Chaplains Commission Weekly Update – 8/27/2010

Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:54 am

 

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” Psalm 12:5
We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! 1 Corinthians 4:10
We indeed need help; and in fact, lots of it! Jeremiah says, “The way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps.” We readily acknowledge that it is absolutely impossible for us to operate our own lives in the proper way. So we are drawn to admit that we are weak and in so doing we are strong; or put more correctly, spiritually mature. In this admission of our need for God, we are made strong; and the sooner we can face that fact, the better we become.
One might have position, wealth, and power, and yet not have what really matters—good relationships, in right standing with God, peace, joy, contentment, satisfaction, good health, or the ability to enjoy life in general. When we place ourselves in the shoes of those with whom we give Godly counsel, then we realize how marvelously blessed we are. In fact we are extra-ordinarily blessed and highly favored.
For in our weakness we seek safety in the One who is so very strong. And God never fails to supply our every need.
As Barbara and I have shared this 43 year journey in ministry, God has constantly “arisen and set us in the safety for which we yearned.” That is our prayer for you as you labor for Him in your various areas of ministry. Please know that as we strive to keep you in touch with each other via the weekly updates that we are praying for you. Should you need us at any time, do not hesitate to call.

 

 

Geraldine Smith McNabb’s Home Going

“Precious are the feet of those who bring good news,” and such is the life of Jerry McNabb’s 90-year-old mother, Geraldine, now with her Lord and Savior. We were honored to attend her funeral and hear of her faithful service in the work of the Lord. She was truly a precious saint of God! Jerry McNabb spoke eloquently and movingly as he shared with everyone at the funeral regarding his love and respect for his precious mother. Jerry, we are much in prayer for you and the difficulty ahead in the void of her life here on this earth.

 

 

Chaplaincy News

Chaplain Marc Boyer, request prayers for he and his family who are still facing the aftermath of the earthquake in their country, Haiti. Marc, thank you for keeping in touch, we are praying for you, your family and Haiti.
Chaplain Deborah Mitchell from Fort Eustis, VA, we are praying for you; keep up the good work! And we send our congratulations on your ministry on the Biblical Basis of Mission Work (Great Commission.) And yes, as you noted, God indeed loves you!
Chaplain Pat Orletsky October and November are shaping up to be busy months for you in Norfolk, VA. Keep us posted on those events and fundraisers of October and November. 
Chaplain William Carriveau Congratulations on being authorized to solemnize marriage in the state of Ohio!
Chaplains William and Jennifer Smith in all that you do, God is able to supply you physical strength even before you ask.  We are in much prayer that you will feel the undergirding strength of our Lord and Savior as you work on the road again and function in the drug detox center. By the way, you are to be congratulated on leading 12 souls to salvation. That is what it is all about! God is good!
Chaplain Marlene Giordano God sees you and hears you when you pray!  We are praying for a divine healing and join with you in petitioning God for more Community Service Chaplains who are so desperately needed in Bellevue, NE. God never forgets us.
Chaplain David Bagwell congratulations on being appointed as Department Chaplain for the Sumter Fire Department. And praise God that now both South Carolina counties, Richland and Sumter, are under your chaplaincy leadership!
Army Chaplain Roderick Swanson we are praying for you and family during your recent transitions. Congratulations on graduation from the Army Chaplaincy C-4 Program!
Chaplain Steve Cantrell God is with us where ever we go, and we are holding you and your division up before the Lord as you prepare for the future and what lies ahead.
Chaplain David Gibson Tammy made us proud as she marvelously spoke at the Chaplain’s Wives Pre-assembly Breakfast. She did a fantastic job! Thanks Tammy!
Jonathan Hurt God is able to do abundantly more than we can ever ask or perceive! May He walk closer than ever as you experience changes and transition. We are standing beside you in prayer for your mother and a miracle of healing for her.
Chaplain Vito Crecca III we join you in a prayer partnership as you minister to the families under your leadership. Thank you for your burden and ministry of care.
Chaplain Joel Hammons Thank you for standing beside those who are at the deepest moments of grief as they watch their loved ones being executed. God is full of mercy and love! May He surround those in such enormous grief with the strength of His ever loving arms.
Institutional Chaplain Thomas Mills congratulations on your upcoming September 1st award of the “2009 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy” to be presented by the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs! You are a credit to the chaplaincy. Thanks for a job well done.
Chaplain Daniel Wessell we are praying for Cheryl’s complete recovery and success of the surgery. Keep us informed as she progresses.

Thanks to all of you who attended the Pre-Assembly Chaplains Conference in Orlando, Florida.  God was with us in a mighty way! It is so good to come together to be renewed and refreshed at the General Assembly. We share a common bond of love and we need each other. For that is God’s design; we are our brother’s keeper! May you abide in His ever present and unfailing love!

 

 Sincerely,

Donnie W. Smith, D.Min.
Director of Ministries, Chaplains Commission
Executive Administrator, Care Division   
 

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Chaplains Commission Bulletin – August 20, 2010

Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:54 am

The Chaplains Pre-Assembly Conference was an outstanding event; and on a personal level, one of my favorite. Everyone involved seemed to be strategically placed to speak “for such a time as this”. I am sure I will remember the messages and conversations for years to come.

There are two things in my own history that I parallel this biennial event with; one being “a family reunion” where everyone in the extended family comes together to join hands, hug one another, exchange words of compassion and love and just do what families should do; and that is “love one another”. Another event quite similar, yet unique is “a company picnic”. What I always loved about a company picnic was the fact that while we were on the job doing our work, we had to be a certain way, dress in an expected style and exchange conversation typically in a particular formal manner.  And yet, during the company picnic we could “let our hair down” and just be friends! I once heard Walter Brueggemann say, “The children of Israel went into the wilderness for forty years to have a family picnic”. Now, I’m not ready to grasp his version of this spectacular moment in Hebrew history; however, I am fully assured that they saw life up close and personal each and every day with one another. And, during a General Assembly Chaplains Meeting, we do get the privilege to be close to one another much in a similar manner. After all, we do stay in the same area of the city, even in the same hotel!

When I woke up on Tuesday morning, after our final Honor’s dinner, I felt an unusual sense of loss, much like I felt when I was 5 years old and my parents took my sister shopping and left me with my 10-year-old brother. It’s not that my brother was a bad person, but it was just the fact that I felt quite alone without Mom and Dad. Until that moment (Tuesday morning), I had been busy working with the many transitions throughout the Care Division, and I didn’t have time to think much about my dear friend Bob Crick retiring.  But it finally hit me and I felt a sense of loss. Later, I shared my feelings with Tom and Elaine Offutt, and eventually with Bob. Being the dear friend that he is, he assured me that he wasn’t going away and would always be available if I needed him. As I have since reflected on my feelings and what I personally experienced, I realize that we are all so dependent upon one another and we all feel a sense of loss if we are not all present. You see, after my Mom passed away, we attempted to have a family gathering, but we quickly learned it wasn’t the same without her. And this is the fabric and core of our spiritual family in all our assorted relationships with one another. We are lost without each other!
Most of you know how close Barbara and I are and if you know us very well you know how important our family is to us. Our two sons, our daughter-in-laws and our five grandchildren light up our lives each and every day. They are our family! But, so are you. We already miss you and wish it was time for us to gather together once again. I want each of you to know that we love you and are praying for you and we trust that God will help us to be there for you when you need us. 
In the coming weeks, we will examine each of the ways we communicate with you and will seek to provide for you the best manner of contact possible. We will want to continue to keep you informed concerning the needs, prayer requests and blessings upon our vast chaplaincy family. 
Thank you for allowing us to work with you in this capacity. I am deeply honored to know that the Executive Committee thought enough of us to allow us to extend our arms toward a more direct relation with the Chaplains Commission and all of you involved in this great ministry. Also, thank you for bearing with me as I have stepped aside from the usual chaplain communiqué to speak on a personal level to each of you as we begin this new journey together!
Sincerely,
Donnie W. Smith, D.Min.
Director of Ministries, Chaplains Commission
Executive Administrator, Care Division   

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Church of God Chaplaincy and Care Center Dedicated in Romania

Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:47 am

Initially, it was a vision shared by three men during a chaplaincy conference in Oradea, Romania, in 2002.

Dr. Robert D. Crick, Reverend W. D. Watkins, and Dr. Radu Tirle, at the time Director of the Church of God Chaplains Commission, Senior Pastor of the Stratford Heights Church of God in Middletown, Ohio, and Director of Chaplaincy Ministries in Romania, respectively. The three men sat together at a table and began to outline their shared vision and dream for a chaplaincy care and benevolence center in Romania.

“You could sense the excitement and commitment around the table as God touched our hearts. There was such a tremendous need for such a care center in Romania,” said Dr. Crick. That was the beginning … it would take eight years of hard work and dedicated effort on the part of many people to bring about the completion of the Church of God Chaplaincy and Care Center.

The Center was to be strategically located in Oradea, a city and area of over 500,000 people. The Stratford Heights Church of God provided the initial funds to purchase the land and begin the first phase of the building project. The formal groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2005. As the work progressed, an effort to bring in more supporters through an all-out US fund drive was started, sanctioned by the Chaplains Commission Board of Directors. Much needed funds came from several US businessmen and women, John and Joan Gregory, the Lazarus Foundations, a World Missions fund drive, the Tom and Elaine Offutt Family, the Chaplains Commission Board of Directors, Churches of God across the states and countless individuals who wanted to help. In all, some $1.5 million was raised as the project was brought to completion. The formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held earlier this summer and now the facility is up-and-running.

The Center is located next to the major public transportation transfer network for the area. Just a few hundred feet away is a 1,000 student Baptist University, nearby is a 1,500 student K-12 school operated by one of our larger Romanian Churches of God and across the street is a large Orthodox Church. One of Oradea’s largest public hospitals is a short distance away. Within a few miles of the Center is the largest population of gypsies anywhere in Europe. The Center is definitely located in the midst of the life of the city of Oradea and this northern Romanian region.

The completed Center is a 5-story structure with over 20,000 square feet. The first floor is the David and Laura Lorency Humanitarian and Benevolence Suite. It will provide critically needed goods throughout Eastern Europe. A particular group in need are the some 4,000,000 Romanian gypsies, with over 50,000 of them members of the Church of God. The second floor is the John and Joan Gregory Medical Services Suite. It will serve as a medical clinic for the poor in northern Romania. Medical equipment has been donated and provided through financial contributions, along with generous support from Rotary International , the International Assist Ministries, other denominations and medical care agencies.

The Thomas and Elaine Offutt Chaplaincy Training and Development Suite occupies the third floor. It will be used to develop chaplaincy programs throughout Romania and Europe. Training will be carried out for chaplains assigned to hospitals, correctional institutions, gypsy camps, and many other places of need. The fourth floor is the Robert and Jeanette Crick Administrative and Counseling Suite. It will be the area for the development of counseling services, to carry out counseling ministry for people impacted by disasters, counseling services for individuals and families struggling with physical, emotional and spiritual problems. It will also serve as an educational extension for our main seminary in Bucharest. The fifth floor is the Stratford Heights Church of God Missionary and Hospitality Suite. It is a two-bedroom apartment that will house the resident missionary couple and will also provide living quarters for 18 individuals or nine couples – students, missionary medical teams, and others carrying out ministry on a short-term basis. Reverend Ilie Jolta, former Romanian Regional Overseer, will serve as the Center Director.

Today, eight years after that initial shared vision, this new, modern Church of God Chaplaincy and Care Center is open and operating – a living testimony of faith and dedication – reaching out to those in need.

–Wayne Roberson, Church of God Chaplaincy Ministries

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