Strengthening Those Who Serve

In the closing sections of the book of 2nd Timothy chapter 4, Paul shares an admonition with Timothy to be faithful to follow the call of God in his life. We can find these words:
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Last week, in communities across our land, people participated in the National Night Out, which is described on its website as "an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live."

A recent article at The Baptist Paper highlighted the concept of a ministry to those who serve our communities in law enforcement. It was written by Christi Hall and stated:

In today’s tumultuous times, the divide between law enforcement and the communities they serve seems wider than ever. The role of the church in bridging this gap cannot be overstated. As ministry leaders, it’s essential to recognize that the church holds a unique position to support and uplift those who put their lives on the line for our safety every day.

In the article, originally published by the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, Hall writes:

Understanding the culture and needs of law enforcement is paramount. Instead of expecting officers to come to us, we must go to them. This involves learning about their unique challenges, developing a plan tailored to their needs, and ultimately establishing a rapport built on trust and respect.

She continues:

The statistics paint a sobering picture of the challenges law enforcement officers face — from cumulative stress to higher rates of PTSD and depression. In addition to providing prayer support, there are countless ways churches can come alongside these brave men and women. Whether it’s through practical support like providing meals to an officer’s family after an illness or death, card-writing programs, or equipping crisis-trained chaplains, the goal remains the same — to offer hope and healing through the power of Jesus Christ.

This is a key avenue that the Church can leverage in order to provide encouragement and a source of strength to those who serve in this unique way. Hall states: "A law enforcement ministry provides an avenue for members of the law enforcement community to access spiritually-minded resources that can help mitigate stress and provide comfort during difficult times. Pastoral counseling, mentorship programs, and prayer ministry all serve to strengthen the spiritual resilience of officers and their families." At the conclusion of the article, she directed readers to the website, ChaplainsandHeroes.com.

John Revell is someone who injects his faith in Jesus Christ into the work he does through a ministry called Life Line Chaplaincy.  And, he has recently come on board as chaplain for the Newtown Police Department in Connecticut, according to a piece on The Newtown Bee website.  He had served in Stamford, but was very involved in Newtown in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy. The article says:

“Obviously it hit everybody here, locally, but it also hit the surrounding communities hard as well,” he said. “Our guys, the Stamford cops, they were devastated by it.

“I came with them the following week to do escorts for the funerals,” he added. “The motorcycle officers had me come along with them.”

Standing in funeral homes and churches wearing his chaplain badge, Revell found himself being approached by members of the community, first responders, and families, “just pouring their hearts out.”

That, he said, was his first introduction to trauma, “not just for police officers but also for first responders. It opened my eyes to the reality of not just the kind of trauma that can happen to the general public but the kind of trauma our first responders face on an all-too-often basis.”

Revell has continued to help first responders deal with various crises, including mass casualty events, life-threatening job-related injuries, traumatic criminal investigations, and horrific accident scenes. 

According to the article, he launched Life Line Chaplaincy in 2015, described as "a not-for-profit organization devoted to 'pushing back on first responder suicides' which are, he said, 'at a rate most of the general population has no clue about. It’s very high.'”

He said, “I have devoted the rest of my life to do anything and everything I can to keep first responders out of the morgue from self-inflicted wounds..." The article notes:

Life Line Chaplaincy is devoted to providing resources to push back against those suicides. The organization, according to its website, does this through pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, not-for-profit management, financial management, and business.

This information can be relevant to remind us in the Church to continue to build relationships with the public servants around us.  And, that includes those who serve in law enforcement, who are putting their lives on the line in order to keep residents safe.  Crime is a topic that is fresh on our minds these days, and these public servants see the fruit of sin on an up-close basis, regularly.  We can pray for the them - and pray for our communities in general, engaging in spiritual warfare prayers, recognizing the brokenness we see is the product of our spiritual enemy's destructive activity.

Churches, ministries, and even individual Christians can open their eyes with spiritual sensitivity to the ministry needs around them.  Where a ministry does not exist, that may be a sign that God is calling a person or organization to start one.  Our gifting and equipping can be used of the Lord in order to bring His presence into the lives of people who are in need of encouragement.