On Mission in the Forces

Fall 2015 - Military SilhouetteOnly those who serve, or have served, can really explain the cost that is attached to being a first responder. The physical, emotional, mental, and yes, spiritual toll is huge. That is why The Fellowship has dedicated chaplains who work with those whose duty is to serve and protect us regardless of the cost to themselves.  Meet three of the chaplains who work with our first responders.

Kim Taylor
Military Chaplain
Abbotsford, BC

Consider these statistics: 58,000 men and women died as a result of combat in Vietnam. Three times that number have died from suicide since. In Canada we are already seeing the same trend in our vets who served in Afghanistan, and in other vets as well. We, as a grateful nation, owe our men and women more.

I came to know the Lord after striking up a friendship with a man who ministers to homeless vets and after having served in the armed forces for 11 years with both the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, including two tours in the Middle East.  While I am not directly ministering to serving members of the armed forces I am ministering to veterans and veterans’ organizations. It all started after 9/11 when entering the US became difficult due to stricter security. I received a call from the local legion in Abbotsford asking lf I would be willing to take the Remembrance Day service as their chaplain was in hospital. I remained chaplain for seven years and now serve as padre to the legion in Lumby, BC. I also serve Veterans Affairs as an on call padre, and have been asked by other veterans’ groups and first responders to conduct funerals and dedications ceremonies.

In the United States there are numerous ministries that support base chaplains with visitation, youth groups for children living on base, and also retreat houses where single soldiers and airmen may visit for fellowship. They take the members to church, provide counseling and weekly bible studies. There is opportunity for evangelism. It has been my prayer for many years to see this sort of ministry in Canada.  The field is ripe.

Glen EaglesonPeople - Eagleson, Glen
Military Chaplain
St. John’s, NL

As a military chaplain you are given many unique experiences. I’ve had opportunity to ride in a tank in the desert, hang out of a helicopter over the North Atlantic and perform funeral services at sea.

You get many different requests from the soldiers you work with, everything from, “Padre, can you do something about this weather” to “Padre, I need to talk about my family.”

One of my unique ministry opportunities is being a chaplain to chaplains, and it’s something that the Lord has developed. Where I am currently posted in St. John’s NL, we are the first Canadian port that our warships visit as they return home from deployments. It could be they are returning from anti-piracy work, or from recent multi-national exercises in the Black Sea. The chaplains on board these ships have been working on their own for sometimes six months straight. They often need to see someone they know, someone who can understand what they’ve been dealing with and sometimes someone they can unburden their souls to. Those working on the ‘frontlines’ of ministry need times of refreshing, and it is a privilege to provide that over a cup of coffee.

Garry Francis
Police Chaplain
Whitby, ON

After approximately thirty years of church ministry I know for sure where I'll be spending the next thirty years of ministry.

While living in Manitoba, I served as chaplain for the Steinbach RCMP detachment for almost two years.  Since 2006 I've been the volunteer divisional chaplain of 43 Division Police Station. 

Just what does a police chaplain do? Spending as much time as possible with those who serve and protect is a major part of the job and allows for opportunities to minister to the men and women who are a part of police services.

·  Informal meetings in the station (at their desks and in open areas)
·  Ride alongs in squad cars (one-on-one contact and conversations)
·  Senior officers meetings
·  Platoon Barbeques
·  Retirement celebrations
·  Weddings and funerals for officers
·  Crisis counseling
·  On call for major incidents
·  Public community celebration duties and representation (change of command, cultural festivals)
·  Community interaction (The ministry is primarily for officers and staff therefore there is only a little
    direct contact with the community)
·  Walk out of the division on last day of work

I absolutely love working in the market place rubbing shoulders with those whom Jesus sees as sheep without a Shepherd!

 

Pray for our chaplains. A complete list of the Fellowship chaplains who work in the marketplace across our country can be found at fellowship.ca/AboutFellowshipChaplains . Specific prayer requests from our chaplains are often included in Prayer Partners also available on our website. To download this tool go to: fellowship.ca/PrayerPartners.