Awakened out of my sleep by the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand, I rolled over and recognized the familiar telephone number of our 911 dispatch center.  It was 2:30 AM and as I tried to get the sleepy haze out of my mind, the sergeant said “pastor, we need you to come...  there’s been a bad car accident resulting in a fatal.”  It was yet another call to serve, not from the congregation I am privileged to pastor, but by our Sheriff department that I have had the honor to serve for the past 14-years.  And yes, I leaned over to my, now awakened wife, and said “I just got dispatched and I’ll see you soon,” as I rushed to get ready and head down the road. 

The time of day is not significant as the calls can come and have come at all times of the day.  The scenario was not unfamiliar.  This happened to be a car crash, single fatality, where a death notification was needed to be made to the next of kin.  Countless others have been drug overdoses, suicides, farm accidents, etc.  The call is the same: “Are you available to come?” 

(Click on Law Enforcement Chaplain by John D Putnam to continue)

CHAPLAINCY IN CRISIS MODE

How do you hug a grieving 16-year-old mother who is all alone and just lost her 13-day old baby girl from 6 feet away? How do you show an encouraging smile to a staff member who is overwhelmed and terrified they are placing their loved ones at risk from behind a mask? How do you connect lonely patients with worried family members through closed doors? How do you chaplain in crisis mode?

My name is Brittney Diamond Dool, but in the hospital, they call me Chaplain Diamond. My middle name became an image of not only the journey that I am on but the journey of transformation from coal to diamond that I am called to walk with those around me, especially those that are in crisis. I am a licensed minister in the United Pentecostal Church International and have been co-pastoring with my father, Rev. Richard E. Dool, for over 4 ½ years. I knew God had called me to chaplaincy, but God was taking me through an unconventional route – I did not go to bible college; I did not attend seminary.

So, how did this small-town preacher’s kid end up as Chaplain Diamond? By the grace of God, a long waiting period, surrounding myself with wise counsel, and walking through the doors He opened, I found myself in the middle my most transformative year to date. Being raised in a minister’s home and thrown into the responsibilities of a home missions church at the age of nine brought with it ministry and social services training in the “school of hard knocks.” However, nothing quite prepared me for walking into a chaplain residency at a Level I Trauma Center.

This residency was explicitly designed to challenge your view of self and the world; to determine what true faith, hope, and compassion mean; and extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ inward and outward. It was designed to challenge your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual being – to take everything you knew as a minister, turn it on its head, throw you in the middle of a crisis and help you find yourself and God. That would have been challenging enough, but we entered unprecedented times and a pandemic.

A CRISIS OF PANDEMIC PROPORTIONS

(Click on link Chaplaincy in Crisis to continue reading)

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THE FOUR CHAPLAINS

Submitted to Chaplain Mark Hattabaugh

   On the frigid night of February 3, 1943, the overcrowded Allied ship U.S.A.T. Dorchester, carrying 902 servicemen, plowed through the dark waters near Greenland.  At 1:00 am, a Nazi submarine fired a torpedo into the transport's flank, killing many in the explosion and trapping others below deck.  It sank in 27 minutes.  The two escort ships, Coast Guard cutters Comanche and Escanaba, were able to rescue only 231 survivors. 

   In the chaos of fire, smoke, oil and ammonia, four chaplains calmed sailors and distributed life jackets.  They were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Clark V. Poling,  Dutch Reformed; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish.

Chaplain Hattabaugh, our commander over the Police/Fire chaplains submitted this helpful booklet on 
Subject: DHS Resources for Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Events 
Click on the link above entitled "Active Shooter How to respond" to view 

IN NEED OF CHAPLAINS

Arkansas State Trooper 1st Class Moomey hit a drunk driver head on, ON PURPOSE!  The drunk was speeding the wrong way on the interstate highway, obviously posing a grave danger to others. The drunk is dead, the Trooper is barely hanging on. The Trooper made a deliberate, informed decision to stop a threat despite a very low chance of survival for himself. He quite literally put himself between innocents and a threat.The Hallsville Community and the Hallsville First Responders stand and salute you, Trooper Moomey for your sacrifice and heroism.

HERE IS A NEED for a Chaplain to minister to the family of the injured Trooper's family, and his coworkers in the division in which he served; and a need for a Hospital Chaplain to work with the family of the injured trooper.  There is also a need for an EMT Chaplain to work with those who had to go and bring him into the hospital.  So many lives and emotions are devestated by this matter!

Note: The following is an article written by my Head Chaplain at the Hospital where I am a Chaplain.

I so appreciate James Richardson and his wonderful caring spirit. Director OCA William Dillon

GUILT

There are various human emotions that are distressing and painful, but few affect us as much as the pain of guilt.  Almost everyone experiences guilt in their lifetime.  Guilt involves awareness that a person’s action or inaction has injured someone else.  Acceptance of personal guilt may be followed by feelings of conviction.  Sometimes guilt motivates a person to make amends, to confess and seek forgiveness, and to change their thinking and behavior. 

Like frustration and anger, guilt can slow down or totally inhibit an individual’s progress, and at times, it can completely restrain his/her thinking and actions.  When guilt is repressed, it can eventually take control of every aspect of a person’s life.  It can totally dominate the thinking process, decrease motivation and productivity, undermine self-esteem and sense of worth, and crush any hopes and dreams.   Each day can become more troubling and depressing.  A mother, Karen Lang, wrote the following about her experience with guilt:  One night after my nine-year-old son had just gone to bed, he asked me if I would lie down with him, as he was scared. I was getting ready for a busy week and was tired, so I replied, “No, you’re fine. Go to sleep.”