Quote of the Quarter:
“Cops can experience a lifetime of stories in one day but go home and still feel like they have nothing to say.” @survivepolicing
HILLS and VALLEYS
These past couple of months have been full of hills and valleys. Great things have happened and tragedy has struck. As Chaplain I get to celebrate promotions, retirements, weddings, captured criminals, and cases closed. I also take the journey with the cops through the valleys.
A recent deep valley was the news of a local police officer being struck by a car and died a violent death on the freeway while attempting to rescue a helpless victim of a traffic accident.
The entire police community came out to honor their comrade. I was in one of the police cars in the procession and noticed the line of cars headed to the church. I couldn’t see the front or the back cars. The freeway overpasses were filled with broken hearts saluting and honoring Officer Lauren Craven for her brief yet very dedicated service. Lauren was just 25 years old.
As I was driving in the procession to her farewell, the song came to mind by Tauren Wells titled Hills and Valleys. I share it with you as a reminder that God is with us in the hills of excitement and pinnacles of experiences as well as the Dead Sea valleys when we are parched and feel all alone.
JESUS QUESTIONS
My phone lit up with a message asking if I was still living in town. I replied, “Yes, how can I help you?” Six years had passed since I had traded texts with a retired cop I will call “Mike.” The reply was “Jesus stuff!… I am trying to figure out a lot of things for myself and could use some guidance.”
Are you kidding me? I said to myself. This is my passion – – to share the love and grace of Jesus in the appointed season with law enforcement. This guy is grappling with his faith and spirituality and remembers the person he trusts and believes has the answers.
Well, I invited my friend to my house, and the next day we sat down to see what was on his mind. After an hour of conversation, I presented Mike with the “Romans Road.”
The Romans Road is a selection of scriptures that guides you through God’s plan for salvation by using specific verses from the book of Romans. I am including it here in case you are interested in a relationship with Christ and the path to get there.
Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no not one.”
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 10:9-10 “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Once we looked at each scripture and talked through the opportunity, I turned to my friend and asked, “Is this something that makes sense to you, and would you like to pray now to have your sins forgiven and start a new life with Christ?” He agreed, heaven rejoiced, and so did I!
What do you know about Chaplains? Part 2
Did you know every time I leave the parking garage in a patrol car on a ride along, I pray silently asking God for wisdom and strength on how to reflect Him, and safety for my partner, myself, and everyone on shift. I pray for wisdom beyond our mutual experience so we can fulfill the role of cop and chaplain and return safely home to our families.
Did you know a chaplain has to do difficult things? On behalf of the department, the chaplain needs to do the difficult task of supporting the officers’ families when there’s a death in the line of duty or during their career. The chaplain gets to do weddings and celebrate the pinnacle of the police officers’ lives for the life of their adult children, too.
Did you know chaplains have to earn the right to speak? There’s a lot of time spent listening and finding ways to encourage, but sharing an opinion or challenge is by invitation only.
Did you know in a real sense, a chaplain’s law enforcement community actually becomes his church? He is pastoring them through the difficulties cops face and can authentically understand their profession once he has proven he is trustworthy and is there to help.
Did you know chaplains have to learn the art of hearing the deeper truth about unspoken fears and looming sorrow that lurk just outside every ordinary conversation? They understand there’s a testing time of reactions to see what the chaplain will really do when you tell them something bad. Cops often test the waters to see if you will still care and respect them once they’ve told you progressively worse or difficult troubles.
Did you know chaplains covet your prayers? Your prayers open doors for us in ministry.
In Conclusion
Relationships with cops are the vital life blood of our Code 7 ministry. With your help through prayer and financial contributions, we are able to spend time weekly in police cars to nurture and develop those relationships. Thank you for your encouragement and support of this ministry.