encouraging, letter. God truly uses brothers and sisters, sometimes thousands of miles away, to give us a special spiritual lift. It is a joy to be in ministry colleagueship with you and so many others.”
· This note comes from Prison Chaplain Lucius Edmondson, McDonough, Georgia, who ministers in county jails. He notes, “Our ministries, Team Jesus Ministries, Inc., are responsible for 30 jail services each week. I want to take the time to send our special Christmas greetings, on behalf of many chaplains connected with this unique ministry, to our fellow chaplains around the world.”
· Army Chaplain (CPT) Abraham Sarmiento, currently deployed to Afghanistan, sent this greeting: “During your Christmas celebrations, I have many prayer requests; pray that we chaplains will continue to touch the hearts of our soldiers; pray for the safety of our Task Force Brawlers Troops as they perform their dangerous missions; pray for the loved ones of our soldiers who sacrifice back home in order to keep their families strong; pray that our chapel attendance will continue to grow; and, finally, pray that our soldiers who do not know the Lord may come to Him and those that are serving Him will continue to grow spiritually.”
· Community Service Chaplain Keith Honeycutt, Penrose, North Carolina, states that the Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministries, in just one month’s time frame, distributed bibles and devotional materials, recorded professions of faith, conducted numerous Bible studies and worship services, and, most importantly, went from cell to cell sharing the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Chaplain Albert Arrington, and his wife Brenda, lead the Celebration Recovery Program in Lansdown, Maryland. This program is based on 12 steps and eight biblical principles from the Beatitudes.
· Hospital Chaplain Dorothy O’Melia, Rock Hall, Maryland, sent this testimony: “Recently, I spotted the mother of a two-year-old who is confined to our hospital with serious respiratory distresses, standing outside in the rain talking on her cell phone. I felt led to go out, cover her with a coat, and stay right by her side. I convinced her to come in out of the rain and to go to the chapel. There, I was privileged to hear her story. She distressingly told of the death of her father-in-law, with bitter words for the doctor and the hospital. Now, her infant son was lying in the ER, unresponsive to the treatment. The baby’s father was in prison; she had no family or pastor nearby. I spent time with her; I prayed for her and the baby, and offered her the reassurance that God knew her fears because He too had gone through the distresses of this world. Later, when I returned to the ER, things were beginning to look better. Her grandmother was there with her, as well as a dear friend. She kept repeating, ‘Thank you for being there for me, listening to my needs.’ The Director of our Pastoral Care Department, with tears in his eyes, thanked me again and again for ministering to this dear mother. He said, ‘This is what pastoral care is about at our hospital.’”
· Air Force Chaplain, Captain, Thomas Baize, deployed to Kuwait, notes: “I will return home from deployment the second week in January. I have been privileged to minister in this area for many months and will celebrate Christmas with my troops. Thank you for the packages. Wow! The gourmet cheese was great. We are excited about getting our family back together in North Carolina. Blanca, my wife, has been living in temporary hotel quarters, or with her family, since May. Keep us in your prayers.”
· Army Chaplain (MAJ) Stephen Sexton, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, sent us the sad note that his father-in-law, W.J. White, passed away last week. Keep this family in your prayers.
· Navy Chaplain (LT) Brian Jacobson, who just left an assignment with the Coast Guard, to join a Marine unit at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, sent this report: “The transfer to our new duty station is in full swing. Life as a military chaplain always brings multiple changes, with many challenges. The last week with the Coast Guard has brought some of the greatest joys, tears, and laughs that I have ever experienced in my life. God truly blessed Keersti and me with a great duty station, and we look forward to our new one. We send to all of our chaplains our blessings of Christmas joy and Happy Jesus Birthday wishes.
· Army Chaplain (MAJ) Robert Sinnett, whose last duty station was in Heidelberg, Germany, tells us that he will retire from active duty on February 28, 2010. We will reserve his retirement ceremony for our 2010 General Assembly chaplaincy gathering. But, send your notes of congratulations to Chaplain Sinnett and his family at: Robert.sinnett@us.army.mil or bobsinnett@aol.com
· We just received the report on the health and ministries of our Chaplaincy Coordinator for Scotland, Sheila McLaughlan. Sheila experienced significant health problems while doing ministry in Germany; but, has improved greatly. Paul, her husband, suffered a stroke and is still in the hospital. A report from one of their friends tells us that Paul is progressing well, walking and showing movement in his left hand. He can chat with them, although it does take a significant amount of energy; he is in great spirits. Send your notes to Paul and Sheila by way of Maureen Hutcheson, at: mhutch9669@aol.com
· Nevada State Prison Chaplain James Stogner, Ely, Nevada, is transferring from the Ely prison to the Nevada Warm Springs Correctional Center, located in Carson City, Nevada.
Office Closing Schedule
Our Chaplains Commission offices will be closed for the holidays, beginning Monday, December 21st, 2009 until January 4th, 2010. However, our ministry never shuts down. If you need one of us, you can contact the Director, Dr. Robert Crick, at 423-240-8031; Dr. Jerry McNabb at 423-650-1080; Dr. Jake Popejoy at 423-310-4666; or Elaine Offutt at 423-284-8717. You may also leave messages on our recording system at 423-478-7706. Do not hesitate to let us know if you have special needs during the holidays.
Finally
A few days ago, I held in my arms the newest addition to our family, Samantha Piper Crick, born December 11th, 2009. She is the beautiful daughter of our oldest son and his wife, David and Robyn Crick.
As I held her, in a room filled with family members, I just felt led to pray. I prayed,
“Lord bless this little one; she comes innocently into this very dysfunctional world as did our Savior, Jesus Christ, more than 2,000 years ago. Little did we know what an impact His birth would be to a wounded world. In His state of innocence, like we are experiencing with Samantha, he brought us back to the “common good” of God and His creation. Therefore, let this Christmas, with our families, get us back in touch with that first Christmas where mercy was added to the law, goodness is found in the hearts of mankind when they turn their faces to Jesus, and our hope is not in this age, but the age to come. Let us, in the simplicity of Samantha’s birth and most especially the birth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, be reminded of this reality: it is not by might, nor by power of this world, but by the spirit of the Lord which came in the form of a babe. To those that are perishing, this is foolishness; but to those of us who have embraced this great gift, it is indeed the very essence of the ‘power of God.’ “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption’ (1 Corinthians 1:28-30, NIV).”
Therefore, with a resounding chaplaincy voice around the world, we also say together, “Thank God for His birth.” While Samantha will change the lives of her family and extended family, that birthday of Jesus changed the entire universe. And, with one added note, I would never wish anything more for Samantha than that which we have experienced in the ministry of our chaplaincy service in so many places; touching so many through Jesus Christ our Lord. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your chaplaincy family!
Sincerely,
Robert D. Crick
Weekly Bible Verse
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”
Luke 2:13-14
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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