March 2020
As all of us are aware, the world today is much different than it was two weeks ago. Can you remember what some of your concerns were back then? What will I make for dinner? How to cover the kids daycare during spring break? How to pay the rent? Finding a new job? Who’s going to win The Voice or who is the next masked singer? Many of us have much more pressing concerns such as health, the state of our marriage, domestic violence, hunger, child abuse, the crime rate in our city, being hit by an ART bus. Sorry I had to throw that in there. If you’re from Albuquerque you understand. Granted some of these concerns are still very important and will probably get worse, but for the most part the one thing that is keeping you awake at night now or causes you the most concern has something to do with the Coronavirus. As chaplains we know we have a hope and a future. We stand unwavering on the One and the Only Solid Rock.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Hebrews 10: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.
I could go on and on with His promises as I am sure you all could. I would love to hear the verse you are dearly holding on to at this time. If you want to share email me at loribaca@yahoo.com. What I am here to talk about is
What your leadership team is thinking about and planning for the Corps
Steps you can take as a chaplain
A challenge I have for you
The Corps The leadership team got together last Tuesday via a phone conference to plan the next month and throw out ideas for the following months. As you know the IFOC training class scheduled for the end of the month has been postponed. We are currently working with the Command Staff and Calvary to determine the best time to reschedule. I want to give a big shout out to Kater Zemke and everyone who volunteered to come help serve the needs of the class. We originally decided to cancel the April monthly meeting but have since decided to look into doing a Zoom video conference for either a prayer meeting, a general monthly meeting or both. I will include a link below about Zoom for people like me who know nothing about it. You will be hearing more about this as we know more. VOAD Training for was originally moved to April 19th as the 12th is Easter Sunday. Those plans are still on but everything is in flex now as you well know. Chaplain Steps As all the BGEA chaplains who have been on deployment already know, they received an email authorizing them to wear their blue shirts out in public to offer hope and help to the community they live and work in. As individually licensed and ordained chaplains, how about we do the same? I know we are all aware of social distancing and those of us who are considered non-essential are social distancing ourselves as much as we can. But, if you are going out to the store for toilet paper, taking the dogs/kids to the park to run off steam or any other activities you can safely do, consider wearing one of your IFOC shirts and being available to listen to others during this very difficult time. Chaplain Kater offers the following dos and don’ts: Chaplains should not be seeking out people, but should be aware of those around them. Wear their uniform, be ready! First if they make eye contact or the Lord provides a moment to talk, the chaplain should:
Keep a distance
Do not touch the person, or hold hands
NEVER go to their home, or a secluded place to talk with them.
Conversations should be brief.
An opening question is- How are you holding up, and then listen, listen, listen.
If the Lord prompts you, ask them if you could pray for them.
Do NOT share the Gospel unless you are prompted by the Holy Spirit.
The most important thing we can do is LISTEN.
Our opportunities at this time is enormous! People are fearful, worried, and anxious.
We have HOPE in Christ.
My Challenge for You. Earlier I asked what verse you were dearly holding on to. I have a few but the one God keep repeating over and over in my head is Esther 4:14b. Ester is the story where, the king, by prompting from the evil Haman, has agreed to a decree that would completely annihilate all the Jews in the lands governed by Persia. Queen Esther’s uncle reminds her: For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? What has God called you to for such a time as this? I firmly believe each one of us has been called to this time for a reason. We all have a job to do for such a time as this. My challenge to you is to find that job or jobs and to do it to the very best of your ability. Reach out to your neighbor down the street to make sure they have what they need. Call, text, or email other chaplains to see how they are holding on and pray for each other. Listen to the needs you learn about and offer help where you can. If you care for kids have them make cards to send to one of the assisted living facilities to hand out to patients not allowed visitors. Pray for those divine appointments, there will be more that you can believe. Let’s collect those stories to share with each other in order to give God the glory He so richly deserves. Finally: I love you all and am committed to helping you succeed in your calling as a chaplain. I am mostly isolating myself due to my age and health, but I, as are the others in the leadership team, am here for you. Lori Baca Assistants Corps Commander ARCCC loribaca.yahoo.com 505-818-1652