Our Work of the Chaplain passage for this episode is Galatians 6:9-10 which says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Our Work of the Chaplain quote for this episode is from Woodrow Kroll. He said, “In helping others, we help ourselves.”
In this podcast, we are going through the fine book: “The Work of the Chaplain” by Naomi K. Paget and Janet R. McCormack.
Our topic today is “‘Go’ to Those in Need of Ministry.”
A second point from Matthew 25 that resonates with chaplaincy is that chaplains are to take the initiative and seek out those in need of their spiritual care. An institutional expectation for a chaplain is that all persons in the chaplain’s institution will be visited and ministered to by chaplains where the employees work and live. Jesus instructed people to take the initiative and go to those in need, not wait for people to come to them— specifically to those who are “sick or in prison.” The primary agenda is caring for the needy at their point of need. Jesus didn’t say, “so that they will become believers” or “so that they will attend synagogue” or even “so that they will see God’s love through you.” He simply said that a truly righteous person should take the initiative and go and care for “the least of these.”
On the one hand, it would be incorrect to put forward this form of ministry, which is the essence of chaplaincy, as the biblical model for ministry, particularly in light of religious cultural differences then and now. On the other hand, it is correct to say that there is biblical precedent for taking ministry to the people rather than waiting for them to come to the minister. The significance of the pattern for going to people in order to minister is that it was common in biblical times, that there is a long-standing precedent for this form of ministry, and that it is not a new or modern delivery system of ministry that should be looked at with suspicion.
The chaplain’s office had every convenience . . . telephone, computer, coffee maker, and bathroom nearby. But few people at this high-tech corporation took time to walk over to the human resources department when they wanted a listening ear. So the chaplain made it a practice to go to the employees — to visit them in their cubicles, to chat with them in the break room, to walk with them as they moved from office to office. The chaplain practiced intentional wandering to be available to everyone in every place, from the shipping docks to the executive board room.
The act of initiating ministry interventions by going to those in need is in itself a clear demonstration of love and concern.
If the Lord tarries his coming and we live, we will continue this topic in our next podcast.
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— PRAYER —
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, here’s how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
God bless.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 