Final Weekly Update – 8/13/2010
Friday, August 13, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Choice Christian Greetings!
As most of you know by now, I have retired, after 32 years, as the Director of the Church of God Chaplains Commission. I need not tell you, especially you who are directly involved in chaplaincy ministries, this has been an unbelievable journey. During my more than 50 years in chaplaincy ministries, with 32 of those years as the Director of the Chaplains Commission, I have had the privilege of experiencing firsthand chaplaincy ministries of all types. For 20 years, I was a US Army Chaplain, with service around the world; many exciting appointments, to include a tour during the Vietnam conflict. As a military person would say, “I have seen the good, the bad, and the unspeakable.” While in the military, I was trained as a Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor; with assignments in alcohol and drug centers, family life programs, and hospitals. And even further back, as if God was preparing me for this diverse ministry, I worked with our Latin American Missions Department, San Antonio, Texas, pastored a couple of churches, and, along the way, had the privilege of a good, solid educational foundation.
In addition to being the Director of the Chaplains Commission, in 1980, I was appointed at our seminary as Director of Ministries and full-time faculty member in the area of pastoral care and counseling and ministry supervision. I also have been associated with many, high-level, professional organizations, accrediting and certifying agencies, and a host of other who have enriched my life and ministry. As a CPE supervisor, I supervised Protestants of different denominations, Catholic priests, and a couple of Rabbis.
As the Director of the Chaplains Commission for these 32 years, we have seen this ministry grow from a handful of full-time chaplains, to now 220 full-time US chaplains, and many chaplains from other nations. During this span of a few years, we have been able to spread the good news of our volunteer chaplaincy (Community Service Chaplaincy) around the world. We now have volunteer chaplaincy programs in 73 different countries, and, have offered the Basic Community Service Chaplains Course to more than 6,000. In addition to our Basic Course, we have developed specialized courses for those involved in disaster response, law enforcement, grief and dying, domestic violence, colleges/universities, and other critical areas. When you ask me how we did all this in these short years, I would have to respond back with the answer, “It wasn’t me; it was a host of others, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.”
General Assembly Send-Off
In this final update, let me share with you what happened at the General Assembly. We kicked-off the General Assembly with a fantastic three-day conference around the theme “Outside the Gates: Maintaining Our Pentecostal Base While Extending Our Ministry Boundaries.” From the beginning, with that opening worship service, we knew that God was going to make this a most memorable event. During the second day, we gave focus to “where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.” We took a good, critical look at the past; evaluated the Commission as to where it is today, and, from our younger chaplains, began to get in touch with where God is now going to lead us in the future. We all left there feeling that while we celebrate the past, and we will give critical analysis of the present, God awaits us with a great future. We concluded that day by hearing from the new Chaplains Commission Director, Dr. Donnie Smith, who is also the Executive Administrator for the Care Division. Dr. Smith, and his wife Barbara, will bring much passion, concern, love and understanding for this ministry. Dr. Smith was for many years on our Chaplains Commission Board, has traveled around the world with me in chaplaincy conferences; and, in recent years, has, through the Care Division, developed some of the most dynamic ministries in the church today.
On the last day of our conference, we were privileged to have Dr. Lamar Vest, the President and CEO of the American Bible Society, to address our major theme, “Maintaining Our Pentecostal Base While Extending our Ministry Boundaries.” In essence, we ended up where we began, being encouraged by Dr. Vest to look to the future with the hope that is so readily available in the Word of God.
Now, for the finale. We concluded our Pre-Assembly conference with a 4 hour Honors Dinner and Celebration. Our chaplains honored Jeanette and me with an array of events, gifts, letters, and many hugs. Our staff and Board took the time to carefully orchestrate a genuine “thank you” that touched us deeply. And then, as if that was not enough, our kids and grandkids concluded those goodbyes by bringing to all of us some of those deep memories, going back to the earliest days of our ministry, especially my tour in Vietnam. It was as if they were saying, “Mom, Dad, you are special and loved; and thanks for sharing with us this chaplaincy journey.”
What now will be my relationship with the hundreds of you who have received these weekly updates these many years? Well, the good news is that we are still in relationship. You will be hearing from me, I will be hearing from you, and though we are now in a different posture, we remain great friends and great colleagues.
New Ministries
My new ministry includes, first, to remain as a Professor at the Seminary. I will teach a little more, and certainly, be a little more saturated into the life of the Seminary.
Secondly, my primary vision and focus now goes to a new ministry, in colleagueship with Reverend Thomas and Elaine Offutt. Together, with the encouragement of others, we have established “Outside the Gates Ministries.” This is a new ministry vision that supports the following: First, chaplaincy special projects; similar to what we have in the development of the facility and ministries in Romania (medical, chaplaincy and benevolence center, etc.), and, what we are experiencing in Haiti as we provide counseling and debriefing to pastors and their constituents. Secondly, Outside the Gates Ministries will be working closely with the Commission to see that our training programs remain strong, especially in overseas areas. We will not be in charge of those programs, but when asked, we will definitely support them. Thirdly, this new foundation will, in cooperation with Operation Compassion, provide goods and services for those in need. And, fourthly, the foundation will develop a new International Chaplains Association, providing resources, training, and where needed, endorsement, primarily for volunteer chaplains around the world. This new global association will fill the gap for the thousands, both within our church and in many other faith groups, who have a passion for chaplaincy training, endorsement and resources. You will be hearing more about this association in the future.
Please note: Reverend Thomas Offutt, in addition to partnership with Outside the Gates Ministries, will continue to serve the Chaplains Commission as Coordinator of Special Projects.
There, you have it. The transition has gone exceedingly well. Our new, Outside the Gates Ministries offices are in the Seminary Curtsinger Building. I know, in my heart, that this was God’s perfect timing. It was time for me to turn over the administration and programs of our Chaplains Commission, and, to move more into a consultant/teaching role.
My New Book
For those who were with us at the General Assembly, you know that I had the privilege of releasing my new book, Outside the Gates: Theology, History and Practice of Chaplaincy Ministries. As I explain in the book, this text lays down the firm conviction that chaplaincy ministries are not just a place where we serve, but it is a theology of care and practice that should be an integral part of every minister, lay person, and every church. For you who have not yet received a copy, feel free to send me a note, and we will get one to you immediately. We have kept the cost at a minimum; only $15.00 for a text that I believe, for those of you who are already in chaplaincy ministries, will greatly enhance not only your practice, but your understanding of the theology which undergirds this ministry. And, for those who are just now being introduced to chaplaincy ministries, this text is a “must” to understand the foundation upon which all chaplaincy ministry stands. Send your requests for a copy of this new book, along with a check for $15.00, to Church of God Chaplains Commission, PO Box 3330, Cleveland, Tennessee 37320-3330. All proceeds for this first edition of this book go to the Commission.
Addresses and Telephone Numbers
Of course, we are still somewhat in transition; but you can reach me, and information about Outside the Gates Ministries, at 423-240-8031; or, my personal email address, cricksot@att.net My colleague, Tom Offutt, can be reached at 423-284-8674 or tomoffutt@att.net We will be receiving our mail, personal and for Outside the Gates Ministries, at: Dr. Robert Crick or Reverend Tom Offutt, Outside the Gates Ministries, PO Box 3330, Cleveland, TN 37320-3330.
I look forward to hearing from you. In the meanwhile, be assured that you will be hearing from me. We are currently in the process of a Second edition of Outside the Gates text, which will be a more general edition so that it can reach a vast Christian audience. This is the type of text that you would want to share with many of your colleagues of different faith groups.
May God richly bless you as we give thanks for the privilege of ministries “Outside the Gates.”
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert D. Crick
Categories: Weekly Update
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