The Market Demand for Chaplains
We encourage and pursue a "regulated free market" approach to ministry. It's an approach that aims to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12) rather than create ministries for the saints to come work. The goal is to deploy our members, gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to all manner of opportunities where they live, work, and play. It's by pursuing that approach to ministry that I found myself riding shotgun, doing 70mph north on Douglas Drive.
Church Ambassadors
It all started on March 10, 2020. The world was on the cusp of descending into the longest "two weeks" of history, but that was not top of mind. It was the first time I joined the Church Ambassador Network at the capitol to meet and pray with state legislators. A friend started the effort in Minnesota, and I had capacity in my schedule to join him. I saw it as an opportunity available to me as a pastor that other Christians might not have. Legislators would meet with us because the group was comprised of pastors from throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. We would share something from Scripture and pray with legislators.
Over the following years, I continued to prioritize serving with the Church Ambassador Network, giving me a vision for how chaplaincy work is a strategic avenue of evangelism and discipleship for pastors. I don't have unbelieving colleagues I work with. My relational circles are almost exclusively Christian. And meeting with legislators helped further put to death the fear of man. It was initially intimidating to go to the capitol and meet with powerful holders of public office. Until talking with a few and realizing they were, after all, just people—farmers, small business owners, insurance salesmen, moms. They're just people who feel burdened to serve their community and state. They're just people who need to repent and believe in Christ and be encouraged to follow him and his commands faithfully in all of life, even public office.
Over the following years, I continued to prioritize serving with the Church Ambassador Network, giving me a vision for how chaplaincy work is a strategic avenue of evangelism and discipleship for pastors. I don't have unbelieving colleagues I work with. My relational circles are almost exclusively Christian. And meeting with legislators helped further put to death the fear of man. It was initially intimidating to go to the capitol and meet with powerful holders of public office. Until talking with a few and realizing they were, after all, just people—farmers, small business owners, insurance salesmen, moms. They're just people who feel burdened to serve their community and state. They're just people who need to repent and believe in Christ and be encouraged to follow him and his commands faithfully in all of life, even public office.
Going Local
The modeling I observed from other pastors and opportunities to lead meetings with legislators sparked an interest to bring a similar approach more locally. So in April 2021, I attended a "coffee with a cop" event hosted by New Hope police at Fat Nats to learn more about the department and needs in our community. Then in November 2023, I contacted the New Hope community relations officer to see if there were ways our church could serve the community. While nothing substantive came of those interactions beyond the pancake breakfast we hosted, I was added to a "faith and police" email group. And then earlier this year, I was invited to a tri-city (Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope) chaplain info lunch.
Now, that backstory may mean nothing to you. "Just get to the 70mph part!" you may be thinking. But I share that to highlight that the free market may take your ministry in unexpected directions. It may take longer than you anticipated. You may end up somewhere different from where you thought you were going at the start. How has the Lord gifted and equipped you to take the next step in faithfully carrying out his work? Where can you bear witness to Christ unique to where you live, work, and play? Strategic plans and initiatives are good and have their place. But sometimes you just need to take a step without knowing the whole plan—almost like living by faith.
Now, that backstory may mean nothing to you. "Just get to the 70mph part!" you may be thinking. But I share that to highlight that the free market may take your ministry in unexpected directions. It may take longer than you anticipated. You may end up somewhere different from where you thought you were going at the start. How has the Lord gifted and equipped you to take the next step in faithfully carrying out his work? Where can you bear witness to Christ unique to where you live, work, and play? Strategic plans and initiatives are good and have their place. But sometimes you just need to take a step without knowing the whole plan—almost like living by faith.
Quite a Ride
Having had some interactions with different officers, most of whom are a part of the Crystal police department, I heeded the encouragement of one to schedule a "ride along." Years ago I had heard going on one is a great way to gain insights into your community. Most police departments will have a "ride along" program for residents. So I found a time that worked, and soon enough I was riding full lights and sirens northbound on Douglas Drive.
I had read online and heard from officers that ride alongs sometimes can be slow. It just depends on what happens. So I was ready for that. But my experience on one Friday evening was not that. The word that captures my four-hour window into the world of policing is "intense." I joined a sergeant in responding to a handful of calls. A girl got bit breaking up fighting dogs. Two different calls due to alcohol-induced fighting. A broken taillight on a rental truck.
In the midst of those calls though came one I was not expecting. We were driving around, talking about stressors and challenges of being an officer, how alcohol is the single greatest issue police deal with in Crystal, how residents don't seem to know or talk with their neighbors, how—the sergeant stopped talking. Something on the radio got his attention in code I had not deciphered. A man called 911; his diabetic brother was dying, perhaps dead. Lights and sirens. We pull up to the house and, surprisingly, the sergeant isn't moving too fast. Apparently, another officer arrived first and was in the house. He had radioed that the diabetic had passed away hours prior and was just recently found. The man's brother was angry and raw. The sergeant and I stood in his kitchen while the other responding officer gathered what information he could in the bedroom.
And then we left. Off to another call.
Just another shift—another Friday evening in Crystal.
I had read online and heard from officers that ride alongs sometimes can be slow. It just depends on what happens. So I was ready for that. But my experience on one Friday evening was not that. The word that captures my four-hour window into the world of policing is "intense." I joined a sergeant in responding to a handful of calls. A girl got bit breaking up fighting dogs. Two different calls due to alcohol-induced fighting. A broken taillight on a rental truck.
In the midst of those calls though came one I was not expecting. We were driving around, talking about stressors and challenges of being an officer, how alcohol is the single greatest issue police deal with in Crystal, how residents don't seem to know or talk with their neighbors, how—the sergeant stopped talking. Something on the radio got his attention in code I had not deciphered. A man called 911; his diabetic brother was dying, perhaps dead. Lights and sirens. We pull up to the house and, surprisingly, the sergeant isn't moving too fast. Apparently, another officer arrived first and was in the house. He had radioed that the diabetic had passed away hours prior and was just recently found. The man's brother was angry and raw. The sergeant and I stood in his kitchen while the other responding officer gathered what information he could in the bedroom.
And then we left. Off to another call.
Just another shift—another Friday evening in Crystal.
Why the Opportunity
The ride along affirmed to me the need to step into this opportunity as a volunteer chaplain. Here's why:
So, if you would, pray that the Lord continue to guide and open a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3). Pray when you see an emergency vehicle flash by that God would bring peace and healing in the hard situation it is en route to. Pray that he would give you the boldness and faith to take a step in pursuing your own "regulated free market" ministry.
- Leadership within the police departments are asking for it. It's not quite a Macedonian call (Acts 16:9) but similar. They have social workers and therapists available to officers, but they are specifically seeking Christian pastors.
- At this point, I have not discerned any theological vetting of pastors. So, if I and a few other evangelical pastors in the area don't step in, others will.
- While down the road there might be an avenue for church members to be trained as chaplains, right now the invitation is just to staff pastors. So this opportunity is for a pretty thin slice of the total number of Christians in the area.
- It seems like a uniquely strategic avenue to have a ripple effect more broadly. How might our community be different, how might policing here be different, if the Spirit blows and brings new life and revival through these departments? Only the Lord knows the full effect of Paul's gospel ministry spreading through the whole imperial guard (Philippians 1:12-13). Perhaps he would do something similar here. How much better for God's servants to bear the sword governed by faith in the Lord Jesus (cf. Romans 13:1-4).
- Like legislators, officers are people. Men and women who want to do good to their community. And the demands and stressors they are under on a daily—and at times hourly—basis is intense. And Jesus is enough to save, strengthen, and sustain them.
So, if you would, pray that the Lord continue to guide and open a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3). Pray when you see an emergency vehicle flash by that God would bring peace and healing in the hard situation it is en route to. Pray that he would give you the boldness and faith to take a step in pursuing your own "regulated free market" ministry.