The Impact on the Family Must be Considered
When considering a career in the chaplain ministry, it is important to consider how it will impact the family. Stepping into a spiritual leadership position has a biblical set of requirements. The requirement that will be addressed in this blog is that of taking care of the family. Here is what scripture says.
Titus 12:5-9
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
If someone is going to be a spiritual leader, they should attempt to follow scripture to the best of their ability. When it comes to the family, it is essential to prioritize their spiritual well-being before trying to help others with their families. When someone becomes a chaplain, they volunteer to put themselves in the spotlight of the community, not just the chaplain, but also their family. The ministry of presence is becoming present in the lives of the community. When doing this, the community will watch the chaplain to ensure their testimony aligns with expectations. If a chaplain is unable to have a good testimony, then their ministry as a spiritual leader will fail.
As a former Army military police officer, I observed that chaplains who demonstrated integrity and consistency between their principles and actions were the most effective in their ministries. Conversely, chaplains with poor reputations or those found guilty of misconduct lost credibility within the community. Similarly, if a member of a chaplain’s family had a negative reputation, it often undermined the chaplain’s spiritual leadership. These experiences underscore the importance of ensuring one’s family is well-supported. While engaging extensively with the broader community is valuable, it is essential to recognize that meaningful ministry begins within the home.
Psalm 127:3-4
“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth.
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
As a soldier in the army of God, it is essential to maintain your weapons; an unreliable weapon can be more dangerous to the user than to the enemy. To be effective as a light in a dark world, one must ensure one’s tools are well cared for. To be clear, a chaplain is volunteering to be a soldier who works on the front lines.
This ministry offers numerous meaningful opportunities for family involvement and serves as a vital setting for children to develop their sense of contribution through participation in community outreach activities. Such involvement can foster a sense of belonging and responsibility in children as they support the ministry’s initiatives. Responding to emergency calls at inconvenient times can be challenging for families; therefore, maintaining availability must be balanced with setting reasonable boundaries on the number of calls accepted. Integrating family members into the ministry helps create collective ownership and eases the demands associated with these responsibilities, reinforcing that the ministry belongs to all involved rather than any one individual.
The following are ways in which families may participate in the chaplain ministry.
- Helping to run a booth at a resource fair.
- Helping to raise money and collect food that will be given to first responders.
- Taking them to the store to help purchase the food that will be delivered to the first responders.
- Helping to put together baskets to give to first responders.
- Helping to deliver treats to first responders.
- Being a part of raising money and collecting food that will be given to the homeless and those in need.
- Helping to prepare the food that will be handed out.
- Helping to prepare the food that will be handed out.
- Helping to hand out the food to the homeless and those in need.
- Create care kits for the needy.
- Work at a food kitchen.
- Create care packages for the military.
- Make cards for veterans.
- Make cards to be sent to soldiers who are deployed.
- Make cards for first responders.
- Make cards for those in hospitals.
- Ask the family for their ideas to help the community.
These are just a few ideas. What are some things that you have done to involve the family in your chaplain ministry?
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