Water, water everywhere! As I walked through the halls of the PD, an officer said, “Chaplain, in the 10 years I have worked here, the greatest thing that has ever been done for the officers is to have the refrigerator filled with cold water placed in the parking garage.” Comments similar to that have flooded in by email and are resonating in my ears. I guess the cold bottles given in Jesus’ name are hitting the spot. Thank you, Lord, for the idea and for all the doors that are opening to share Your love with the officers.
Code 7 offered 50% sponsorship for three couples to attend a Christian law enforcement & first responder’s marriage retreat in September. The retreat is specifically designed to strengthen the marriages of those who deal regularly with crisis. The very same day we made our commitment to sponsor the couples, a new donor, unaware of our offer, sent a donation to Code 7 covering the cost. Thank you for hearing the Lord and acting on His prompting!
I have been called upon to support the San Diego Harbor Police (SDHP) during a couple of crisis incidents last year and was invited to take a “float along” with an officer I know there. I went and was given the opportunity to share briefly about Code 7 during their roll call. Did you know the SD Harbor patrol boats are actually fire boats used as police patrol vessels? They are fully outfitted for fire, and the officers serve dual roles as firefighter and law enforcement when they are on the water. Code 7 looks forward to a deepening relationship with SDHP.
I attended a couple of great trainings this month. The California Narcotics Officers Association seminar on the “Evolution of Radical Islam” was eye-opening, to say the least. Also the Department of Justice A.S.I.S.T. suicide intervention course was a great skills refresher and provided additional insight in helping those contemplating taking their own life. Lord, give me grace and strength if I ever need to utilize those skills again.
The San Diego Crime Commission invited me to pray at their annual Law Enforcement Senior Volunteer Awards luncheon. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the seniors serving throughout the County of San Diego in the latter years of their lives. They provide a great resource for us all.
For July’s squad meal Code 7 provided Subway sandwiches and Aimee’s famous oatmeal butterscotch cookies for the weekend graveyard shift the last Sunday. I capped off the evening with a ride along and enjoyed the evening and early morning with a great officer.
In July the Code 7 Blessing Giveaways enriched six families by giving them the opportunity to go out for dinner and spend some quality time together. Thank you to all of you who give to Code 7. A portion of what you give makes the Blessing Giveaways possible. We are also thankful for the generosity of the businesses that have caught the vision of Code 7.
Please keep the officers in prayer that are out with work-related injuries. A number of them have been out for an extended time and would love to get back to duty soon. Please also pray for the young officer whose father passed away last month and for the officer whose grandmother with liver cancer is awaiting a transplant. I know they are encouraged knowing you are praying and even more, that God the Healer is attentive to our prayers.
Thank you again for your interest in the work of Code 7 and your support of the officers’ spiritual care. If the Lord provides an offering, please consider the ministry of Code 7.
Blessings,
Wes Anderson
Founder/Chaplain Code 7
“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.” C.S. Lewis