Points of Pain

I just read this article on a link from our church's website to the A/G national website. It's about a former North Central classmate of mine. I just finished chatting with him on Facebook.

Points of pain and ministry

If you want to reach people for Christ, Senior Pastor Chuck Kish and his Bethel Assembly of God congregation in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, have determined the church needs to be found at people's points of pain - the point where people are asking questions and hurting the most.

In order to meet that need, the church decided to do what other churches have done - place chaplains with the police department and hospitals.

"Since the Vision of Transformation began and the local church was enabled to credential individuals," explains Kish, "it has opened the door to our church being involved in chaplaincy ministries."

However, about a year ago, the church went where few - if any - other churches had gone before. Placing a chaplain in a local bar. Having a chaplain available in a bar may seem to be a contradiction, but Kish explains it's a perfect place for a chaplain to be if his or her purpose is to be available at a person's point of pain and need.

"It's not uncommon for people to deal with their problems with alcohol, trying to bury or forget their pains," Kish says. "In one instance, a woman was contemplating suicide, but the bartender sent her to talk with the bar chaplain. The woman really opened up to the chaplain and was able to resolve some of her problems - she was open to the gospel message, and although she hasn't made a decision for Christ yet, we are believing she will."

However, as unique and forward thinking as having a chaplain in a bar is, the church has recently gone into a whole new area of chaplaincy that, according to what Kish has been told by Pennsylvania state representatives, is the very first chaplaincy effort of its type in the United States.

"I came upon a car accident where two 18-year-olds were killed," Kish recalls. "I saw the EMT pull back the sheet on one of the bodies. I saw his face as he turned away, and I thought 'he really needs a chaplain.'"

Due to the church's successful and overwhelmingly positive impact in other areas with their community chaplains, when the opportunity came for Kish to present his idea to the local Cumberland Goodwill EMT director, their chaplaincy program's reputation preceded him. The director surprised Kish by his eager acceptance of Kish's idea of placing chaplains in the cabs of EMS (Emergency Medical Service) vehicles.

"We now have chaplains riding in the cabs of ambulances - EMS chaplains," Kish says. "It's a true point of pain."

However, the chaplains aren't just helping the EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) "debrief" and deal with what they've witnessed, they make themselves available to assist the EMTs and ride with the victims - people who very well may be contemplating serious life questions and perhaps even facing death. It's possibly one of the most intense opportunities for a chaplain to meet a person at their "point of pain."

Arriving at the scene of an accident with the EMT crew, EMS Chaplains Frank Poley (left) and Jack Rau of Bethel AG offer help as they calm the passenger and driver of a vehicle.

"It takes a special person to be an EMS chaplain," Kish admits. "They must have the gifts of helps, hospitality and a strong stomach. So, far, we've had numerous opportunities to pray with EMTs and victims - including praying with a man who was able to confirm his faith in Christ before dying."

Kish says that since this is a "first of its kind" effort, there are no training manuals for this type of work. In fact, he says they're keeping a log of experiences as they go through "on the job" training. In the future, they plan to use what they've learned to provide training for more chaplains from their congregation as well as from other congregations.

"Our chaplaincy program has not only received an overwhelmingly positive response," Kish says, "but the people involved have begun to see the city differently - they really fall in love with the community and have a passion for the people in it."

Although Bethel Assembly of God has already expanded ministry boundaries through their "points of pain" approach, they're far from done. Kish says that they now also have a funeral chaplain and feel like they've just scratched the surface.

"We're looking to put a chaplain in with 9-1-1 operators," Kish says. "I want us to touch our community at every point of pain where people are asking about life, death, purpose, the future . . . the power of the gospel brings change!"