Chaplaincy in the CPD continues to be a major catalyst in extending God’s kingdom into unreached ‘people-groups’ within our province. Currently, we have 27 approved chaplains in our district who are kingdom agents in very dark, and at times, troubling places. The reach of our District chaplains extend into prisons (provincial & federal), health care (medical & mental health), emergency services (police/fire/first responders), military, street-level services, addiction recovery centres, workplaces, sports venues, and more.
Working and/or volunteering in these settings often provide no recognition or external validation. These men and women have been called by God to “go where no man has gone before” loving God and loving those who are outside the normal reach of the local church. These individuals can be best described as heroic champions of the cross; missionaries in the truest sense of the word crossing into cultures and sub-cultures that require wisdom, stealth, and power. Chaplains take seriously the call of Jesus who said, “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove” (Matthew 10:16 MSG).
Our CPD Chaplain’s Network has grown significantly in the past year. We continue to be excited to see how God has raised up men and women to serve in very unique settings. Reports back from the field are reflecting the reality that God’s kingdom is expanding:
- Some of our workplace chaplains are reporting that through their relationships built with employees, trust has been built to help in the restoration of marriages. Others are reporting they are able to assist employees helping them manage stress and anxiety in productive ways. This has given space to be open to their spiritual questions and ability to share Jesus in a non-threatening non-religious setting.
- Some of our emergency service chaplains have been able to report that God has given amazing opportunities to comfort, console and share the love of Jesus with those who have been experiencing the after-effects of trauma and significant loss.
- Others of our correctional chaplains are reporting the amazing opportunities through chapel and one-on-one conversations with inmates that have led to genuine encounters with Jesus and a number of these individuals now growing in their walk with Jesus.
God is visibly at work and we rejoice in His faithfulness to fulfill what he said He would do!
The CPD Chaplain’s Committee has been working on a plan to help leverage the enormous capacity of lay people in local Alliance churches to serve as recognized Community Caregivers engaging in activities similar to that of our professionally recognized chaplains in our district. Our desire is to be a catalyst for churches with individuals willing to link with missional opportunities that are found in each unique local setting. The CPD Chaplain’s Committee is committed to resource and appropriately network with churches and their identified Community Caregivers. (More info to come later!)
