WC3 Chaplains Recognized

International Fellowship of Chaplains
By Curt Beaupre, Homeland Security Coordinator, Pierce County Emergency Management, April 22, 2009

If you worked in the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the South Hill Mall during February of 2009, chances are you met several members from the International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC).

As many of you know, my family suffered the loss of a young child who drowned in November of 2008. It is from this tragic loss that I came to know several chaplains from the IFOC. Unless you have a background working as an emergency responder you may not fully understand the role and services that they can provide.

Chaplains are trained to care for the needs of a person or family who was involved in a traumatic and often times unexpected crisis situation. They are trained to minister and counsel people in critical incident grief, trauma, recovery, and to provide short term spiritual ministry in crisis situations. Chaplains are often called upon to assist emergency service workers such as the police, fire departments and search & rescue organizations. Chaplains can also assist emergency workers in stress management, critical stress debriefings and educate them on post traumatic stress.

Initially, there was some uncertainty on the part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about having chaplains working in a DRC. However, over the duration of the DRC, the chaplains played a big part in comforting victims in need and allaying their fears. FEMA representatives brought a number of very distraught citizens directly to the chaplains’ table before beginning to process them. Many of us observed firsthand that the chaplains are very gifted and compassionate in dealing with people in crisis situations. At the DRC the chaplains were able to calm, relax and make the experience a very non-threatening and friendly place
for people to visit. We even had some out-of-county people stop by to talk with the chaplains at the DRC.

The IFOC is a nationally certified non-profit volunteer organization. Every chaplain is Incident Command System (ICS) trained and members are available 24/7 to assist emergency responders and citizens in Pierce and King County.

For additional information please feel free to contact Major Paul "Red" Wilson at 253-279-5763 or Chaplain Barbie Warren at 253-905-8313.

Ministry helps those affected by mental illness

By DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR

Garry Hulisz and his wife, Patty, are starting a new Toledo ministry they hope will help parents avoid the tribulations and trials they struggled through for more than 10 years.

Their problem: Raising a daughter afflicted with a mental illness that was not properly diagnosed, Mr. Hulisz said.

Read more

Hurricane Gustav Thank You

Dear Chaplain Robertson,

In the early morning hours of September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav began to make its way onto the coast of Louisiana. By the time it passed two days later our area had sustained serious damage from Gustav's winds and rain. Most areas were out of power and many of our residents were unable to remain in their homes due to trees crashing through their roofs.

Within days the National Guard arrived with much needed water, food and other necessary supplies. By this time the officers of my department had worked around the clock clearing roadways, working intersections and protecting lives and property. Needless to say they were very tired. The word that a major distribution point was going to be located in our city was welcomed news and somewhat discouraging at the same time since the opportunity for officers to have a few hours of down time was now a thing of the past.

Although the National Guard troops performed a tremendous service by bringing in the supplies and assisting with the distribution, there were not enough of them to carry on those duties throughout the hot and humid Louisiana summer days.

When it appeared that having enough personnel to service the hundreds of people who were seeking basic supplies was going to be a major issue, a contingent of International Fellowship of Chaplains, who had already been working with our patrol officers, shows up. These chaplains rolled up their sleeves, picked up the supplies and began distributing the many, many cases of water, M.R.E.'s, ice and tarps. They worked hours upon hours serving the needs of the truly needy.

These chaplains were a blessing to me, my department and the many they helped. I honestly don't know what we would have done without them. There is no way to thank chaplains Terry Duncan, Chaplain Red, Tara Dorroh, Chaplain Chuck, Denese Ganley and Darrell Robertson. I know that their reward awaits them in heaven.

Being a minister and spreading God's word can take many forms. To me, the most effective ministry is when Christians care for one another, and especially care for those who don't know Christ. It was a lesson Jesus clearly taught us through his life and death on the cross. I.F.O.C.'s chaplains brought that lesson to Denham Springs, Louisiana, and they will always be remembered for it.


May God richly bless and keep each of you.

Jeff Wesley
Chief of Police
Denham Springs Police Department