It was a typical Christmas Eve 2012. Children breathlessly awaiting the excitement of Christmas morning; families preparing gifts for the Christmas Tree; feasts cooking for incoming family and friends... and, as expected, families anticipating the Christmas Eve services to be held all over Houston, Texas. Then, once again, shots rang out and heaven welcomed two more precious souls...as people all over the Southwest were instantly thrust into the painful tempest of grief.
Bellaire, Texas is a small suburb within Houston. Cpl Jimmie Norman, a 53 year old veteran of the Bellaire Police force, was giving chase to 21 year old Harlem Harold Lewis. Without notice, Lewis quickly pulled his vehicle into the parking lot of a local business with Officer Norman right behind. Lewis immediately jumped from his car firing ten rounds before Officer Norman could draw his weapon. Officer Norman died instantly.
A retired Army veteran, Terry Taylor, heard the gunfire and approached Cpl Norman to give aid. That's when Lewis delivered a point-blank shot to the head of Taylor, killing him instantly. The carnage unleashed this Christmas Eve forced not only the Norman and Taylor families into the cold waters of the Grief Reaction, it reawakened the truth that we are all vulnerable to the killing whims of a deranged person dedicated to murder. The memories of this event will be reviewed time and again by the families desperately searching for answers to the "Why's." And, each year as Christmas Eve approaches, many will remember this senseless event and relive the emotions again feeling almost the same intensity as they felt this Christmas Eve.
Because the Bellaire Police Department didn't have a Chaplain, IFOC Sr. Chaplain Dr. Keith Robinson, Houston Regional Community Chaplain Corps Commander, began serving the officers and mourners who gathered before the Bellaire Police Department Headquarters. On Christmas Day Chaplain Robinson again comforted officers at 5 different police stations, fire stations and yet another set of mourners who had come to pay tearful respects at the makeshift memorial in front of the Bellaire Police Station, even amidst a soaking rain shower. It was almost as if God was crying right along side the other mourners.
Chaplain Robinson sought out members of the television and radio media who were gathered on Christmas Eve to report on this tragedy. This visit opened the door for a discussion with groups media professionals about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it can target members of the media because of their frequent and intense exposure to violence, carnage and bloodshed from traumatic incidents which are favorites as lead news stories. "If it bleeds...it leads" reflects the industry draw to traumatic events. Three media professionals asked if they could meet later to discuss PTSD symptoms they were experiencing but could not address to their employer for fear of termination. One station has asked for Chaplain Robinson to host a week-long, TV News special focusing on human reactions to traumatic events.
As chaplains we have many opportunities to help the children of God when they face painful, traumatic events in their lives. Out of this tragedy will come not only an opportunity for our Corps Chaplains to serve a traumatized family but also the officers who worked with Officer Norman every day. Contact will be made with the family of the innocent bystander who died attempting to help Officer Norman. Additionally, this incident appears to have opened a doorway through the media to reach out with love to an entire population of Houston. Through this news special God has given me an opportunity to introduce the role of chaplaincy in trauma response.
Right now many in the media and in our government are focusing on the 'weapon' used in recent killings rather than 'the heart of the killer.' I will attempt to keep this special focused on 'the heart that would use any weapon.' My goal is to focus on helping the public understand more of the emotional/physical reactions people may be experiencing as they deal with the grief of yet another sensless loss of two important lives...a brave and honorable citizen, Mr. Terry Taylor and a dedicated Police Officer...Cpl Jimmie Norman. Please keep all of these families in your prayers. I am always open to your thoughts, ideas and prayers.
Sincerely,
Sr. Chaplain Dr. Keith Robinson
Corps Commander, Houston Regional Community Chaplain Corps
Dr. Keith Robinson
Showing posts with label Chaplain's At Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chaplain's At Work. Show all posts
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
IFOC Chaplains Respond to Central Texas Wild Fires
Chaplain coordinators from IFOC and Victim Relief Ministries (VRM)arrived in Bastrop county Monday evening, September 5, 2011 just one day after a massive wildfire started which would eventually destroy about 1,700 homes and burn about 34,000 acres, or about 25 percent of Bastrop County. VRM chaplains also began arriving on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, five (5) IFOC chaplains from Albuquerque, New Mexico traveled to Bastrop, Texas in response to one of the most costly disasters in Texas history.
The eleven (11) chaplains were all based at Camp Swift, a National Guard camp located north of Bastrop. Also based at the camp were almost eight hundred (800) firefighters and emergency operations support staff from every state. Overtwo-hundred (200) fire engines were also based at the camp.
Beginning before dawn each morning the chaplains ministered to firefighters before and during breakfast. This was followed up by encouraging and praying for them as they prepared their equipment and fire engines for early morning departure. Chaplains returned each evening to share supper with the returning firefighters and emergency operations support staff. Again this was a great time of bonding between the chaplains and the firefighters. The sleeping quarters and hygiene facilities were also shared by the firefighters and chaplains. The chaplains were never separated from the firefighters accept when the firefighters went out to the fire lines.
Displaced homeowners who did not have any place to go, were housed in temporary shelters throughout the county. These shelters provided sleeping accommodations, food, personal hygiene facilities, clothes and medical assistance. Chaplains spent many hours at the shelters praying with, encouraging, giving directions and just listening. All of the citizens the chaplains encountered were in some way affected by the fires.
The Bastrop Convention Center was the location of the Emergency Operations Command Center (EOCC) and it was where hundreds of citizens came each day to find out the latest facts concerning the fires, where to obtain supplies and when they could return to their neighborhoods. Chaplains visited the EOCC numerous times to encourage the staff and visit with the citizens. With the high level of anxiety and frustration experienced by the citizens, the chaplain's presence, listening ear and caring heart were a soothing comfort.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were stationed throughout Bastrop county blocking entry to dangerous areas. Chaplains visited, prayed with and encouraged these troopers.
Chaplains were welcomed wherever they went and words of gratitude always followed. The chaplains prayed with hundreds of citizens, EOCC staff, firefighters and support staff throughout their stay in Bastrop county. Chaplains also gave Bibles to citizens, firefighters and support staff. These Bibles were provided by the Gideons.
When chaplains thanked everyone for their work, the response was almost always, "No, Thank You for what you are doing!"
IFOC and VRM chaplains ceased operations and returned to their home bases on Monday, September 12, 2011.
Regards,
Harvey J. Pendleton
Texas Chaplain Coordinator
IFOC
The eleven (11) chaplains were all based at Camp Swift, a National Guard camp located north of Bastrop. Also based at the camp were almost eight hundred (800) firefighters and emergency operations support staff from every state. Overtwo-hundred (200) fire engines were also based at the camp.
Beginning before dawn each morning the chaplains ministered to firefighters before and during breakfast. This was followed up by encouraging and praying for them as they prepared their equipment and fire engines for early morning departure. Chaplains returned each evening to share supper with the returning firefighters and emergency operations support staff. Again this was a great time of bonding between the chaplains and the firefighters. The sleeping quarters and hygiene facilities were also shared by the firefighters and chaplains. The chaplains were never separated from the firefighters accept when the firefighters went out to the fire lines.
Displaced homeowners who did not have any place to go, were housed in temporary shelters throughout the county. These shelters provided sleeping accommodations, food, personal hygiene facilities, clothes and medical assistance. Chaplains spent many hours at the shelters praying with, encouraging, giving directions and just listening. All of the citizens the chaplains encountered were in some way affected by the fires.
The Bastrop Convention Center was the location of the Emergency Operations Command Center (EOCC) and it was where hundreds of citizens came each day to find out the latest facts concerning the fires, where to obtain supplies and when they could return to their neighborhoods. Chaplains visited the EOCC numerous times to encourage the staff and visit with the citizens. With the high level of anxiety and frustration experienced by the citizens, the chaplain's presence, listening ear and caring heart were a soothing comfort.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were stationed throughout Bastrop county blocking entry to dangerous areas. Chaplains visited, prayed with and encouraged these troopers.
Chaplains were welcomed wherever they went and words of gratitude always followed. The chaplains prayed with hundreds of citizens, EOCC staff, firefighters and support staff throughout their stay in Bastrop county. Chaplains also gave Bibles to citizens, firefighters and support staff. These Bibles were provided by the Gideons.
When chaplains thanked everyone for their work, the response was almost always, "No, Thank You for what you are doing!"
IFOC and VRM chaplains ceased operations and returned to their home bases on Monday, September 12, 2011.
Regards,
Harvey J. Pendleton
Texas Chaplain Coordinator
IFOC
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Magnolia, Tx Fire
They have made tremendous progress this weekend with the help of the DC 10, and 4 black hawks. I think by weeks end, everything will wind down with just a base staff and crew, unless something unforeseen happens, but for now things are looking good.
This fire was so close to my house we had on many days ash and embers falling like rain.
I was asked to do a a 9-11 prayer for the 7am and 7 pm shift change briefing yesterday at the command post. I saw 100-150 beautiful faces before me. they were covered in soot, mud, and sweat, but they were
glorious!
Then I was asked to do a small service at 9 for those that wanted one...there were about 10 people there, very small, but the ones there needed to pause and remember.
I got to meet the big guns that came from California...go into the planning room....computers, wall maps..amazing...looked like a war room.
Also waited with the people last Wednesday at the road block to their neighborhood, the were the first ones let back into an area, and I got to go in with them. I drove around and stopped when I saw folks.
One man told me as he pointed to two green spots of grass in his otherwise burned yard (his house was fine, the one behind his gone) that before he evacuated he knelt down in those two spots and prayed....it was a holy moment.
I am so glad IFOC was able to work the shelter., it freed me up to be at command post...I really needed to be with these firefighters...they came as far away from Wyoming to help us.
Love you guys!
Bless you,
Tara Dorroh
Chaplain Tomball Fire Dept
This fire was so close to my house we had on many days ash and embers falling like rain.
I was asked to do a a 9-11 prayer for the 7am and 7 pm shift change briefing yesterday at the command post. I saw 100-150 beautiful faces before me. they were covered in soot, mud, and sweat, but they were
glorious!
Then I was asked to do a small service at 9 for those that wanted one...there were about 10 people there, very small, but the ones there needed to pause and remember.
I got to meet the big guns that came from California...go into the planning room....computers, wall maps..amazing...looked like a war room.
Also waited with the people last Wednesday at the road block to their neighborhood, the were the first ones let back into an area, and I got to go in with them. I drove around and stopped when I saw folks.
One man told me as he pointed to two green spots of grass in his otherwise burned yard (his house was fine, the one behind his gone) that before he evacuated he knelt down in those two spots and prayed....it was a holy moment.
I am so glad IFOC was able to work the shelter., it freed me up to be at command post...I really needed to be with these firefighters...they came as far away from Wyoming to help us.
Love you guys!
Bless you,
Tara Dorroh
Chaplain Tomball Fire Dept
Monday, September 12, 2011
Bastrop TX Fires
Ladies and Gentlemen,Here are a couple of pictures taken by our team in Bastrop Texas. As you can see in the photos the fire is still out of control.
Please keep in prayer as I are trying to fill up the second third and fourth teams to go and assist the Texas Dept. Of Emergency Management's request for Emotional & Spiritual Care for victims and first responders. They are based in ac mp with over 250 firefighters on twelve hour shifts. Lots of praying for these men and women fighting the fires.
Les Palmer
Director Crisis Caregivers
Calvary of Albuqeuerque
505-344-0880 x 1133
ACC Team in Texas
Magnolia TX Fires
Some of the specific challenges that we had to face at the shelter included an outbreak of projectile vomiting and diarrhea among a large number of shelter residents. The forensic psychologist and I worked together on this to identify a vector for the possible contamination and identified a similar problem that happened during Katrina. At that time the shelters had large containers of ice with water in them used to keep containers of soda, water and other liquids for consumption by the shelter residents. It was found that there was really inadequate washing of hands by the residents and that they were thrusting their hands down into the ice containers to retrieve a drink and inadvertently leaving bacteria in the water which contaminated the drinking surface of each bottle in the ice slush mixture, making people sick. The Montgomery Health department was consulted and agreed with the potential source. We devised a plan to break the vector by taking, one by one, each ice cooler outside, emptying the contents, rinsing the inside of the container, placing a 1:5 mixture of bleach and water into the containers, putting all of the water, gatorade and other containers back into the ice chest, allow to set in the bleach/water mixture for 10 minutes, empty, rinse, and place new ice in the containers. Then we assigned one person to wash hands, use gloves, and dispense the containers to the residents as they requested. We found there was a real confusion about hand sanitizers...you have to wash your hands prior to use of the sanitizers for them to work. Many think that hand sanitizer use removes the need to wash with warm soapy water. Also, we learned the use of really hot water with chlorox was not proper as the hot water negatively affected the release of chlorine for sterilization. Also, the health department advised us to not use the hose that was used to water the pets as the water running down from where the pets were housed contaminated the water coming from the hose.
Lots of good information for chaplains to know to keep people...and other chaplains...safe from infection and sickness while working a shelter care.
Chaplain Gale and I went to a local pharmacy and asked if they could give us some Immodium...the local pharmacy gave us almost all they had for free. We have never seen such generocity in a community. Someone put on facebook that there was a need for Immodium at the shelter...and the doors were flooded with Immodium...enough for many outbreaks.
Chaplain Gale Yandell continues to be a great leader, compassionate chaplain and wonderful human who reaches out to people with such ease and sincerity. We had a new chaplain Vonzell Harris (recently trained in Albuquerque) with us and a hospital chaplain....that will soon take our training to join IFOC...Chaplain Lynn Carpenter. We had many inquiries about IFOC and I feel certain that we will be booking classes in the Magnolia, TX area. Wonderful people...loving...giving...caring...just the kind of people we want to be chaplains and do the work of the Lord. Chaplain Tara Dorah joined us for one day.
Today we began to see stress problems showing up on the Red Cross personnel working the shelters. They do not get enough rest and they suffer from organizational fluctuations in support that sometimes leave them with a set of rules like...if you're going to talk to people about God...take them outside. After I had a relationship with the shelter director I said..."You think God isn't in here already? And where do you think all of these thousands of people dropping off food, diapers, clothes and everything imaginable got the "spirit" to give? He just smiled. Many of their "rules" are an effort for political correctness...not for practical...down to earth...Christian people helping people. But they are under loads of stress and need us to stand by them as well.
We did have one unique challenge as a mother allowed her 14 year old girl to spend time with a known, registered sex-offender. When it was claimed that the little girl was missing the mother had a change of heart about her permission to be with the man and the search began. Very soon we found that this was a diversion that allowed the mother and father to load up 5 truck loads of supplies that could be resold for money. They were caught on the 5th truck load...and at the impressive direction of a very large constable, they decided to return all of the supplies...and were asked to leave the shelter.
The effect of home loss on children continues to be one of the most difficult of problems to manage. We should ask the membership of IFOC to blog different ways that other chaplains approach this issue. We all need help on this one.
Just today additional chaplain organizations started showing up. We have made great strides working with the Victim Relief Chaplains and the Southern Baptists Relief Chaplains and when this fire has been whipped...and we get some rain down here in Texas... I have proposed that all chaplains that worked this massive fire come together in Magnolia for a big pot luck dinner and a chance to lay aside our different organizational roles to lift up the wonderful work we are privileged to do as chaplains...in the name of the Lord. The local fire Chief seems quite receptive. Just like Dave reminds us....we need to join forces with other organizations as we are all doing the work of the Lord...and we need everyone.
I will be going back out to the shelter tomorrow for half a day and to the EOC to see if we can be of further help. Many of the Bastrop firefighters came to Magnolia to give us the human-power to put this fire down. The heat has been so intense here that not only the trees above the ground been destroyed but also the root systems have been burning...resulting in many of the flare-ups in the area.
At the high point of the fire they called in a DC-10 to drop large amounts of retardant and water on various areas. I was at the Emergency Operations Center and while watching this massive plane swoop down and pick up water then deliver it and bank out I could help but remember back to 911 and the appearance of the planes just before hitting the world trade center. Now these planes deliver mass coverage. Here's a look at them doing their jobs.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=8347764
Blessed to be a blessing...all you in the Northeast...send us some of your rain,
Chaplain Keith Robinson
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Day I Left Training
To my fellow classmates and servants of Christ our Lord.
I hope this letter finds you well. I so enjoyed the time I got to spend with you during our IFOC chaplain training. I have been compelled all week by the Holy Spirit to write about what happened the day I left to come home to California. The intent of this letter is to, first of all glorify God, and testify of His wondrous works. The book of Revelation tells us that we shall overcome our enemy by the Blood of the Lamb, the Word of our testimony, and that we love not our own life unto death!
I can only imagine the scene in heaven, my brother Jesus leans over to the Father and says, “So, You’ve called her into Chaplaincy?” Hand under his chin, “Hmm’, “shall we afford her the opportunity to put into practice what she has learned this week?” “As she has been studying to show herself approved?” The Father, responding with a smile, “yes, she will do well!”
So I arrive at the airport, and I get to the ticket counter, I am expecting to get my seats near the wing of the plane. I always get a window seat, near the wing. So one, I can sleep with my head leaning against the wall of the plane. It is always my habit to sleep through a plane ride. And secondly, if the plane goes down, (Lord forbid) I am seated in the strongest part of the plane.
The young man at the counter hands me my boarding pass and says, “Your seat assignment is not on here for some reason?” “But don’t worry they will just have to seat you at the gate.” “Ok,” I said. “But that’s never happened to me before?” (There will be several of those “that’s never happened?” on this trip.
So I get to the counter at the gate and they seat me in the bulk head of the plane. (That is the first set of seats in the plane, with a wall in front of you.) In the 25 years of flying, I have only sat in the bulkhead once, with a baby on my lap, and I don’t care for it because, I like to have my backpack at my feet, under the seat in front of me. (just my preference)
I am thinking this is odd, but whatever?? Go with it. My first leg of the trip was uneventful.
So I get to Salt Lake City, and once again inquirer about my seat assignment, and they confirm once again I am in the first row. So I grab a bite to eat, and chase it down with a Redbull. For some reason, (I don’t know why?) I put the last of my drink in the side of my backpack to finish later. (not a typical move on my part, but that’s what I did.)
So we all get called to the gate to board. I waited until the last to board, no sense in rushing to sit down, just to watch everyone, sit down. As I get on, I have to put my backpack in the over head bin, because I am still in the bulkhead seat. So as I do, I ‘anointed’ the poor kid sitting in the seat with my half full Redbull! Ugh!
Just then a grouchy gentleman yells, “Hey lady!” “You are spilling stuff all over people!” Of course I felt so bad. So I grab the napkin left over from my lunch out of my backpack, and start to dab his knee! He says, “It’s Ok. I got it.” Then the steward hands him another paper towel, and a wet nap. Needless to say I felt bad. And the grouchy gentleman of course made it feel worse than it was.
So, sitting there on the plane, we were delayed, waiting for three more passengers. Two came right away. But the third one still had not arrived, and it had been more than a half an hour. There was the grouchy gentleman, starting to fuss to my left, and I kid you not, a screaming baby right behind me. I got the distinct feeling the Lord was squeezing my fruit! Just to see what was going to come out of me. Laughing to myself!
Then the steward, talking to the grouchy gentleman, say’s, “Someone higher up than me, is holding this plane up.” “It’s not like this is the only flight to Palm Springs today.”
Well, that turned out to be a profound statement!
So, finally the passenger we had been waiting for arrived at the gate. The airplane workers cleared the first two rows out to bring her on the plane. She was paralyzed with MS. An older lady. She was moaning in pain, as the two guys assigned to get her on the plane were doing their best not to tussle her too much. Her trip was long, and she was just not sure she was going to make it home at that point.
The two men that were trying to get her in the seat were so way out of their element. These guys handle jet fuel, grounds crews, and big tools. Not elderly, sick crippled lady’s in pain. The best way I can describe the looks on their faces is like this. The look on a new fathers face in the hospital, when the nurse hands over the baby, “Here, take it, it’s yours!” And that total look of “I am not sure I am qualified to handle that job yet?” Sheer terror!
So, of course, I could not stay in my seat. I was compelled to get up and help this poor lady get in her seat. I had to put my hands on her bottom to get her in position. Can you just imagine those two guys trying to do that? Then I helped get her jacket off and get her buckled in the seat. I just kept speaking to her, “you are going to make it.” She was moaning in pain from an ulcer, she had developed during her month long trip away from home. I just wanted to make it better for her, as much as I possibly could.
It was during this time she looked up at me and said, “I love you!” And of course I said “I love you too!” So once we got her in her seat I asked, “could I please sit with her during the flight?” The one guy said “You would be willing to do that?” I said, “I would be happy to do that.” You don’t think I was going to let her sit with ‘mister grouchy.’ This woman had already been through enough, without having to endure that! They kept on thanking me for my help, and asking me for my name. I was just happy the Lord set it up for me to be His presence with ‘skin on.’
So, now we are taxiing to the runway, and I say to her, “Don’t worry, we are almost home.” “From your lips to God’s ears!” she said. So I spent the plane ride not sleeping, but praying. Praying that the Lord would send her just a fraction of the eternal peace that we will someday have in the heavenly realm. That He would ease her pain, and give her rest. I sat forward the entire hour and a half trip. Keeping my shoulder in position to hold her head up as much as possible. Patting her on the knee, holding her water as she needed it. And most of all, praying for her and thanking God that He had found me worthy to be His servant. The Comforter who dwells in me, became the comforter clothed in flesh and bone. A gentle ‘foot washer’ a ‘humble servant’ oozing out the ‘Anointing’ and ‘Love’ of the Holy Spirit.
As I sat there looking out the window, with great joy in my heart. I could hear Gale’s words resounding in my ears, “We are a ministry of presence!” I soooo got that in such a profound way! Preaching and teaching have their place. But we are called to be ‘living epistles‘, to be read of all men!
All of this took place in front of an audience of the world. And it is my hope that my actions spoke to all, and to that young man whom I had anointed with ‘Redbull,’ who turned out to be Mr. Grouchy’s son, that there is a better way. A humble and contrite spirit the Lord will not despise.
As I waited for the woman to get off the plane, she once again looked at me and said, “Thank you Doris, I love you.” Now we all know, that it is the Jesus in me, whom she loves. Of course I said, “I love you too.” As the Apostle Paul writes, “It is not I, but the Spirit of Christ who dwells in me!”
When I arrived at the gate in Palm Springs, the airline presented me with a travel voucher. I graciously accepted it as a gift from my Father. He longs to give us gifts, it brings Him as much joy as it does us, when we are able to give gifts to our own children. I could once again hear the Lord in heaven saying, “Well done!”
Please hear me when I say, the telling of this story is to bring Glory to the Lord. This experience edified me, and it is my hope that it will edify and encourage you in your adventures in chaplaincy!
For the Lord is worthy of all our praise!
Be Blessed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I hope this letter finds you well. I so enjoyed the time I got to spend with you during our IFOC chaplain training. I have been compelled all week by the Holy Spirit to write about what happened the day I left to come home to California. The intent of this letter is to, first of all glorify God, and testify of His wondrous works. The book of Revelation tells us that we shall overcome our enemy by the Blood of the Lamb, the Word of our testimony, and that we love not our own life unto death!
I can only imagine the scene in heaven, my brother Jesus leans over to the Father and says, “So, You’ve called her into Chaplaincy?” Hand under his chin, “Hmm’, “shall we afford her the opportunity to put into practice what she has learned this week?” “As she has been studying to show herself approved?” The Father, responding with a smile, “yes, she will do well!”
So I arrive at the airport, and I get to the ticket counter, I am expecting to get my seats near the wing of the plane. I always get a window seat, near the wing. So one, I can sleep with my head leaning against the wall of the plane. It is always my habit to sleep through a plane ride. And secondly, if the plane goes down, (Lord forbid) I am seated in the strongest part of the plane.
The young man at the counter hands me my boarding pass and says, “Your seat assignment is not on here for some reason?” “But don’t worry they will just have to seat you at the gate.” “Ok,” I said. “But that’s never happened to me before?” (There will be several of those “that’s never happened?” on this trip.
So I get to the counter at the gate and they seat me in the bulk head of the plane. (That is the first set of seats in the plane, with a wall in front of you.) In the 25 years of flying, I have only sat in the bulkhead once, with a baby on my lap, and I don’t care for it because, I like to have my backpack at my feet, under the seat in front of me. (just my preference)
I am thinking this is odd, but whatever?? Go with it. My first leg of the trip was uneventful.
So I get to Salt Lake City, and once again inquirer about my seat assignment, and they confirm once again I am in the first row. So I grab a bite to eat, and chase it down with a Redbull. For some reason, (I don’t know why?) I put the last of my drink in the side of my backpack to finish later. (not a typical move on my part, but that’s what I did.)
So we all get called to the gate to board. I waited until the last to board, no sense in rushing to sit down, just to watch everyone, sit down. As I get on, I have to put my backpack in the over head bin, because I am still in the bulkhead seat. So as I do, I ‘anointed’ the poor kid sitting in the seat with my half full Redbull! Ugh!
Just then a grouchy gentleman yells, “Hey lady!” “You are spilling stuff all over people!” Of course I felt so bad. So I grab the napkin left over from my lunch out of my backpack, and start to dab his knee! He says, “It’s Ok. I got it.” Then the steward hands him another paper towel, and a wet nap. Needless to say I felt bad. And the grouchy gentleman of course made it feel worse than it was.
So, sitting there on the plane, we were delayed, waiting for three more passengers. Two came right away. But the third one still had not arrived, and it had been more than a half an hour. There was the grouchy gentleman, starting to fuss to my left, and I kid you not, a screaming baby right behind me. I got the distinct feeling the Lord was squeezing my fruit! Just to see what was going to come out of me. Laughing to myself!
Then the steward, talking to the grouchy gentleman, say’s, “Someone higher up than me, is holding this plane up.” “It’s not like this is the only flight to Palm Springs today.”
Well, that turned out to be a profound statement!
So, finally the passenger we had been waiting for arrived at the gate. The airplane workers cleared the first two rows out to bring her on the plane. She was paralyzed with MS. An older lady. She was moaning in pain, as the two guys assigned to get her on the plane were doing their best not to tussle her too much. Her trip was long, and she was just not sure she was going to make it home at that point.
The two men that were trying to get her in the seat were so way out of their element. These guys handle jet fuel, grounds crews, and big tools. Not elderly, sick crippled lady’s in pain. The best way I can describe the looks on their faces is like this. The look on a new fathers face in the hospital, when the nurse hands over the baby, “Here, take it, it’s yours!” And that total look of “I am not sure I am qualified to handle that job yet?” Sheer terror!
So, of course, I could not stay in my seat. I was compelled to get up and help this poor lady get in her seat. I had to put my hands on her bottom to get her in position. Can you just imagine those two guys trying to do that? Then I helped get her jacket off and get her buckled in the seat. I just kept speaking to her, “you are going to make it.” She was moaning in pain from an ulcer, she had developed during her month long trip away from home. I just wanted to make it better for her, as much as I possibly could.
It was during this time she looked up at me and said, “I love you!” And of course I said “I love you too!” So once we got her in her seat I asked, “could I please sit with her during the flight?” The one guy said “You would be willing to do that?” I said, “I would be happy to do that.” You don’t think I was going to let her sit with ‘mister grouchy.’ This woman had already been through enough, without having to endure that! They kept on thanking me for my help, and asking me for my name. I was just happy the Lord set it up for me to be His presence with ‘skin on.’
So, now we are taxiing to the runway, and I say to her, “Don’t worry, we are almost home.” “From your lips to God’s ears!” she said. So I spent the plane ride not sleeping, but praying. Praying that the Lord would send her just a fraction of the eternal peace that we will someday have in the heavenly realm. That He would ease her pain, and give her rest. I sat forward the entire hour and a half trip. Keeping my shoulder in position to hold her head up as much as possible. Patting her on the knee, holding her water as she needed it. And most of all, praying for her and thanking God that He had found me worthy to be His servant. The Comforter who dwells in me, became the comforter clothed in flesh and bone. A gentle ‘foot washer’ a ‘humble servant’ oozing out the ‘Anointing’ and ‘Love’ of the Holy Spirit.
As I sat there looking out the window, with great joy in my heart. I could hear Gale’s words resounding in my ears, “We are a ministry of presence!” I soooo got that in such a profound way! Preaching and teaching have their place. But we are called to be ‘living epistles‘, to be read of all men!
All of this took place in front of an audience of the world. And it is my hope that my actions spoke to all, and to that young man whom I had anointed with ‘Redbull,’ who turned out to be Mr. Grouchy’s son, that there is a better way. A humble and contrite spirit the Lord will not despise.
As I waited for the woman to get off the plane, she once again looked at me and said, “Thank you Doris, I love you.” Now we all know, that it is the Jesus in me, whom she loves. Of course I said, “I love you too.” As the Apostle Paul writes, “It is not I, but the Spirit of Christ who dwells in me!”
When I arrived at the gate in Palm Springs, the airline presented me with a travel voucher. I graciously accepted it as a gift from my Father. He longs to give us gifts, it brings Him as much joy as it does us, when we are able to give gifts to our own children. I could once again hear the Lord in heaven saying, “Well done!”
Please hear me when I say, the telling of this story is to bring Glory to the Lord. This experience edified me, and it is my hope that it will edify and encourage you in your adventures in chaplaincy!
For the Lord is worthy of all our praise!
Be Blessed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Chaplain Insight During Post Joplin Tornado Work
The following paragraphs are written by a chaplain working in Joplin after the tornado. It paints a picture of the struggles and pain of the people and of the chaplain.
"This is beyond Haiti when it comes to bodies. We debrief often through the day and before bed. Holding families while they watch search & rescue, body parts, and last hopes of life fade away. Men unable to withstand the trauma. Women clinging to lost hope. The children of these families are sad and confused. This is the worst possible scene you can imagine. Pray as the days wear on."
"Our coping skills are great. Debrief one another, pray often, prayed for 102 people all at different times, eat well adding ice cream, laugh and tease each other in a group at the end of the day over dinner, tell each other how good we see the working, cry with one another, pull jokes on each other, praise God for His love, listen to miracles we are told, love the people, look out for one another, take hiding breaks from the people, smile at how bad we look, laugh at our mash beds, and look at our family pictures for a reality check. We are looking for every small joy life has to offer. We are living ground zero. We are a team of seven chaplains who are humbled to serve God and man "for a time such as this." we are a tough breed of chappy's. "
Thank you for all the prayers and know you are part of our work through your prayers.
"This is beyond Haiti when it comes to bodies. We debrief often through the day and before bed. Holding families while they watch search & rescue, body parts, and last hopes of life fade away. Men unable to withstand the trauma. Women clinging to lost hope. The children of these families are sad and confused. This is the worst possible scene you can imagine. Pray as the days wear on."
"Our coping skills are great. Debrief one another, pray often, prayed for 102 people all at different times, eat well adding ice cream, laugh and tease each other in a group at the end of the day over dinner, tell each other how good we see the working, cry with one another, pull jokes on each other, praise God for His love, listen to miracles we are told, love the people, look out for one another, take hiding breaks from the people, smile at how bad we look, laugh at our mash beds, and look at our family pictures for a reality check. We are looking for every small joy life has to offer. We are living ground zero. We are a team of seven chaplains who are humbled to serve God and man "for a time such as this." we are a tough breed of chappy's. "
Thank you for all the prayers and know you are part of our work through your prayers.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
IFOC Texas Chaplains Deployed
Responding Agencies
This deployment was in response to major flooding damage created by the Tropical Storm Hermine. Some of the agencies represented at the deployment were the American Red Cross, Health and Human Services, The Salvation Army, the local Buddhist Temple organization, 7th Day Adventists, emergency medical service, local churches, the mayor pro-tem of Nolanville, and the Houston Regional Community Chaplain Corps of The International Fellowship of Chaplains. I was asked to serve as the Chaplain Coordinator for the Deployment as well as Deputy Branch Director.
We had 10 chaplains and two local ministers who served to provide the emotional/spiritual comfort to these flood victims. By the time this deployment was activated these victims had already been dealing with the stress of these losses for 9 days. Yet, there were many who still exhibited hollow and lost looks on their faces as well as being openly distraught with some openly crying.
Memorable Moment in the Deployment
There always seems to be one event that tends to stand out as the hallmark of each deployment. True to form, this one had one that will be hard for me to forget.
A 50 year old Hispanic female was sleeping in her mobile home late at night when she sensed movement in the structure. The quiet river that ran nearby suddenly raged lifting her mobile home off its block footing sending it cascading some 4000 feet downstream. Water and debris marking on the trees showed that the water had reached 30-40 feet high. As the mobile home was being swept away in the pitch of darkness, the woman somehow made it to the roof of the building and held on until it slammed into a sturdy tree and a car that had become lodged at its base. The mobile home descended on the car crushing it flat. The woman waited in the darkness on the roof of her mobile home as the waters receded for 5 more hours until she was found by emergency workers. Covered with mosquito bites, she expectedly suffered from Post Traumatic Stress and stated that she had not slept for 3 nights due to the fear and memories of that night. At daybreak they found that three other mobile homes had surged along with hers down that raging river. One of the homes had been thrust deep into a wooded area destroying the power to the entire area. With no home, no possessions and no money she now faces starting her life over.
Chaplains Serving the Deployment
The 3 of the 10 Chaplains who served in this deployment were IFOC Chaplains. Chaplain Billy Paul Cain and Chaplain Gale Yandell were key leaders in the deployment and I depended on their strengths and experience to lead other Chaplains as assignments were made. 4 Houston Victim Relief Chaplains, 2 Central Methodist Chaplains, and one Salvation Army Chaplain were the other key players in the Chaplain Response.
As I observed our chaplains loving on each person, I could see that truly the Hand of God brought these chaplains together for this unique mission of mercy. It is a joy to serve with other Chaplains who know the love of God and are free to share it with people who have lost so much.
Lessons learned
Out of this deployment the various component groups gained a better understanding of the strengths in each organization. I came to better understand that Chaplaincy is expected to be a major component in each and every deployment.
The Incident Response Organization need us to be not only at the incident site, they need us: 1) to be mingling with the victims to identify those who have reached their stress saturation point. 2) to be within the facility where all of the agencies are providing aid and information to victims assessing the emotional status of the victim families; 3) to be the expeditor of the victim families through the process so that the victim family doesn't miss any of the service or financial opportunities assembled; 4) to go into other areas affected by the flood bringing news of the Agencies assembled so that these people can also find help. 5) While Chaplain Gale Yandell and I were in the field in a neighboring community of Belton, we discovered that families were dealing with disappointment of their local government. Multiple families approached Chaplain Gale and myself telling us that the local government had condemned their homes and had given them 30 days to tear down the home leaving them nowhere to go. In one incidence, a man had just required an amputation of one leg, Upon returning to his newly condemned home, the city contacted Adult Protective Services resulting in his removal from the home and charges begin brought against the family.
With these expectations of the Incident Response Organization, it is obvious that we, as leaders in Chaplaincy organizations, need to expand our trained membership so that we can provide a minimum of 15 to 20 Trained Chaplains, preferable with CISM training and experience, to meet the critical needs for each Incident Response. By participating in this deployment we, as chaplains, will be better prepared to serve the broad spectrum of needs as a "Chaplain team" when the next tragedy confronts Texas.
We are Blessed...to be a blessing!
This deployment was in response to major flooding damage created by the Tropical Storm Hermine. Some of the agencies represented at the deployment were the American Red Cross, Health and Human Services, The Salvation Army, the local Buddhist Temple organization, 7th Day Adventists, emergency medical service, local churches, the mayor pro-tem of Nolanville, and the Houston Regional Community Chaplain Corps of The International Fellowship of Chaplains. I was asked to serve as the Chaplain Coordinator for the Deployment as well as Deputy Branch Director.
We had 10 chaplains and two local ministers who served to provide the emotional/spiritual comfort to these flood victims. By the time this deployment was activated these victims had already been dealing with the stress of these losses for 9 days. Yet, there were many who still exhibited hollow and lost looks on their faces as well as being openly distraught with some openly crying. Memorable Moment in the Deployment
There always seems to be one event that tends to stand out as the hallmark of each deployment. True to form, this one had one that will be hard for me to forget.
A 50 year old Hispanic female was sleeping in her mobile home late at night when she sensed movement in the structure. The quiet river that ran nearby suddenly raged lifting her mobile home off its block footing sending it cascading some 4000 feet downstream. Water and debris marking on the trees showed that the water had reached 30-40 feet high. As the mobile home was being swept away in the pitch of darkness, the woman somehow made it to the roof of the building and held on until it slammed into a sturdy tree and a car that had become lodged at its base. The mobile home descended on the car crushing it flat. The woman waited in the darkness on the roof of her mobile home as the waters receded for 5 more hours until she was found by emergency workers. Covered with mosquito bites, she expectedly suffered from Post Traumatic Stress and stated that she had not slept for 3 nights due to the fear and memories of that night. At daybreak they found that three other mobile homes had surged along with hers down that raging river. One of the homes had been thrust deep into a wooded area destroying the power to the entire area. With no home, no possessions and no money she now faces starting her life over.Chaplains Serving the Deployment
The 3 of the 10 Chaplains who served in this deployment were IFOC Chaplains. Chaplain Billy Paul Cain and Chaplain Gale Yandell were key leaders in the deployment and I depended on their strengths and experience to lead other Chaplains as assignments were made. 4 Houston Victim Relief Chaplains, 2 Central Methodist Chaplains, and one Salvation Army Chaplain were the other key players in the Chaplain Response.
As I observed our chaplains loving on each person, I could see that truly the Hand of God brought these chaplains together for this unique mission of mercy. It is a joy to serve with other Chaplains who know the love of God and are free to share it with people who have lost so much.
Lessons learned
Out of this deployment the various component groups gained a better understanding of the strengths in each organization. I came to better understand that Chaplaincy is expected to be a major component in each and every deployment.
The Incident Response Organization need us to be not only at the incident site, they need us: 1) to be mingling with the victims to identify those who have reached their stress saturation point. 2) to be within the facility where all of the agencies are providing aid and information to victims assessing the emotional status of the victim families; 3) to be the expeditor of the victim families through the process so that the victim family doesn't miss any of the service or financial opportunities assembled; 4) to go into other areas affected by the flood bringing news of the Agencies assembled so that these people can also find help. 5) While Chaplain Gale Yandell and I were in the field in a neighboring community of Belton, we discovered that families were dealing with disappointment of their local government. Multiple families approached Chaplain Gale and myself telling us that the local government had condemned their homes and had given them 30 days to tear down the home leaving them nowhere to go. In one incidence, a man had just required an amputation of one leg, Upon returning to his newly condemned home, the city contacted Adult Protective Services resulting in his removal from the home and charges begin brought against the family.
With these expectations of the Incident Response Organization, it is obvious that we, as leaders in Chaplaincy organizations, need to expand our trained membership so that we can provide a minimum of 15 to 20 Trained Chaplains, preferable with CISM training and experience, to meet the critical needs for each Incident Response. By participating in this deployment we, as chaplains, will be better prepared to serve the broad spectrum of needs as a "Chaplain team" when the next tragedy confronts Texas.
We are Blessed...to be a blessing!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Travel and Turmoil: A Day in the Life of a Chaplain
Les Palmer arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico several months before I did. We were both new employees at Calvary of Albuquerque. As it turned out, our offices were right next door to each other in what we called “The Cave.”
Through our initial conversations, we realized we had a lot in common: both coming from California to New Mexico and both of us living in San Diego County for a time. We had common acquaintances and had the same church family, Calvary Chapel.
And then it happened: Les began to disappear.
One day he was in his office; the next week he would be gone. A few days back and then Les would disappear for three weeks. In between all his disappearances, he would update us on his life and ministry.
As my life revolved around reading, editing, and project management, his life revolved around travel and intense ministry to others.
So goes the life of a chaplain.
So what exactly does a chaplain do? Well—and without being sarcastic—I’ve come to respond, through knowing Les, what doesn’t a chaplain do?
Marvel at the past six-months of Les’s schedule: In February, he taught 100 the basics in “Grief Following Trauma” in Albuquerque. From there, he flew to Haiti for almost three weeks to work as a chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association Rapid Response Team.
For six days in March, Les taught the IFOC five-day “Basic Chaplain” course in Albuquerque. At the end of March, he worked with the NMAS preparing and distributing food. April 5-26 found him working at Calvary in pastoral counseling and leading three training classes for chaplains. From April 27 through May 2, he flew to Birmingham, Alabama and taught “CISM” and “Spiritual Care in Disasters” for Mission Birmingham. The month of May found him responding once again with the Rapid Response Team, this time to the flooding in Nashville, Tennessee. From May 27 to May 28, he came home to Calvary Chapel Albuquerque to resume pastoral counseling.
From June 7 through 12, he attended the Flagstone, Arizona Sheriff’s Department CISM Training. From June 13 through 19, Les flew to Asheville, North Carolina to teach at the Billy Graham Training Center on “Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters”. From June 21 through June 28, he returned to Calvary Chapel Albuquerque for AFD Stress Management training. On June 29, he was deployed to Texas as part of Texas Task Force Austin in preparation for Hurricane Alex. On July 5, he resumed pastoral counseling at Calvary Chapel Albuquerque. From July 12-16, Les responded to SWAT operations in Albuquerque, had training in Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking and attended a banquet with “Wings for Life”. On July 17, he attended a prayer breakfast and a debriefing of the teams responding to SWAT operations.
And throughout this schedule, when not deployed, Les is an on-call community chaplain, as well as a volunteer chaplain with Albuquerque Fire Department.
I asked him about just a few occurrences in this hectic schedule. First, what was Haiti like?
Les paused, then answered, “There was unbelievable devastation and hardship for the 1.8 million people displaced by the earthquake. Yet in the midst of one of the worst natural disasters, I saw God’s hand clearly in the circumstances. Many heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Haitians saw the love of God poured upon them through the lives of so many Christian churches that responded. It made me realize what it meant to pray for our daily bread.”
What about all his training and classes?
“In every class the emphasis is the same,” Les replied. “We are God-ordained but man-certified. I teach everyone that God needs someone to represent Him in the midst of a crisis. He is sitting on the throne and merely needs our body available to go and represent Him. The training they receive is simply another tool to equip them to do the work of His ministry.”
Could he explain a bit about his travels to Birmingham, Alabama?
“Mission Birmingham is an organization of 57 community churches preparing to help the community in times of crisis. Their desire is to train up 500 chaplains to cross denominational boundaries and help the citizens of Alabama in disaster situations,” Les explained.
How did you respond to the flooding in Nashville, Tennessee?
Les decided this could best be explained in another man’s words, a man he ministered to in Nashville. “John said, ‘I left the church 20 years ago because I didn’t wear the right clothes. But this past week, watching the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers come and gut out my home, I’ve seen the love of God in actions—not in empty words.”
According to Decision magazine, “Les Palmer also traveled to New Orleans when Katrina hit. He spent 21 months out of the first two years down in the Gulf – three weeks out of every month.
He shared why he feels compelled to return: “I do it because God put it on my heart to do it. I was sitting on my couch in San Diego on Labor Day weekend five years ago and I was watching the people walk through the floods and I was just brought to tears. I cried out to God and said, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me.’ I love to be able to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ and bring His presence in the midst of a crisis. That’s my heart’s desire.”
Finally, what does Les believe about his calling as a chaplain?
“I love training people to become chaplains because I believe God has given us all a measure of compassion. If we let Him use us in a way that His compassion and love is poured out, nothing can stand in the way of unconditional love. God is love and love never fails. The chaplaincy ministry is built on chapter 9 verses 36 through 38 in the Gospel of Matthew. The past week was very difficult because it was a situation in our own community. We’re so used to going elsewhere to help, but in this case we were called to help our own people. There is a crisis on every street corner and every pew in America—the training equips us for either event.”
Through trials, travel, and turmoil, the chaplain’s life is one of service: first and foremost unto the Lord and then to the people the Lord has entrusted to their care. Les, and the fellow chaplain’s he serves with, are a living example of reaching out to the hurting, the lonely, and the lost. They are a reminder that God is working in the most desperate and critical situations around the world.
Remember to pray for the chaplains in your community, expressing your appreciation and encouragement.
By Brian Nixon
Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS) --
 |
Dr. Jacotte Prevalis, Haiti SWAT Team Captain and Les |
And then it happened: Les began to disappear.
One day he was in his office; the next week he would be gone. A few days back and then Les would disappear for three weeks. In between all his disappearances, he would update us on his life and ministry.
As my life revolved around reading, editing, and project management, his life revolved around travel and intense ministry to others.
So goes the life of a chaplain.
So what exactly does a chaplain do? Well—and without being sarcastic—I’ve come to respond, through knowing Les, what doesn’t a chaplain do?
Marvel at the past six-months of Les’s schedule: In February, he taught 100 the basics in “Grief Following Trauma” in Albuquerque. From there, he flew to Haiti for almost three weeks to work as a chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association Rapid Response Team.
 |
Les and Carla in Haitian Hospital |
From June 7 through 12, he attended the Flagstone, Arizona Sheriff’s Department CISM Training. From June 13 through 19, Les flew to Asheville, North Carolina to teach at the Billy Graham Training Center on “Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters”. From June 21 through June 28, he returned to Calvary Chapel Albuquerque for AFD Stress Management training. On June 29, he was deployed to Texas as part of Texas Task Force Austin in preparation for Hurricane Alex. On July 5, he resumed pastoral counseling at Calvary Chapel Albuquerque. From July 12-16, Les responded to SWAT operations in Albuquerque, had training in Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking and attended a banquet with “Wings for Life”. On July 17, he attended a prayer breakfast and a debriefing of the teams responding to SWAT operations.
And throughout this schedule, when not deployed, Les is an on-call community chaplain, as well as a volunteer chaplain with Albuquerque Fire Department.
I asked him about just a few occurrences in this hectic schedule. First, what was Haiti like?
Les paused, then answered, “There was unbelievable devastation and hardship for the 1.8 million people displaced by the earthquake. Yet in the midst of one of the worst natural disasters, I saw God’s hand clearly in the circumstances. Many heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Haitians saw the love of God poured upon them through the lives of so many Christian churches that responded. It made me realize what it meant to pray for our daily bread.”
What about all his training and classes?
“In every class the emphasis is the same,” Les replied. “We are God-ordained but man-certified. I teach everyone that God needs someone to represent Him in the midst of a crisis. He is sitting on the throne and merely needs our body available to go and represent Him. The training they receive is simply another tool to equip them to do the work of His ministry.”
Could he explain a bit about his travels to Birmingham, Alabama?
“Mission Birmingham is an organization of 57 community churches preparing to help the community in times of crisis. Their desire is to train up 500 chaplains to cross denominational boundaries and help the citizens of Alabama in disaster situations,” Les explained.
How did you respond to the flooding in Nashville, Tennessee?
 |
Les and Bernita, a homeowner in Nashville |
According to Decision magazine, “Les Palmer also traveled to New Orleans when Katrina hit. He spent 21 months out of the first two years down in the Gulf – three weeks out of every month.
He shared why he feels compelled to return: “I do it because God put it on my heart to do it. I was sitting on my couch in San Diego on Labor Day weekend five years ago and I was watching the people walk through the floods and I was just brought to tears. I cried out to God and said, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me.’ I love to be able to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ and bring His presence in the midst of a crisis. That’s my heart’s desire.”
Finally, what does Les believe about his calling as a chaplain?
“I love training people to become chaplains because I believe God has given us all a measure of compassion. If we let Him use us in a way that His compassion and love is poured out, nothing can stand in the way of unconditional love. God is love and love never fails. The chaplaincy ministry is built on chapter 9 verses 36 through 38 in the Gospel of Matthew. The past week was very difficult because it was a situation in our own community. We’re so used to going elsewhere to help, but in this case we were called to help our own people. There is a crisis on every street corner and every pew in America—the training equips us for either event.”
Through trials, travel, and turmoil, the chaplain’s life is one of service: first and foremost unto the Lord and then to the people the Lord has entrusted to their care. Les, and the fellow chaplain’s he serves with, are a living example of reaching out to the hurting, the lonely, and the lost. They are a reminder that God is working in the most desperate and critical situations around the world.
Remember to pray for the chaplains in your community, expressing your appreciation and encouragement.
By Brian Nixon
Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS) --
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sheriff's Office chaplain works to help officers, victims
Patricia Geyer spent more than 20 years helping people advance their careers by dealing with the superficial, she says. Now, she helps police officers and crime victims when they need it most, dealing with spiritual and psychological problems.
Geyer serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. She works with deputies on assignments that include notifying family members when someone has died. She helps people deal with violent or tragic events.
Geyer said she hopes to provide a "buffer zone" for the deputies, staying with victims or their families and freeing up the deputies to spend more time dealing with law enforcement issues.
For example, Geyer said she can stay with a family after a death notification, helping them inform other family members of what has happened or going with them to identify the body.
Geyer said she's found that people in a crisis tend to find comfort in some kind of faith. But in an emergency, she has to be able to minister to people of any faith, or people of no faith.
Her training requires her to be well-versed and knowledgeable about the Bible, but she's received training in how to respect various other faiths as well.
Someone to talk to
Geyer said she can also provide deputies with someone to talk to about the sometimes traumatic and troubling things they see.
A lot of stress can be relieved just by acknowledging a problem and talking about it, Geyer said. She hopes to fill that role for the deputies.
Geyer's position is part of a Sheriff's Office effort to improve basic resources available to its deputies, said Amanda Dell, a human resources coordinator for the Sheriff's Office.
The public expects police officers to always be in control of a situation, and of themselves, but they can forget that officers are human beings first, Dell said.
When an officer is out on a scene, he or she is expected to just be able to deal with the stress of the job, as well as any personal issues or problems they might be dealing with, said Cpl. Jon Light, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.
Police officers tend to be unwilling to show any sign of weakness, so it's important to give them a confidential way to release some of the emotions they're feeling, he said.
Called to serve
Geyer, 64, spent 23 years running an image consulting business, advising people on how changes to their hair, makeup or wardrobe could advance their careers.
She was motivated to go to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to see what she could do to help.
Listening to the first woman she sat with, hearing the pain in her voice as the woman talked about what she'd lost, the seeds of her transition from image consultant to chaplain were sewn.
She spent considerable time volunteering in the community and getting trained in critical incident stress management.
Now, Geyer is a member of the International Fellowship of Chaplains, a group focused on working with emergency service personnel and "providing a bridge between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the world," according to the group's website.
Along with her Sheriff's Office work, she also travels around the United States with various emergency response teams, following up after incidents such as Hurricane Ike in 2008, the spring floods in Nashville, ice storms in Missouri and tornadoes in Mississippi.
Geyer said she regularly rides along with deputies when they're on the road, and is inspired by the passion they bring to their jobs.
"[Police work] has to be a passion, or you wouldn't do it, because it's not easy," she said.
Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:00 am
By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_8bf5e4b0-8c8a-11df-8cb0-001cc4c03286.html
Geyer serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. She works with deputies on assignments that include notifying family members when someone has died. She helps people deal with violent or tragic events.
Geyer said she hopes to provide a "buffer zone" for the deputies, staying with victims or their families and freeing up the deputies to spend more time dealing with law enforcement issues.
For example, Geyer said she can stay with a family after a death notification, helping them inform other family members of what has happened or going with them to identify the body.
Geyer said she's found that people in a crisis tend to find comfort in some kind of faith. But in an emergency, she has to be able to minister to people of any faith, or people of no faith.
Her training requires her to be well-versed and knowledgeable about the Bible, but she's received training in how to respect various other faiths as well.
Someone to talk to
Geyer said she can also provide deputies with someone to talk to about the sometimes traumatic and troubling things they see.
A lot of stress can be relieved just by acknowledging a problem and talking about it, Geyer said. She hopes to fill that role for the deputies.
Geyer's position is part of a Sheriff's Office effort to improve basic resources available to its deputies, said Amanda Dell, a human resources coordinator for the Sheriff's Office.
The public expects police officers to always be in control of a situation, and of themselves, but they can forget that officers are human beings first, Dell said.
When an officer is out on a scene, he or she is expected to just be able to deal with the stress of the job, as well as any personal issues or problems they might be dealing with, said Cpl. Jon Light, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.
Police officers tend to be unwilling to show any sign of weakness, so it's important to give them a confidential way to release some of the emotions they're feeling, he said.
Called to serve
Geyer, 64, spent 23 years running an image consulting business, advising people on how changes to their hair, makeup or wardrobe could advance their careers.
She was motivated to go to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to see what she could do to help.
Listening to the first woman she sat with, hearing the pain in her voice as the woman talked about what she'd lost, the seeds of her transition from image consultant to chaplain were sewn.
She spent considerable time volunteering in the community and getting trained in critical incident stress management.
Now, Geyer is a member of the International Fellowship of Chaplains, a group focused on working with emergency service personnel and "providing a bridge between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the world," according to the group's website.
Along with her Sheriff's Office work, she also travels around the United States with various emergency response teams, following up after incidents such as Hurricane Ike in 2008, the spring floods in Nashville, ice storms in Missouri and tornadoes in Mississippi.
Geyer said she regularly rides along with deputies when they're on the road, and is inspired by the passion they bring to their jobs.
"[Police work] has to be a passion, or you wouldn't do it, because it's not easy," she said.
Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:00 am
By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_8bf5e4b0-8c8a-11df-8cb0-001cc4c03286.html
Friday, July 16, 2010
New Mexico Chaplains Minister At Shooting
A shooting took place at an area corporation near Kirtland Air Force Base.
IFOC Chaplains were called out at 10 am, and arrived at the scene by 1030 am with 3 dead, several injured. The injured were transported to the hospital. The Active Swat team located the shooter who apparently took his life when he was surrounded.
A team of 15 IFOC Chaplains responded to the staging area of the Incident Command, to assist the non injured victims, (over 241 of them) and spent 6.5 hours providing emotional and spiritual care.
Mental health arrived as well as the State CISM Coordinator, observing the chaplains already on scene in action. Another 7 chaplains were working with the APD and the AFD. All together about 22 of the Albuquerque Chaplain team responded. The team is preparing to be called in for follow up, as needed.
IFOC Chaplains were called out at 10 am, and arrived at the scene by 1030 am with 3 dead, several injured. The injured were transported to the hospital. The Active Swat team located the shooter who apparently took his life when he was surrounded.
A team of 15 IFOC Chaplains responded to the staging area of the Incident Command, to assist the non injured victims, (over 241 of them) and spent 6.5 hours providing emotional and spiritual care.
Mental health arrived as well as the State CISM Coordinator, observing the chaplains already on scene in action. Another 7 chaplains were working with the APD and the AFD. All together about 22 of the Albuquerque Chaplain team responded. The team is preparing to be called in for follow up, as needed.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Crisis Care Givers
IFOC Sr. Chaplain Les Palmer shares photos from a recent trip to Haiti and plans to return to soon.Part of his future trip includes leading a pastors conference of 200 pastors and teaching CISM Grief following Trauma.
"I am taking 7 members of the NM-IFOC ARCCC and 1 nurse to minister to the people in the area." says Les
To learn more and keep up to date with Les, go to www.crisiscaregivers.org
"Praise the Lord, there is a mighty work going on."
Sr. Chaplain Les Palmer
IFOC Corps Commander and
BGEA/RRT Chaplain Coordinator
Albuquerque Regional Community Chaplain's Corps
An Operating Corps of the International Fellowship of Chaplains
Ph 760-703-5755
Friday, March 5, 2010
Response To Haiti #10
The President of Haiti canceled "carnival" the other day and called for three days of fasting, prayer and mourning. The streets quickly filled with people dressed in white on their way to church services and gatherings all over the nation where they worshiped and prayed for God to have mercy on their nation. As we drove from the capital city to a coastal town, we witnessed tens of thousands of Haitians singing praises to Jesus and crying out to God for mercy. We held a worship service at an orphanage in Leogane where many came forward and were touched by the presence of God.
I believe we are witnessing a once and a lifetime opportunity to reach the harvest in crisis as this nation turns back to Him.
We are currently setting up an additional base camp at an orphanage in Leogane. We will be sending containers of relief goods, tools and supplies to support these new initiatives.
Click the red donate above to see how you can help.
www.criout.com
Palace Prayer
I believe we are witnessing a once and a lifetime opportunity to reach the harvest in crisis as this nation turns back to Him.
We are currently setting up an additional base camp at an orphanage in Leogane. We will be sending containers of relief goods, tools and supplies to support these new initiatives.
Click the red donate above to see how you can help.
www.criout.com
Palace Prayer
Haiti Trip Report From Virginia Team-CMM
JE Parrott, IFOC Chaplain
Mar 3, 2010
Arrived in Dominican Republic on Sat. Feb 27th and left at 6am for the long and difficult ride to Haiti. We were escorted by a Colonel, friend of Victor Rodriguez, in the DR Military. This allowed us to bypass military check points and delays at the border.
We stayed Sun. and Monday Pastor Vincent's compound in Cite Soleil. Monday, we went to a clinic in Cite Soleil. We saw over 200 people. Evaluating, diagnosing and treating their medical problems.The people were happy to see us and greeted us by hugs and kissing our hands. After clinic, we stayed and played with the children. We passed out candy and coloring books also.
Tues and Wed., we went to a remote mountain village in the city of Cazel. These village people had never seen missionaries before. Most had never had any form of medical care either. We had a 2 day clinic. Rumor had spread through the village that we were coming and some people walked for several days to get to our clinic. The people were so wonderful. They wanted us to have the best of what they had so they put rugs on the dirt floor of the outdoor Church and we slept there. They posted 4 guards at the Church door so we would feel safe. They gave us a church service and rented a generator so they could run one light bulb for the service. We pooled the money we had on us and gave it to them during the service so they could buy the generator for future use. They were thrilled. We also helped distribute food that Pastor Vincent had brought to the village.
Thursday, we went back to the clinic in Port Au Prince again. After clinic, we toured Port Au Prince. The city was in ruins as far as the eye could see. Make shift tents with scrap wood, metal and sheets. The few lucky people had a real tent.
Friday, we had a clinic on the out skirts of town in Port Au Prince. We saw so many babies and children. All had scabies and many had wounds that had become infected. We drained the pus and irrigated the wounds and gave out antibiotics.
It was hard to leave. There was so much more to be done. So many more people in need of help. The people hugged us goodbye and made us promise to return.
We will return!
Lisa
Mar 3, 2010
Arrived in Dominican Republic on Sat. Feb 27th and left at 6am for the long and difficult ride to Haiti. We were escorted by a Colonel, friend of Victor Rodriguez, in the DR Military. This allowed us to bypass military check points and delays at the border.
We stayed Sun. and Monday Pastor Vincent's compound in Cite Soleil. Monday, we went to a clinic in Cite Soleil. We saw over 200 people. Evaluating, diagnosing and treating their medical problems.The people were happy to see us and greeted us by hugs and kissing our hands. After clinic, we stayed and played with the children. We passed out candy and coloring books also.
Tues and Wed., we went to a remote mountain village in the city of Cazel. These village people had never seen missionaries before. Most had never had any form of medical care either. We had a 2 day clinic. Rumor had spread through the village that we were coming and some people walked for several days to get to our clinic. The people were so wonderful. They wanted us to have the best of what they had so they put rugs on the dirt floor of the outdoor Church and we slept there. They posted 4 guards at the Church door so we would feel safe. They gave us a church service and rented a generator so they could run one light bulb for the service. We pooled the money we had on us and gave it to them during the service so they could buy the generator for future use. They were thrilled. We also helped distribute food that Pastor Vincent had brought to the village.
Thursday, we went back to the clinic in Port Au Prince again. After clinic, we toured Port Au Prince. The city was in ruins as far as the eye could see. Make shift tents with scrap wood, metal and sheets. The few lucky people had a real tent.
Friday, we had a clinic on the out skirts of town in Port Au Prince. We saw so many babies and children. All had scabies and many had wounds that had become infected. We drained the pus and irrigated the wounds and gave out antibiotics.
It was hard to leave. There was so much more to be done. So many more people in need of help. The people hugged us goodbye and made us promise to return.
We will return!
Lisa
Monday, February 15, 2010
CRI Haiti Update From wave 4 at Leogane Orphanage
We sent our first team out to the epicenter of the earthquake in Haiti to assist Pastor Kelly Fleury with 46 orphan girls, two orphan boys and one baby. The baby's mom had gone to the hospital just prior to the quake and is believed dead. The entire orphanage has been destroyed including the home, school, bakery, pastors house car and assorted small buildings. Moral was very bad and there was little being done and they were trying to take care of basic needs of the kids. The Pastor said they were outside the school in a field when the quake hit which is something they almost never do at the time. All the children and several hundred other village kids that attend school there survived is a miracle.
Our team came in Sunday afternoon and immediately started praying and worshiping. It felt like all eyes were on us, even ones peering over the wall. We bonded immediately with the kids and few adults there. That night we went out with all the kids and pastor to a field next to a tent and shack city for the last night of the revival meeting with other local pastors. Some of our team helped lead some woship, preach and share in one the amazing nights together with the Haitians. The pastor and people said they could see we cared about them and new hope and excitement was brought in. The presence of the Lord was all around us worshiping together and Jesus was glorified our team knew we were in a significant work of the Lord and excitement was high.
The next two days we worked extremely hard in the hot sun knocking down unsafe buildings and removing rubble in the bakery location so that we could start setting tents up for the orphans to live in prior to the rainy season. Once we started all the Haitians there plus some men from outside started helping and we began to move forward as a community rebuilding. Even some of the 4-5 year olds were carrying a piece of block to help clear areas! The orphanage also lost the well that caved in. But though a dream one of our team members saw a well the night before we got there and saw a man digging at the bottom of it hitting water. The next day we helped them get out as they lowered a young man down into it who dug and hit water. They are now putting the pipe into it and hooking up a pump to use this new well.
Praise God for his guidance! Our team contacted the US Marines nearby who brought us MRE's (food) and bottled water to sustain the orphanage for a while. At night we worshiped with the kids, gave a short teaching and testimony. Each of us where surrounded by kids wanting to be held and loved and we have fallen in love with them. At worship service in the orphanage we saw two woman give their lives to Jesus. One was a pregnant young lady and one older. Salvation is occurring!
Our women on the team talked to the girls about purity and their value. We have also been providing basic first aid needs and the next teams in are going to branch out in the area covering medical needs. The navy medical team has also contacted us to see how they can help. We are looking at a joint effort with them to do more medical coverage.
We are seeing that providing needs is good but living, working, praying and worshiping together with the Haitians is transformational. This is bringing the kingdom of God in. Our team will continue to rotate in as we work together in here. Praise Jesus. We believe we are more blessed than anyone as our hearts continue to grow in love with Jesus and these people. Thanks for all the prayers. They are moving mountains. -Mike Ditto
Incredible is one word to describe our time. When we first got to the grounds I felt a bit uneasy and unsafe but we immediately started worshiping and the spirit fell bringing His security and safety. The atmosphere changed as we sang "O How He Loves Us" in Kreyol. It was so awesome to see the CRI team, before doing anything, establish worship on the grounds.
From the very beginning I feel that our team communicated though the language barrier that Jesus loves you and you are not forgotten. We did not go to drop off a box of food and leave but we established relationship. The girls at the orphanage have lost everything material but their hearts are so full of love that you would never know it through their beautiful faces. At any moment you could find yourself holding a little girls hand. The Haitian people are so loving and so hungry for love. Our presence, I feel, restored dignity and hope to these people who have lost what the world would say is everything.
As we bring hope we are learning how to love. These people are showing us that when everything else is fading away only "love" remains. In the face of massive destruction worship is arising from Haiti. During their Sunday night service the joy and gratitude was overwhelming. The people were dancing and singing with all their hearts. Lauren, one of the girls on our team, shared her heart and prayed for the people. She cried telling them how beautiful they are and how God see them. So many were overcome by the Father's heart and how God has not forgotten them. I feel that the prophetic picture over Haiti is the Father saying, "Haiti, I want you. Haiti, I have not forgotten you and I will do anything for you to let me draw you in with chords of loving kindness. Hold on Haiti for you are my beautiful one and the one in whom all my delight is in." I am so excited to partner with these people and watch how Jesus restores hope and dignity to even more than what they had before. -Hurley McGahan
When we arrived at the orphanage many people came to see what was going on. As a result of the immense need our arrival appeared to be viewed by the local's as an aid drop of some kind. In other words we were just going to drop off life sustaining necessities. Many people immediately started asking for food like water or whatever. Of course our visit would be based on much more than that. Little did we know that God had a plan to use our team in a tangible way at a revival meeting that occurred that evening. During this meeting Mike Ditto was asked to preach. The anointing of the Lord fell on him and he spoke a message of hope for the future and love of the people of Haiti. This was followed by a passionate prayer from the microphone by one of our team members, "Lauren", and a time of our team praying over many who came forward. It was then, that I believe that the community realized this visit was different. They realized that we had come not only to physically help them but to partner with them relationally and love them genuinely. The next day we began the physically demanding work of demolition and clearing of rubble. Our plan was to make the floor slabs of their home area for placing the tents they are living in so that they will not be in the mud as the rain season is quickly approaching. The atmosphere of the people was distinctively different! They now understood that we were there to make an investment in them and their future by helping them start to return to some sort of normalcy. We were there to help and empower not drop and leave. We were there to build relationship and to love them...to be the face of Jesus. -Rodger Lester
Get CRI Updates
Our team came in Sunday afternoon and immediately started praying and worshiping. It felt like all eyes were on us, even ones peering over the wall. We bonded immediately with the kids and few adults there. That night we went out with all the kids and pastor to a field next to a tent and shack city for the last night of the revival meeting with other local pastors. Some of our team helped lead some woship, preach and share in one the amazing nights together with the Haitians. The pastor and people said they could see we cared about them and new hope and excitement was brought in. The presence of the Lord was all around us worshiping together and Jesus was glorified our team knew we were in a significant work of the Lord and excitement was high.
The next two days we worked extremely hard in the hot sun knocking down unsafe buildings and removing rubble in the bakery location so that we could start setting tents up for the orphans to live in prior to the rainy season. Once we started all the Haitians there plus some men from outside started helping and we began to move forward as a community rebuilding. Even some of the 4-5 year olds were carrying a piece of block to help clear areas! The orphanage also lost the well that caved in. But though a dream one of our team members saw a well the night before we got there and saw a man digging at the bottom of it hitting water. The next day we helped them get out as they lowered a young man down into it who dug and hit water. They are now putting the pipe into it and hooking up a pump to use this new well.
Praise God for his guidance! Our team contacted the US Marines nearby who brought us MRE's (food) and bottled water to sustain the orphanage for a while. At night we worshiped with the kids, gave a short teaching and testimony. Each of us where surrounded by kids wanting to be held and loved and we have fallen in love with them. At worship service in the orphanage we saw two woman give their lives to Jesus. One was a pregnant young lady and one older. Salvation is occurring!
Our women on the team talked to the girls about purity and their value. We have also been providing basic first aid needs and the next teams in are going to branch out in the area covering medical needs. The navy medical team has also contacted us to see how they can help. We are looking at a joint effort with them to do more medical coverage.
We are seeing that providing needs is good but living, working, praying and worshiping together with the Haitians is transformational. This is bringing the kingdom of God in. Our team will continue to rotate in as we work together in here. Praise Jesus. We believe we are more blessed than anyone as our hearts continue to grow in love with Jesus and these people. Thanks for all the prayers. They are moving mountains. -Mike Ditto
Incredible is one word to describe our time. When we first got to the grounds I felt a bit uneasy and unsafe but we immediately started worshiping and the spirit fell bringing His security and safety. The atmosphere changed as we sang "O How He Loves Us" in Kreyol. It was so awesome to see the CRI team, before doing anything, establish worship on the grounds.
From the very beginning I feel that our team communicated though the language barrier that Jesus loves you and you are not forgotten. We did not go to drop off a box of food and leave but we established relationship. The girls at the orphanage have lost everything material but their hearts are so full of love that you would never know it through their beautiful faces. At any moment you could find yourself holding a little girls hand. The Haitian people are so loving and so hungry for love. Our presence, I feel, restored dignity and hope to these people who have lost what the world would say is everything.
As we bring hope we are learning how to love. These people are showing us that when everything else is fading away only "love" remains. In the face of massive destruction worship is arising from Haiti. During their Sunday night service the joy and gratitude was overwhelming. The people were dancing and singing with all their hearts. Lauren, one of the girls on our team, shared her heart and prayed for the people. She cried telling them how beautiful they are and how God see them. So many were overcome by the Father's heart and how God has not forgotten them. I feel that the prophetic picture over Haiti is the Father saying, "Haiti, I want you. Haiti, I have not forgotten you and I will do anything for you to let me draw you in with chords of loving kindness. Hold on Haiti for you are my beautiful one and the one in whom all my delight is in." I am so excited to partner with these people and watch how Jesus restores hope and dignity to even more than what they had before. -Hurley McGahan
When we arrived at the orphanage many people came to see what was going on. As a result of the immense need our arrival appeared to be viewed by the local's as an aid drop of some kind. In other words we were just going to drop off life sustaining necessities. Many people immediately started asking for food like water or whatever. Of course our visit would be based on much more than that. Little did we know that God had a plan to use our team in a tangible way at a revival meeting that occurred that evening. During this meeting Mike Ditto was asked to preach. The anointing of the Lord fell on him and he spoke a message of hope for the future and love of the people of Haiti. This was followed by a passionate prayer from the microphone by one of our team members, "Lauren", and a time of our team praying over many who came forward. It was then, that I believe that the community realized this visit was different. They realized that we had come not only to physically help them but to partner with them relationally and love them genuinely. The next day we began the physically demanding work of demolition and clearing of rubble. Our plan was to make the floor slabs of their home area for placing the tents they are living in so that they will not be in the mud as the rain season is quickly approaching. The atmosphere of the people was distinctively different! They now understood that we were there to make an investment in them and their future by helping them start to return to some sort of normalcy. We were there to help and empower not drop and leave. We were there to build relationship and to love them...to be the face of Jesus. -Rodger Lester
Get CRI Updates
Awesome Miracle Update Haiti
Greetings Beloved,
Once again, our Lord and Savior has brought forth such a wonderful surprise. Today is the one month anniversary of the earthquake. The nation called a day of morning....The collective church called for a day of fasting and prayer. Guess we know who's hearing God, huh?
OVER 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE!
Little did I know that the crowds would come to our church site to pray. I was expecting a good double of our normal attendance for prayer but I was pleasantly surprised as people kept coming, and coming, and coming. It was well over 15,000 who came. Maybe close to 20,000 but I always stay a bit conservative with my numbers. They were everywhere. In front..on the hill under the trees. There was at least a thousand standing behind the platform. The power, mercy and love of God was all over us. There was a great call and prayer for national repentance. We literally stood before the thrown of God and cried out to him that He would forgive our nation. The worship was sweet. The presence of God was real. Thank you Jesus! Check the pics on our relief page... www.fomrelief.com
OVER 300 SAVED!
Even though it was a prayer service, many came that were not yet saved. It may be even close to 500 who accepted Jesus today. I don't know, but I'll have actual numbers tomorrow. The saints have a whole new sobriety to the Holiness of God along with approaching His thrown. Thank you Lord for drawing your people to your saving Grace.
TENT TO BE LOADED AND SHIPPED THIS NEXT WEEK.
We are so excited about getting our new 20,000 sq. ft. tent this next week. We're still getting the concrete forms and iron set on the site. This should be done this week. Hopefully before the tent comes, we'll have the cement poured. We want to give our special thanks to City Church in Northern California for the purchase, transport, and help with the tent, the air blowers and all the other many details that they have covered to enable us to have a place to worship. Thank you God! Thank you City Church!
WE'RE BACK UP FEEDING!
By the grace of God we've received a couple of shipments of food that has enabled us to begin feeding the people in the surrounding areas. I'm sure we've already come close to putting another 10,000 meals out. We'll be ministering to our own church members , Monday. Many have been somewhat scattered since the event.
IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT!
Well we're out of the news, but still in the battle. Hundreds of thousands still live in tent cities all over the city. Food is beginning to get distributed through different agencies, but many still live with below basic provisions. We've now began the "Rebuild Phase". We're working on our own facility repairs. We've begun to take some of the money donated and have started helping people repair their houses. This is an area many of you can give to. For about $3k we can rebuild or repair many of our brothers and sisters houses. If this interests you or your church...please contact us so that we can work out the details with you.
Remember we love all of you so much. Linda and I want to thank you for all your sacrifice and prayers. Together we will "Rebuild Haiti" as we "Build His Kingdom".
Blessings,
Pastor Jay & Linda Threadgill
see our web page at: www.fomhaiti.org
Also go to Pastor Jay's blog at: www.JayThreadgill.com
Once again, our Lord and Savior has brought forth such a wonderful surprise. Today is the one month anniversary of the earthquake. The nation called a day of morning....The collective church called for a day of fasting and prayer. Guess we know who's hearing God, huh?
OVER 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE!
Little did I know that the crowds would come to our church site to pray. I was expecting a good double of our normal attendance for prayer but I was pleasantly surprised as people kept coming, and coming, and coming. It was well over 15,000 who came. Maybe close to 20,000 but I always stay a bit conservative with my numbers. They were everywhere. In front..on the hill under the trees. There was at least a thousand standing behind the platform. The power, mercy and love of God was all over us. There was a great call and prayer for national repentance. We literally stood before the thrown of God and cried out to him that He would forgive our nation. The worship was sweet. The presence of God was real. Thank you Jesus! Check the pics on our relief page... www.fomrelief.com
OVER 300 SAVED!
Even though it was a prayer service, many came that were not yet saved. It may be even close to 500 who accepted Jesus today. I don't know, but I'll have actual numbers tomorrow. The saints have a whole new sobriety to the Holiness of God along with approaching His thrown. Thank you Lord for drawing your people to your saving Grace.
TENT TO BE LOADED AND SHIPPED THIS NEXT WEEK.
We are so excited about getting our new 20,000 sq. ft. tent this next week. We're still getting the concrete forms and iron set on the site. This should be done this week. Hopefully before the tent comes, we'll have the cement poured. We want to give our special thanks to City Church in Northern California for the purchase, transport, and help with the tent, the air blowers and all the other many details that they have covered to enable us to have a place to worship. Thank you God! Thank you City Church!
WE'RE BACK UP FEEDING!
By the grace of God we've received a couple of shipments of food that has enabled us to begin feeding the people in the surrounding areas. I'm sure we've already come close to putting another 10,000 meals out. We'll be ministering to our own church members , Monday. Many have been somewhat scattered since the event.
IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT!
Well we're out of the news, but still in the battle. Hundreds of thousands still live in tent cities all over the city. Food is beginning to get distributed through different agencies, but many still live with below basic provisions. We've now began the "Rebuild Phase". We're working on our own facility repairs. We've begun to take some of the money donated and have started helping people repair their houses. This is an area many of you can give to. For about $3k we can rebuild or repair many of our brothers and sisters houses. If this interests you or your church...please contact us so that we can work out the details with you.
Remember we love all of you so much. Linda and I want to thank you for all your sacrifice and prayers. Together we will "Rebuild Haiti" as we "Build His Kingdom".
Blessings,
Pastor Jay & Linda Threadgill
see our web page at: www.fomhaiti.org
Also go to Pastor Jay's blog at: www.JayThreadgill.com
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Haiti Request
PLEASE prayerfully consider helping ... resources are limited ... we could really use your help!
I will update you as more info arrives ... thanks so much!
IFOC Chaplain Ken Gruber
We are preparing to respond. Brian and Ken will be leaving on Thursday next week to assess the situation on the ground. We would like to send out a team, made up primarily of medical personnel although we will take others, to leave about a week after they arrive there. We are looking for people with international experience, if however you are a medical professional and have not had that experience, we still need you, so please talk with us so we can determine if this would be a good fit for you. People interested in going need to be able to handle hardship and seeing suffering on a daily basis. The team would stay approximately 1-2 weeks, we haven’t nailed down times and dates yet. The cost would be $1000-$1500 and it would be a rough trip (possibly sleeping in tents or some other very uncomfortable place, eating lots of power bars, not much chance of a shower, etc.) All team members will need to already have their shots needed for Haiti and may not have a chance to start Malaria medication on time.
If there are enough people interested in going then we may split the team into 2 different teams and piggy back off of each other. People interested in going please email us and plan to attend an informational meeting on Monday night at 7pm, at Ken’s house. 9361 Ogden St. (one block north of Fort off of North Oaks Blvd.) We will know more details at that time. I will also update you through email as we get more information.
If you have ever considered giving, now is the time. We are in need of money and supplies. Please send checks to:
ORR
PO Box 642323
Omaha, NE 68164
We are in need of supplies. The biggest need is medical supplies for wounds and medicines. We will also need water purifiers, stashes of power bars, MRE’s, things such as that. Possibly tents as well. We will know more as Brian and Ken get on the ground there. Any supply donations you can email me about or drop off at Ken & Jonie’s house.
Please email your prayer partners, churches, family, and pass along our information and make our needs known. By working together we can raise more and meet more needs. Please continue to pray. Pray that the Lord will work out all these details and for the personnel and financial needs. Pray especially for those in Haiti now.
Please check our blog as we will be updating in the days to come as we get more information. http://omaharapidresponse.blogspot.com/. Also we will have our website updated soon as well.
Thank you all for partnering with us.
Cody Smith
Updates from the first CMM team in Haiti--Lives Saved!
Hello Praying Saint,
Thanks for praying.
Thank you for praying and giving. Our first team into Pastor Vincent in Citi Soleil saw lives being saved. The team left Santo Domingo early Monday morning and we knew it would be good to have armed DR military guards along for the ride. Several near riots occurred as starving, thirsty Haitians saw our vans with water and food coming through. They arrived safely at Vincent's school compound and gave out water and food to many. Vincent estimates between 1,000 and 2,000 had been staying in the school building.
Just three days ago Vincent wrote of the horror of hearing voices under the rubble and not being able to move the heavy rubble to save people. That kind of trauma often stays with a person a long time. Soon, we will have special CISM counselors there to help debrief and comfort these precious folks. You can help send the comforters. CISM is the program recommended by the UN for disaster counseling.Port Au Prince is devastated. In some places more than half of the buildings are fallen and unsafe. Dead bodies lie in piles awaiting pick up. When reports had come in of available food and water in some other area, many people were fearful of the unsafe conditions and did not want to leave their neighborhoods. We have a dear friend, Victor Rodriguez, of Santo Domingo, DR, making supply runs each day back to the DR border from PAP.
MorningStar is mobilizing teams from the awesome Disaster Relief training completed since the time of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Much has been learned and many strategic relationships have been formed with well trained, knowledgeable organizations like www.HISG.org and www.starfishcommunity.net and many other well run, professional organizations that are on the leading edge of real, effective, efficient, compassionate disaster relief. Soon, more than 50,000 meals will be served daily. Water will be filtered and given to all the thirsty ones.At this time we are limiting teams to Phase 1 first responders who have certifications from CERT, IFOC, CISM, or medically licensed. We believe it will be a short time before willing hearts and backs can go in. First, we must assure our people that security is in place and volunteers will not be endangered. So, do contact us at cmmarmy at gmail.com and let us know of your readiness and ability to pay your own way. We will use you, you will work, you will get dirty, and you might get broken.
Some great friends are offering telemed services connecting our Doctors and Nurses in Haiti to John Hopkins University, the University of Edinburgh, and the top medical facilities in the world. Portable water filtration plants are on the way. over 500 cargo containers of urgent food and resources from many different ministries and humanitarian aid groups are being coordinated. We should be very proud to live in such a giving nation.Yes, bring medical supplies. We can write a letter for donations, etc. Most airlines are waiving charges for excess baggage, check your carrier. Yes, those items listed are most needed. At Vincent's compound and nearby field hospital being set up. We are in network with many large ministries, as in Katrina days, and we all share resources and people, so everyone stays busy and our first priority is helping as many in need as possible.Yes, bring food for yourselves, although, with each week, we see improvements in that. That may change and you may not have to bring food, it depends. Yes, 7 days is all we recommend due to potential trauma.
Our first team got in yesterday and saved some lives. We have water coming in each day now, and food, so survival is met for our key friends of about 2,000. We had almost $10,000 come in yesterday, Praise God! Medical teams and tele-meds being pledged, although satcoms phones are being jammed due to traffic. We are lining up ham radios for base camp in SC and one in Haiti.You are making a difference. 100% of funds given is going into Haiti. Not many of the large aid groups can attest to that.
Please tell other churches and groups of the great training in Disaster Response offered www.morningstarministries.org and we invite you to get prepared yourself.Many are speaking of seeing a New Haiti. Pray for the New Haiti and what that might look like. We have an opportunity to shape what the New Haiti will be like. Quality education, adequate nutrition, quality health care, truth and justice and righteousness prevailing in all sectors of government, business, and education. We all desire that for every nation. Haiti gives the world that opportunity to bring restoration to a land devastated by this horrendous disaster. Let's unite to help the less fortunate and share the kind of love they are longing so much for and many have been missing for a long, long time.
Thanks for praying.
IFOC Chaplain Jorge Perrott and many volunteers.
http://cmmissions.net
Updates from the first CMM team in Haiti--Lives Saved!
CMM
Jan 19, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Haiti Response Update # 4
Dear IFOC,
The advance team has been on the ground now for 4 days. We made an initial assessment of the situation and have been working on logistics, communications and security to carry out our operations. Our base camp is operating on a 5 acre compound. Because of the instability of the situation we have been praying over the issue of security. I believe the Lord answered our prayers for by providing us with the General of the US Army Southern Division who will now share the compound with us and will certainly make relief efforts easier.We are in the process of securing resources and supplies from various sources and will eventually begin satellite relief operations in Leogane, the epicenter of the quake. When we were there 2 days ago we drove 4 hours through complete destruction and there were no relief agencies in site. We visited several orphanages that had very limited supplies. Early this morning the school directors here were able to get 25 orphans who have been in the adoption process on a plane to America.Today we responded to locals who were getting text messages from people who were still trapped under rubble. We were able to with the help of French search and rescue teams locate 2 survivors and. Many more were beyond help. As I write this update my clothes still stink of rotting flesh.
Team 2 will be arriving tomorrow night to set up the main pillars of the camp with worship and prayer, chaplaincy, food operations, and additional communications. We have also been notified that we have trained security operatives being deployed to assist us with security on transport and convoys. After the camp the camp is secure and logistics is in place we will have the ability to provide mass care to the people of Haiti. Primarily the main focus here has been treating urgent medical needs and search and rescue. Most of Haiti is concrete construction and when the earthquake hit it caused very serious injuries and it making rescue difficult.The relief efforts will be continuing for quite some time. We want to thank everyone for their continued prayer and support. I believe we will see God do amazing things through His church here and Haiti and we are trusting we will see the harvest come in.
You can help by:
- making a financial contribution online
- Pray for the CRI team and the people of Haiti
- Respond with us if you have been trained- mobilization@criout.com
We will be hosting a two day rapid training and deployment to Haiti on 1/31-2/1. The training will be held in Kansas City and we will then mobilize those teams of responders over the next few weeks. Please check the website for more information or email training@criout.com
Blessings,
IFOC Chaplain Sean Malone
Crisis Response International
5206 east 135th Grandview, MO. 64030
Friday, July 24, 2009
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