“I didn’t know about all of the non-military ways that I could be a Gospel minister through the chaplaincy!”

I often hear that comment as I touch base with men, either in or out of seminary, who have recently learned about the “Institutional Chaplaincy.”

“What is that?” you ask? This is the ministry arenas open to various kinds of chaplaincies all across America: hospital, hospice, prison, police & fire, business or marketplace, NASCAR, motorcycle, truckers, retirement homes and more! Whether volunteer or paid…there is a whole world of opportunity out there for men who see the need!

Emergency Services Chaplain:
Rev. Sean F. Sawyers, Chaplain to Eureka Fire Protection District, Eureka, MO, shows his stuff as he trains with EFPD firefighter crew in a vehicle extraction & rescue exercise. Sean writes, “I have had several opportunities to share the gospel in small groups and was privileged to be asked to preach for a 9/11 memorial service. As service to other Fire departments, Eureka sends in a team to help when a firefighter is gravely injured or killed in the line of duty, and I have been privileged to be included on that team in two instances where a firefighter was killed…”

Health Care Chaplain:
This year marks my 20th anniversary as a staff chaplain with Christiana Care Health System. There has been much change and growth in the Department of Pastoral Services, particularly in the past five years with the growth of our Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. In 1990 we had our first offering of CPE at the internship level, in 2005 we expanded to include a full CPE residency, and this year we expanded again to include community based CPE. My CPE role is that of a clinical coordinator and mentor to our first year interns. With seven full time chaplains, our CPE students augment our capacity to respond to the emotional and spiritual needs of our patients, families, and staff in our two in-patient hospitals – Wilmington and Christiana. Chaplain George Billings, Christiana Health Care System

VA Hospital Chaplain working with homeless vets:
I have begun a new position with the Tampa VA Hospital as “VA Community Chaplain.” I am providing home visitation, Medical Foster Home visits, and Clinic visits. One of the VA Clinics with whom I have developed a relationship is our Tampa VA Domiciliary. The Dom houses homeless veterans transitioning to employment and housing. The spiritual needs of the homeless are many and the openness to receiving spiritual care is abundant.

A high percentage of the homeless I encounter affirm a strong personal faith. Half are first time homeless. One veteran told me of his experiences trying to get help from the Church and being rebuffed, diminished, and marginalized. “I had no idea it was like this!” he stated. “I thought God had abandoned me!” How often we associate prosperity and employment as God’s favor! I embraced this brother and assured him that his value had not at all been diminished, that he was a “priceless treasure” in God’s sight. His eyes confirmed my assurances as he spoke of his goal of re-establishing his connections with God’s Church. Robert D. Byrne, VA Community Chaplain, James A. Haley VA Hospital, [email protected]

Hospital Chaplain:
I am grateful to the Lord for the privilege and opportunity to serve as Chaplain at Stanly Regional Medical Center and for the ministry to which God has called me. My ministry begins a 6:30 a.m. visiting patients in Same-Day-Surgery and keeping up with new patients who are scheduled at different times during the morning. I visit patients in the Intensive Care Unit, those in the Rehabilitation Unit, and all the others who are patients in the hospital. It also means being available to minister to members of the staff who make a need known. In making daily rounds in the hospital, I am available to patients, staff and patient visitors. Chaplain David Alexander, Stanly Regional Medical Center, Albemarle, NC

These are just a very few examples of men who have been called to serve, either full-time, or as volunteer institutional chaplains. We currently have 64 other men like these on our PRJC Roster. I encourage you to prayerfully consider volunteering as a chaplain in your local community, extending your ministry beyond the members and visitors to your church.

In Christ,
Douglas E. Lee, Executive Director
Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRJC)