How You Practice Faith...Yes You!

At the age of 16, I made a decision that would change my life forever. I decided to put my faith and trust in God. I did not fully understand what that meant at the time but it was something I have never regretted.

The word faith and the explanation of what it looks like, have been rejected by many over the centuries because it simply does not fit in with their view of life. They would point out that it would be foolish to believe in someone or something, if you can't positively prove it scientifically or otherwise. It seems like a reasonable way of thinking until you break it down by looking at our personal lives and how each and every person reading this, has practiced "faith" their entire lives.

All the atheists and people of no particular faith will probably laugh at such a statement because they will be quick to deny the legitimacy of the statement. Many well-known scientists over the centuries made it to this point and then realized that there must be more. Things that science simply could not explain.

Some of you will be surprised to learn that the authenticity of the Bible is unmatched in history. I won't get into it here but check it out yourself if you don't believe me. It is important to include that in this blog because many of you think that is a non-starter, basically because you have never actually looked into it and simply believed what others have told you to believe.

Now about that thing called faith. Buckle up because you are about to feel very uncomfortable and will probably look for a way to get off this fast-moving train. I am going to give you a few very simple examples of how each human practices faith almost every day. I share these in an attempt to tear down the preconceived ideas that faith in a God you can't see or touch, is at best, a fairy tale. Here we go...

When you walk into a room you have never been in and sit in a chair you have never sat on, you are practicing faith. Maybe you would never do that before checking out the manufacturer of the chair? Silly, right?

How about going into a fancy restaurant and ordering a nice juicy steak from the menu? You don't know the chef and without much thought, assume that they will not poison the food or do other nasty things to it before you sink your teeth into it. Think about that and whether an element of faith might be involved.

Then there is a thing most of us have done many times without giving much thought to the details. I recently travelled by plane where we flew 36,000 feet above the surface of the earth. I did not spend one minute checking out the credentials of the pilot and co-pilot. I did not confirm the qualifications of the mechanics who worked on the aircraft before taking off. Now maybe those of you who don't believe in faith, would do thorough background checks to put your minds at ease. Forgive me if I
assumed too much.

I could go on and on with examples but I think you get my point. Something that I have personally never understood with my non-believing friends, is the faith they have in evolution. I studied it in school and it is taught as fact and if you have no exposure to Christianity, you will believe the theory until the day you die. I maintain that you need more faith to believe in evolution than you do in God creating us.

I realize this short blog won't influence too many people to change their opinion about faith and God but I sat back this weekend and considered all the people each of you look up to and admire. If you are a golf fan, you just saw a man of faith win the trophy as the best golfer in the world. All weekend the TV announcers talked about his character and made every effort not to speak about his faith in Jesus Christ as being the reason. It pointed out again, that the world we live in is not going to encourage you to become a person of faith. 

Hopefully something I have said here will at least cause you to think about those things you don't have an answer for. 

Is The Church Paying Attention?

I want to be very careful with this blog because I don't want to sound negative. Yet to express my thoughts negativity will be evident: so is disappointment. For years the Church (I use this term because it applies to most Evangelical Christian churches) has looked for ways to be salt and light in the world we live in. As many of us complain about Christianity becoming more and more marginalized in North America I wonder if we miss opportunities when they are presented to us.

I was recently approached my an organization that in almost all aspects is a secular group. They have little or no Christian influence in their leadership and membership. Their primary objective is to help police officers who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For those not familiar with this issue, let me explain.

PTSD is usually a result of traumatic incidents in the life of a cop or any first responder or soldier. It is not limited to these professions but it is most common among these men and women. The symptoms range from the inability to sleep all the way to suicide. If you follow the news you may have heard of cops committing suicide in bunches over the past year in Southern Ontario alone. This organization has volunteer counsellors in place but is still a work in process. Psychologists, psychiatrists, Equine Therapy, yoga and meditation are all represented and available to cops who need the services of someone that can help them battle through PTSD. In many cases the clients have suicidal thoughts because they feel they can not go on with life. Often medications are used as a tool for coping.

The stigma attached to PTSD is enormous and as a result many cops live with it in silence. Often they fear loss of jobs and even ridicule from fellow cops although this is becoming less of an issue with more education and exposure in the media. In the province of Ontario, legislation is in place to make it easier to receive Workmen's Compensation if someone is suffering from PTSD as a result of their profession. This organization was standing on stage as the announcement was made earlier this year.

That is the background and this is where my disappointment enters in. The organization who approached me after seeing a blog I had written about chaplains working with cops, wants Christian Chaplains/Counsellors to become part of their team. Let me repeat that: a secular organization has asked Christians to help them serve men and women who are desperate. In fact one of the leaders of this organization spent some time describing her journey with PTSD and how faith in God helped her get back on her feet. Pretty exciting...right?!

Not so much based on the response from 3 separate Christian organizations. Two denominations that I am associated with and a Chaplain organization have either said they are not interested or have given me and the above mentioned organization no answer. They are not even returning emails.

What is wrong with this picture? I could be on this team already but the desire of the organization is to have Christian Chaplains/Counsellors in place across Canada and they feel the best way to do that is through a denomination. Makes sense.

In case anyone is already thinking there is a catch, let me assure you there is not. It was clearly stated to me that they don't need psychiatrists or psychologists or yoga instructors: they already have that in place. They want the "faith" element which may be desired by some cops. The idea being that every person is different and they are drawn to what is most comfortable for them. As a Christian I know that the Lord is more than able to help someone who is desperate. God is in the business of helping broken people and He has been doing it for centuries.

So I am putting this blog out there hoping some Christian organization wakes up in time to not miss this opportunity. That may sound a bit harsh but I feel it is an accurate way of portraying the response to date. I keep telling myself it is God's timing and not mine and yet I feel compelled to put this request out there today. I pray that the Holy Spirit would open both eyes and hearts because the need is great and very real. Thank you for listening.

Get Serious!

I am not a police officer. I have never suffered from Post Traumatic Stress (Disorder). I am a chaplain. I was a pastor for 16 years. I was a chaplain for the Toronto Police Service. Over the past year I have been suggesting that First Responders and those responsible for helping them in the area of PTS need to start looking at the spiritual side of the human.

There are organizations, and you know who you are, that have politely acknowledged my emails and then never followed up. There are EFAP's that claim to be doing everything they can. Really?

I am angry because another 2 cops appear to have committed suicide in the Toronto area this week. I believe 4 First Responders in total have taken their own lives in the past week in Southern Ontario. The finger pointing and accusations always follow these events and yet those doing the finger pointing and those who care for our First Responders the most, refuse to look at all options. Maybe a better word would be exhaust all options.

I wrote a blog on this subject in January 2015. My suggestion was and is, that Christian chaplains (I know that is politically incorrect) could be a huge resource in battling the issue of confidentiality and the fear associated with "coming out". Rather than the first contact point for our men and women being the EAP or even a fellow first responder, make it a chaplain that doesn't have to report the name of anyone that comes to them. Let the chaplain use their training to help the individual. Let them be the ones who make the call to get professional help if it is deemed appropriate.

This would mean fully trained chaplains and not just pastors that want to go on the occasional ride-along. Hire chaplains to be out on the roads on a regular basis building relationships with first responders. Chaplains that will go out after work for a coffee or even a beer. Chaplains that will take the time to listen to what is on the hearts of these men and women.

Let me make something perfectly clear: I know most EAP's don't want anything to do with a spiritual solution to any problem, let alone PTS. If you are not a psychologist or a psychiatrist you simply don't have the credentials in their opinion. My question to each of you is this: who says? Who says that someone like me, who has probably dealt with just as many serious situations as many in an EAP have, will not have a better opportunity to bring healing to a broken person? The Christian church is made up of millions upon millions of broken people that today live full and productive lives. Is it possible that some of the solutions that First Responders and their EAP's are looking for are right under their noses?

Someone has said that anecdotes are not scientific proof that the Christian faith works. That is what those who don't understand faith use as their argument. As they do this, they close the door on possible solutions for those suffering from PTS and the reason usually goes no further than their own bias views on matters of faith. The term "holistic" is used when referring to getting every possible form of help for a person but in reality it only refers to the mind and body. This is not the forum to try and convince anyone of the spiritual makeup of people and yet to ignore it is not helpful and betrays their claims of doing "whatever necessary" to assist those suffering.

How many more suicides do we need to see before everyone starts to take this seriously? As I write this, I am totally aware that not every First Responder who is suffering, will accept spiritual counsel. However, isn't it our responsibility to offer as many options as possible? A friend of mine is using yoga for those suffering from PTS. I am not a huge fan of yoga but if it helps even one person, I think it is great. If only those on the front lines of helping PTS suffers can look at the spiritual side of things the same way.

Chaplains in the Workplace: Not what you may think they are

One of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork is a company called Tyson Foods. They are the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. They also happen to have 120 chaplains working for them and their roughly 115,000 employees. Hope I got your attention!

Workplace Chaplains play a role that no other department can or even wishes, to tackle. Caring for employees and their families in times of crisis is something most businesses seldom if ever think about. For example, the best most can come up with when a death occurs, is send flowers and a nice card. Nothing wrong with that but...

I was the chaplain for a window manufacturing company for a few years. During that time I had situations arise that Human Resources and the Employee Assistance Program had no answers for. Here are just two small examples of how I was able to help as a chaplain:

A young man woke up one morning and started preparing for work but realized his mother who was usually up before him, was still in her room. He knocked on her door but when she didn't answer he opened it and found her lying in her bed. She was dead at a fairly young age and her son was devastated. As the chaplain I was informed by an employee who had been helping this young man with another issue. He had already been under a lot of stress and this was almost too much for him to bear. It took many weeks of listening and encouragement to help him through those days but as the chaplain, I was paid to do just that.

A second scenario involved an older male employee that I had built a good relationship with. One day he advised me that his 20 year-old son had been murdered during a home invasion 10 years earlier. He had been shot in front of the boy's mother, the wife of this employee. The wife had taken it very hard and started taking drugs to ease the pain and by now was addicted to them. The perpetrator had never been arrested and therefore it had become a cold case with the police. I received permission from the employee to phone my contacts at Toronto Police and as a result, the head of Homicide phoned me. He agreed to phone these parents who had not heard back from the police for several years. The head of Homicide (our present Chief of Police) personally phoned them a few days later. This made a huge difference for the employee's wife. Can you imagine HR or an EAP doing any of this?

Add to these, hospital visits, funerals, weddings, referrals for addiction counselling, listening to and helping resolve employee issues within the workplace and even passing along the mood of employees to management. All these are done confidentially and no employee name is ever divulged unless permission is given by the employee.

Some might look at all this and correctly point out that this is not at all what they thought a chaplain would be involved in. Remember also, that these accounts are involving employees that seldom if ever attend church and they involve employees who are often from faith communities other than Christian. For example, as an airport chaplain, one of my friends that I speak to regularly is a devout Muslim. He knows I prayed for him when EMS took him to the hospital one day after he collapsed at the airport. So much is based on building relationships with employees and with that, trust.

I will continue in this series of blogs in a few weeks. Hopefully I can unpack the essence of Workplace Chaplains to the point where some will at least investigate. Next time I will talk about the ROI for a business that uses chaplains.

Why Chaplains?

Preaching? Evangelism? What is your concept of workplace chaplaincy?

"Salt and light" is how Jesus himself describes the role of believers in the world we live in. Sure we can be salt and light to a certain degree within the church but these characteristics are clearly in reference to our lives outside the four walls of what many call the church.

I have personally been "working" as a chaplain for 4 years in the secular world. During that time I have come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that church leaders have very little appreciation for this work. This then filters down to church members who probably aren't even aware that there is such work going on in the marketplace. Let me be clear that we are not talking about police, hospital or military chaplains: we are talking about chaplains in the workplace where companies build windows and cars and where employees have issues that require more than a few days off or a visit to the psychiatrist. The question I have been asking and continue to ask (and one that nobody has the courage to address) is why Christian businessmen refuse to invite this type of chaplaincy into their companies? Along with this: why do pastors ignore such an open door for men and women to be salt and light in a secular world? I think Jesus Christ would ask the same question.

I have worked as a chaplain with a police service. It was a wonderful experience which I hope to do again one day. I did so as a volunteer while I was pastoring. I can now tell everyone that I enjoyed it more than pastoring. I discovered it was my calling in life.

I eventually found myself in a place as I reached the other side of 55, where I needed to reinvent myself or more importantly, I needed the Lord to open doors to fulfill that calling. A man named Cyril Gowler gave me a call out of the blue one day as I was driving through a Tim Hortons drive-through in Milton. He was calling from Edmonton and asked if I would be interested in being a corporate chaplain for a window manufacturing company. I wasn't sure what it would look like but since I was traveling to Alberta a week later, I agreed to meet with him about the opportunity in their Mississauga manufacturing plant. Cyril was the senior chaplain for this company but he was also a chaplain with the RCMP in Edmonton. He had heard about my background as a police chaplain and pastor and a few months later I was a workplace chaplain.

A few years later I was working as a chaplain in a long-term care residence and eventually a second one as well. I was also working as a chaplain with PING Golf through my connection with Marketplace Chaplains Canada. On the side I spent a few hours each week at Toronto Pearson Airport as a chaplain. This is where the Lord has put me for this season in my life and make no mistake about it, it is in the middle of a secular world where Jesus has asked me to be salt and light. I believe people who don't know Jesus are seeing what He asked us to show: Matthew 5:16 says people need to see our good works. You will notice it does not say: and they will hear you preach at them while you carry a big Bible. As we know, most Christians don't have a problem in this area: being salt and light is a challenge at the best of times.

Yet for a chaplain, a door has been opened by the world for us to be a Christian presence in an often messy environment filled with broken marriages, addictions, health problems, family issues, death, weddings and so on. Imagine non-believers coming to Christian chaplains when they need help. Not us forcing our beliefs on anyone but because we are salt and light, those who would never set foot in a church building, are getting counsel from chaplains that have built trust.

So once again I ask the question: why has the church not embraced this work? You will notice I have not used the word "ministry" and I have done so intentionally. In a perfect world, I believe chaplains should be trained in churches the same way we train pastors in seminaries. I believe in fact, that chaplains should be on staff at churches that can afford them: to train believers and not to get paid for proselytizing at work to grow the local church. One of the greatest weaknesses in the church has always been the need to grow the church we call home and with that have terrible motivation for "witnessing" to non-believers. Church growth is one of the biggest hindrances to Kingdom growth.

Let me expand on that point. If church leaders were more interested in the lost than filling their church with new converts, perhaps there would be closer ties between church communities than there is today. Competing for souls is something almost every pastor strives for because job security is fleeting in many denominations. Burn-out among pastors is a very real issue and if that doesn't get you, getting "voted out" is always an option. I would love to see pastors who are frustrated working within a church, get the opportunity to explore the work of a chaplain. I would also love to see church members getting the same opportunity if they are gifted in that area. Too many still believe that pastoring or missionary work are the only options for those who feel called into ministry.

Before anyone (pastors) gets their shorts in a knot, consider this as an opportunity to release your members who have a call to ministry but not as pastors. They do exist!!!

Some may be asking: what are the qualifications for a chaplain? One side of that answer lies in the make-up of the individual. Are you good with people? Are you trustworthy? Are you a person of good character? In other words, is the Fruit of the Spirit evident in your life? It has very little at all to do with your "charisma" in a pulpit. It has very little to do with your ability to "evangelize the lost". If you approach chaplaincy with the idea that you are going to get people saved, you have almost no hope of being a good chaplain. A chaplain walks beside people, not in front of them. In other words, you are a friend who is there to serve regular people when things are going well and then be available when things fall apart. It is part of life and the opportunities to show Jesus will be there all the time. We call it the "ministry of presence".

Education wise, you will certainly require some training. There is one very liberal organization that train from a non-evangelical perspective. Hospitals and prisons often hire folks that have no evangelical background. Unfortunately that may be the result of previous "evangelists" posing as chaplains. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying with this blog. I and other like-minded friends are chaplains because we love Jesus. It is what distinguishes us from chaplains from other faith groups. The training you get will simply help you to understand the role of a chaplain and perhaps more of what you can't do rather than what you can. Proselytizing is never a part of chaplaincy. If you can't accept that fact, you should not be a chaplain. There are many experienced chaplains that could train others if the need was presented.

Germanwings and Confidentiality

The recent crash of a Lufthansa jet has caused many experts to question the aspect of confidentiality when it comes to the mental health of their pilots. As a chaplain I find this a very interesting and necessary discussion and one that has no easy answers.

The co-pilot of this flight that crashed into the French Alps, was by all reports, suffering from depression. He had been to doctors and presumably a psychiatrist as recently as this week. So the question that many are asking is a simple one: why did Lufthansa not know about this man's condition? The Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians, includes a section about confidentiality. These doctors who had been treating this pilot would appear to have taken this oath seriously and not divulged this information to the man's employer. There is speculation that the pilot might have lied about his profession and as such, the doctors had no idea of the danger he potentially posed to others.

For the sake of this argument, let's assume the doctors did know that this man was a pilot, flying 35, 000 feet in the air with as many as 150 passengers. Where does confidentially end and common sense take over?

As a chaplain, one of the most crucial aspects of our profession, is the ability to maintain confidentiality when someone confides in us. In that sense we are no different than physicians. As chaplains however, we make it clear that if we feel the individual confiding in us is a threat to others or himself, we will report it. It is sometimes a difficult decision to make if it may cost someone their job or even worse. As a chaplain I have another recourse and that is to refer the person to a medical professional, before deciding what actions to take. The idea being: more than one opinion.

I have dealt with individuals who seemed to be dealing with depression and found that the situation didn't meet the criteria for clinical depression. Some however, if I felt I could not help effectively, I passed on to someone who could based on their training. In this process however, confidentiality was maintained until it was determined if there was a risk to others. Of course, depression isn't the only condition that needs monitoring in a work place. As a chaplain the range of issues can range from marital problems to addiction to the potential of domestic violence. Each of these can affect the performance of an employee in the workplace and always has the potential of endangering the lives of those around them.

As the life of this pilot becomes clearer, there can be a danger of over reacting. PTSD is an issue that first responders and military personnel struggle with daily. The minute confidentiality is threatened, these individuals will be forced to continue to suffer in silence. All the efforts to make it easier for these folks to get the help they need, will be compromised should confidentiality be removed in the process. To me, common sense needs to come into play. Some will say that depression is easy to recognize but that is certainly not the case unless you are looking for it. There are signs to look for and there are several helpful tips to be found on how to do that. Just google the words "depression test" if you are interested. Be careful with this because symptoms can sometimes be attributed to lack of sleep or something quite harmless.

Lufthansa may very well face huge lawsuits due to this crash but it may depend on what they knew. Is it possible the doctors might be held liable for not informing Lufthansa? This has already caused several airlines who didn't already have the policy, to change protocol and now always have 2 pilots or a pilot and crew member in the cockpit.

PTSD and Chaplains

I have been reading articles and attending conferences over the past few years on the topic of PTSD. I have occasionally sent off letters to those who have organized these conferences and written the articles, with the hope that perhaps one of them will consider my suggestion when it comes to getting help for sufferers of PTSD.

I was a pastor for 14 years and a missionary for 2 years. Since then my attention has turned to chaplaincy and working with those outside the church community. While I was a pastor, I was also a police chaplain for a few years. I did regular ride-alongs in Toronto and have had training in CISM, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills and dealing with Family & Work Violence. As a pastor I dealt with situations where a large family lost their home to fire and where a young child died when the father accidentally caused his death. As a chaplain with the police, I counselled a cop that several years earlier had been the first officer at a call where a fellow officer lay dying: he had never received counselling of any kind 7 years later.

This blog is not intended to point fingers at anyone but my hope is that someone who has the ability to make things happen, will seriously consider my thoughts.

First Responders deal with horrific scenes on a regular basis but the accumulation of these events, sometimes just one or two, are known to cause PTSD. I am not an expert on the subject so that is not the angle that I am writing from. My thoughts centre around those suffering from PTSD in silence, that are afraid to seek out help. The question that I am asking is simple: are the experts really doing everything they can to help?

Although things have gradually improved in upper management, there is still the battle that rages throughout the ranks of first responders. There is still a stigma attached despite the best efforts of organizations like Tema Conter: the lingering thought of how one will be perceived if they reveal a struggle with PTSD?

Most would agree that every and any tool should be used to help these men and women and yet there is a hesitation when it comes to the spiritual side of things. Psychologists and peer counselling are vital to the recovery process but how do we get these individuals to that stage? I believe the issue of confidentiality plays a huge role in this process but I also believe the Employee Assistance Program can't be the only resource being utilized. Having worked with cops, I know that there is still a distrust associated with most EAP's. It may very well be totally unfounded but it remains. In my opinion there needs to be a buffer or a conduit between the first responder and the professional help they need. This is where I believe chaplains need to be equipped to serve in a more meaningful way than is offered today in most Police, Fire and EMS stations.

Confidentiality is the basis of chaplaincy. The idea being that a first responder should be able to approach any chaplain with any issue they face in life, including PTSD, and not fear that management will find out. With EAP, that is not always a guarantee, at least in the eyes of those seeking help. Whether you agree with this assessment or not is not the point: if it is even a possibility, what is management doing to deal with it? What is the EAP doing to make it easier for those suffering from PTSD to come to them?

Let me put some meat on these bones that I have thrown out there. The role of a chaplain has often been more ceremonial than anything else. They pray at graduations and retirement parties and do the occasional ride-along. There may be one chaplain for a service of 500 men and women and then a few "multi-faith" chaplains that seldom build relationships and trust with those they "chaplain". However, what if these various services hired several chaplains for first responders. They can even be volunteer chaplains but men and women that would be given access to first responders on a daily basis. These chaplains would need to be better trained to identify PTSD but more importantly, they need to be chaplains and not preachers. It is about building trust so those suffering from PTSD or other issues, feel totally safe approaching the chaplain.

This is where the process begins but does not end.

It would be made very clear to all first responders that management will never be told individual names of those seeking help. Management would receive regular reports that indicate numbers only, but no names. This would alleviate two potential problems: the first responder will be directed to the EAP or other agency and management will have numbers to justify the continued assistance and confidentiality provided to first responders.

I believe this should be made available to past and present members of any service. We know that there are many men and women suffering from PTSD that have retired. They should obviously not be forgotten should they reach out for help.

Again, I am not an expert on PTSD but I do believe this is a tool that is not being used properly today. I hope that the right people read this and that action is taken.

The Book on Corporate Chaplaincy

After our recent breakfasts where we introduced both business owners and clergy to the idea of corporate chaplaincy, I felt we gained some traction in the marketplace. In this blog I want to put some "meat on the bones" and define more clearly what a workplace chaplain does. If you are a chaplain in a hospital or with the police or in a school, you might see some parallels but you will also see a difference. A hospital chaplain would not necessarily make a good workplace chaplain. An evangelist would not necessarily make a good chaplain. A member of a local church looking to "grow" their church would definitely not make a good workplace chaplain.

There are some church leaders that can see past their own denominational programs and initiatives but sadly (to me at least) they are few and far between. Some church leaders might even see this as something their church should become involved in as an "evangelistic tool". That is not what workplace chaplaincy is all about.

Let me begin by giving you a snapshot of a typical day in the life of this chaplain. I get paid by All Weather Windows to work 20 hours a week at our Mississauga plant. When I go in, I spend time walking around the plant and office area. I greet employees where I might get a few handshakes and a few fist to fist greetings. I acknowledge each employee with a wave, a smile and occasionally a few words. That initial walk through is primarily to let employees know that I am in. My office is right in the manufacturing part of our facility so I am visible. In the office I check emails and follow-up with issues from the previous day. I will meet with management from time to time but most of my time is spent with the employees. Too much time with management causes employees to back off because they think you are sharing personal information about them. That is despite the fact everything said to me is confidential. When I share anything with management it is minus names and it seldom occurs.

I will do a walk through at least 3 or 4 times a day. I linger a bit longer with some folks who might want to briefly discuss something with me. Those somethings range from things like immigration issues, marital problems, addiction problems, interpersonal tensions between employees, health related problems, and so on. As the chaplain I hear complaints about supervisors and about management and I report those in my monthly report that goes to management. Ownership and management understand and insist, that I never divulge the name of those who come to me. If I did, I would lose my job.

As the day goes on, I will occasionally make phone calls to agencies or to our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP). I will refer employees to other professionals if I feel I cannot adequately help the employee or family member who is seeking assistance. The odd time I will accompany an employee to the hospital in case of emergency and visit if they are admitted. I will officiate for weddings and funerals when asked to do so.

The key aspect of workplace chaplaincy is my ability to gain the trust of the employees. Our workplace has over 100 employees and they come from various cultural backgrounds. With time I have learned some things that are unique to each culture and that helps me to more effectively respond to the needs that arise.

I hope you have noticed the one thing I do not do as a former pastor and missionary: I do not preach at people! I do not try and get them to join my church! As Christian leaders hear this part, many tune out. In other words, if you are not about saving souls, I am not interested. That translates into: if this doesn't lead to people joining my church, I am not interested. Many of you might even agree with that sentiment. Let me try to "renew your mind".

I am a Christian who was a former pastor. All the employees know this truth. When they have spiritual questions, they come to me. I am then free to speak openly about my faith. I am a Christian presence in the marketplace that is accepted by Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Atheists and others. I have built relationships with these folks because I am honest with them and I have no hidden agenda. What I also know is that God opens doors when we make ourselves available to Him. If you think the best way to do that in your workplace is to put your largest Bible on your desk, then feel free to do so. I believe chaplaincy works much better.

I could come on here telling a lot of stories but some of those employees are reading this blog so I will protect their privacy. There are plenty of other things I do during those 20 hours a week, like leading the wellness program. Like introducing corporate chaplaincy to other business owners and clergy. Like identifying those of you who might consider being a workplace chaplain.

I know there are pastors out there who no longer want to pastor. I know how you feel. Contact me if you are interested in learning more. Perhaps you are a member in a church and feel some kind of calling on your life to ministry but there is nothing that grabs your heart. Maybe you are a business owner who wants to know more. Happy, healthy employees improves the productivity of any business. We have the statistics to prove chaplaincy works.

Did Somebody Knock?

Many of you have seen me on Facebook and Linkedin the past 2 weeks promoting 2 events at the end of this month. I personally feel there is an open door to the Christian community that is called Workplace Chaplains. By the lack of response to these invitations I would guess many of you don't feel too excited about this prospective open door.

In fact, it almost seems like the secular world is more interested in this than my Christian friends. Consider for a second where I have been a chaplain: with the Toronto Police Service and presently at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Probably less than 5% of the people working in these locations are what I would call church-going Christians. I work at a company 20 hours a week as a chaplain where the ratio is probably even less than that. I am a chaplain to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Atheists and others who are not Christians.

Then we come to clergy and Christian business leaders. A little slap on the wrist is called for if not a wake-up call. It reminds me of a story in Acts 12. A group of believers are gathered fervently praying for Peter to be released from prison when there is a knock at the door of the gate. The answer to their prayers is standing at the door and they don't believe it is really Peter. It is both hilarious and sad at the same time.

The Church has always wanted to be a witness in the workplace. Some think the best way to do this is by putting the largest Bible we have on our desk and thus look as religious as possible. A sure way to attract people to ask questions. Maybe not! The other option is to make sure nobody knows you are a believer and that way everyone will still like you. Come on, you know it's true. So as we try to introduce clergy and Christian business leaders to workplace chaplaincy the response seems to be one of two things: we will ignore the invite and hope Hillar goes away or a claim that they already know all about workplace chaplaincy. Guess what...I am one of the few (if not only) paid workplace chaplains in the GTA. So how exactly do these folks know what I do?

On Wednesday, October 30th at Carruthers Creek Golf Club in Ajax and Thursday, October 31st at Quality Suites Inn in Oakville, Marketplace Chaplains Canada will be hosting a buffet breakfast for those interested in learning more about this topic. The cost is $15/person but you need to register by this Wednesday. Talk to your pastor or contact a business owner and invite them to come along. You can phone me directly at 416.560.9508 or email me at halkok@allweatherwindows.com.

Decline of the Church

A friend of mine recently asked the question: why is the church declining? The answer I would have given 10 years ago would have sounded very spiritual. We aren't praying enough, witnessing enough and we have the wrong type of church government. Anyone of these things might be valid to some measure but it has more to do with us missing a very important part of our calling. We are called to be salt and light. Instead we are often seen by the world as clanging cymbals. We might do all the right things on Sunday morning in church (not really) and then live our lives with very little salt and light.

That may sound a bit harsh to some of you but we impress nobody with our style of church government, our prayer meetings and our going door to door. In the US, Evangelical Christians are embarrassing themselves by their attacks on President Obama, even to the point of sounding quite racist. The clanging is becoming quite deafening! The world does not see Jesus in us very often but rather various forms of religion, which Jesus said quite clearly, he was not happy with.

This blog is entitled "Marketplace Christianity". I have just completed 1 year as a workplace chaplain and during that year I have changed my view on how to be salt and light to the unchurched. One of the main things is the elimination of judging others. By others I mean those who have no relationship with Jesus Christ. Rather than wanting those folks to see the power of the Holy Spirit, I want them to see Jesus through my words and actions. I personally believe they will see the Holy Spirit but not because we drag them to revival meetings where the latest (famous to us and not them) evangelist is ministering. I kind of get a chuckle how many of us have such a high regard for our sound doctrine, theology and knowledge of the "Missional Church". All good things but how does the fact we attend 5 conferences a year or read another 5 Christian books actually impact the lives of people we work and live around?

Some of you are probably doing everything I am suggesting so please continue doing what you're doing. The passage of scripture that has taken on new meaning to me in this past year is one that should be familiar to all of us. Sowing seeds and the watering that follows. Sowing and reaping where the reaping quite likely will not be done by the ones sowing. Now doesn't that fly in the face of individual church growth? We want the fruit of our "labour" to end up in our church and not in the church down the street. Step back a bit and ask: what do we mean by labour? Thirty years ago and probably even today in many circles, it means inviting people to church, Christian concerts, revival meetings, Alpha courses, et cetera. May I suggest that it looks a lot simpler than all that.

How about all of us born-again Christians simply showing kindness, love and compassion? How about listening to our work colleagues and neighbours instead of praying for opportunities to lead them to the Lord? Guess what, the Lord is more interested in getting them saved than you and I but perhaps we need to change the way we think God wants to use us. What I am suggesting here are not "one-off" moments but rather life styles that show Jesus not just when we want someone to attend a church event. I don't mean to be cynical but I have been there and have taught this stuff from the pulpit myself and it simply doesn't work in this day.

Even setting up our church services to be "user friendly" misses the point. We are still trying to be something for an hour or two each Sunday that we aren't necessarily the rest of the week. We put on a show but very few are buying it when Monday they hear about a pastor killing his wife or a pastor running off with the church secretary. Those one on one relationships however are much more real, even with our flaws. Let them see how we work through difficult situations within our families. Let them experience our caring when they face life's challenges; caring that doesn't just happen because we see an opportunity to get someone saved or into our church. Being opportunistic is one of the greatest sins of the church in my opinion. We often take advantage of people in times of great anxiety and we hide behind the shield of "leading them to the Lord". If we are consistent in our witness (love and kindness) then the opportunities to share our faith will come naturally during those difficult times.

I could write on and on about this but hopefully you get my point. The decline of the church which my friend speaks about is easy enough to change or stop but it takes all of us being Jesus to those around us. Your circle of friends, family and acquaintances in this season of your life are not a coincidence. They have been presented to you by God and God thinks you are able to take up the challenge of being Jesus to these folks.

Past, present and future

2011 has been an interesting year that was full of surprises. As the year began I was fully involved with my Wedding Officiant business but little else. Then came the call that would launch me into a role that I didn't even know existed. As the year has progressed, Corporate Chaplaincy has become a key part of who I am. The last 12 months have also reminded me to be thankful for those God brings into my life, many of whom I didn't even know when the year began.

Many of us like to reflect on New Years Eve to the year that was. Some will tell you that we should not look back and only to what is ahead and as I have stated many times before, that is counsel that I do not necessarily agree with. If I do not look back I forget about all that God has done for me and that He owes me nothing. That might sound harsh but it is the truth. Jesus did everything for us when He died on the cross for us.

When I reflect on my year I am reminded that much of the "good" that happened, had nothing to do with my prayers, my behaviour, my tithing or my attendance at church services. In fact if the "good" had depended on any of those things, my life would be a mess today. I don't say that with pride obviously and yet it reveals the grace of God. I spoke earlier of the call that came out of nowhere and it had nothing to do with me reading my Bible for 1/2 hour each day or praying for 1 hour. Old Testament thinking would have us believe that I "got" because I did all the right things as a Christian. It is also not dependent on me knowing theology. Having said all that, there is a BIG BUT!

Tim Tebow is a celebrity football player in the US. He is a celebrity not because he is the best quarterback in the league but rather because he expresses his faith on the football field. Atheists and humanists are attacking the man with such vigor that even some non-believers are puzzled by the attacks on the man's character. There are many pro athletes in recent months that have been charged with major criminal offenses that have been basically ignored by the media and fellow athletes. The problem for Tebow is quite simple: he is not shy about letting people know about his faith in Jesus Christ. He has been labelled by the media as the "most polarizing figure in sports". He is polarizing because he doesn't fit the mold and for no other reason. He acts the way he does because he wants everyone to know his success can only be attributed to the Lord.

I throw this story in for a reason. As believers living in 2012, what are we doing with our faith? The grace we have been shown by the Lord should cause us to shine before all men. If God's grace is seen as a license to sin, we have missed it. We are alive on this planet, regardless of where you live, to be ambassadors for Christ. If the fruit of our walk with the Lord brings dishonour to Him, we are abusing the grace offered to us. We don't "do" to get; we "do" because of what Christ has already done for us. That is why we never forget our past and why we live in the present and we are sure of our future.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Remembrance Day

History is something that has always fascinated me. On this day as we remember those who have fought and died for Canada, I would like to give a different perspective of WW2 that many of you are not familiar with. It centers around the tiny nation of Estonia but actually involves Canada and many of the countries that today remember.

I was reminded of something most of us have long forgotten and it has to do with the "allies" that fought against Hitler. I saw an old poster from early WW2 and the flags of the allies were displayed at the top of this poster. There were just four flags, indicating that the US was not yet in the war. The allies were England, Canada, Russia and China. In 1941, despite a pact agreed upon by Hitler and Stalin, Hitler attacked Estonia and kicked out the Russian army. For Estonians who had suffered for over a year at the hands of the Russians, this was seen as liberation. Some of you will probably read this and be offended but perhaps an explanation will clear that up.

In June of 1941, Stalin ordered the elimination of all Estonians that were well educated, businessmen and land owners. My grandfather and two uncles were forcibly removed from their home and never seen again. Russian soldiers tortured, raped and killed Estonian women for no reason other than to entertain themselves. These then were Canada's "allies" in 1941. This scene was repeated in other countries as well but unfortunately Hitler was portrayed as the only enemy to freedom. History books for years, told us very little of what Stalin did during WW2. The fact is, he ordered the murder of many more people, including his own citizens, than Hitler did. Consider how repugnant Hitler is to all of us and yet Stalin and the USSR have never been held to the same scrutiny.

The belief is that Winston Churchill understood the evil Stalin represented but his hands were tied by other allies that saw Hitler as a greater threat to the world. There is no doubt that Hitler was a mad man that needed to be stopped but the compromise of the west needs to be honestly discussed. The USSR was never required to compensate families who lost husbands and sons and their entire belongings, including large parcels of land, businesses and homes. With the fall of Communism in Russia, some of the property was recovered but restitution has never come. Unlike Germans who genuinely changed and admitted the evil caused by the Nazi regime, Russia has steadfastly refused to admit anything. What may be even more troubling is that the "allies" have not demanded restitution for those that suffered. That would include my family.

As a Christian I believe in forgiving those that have hurt me. However, criminals should always be brought to justice according to the laws of any nation. WW2 was just the beginning of the atrocities perpetrated by Stalin and Russia. A friend recently told of a university in the US that erected a statue of Stalin and many could not understand why there was an uproar about this. Can you imagine a US university erecting a statue of Hitler? Yet this is what many of us have faced as we have tried to expose the evil surrounding Russia for over 50 years. The other troubling thing in all this is that Russia today, including Putin, absolutely refuse to admit any wrong doing during WW2. They maintain that Russian soldiers were welcomed in as liberators in 1940 and then 1944 by Estonians. Funny that no Estonians see it quite that way, except of course the handful of Communist sympathizers of the day. Consider for a moment what happened to the Nazi sympathizers in places like France, Italy and Holland.

Take a look at the link below to get some perspective of what Communism was all about.



http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/282296/checkpoint-charlie-museum-thor-halvorssen

Our Life Story

I have recently talked with two friends at length about books we could all write about our lives. It could very well be that we would be the only ones interested in our individual writings but to listen to my friends I would say, maybe not. Neither of my friends are Christians. They are both about the same age as me and both have backgrounds in law enforcement. Their lives have been very interesting and I learned much just by listening to them.

When we read God's word we often read about the lives of individuals. Especially in the Old Testament we read about some very flawed individuals and yet many of them helped to change the world in a positive way. Abraham, Moses, Noah, Joseph, Joshua and many others, were not perfect and yet God used them to influence nations. Sometimes when we read blogs like this or when we look at other social media, we might tend to snicker under our breath at the arrogance of some people. We wonder whether the writers actually have the life experiences to say anything meaningful. One person I know writes blogs on a regular basis but his underlying tone is often one of bitterness. He has been hurt by church leaders and his mission in life seems to be to slam everything that is opposed to his views. While he does this, he elevates others and fails to realize that the very thing that kept getting him in trouble continues to this day: putting church leaders on pedestals. They almost all eventually become his victims on his blogs. His life story is one that I have learned from however: don't look for position through men. Only God promotes!

When we consider our lives the ones we should be influencing are our children. Even if they make poor decisions, will they be able to look at you and see an example of perseverance? Will they see someone that trusts in the Lord even when things become difficult? Will they see a person of faith? Will they see someone that loves unconditionally? They will always see our flaws no matter how hard we try to hide them but will they see our character and integrity?

I have seen things in my life that I don't want my children to see. I have experienced disappointment and I have experienced betrayal. Those are things that can make you cynical if you choose to allow that to happen. We always have a choice.

I was recently introduced to something called Geni. It is a website that allows you to research your family tree and it has been fascinating to discover relatives I never knew I had. Discovering ancestors that were Christians has been a real blessing. A while ago I found out that my grandfather had (I believe it is still there) an organ in his home and it was common for the village to gather for church in their home on Sunday morning. My cousin once told me that KGB records show that he died on a cattle train to Siberia during WW ll. He was singing hymns for 3 days until they found him dead. This was actually in the records produced to my cousin, a cousin that is not a believer. He died because he was not given food or water. He died September 24, 1941, exactly 13 years before my birth. I don't believe in coincidence!

Our life story is still being written and if you are reading this you still  have an opportunity to impact the lives of others in a positive way. Don't waste that time God has given you.

Depression

In recent weeks there has been a lot of discussion about depression. Three NHL players have died this past summer and it appears that all of them had been struggling with depression. The solution was overdosing on medication and for at least one of them, suicide. On Global TV a couple of months ago, there was a piece on the evening news that discussed the growing problem of depression in the workplace. One of the concerns was something I believe chaplaincy might be able to help with.

There is a stigma connected to mental health issues such as depression and because of that, most people don't want management to know if there is an issue affecting their work performance. Wade Belak, one of the NHL players, confided in only one or two people about his depression and yet the majority of people, including his new employers at a Nashville TV station were totally unaware. Perhaps it was Belak's tough persona as a former NHL tough guy that he didn't want tarnished. Whatever the reason, it did not appear that he was being helped with his depression issues.

As a Christian chaplain in the workplace today, I know that there is an answer to those struggling with depression and His name is Jesus. As a chaplain much of my time involves building trust with employees so that when there are problems in their lives, they can come to me for help and advice. I can not approach them and preach to them but I can be Jesus to them during those difficult times. Eventually people ask why I am a chaplain and why I am cheery when others are always grumpy. When they start asking I can start sharing about my faith. It can be a long process but it is one that I gladly accept because I know this is where God wants me in this season of my life.

This past week I spoke to 2 public health nurses and their involvement in Workplace Wellness. They had heard about me and corporate chaplaincy and were intrigued by it. They are now considering how they might present chaplaincy as a viable piece of the wellness program they teach on at companies in the Toronto area. The topic of depression came up and the aspect of confidentiality was not lost on them. It is an exciting door that God may be opening in the months ahead. 

Honoring

One of the most difficult aspects of living is watching close friends die, some much too early. Those moments also cause us to pause and consider the impact they may have had in our lives. In this blog I want to honor those that have helped me become the person I am today and also to scold those that for many years told me I "shouldn't live in my past". My past is the reason I am who I am. I don't live there but neither do I diminish the importance of it. The religious response to honoring these folks is always the same: "we should never put our trust in men but only God".

Let me explain the fallacy in the above statement that ignores one important element. When an individual has for years demonstrated their faithfulness in loving the Lord and serving Him with all their heart, they are people I can trust. When these people have my back and when they have prayed for me and shared the heart of God with me, I will honor them. Unfortunately there are those that have plenty of charisma and even God-given talent that I wouldn't trust with my pet cat.

I looked at the Royal wedding yesterday and was reminded again of the men and women that have gone before us. History surrounded the events of the day, including the venue called Westminster Abbey. I have walked in that church and just touched the white walls inside, imagining the things those walls would tell me if they could talk. As I write this blog I also wonder what will be said of me 100 years from now. Will I have made a difference in anyone's life? Will I be remembered as a good man or one that used others to get what he wanted? Will people have seen Jesus in me or will they have seen my flesh so many times that Jesus was just a faint memory?

Kaljo Raid (KR) was my pastor for the first 16 years of my Christian walk. He was a talented musician and a pastor that taught me what it means to be a peacemaker.

Fred Peipman was my mentor in those early years. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea that quickly realized that Baptist doctrine and theology wouldn't be enough to deal with witch doctors and demon-possessed people. He taught me how to hear the Spirit of God.

Allan Laur was my mom's pastor, my dentist and my friend. He more than anyone else encouraged me to prepare for ministry when no ministry was in sight. He was an example of someone that laid aside his own comfort to make a difference in Estonia. He became the voice of the evangelicals in Estonia and he died much too early.

Robert Mearns was a prophetic voice in my life when I most needed it. He has ministered with and to some of the most influential Christians of our time and yet most have never heard of him. And God brought him into my life and the life of our church when nobody else would. He remains a good friend and a real role model to me when it comes to Marketplace Christianity.

There are a few that lived what they preached and because of it, impacted my life with their friendship. Hennie Keyter, who has led thousands to the Lord in the most remote areas of Africa, often putting his own life on the line. Ian McKellar, who is one of the most intelligent Christians I know and someone that makes scripture come to life. He also lives what he preaches, now in Singapore. Then there are my peers that I love and trust, not because they are perfect but because they are sold out to the Lord. Ken Kaasik, who has led a church in Estonia since 1990 after arriving from Canada. Paul Westerink, my Dutch friend that has led a church in Germany, planted churches in various nations and run businesses with his Type AAA personality. Then there is the other Type AAA personality, Tom Rudmik. He has taught me that being a visionary is not always easy but never boring. And finally my wife of 35 years. Anne is one of the strongest believers I have known in my 39 years as a Christian. That she loves me is incredible!

Needless to say there are many that I would include as good friends. Some are in full-time ministry and others are not and probably never will be. There is also Erika, Luule, Kaarin and Maire, who have prayed for Anne and me for the past 20 years. They are precious.

Christian Ethics

Some of you reading this blog might automatically think that these two words go hand in hand. Perhaps it is just my cynical side but as I enter my 39th year as a born-again believer I find the two words do not always fit. They should but sadly they do not.

As I become increasingly involved with those that have no real faith community, I fully appreciate the privilege of walking in the Christian communities I have been involved with. Some as a member and some as a leader. So this is not an indictment against a majority or even many but it is sad none the less. I think most of us would agree that we expect more from our Christian brothers and sisters and rightfully give non-believers much more room to blow it. For me the issue of honesty is a big one. If our words are empty then we lose credibility and eventually friendships.

Many of you know that I helped facilitate Ethics and Anti-Corruption training for the Estonian Police. As my friends from Scotland Yard taught about leadership and what it meant to be a cop, it was interesting to see how these senior officers responded. They were surprised that cops should be honest, humble and men and women of integrity. Having lived and worked for years in an atheist country it was only mildly surprising to hear their take on things. Basic human behaviour, let alone that of a police officer, was something they had never really thought about.

As Christians we have something called the Fruits of the Spirit. I have talked about this before and how such things as kindness, honesty and self-control grow in us as we mature as Christians. I recently saw a Christian leader take advantage of someone I love and to be honest it angered me. It was a business matter and hopefully it had to do more with ignorance than anything else but it showed a total lack of caring and consideration for the other person. If this is the way we do business in the world the world will never want what we supposedly have.

I want to encourage all of us to consider for a moment where we have perhaps been selfish in our dealings with other believers. Have we actually thought through how our actions or words might affect someone else? Do we even care? Are we bringing any of this attitude into the marketplace and if so, are we willing to change?

Corporate Chaplain

How do you become a "pastor" to people that have very little understanding of who God is? How do you accomplish this when  you can't preach to them and you can't initiate any kind of conversation with them about faith while in the workplace? This then is Corporate Chaplaincy.

There is a term that comes from football which I feel is appropriate for many Christians after this past week. The term is "piling on". After this self-proclaimed (false) prophet predicted "Doomsday", every media outlet in North America has had a field day attacking evangelical Christians. They have conveniently painted us all with one brush and openly called us a bunch of loonies. I often write comments on the Toronto Star website, mainly to give a point of view that differs with the mainly liberal-minded left-leaning editorials and articles. On this occasion the overwhelming posts by visitors to the site, labeled all Christians everything from brainwashed to murders. The fact the Star allows these comments to be posted is outrageous but unfortunately predictable. People, mostly atheists, were almost giddy in their mocking. Did you know that we are all pedophiles?

So three weeks into this new job as Corporate Chaplain, as I try to build trust with the employees, a potential obstacle is presented. Or maybe not. Something that the world often insists on, is that religion should never be discussed. What happens however when the "world" initiates that discussion?

This is how it might go down, starting with a comment by a friend:

"Can you believe this religious kook? That's why I would never go to church, they're all crazy lunatics that are brainwashed."

"Actually I'm one of those kooks"

How the conversation proceeds from there is totally up to us. Some, unfortunately would say nothing. Hope that's not you. The first question we need to ask ourselves is this: would this person have any reason at all to think I am a kook? If they don't (hopefully they don't), you have a starting point, by asking a simple question: "do you think I'm a kook"?

As a believer, do they see the fruit of the Spirit in you? Do they see kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, patience, joy? Do they see you loving your wife, children and parents? Are you honest and punctual? Are you trustworthy?

Marketplace Christianity does not require you to give your opinion on homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriage. It doesn't give you a soapbox to preach fire and brimstone. Neither does it give you license to live and act as the world does and talk like the world talks. In fact, if the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in us what makes us think we have anything worthwhile to say? It is Christ in us that the world needs to see. Hopefully that is who is seen in this chaplain.

David Wilkerson

Last night I got news that David Wilkerson had been killed in an auto accident in Texas. When we speak of Marketplace Christianity, we need not look much further than this man of God. In many ways he influenced my life much the way Keith Green did in my early days of walking with the Lord. He was a prophetic voice that often ruffled feathers in religious circles and yet he was a man that walked the talk. He was far from perfect but he was a straight shooter.

In 1986 while we were attending Christ For The Nations, I was invited to lead a ministry to a place called Street Church. The pastors were Demi and Cookie Rodriguez. They were also two of the first people David led to the Lord. The Cross and the Switchblade is a well-known book and movie based on the early ministry of David. Demi & Cookie were two young people involved in gangs in New York City and they actually got married after getting counseling from David. In Dallas, this couple ministered to at-risk youth; youth that were all heading to prison or worse. I saw first hand how many came to know Jesus and turn their lives around. David Wilkerson had influenced the lives of this couple to where they too wanted to serve the Lord in the messy places.

I met David a few months after graduating because I needed to ask him about Demi & Cookie and their offer to me. They had wanted me to run their ACE school and help in the ministry to these youth. David's advice was not what I had expected. He said, "don't do it, because they can't afford you". We had a good discussion and realized I needed to pray a bit more about the job offer. As you know, we decided not to move to Dallas. Cookie & Demi's son, who ended up with the job I had been offered, was shot and killed a year later by gang members that didn't like the fact that their guys were leaving the streets. There is a cost to serving the Lord.

The last time I saw David in person was when he and his son ministered in Estonia while we lived there. I was actually just as impressed with his son as I was with David.

The fruit of his labour is unmistakable, in Texas and in New York and around the world. He was a prophetic voice that was as flawed as any of us and yet he allowed God to use him in places most of us would never venture.

Inside out

For much of my life I believed that "ministry" meant one of two things: you were either a pastor or you were a missionary. My resume includes both and although I am thankful to God for these opportunities, I realize that I have limited God. Church as we have known it for the past 50 years, is changing and I believe, so is the emphasis on bringing the lost to church. That in no way diminishes the importance of preaching the gospel to those who don't know Jesus. The question has become: who is coming to listen to that gospel?

There will always be the mega-churches here in North America that draw people simply because of charismatic preachers. Remove those preachers and the interest dwindles dramatically in most cases. When Bible scholars have examined the New Testament, the conclusion has often been that Jesus and His disciples went to various regions to establish church communities. So the concept of missionaries and more recently, church planting, became the normal way to spread the Good News around the world. The emphasis was and is on getting the lost, and the saved, to join these church plants, thus creating the impression of church growth.

My struggle after returning from Estonia in 2005 was centered on the question of what ministry looked like when I wasn't leading a church. Was I suddenly disqualified from impacting the world simply because I didn't have a title and a church to lead? I quickly realized that this was a question most Christians had probably asked for centuries. Again, I looked at the Word of God and saw that the key ministry of the apostles and even Jesus occurred outside the four walls of what we would today call, "Church". For some reason we have been led to believe that it is all about Sunday services, Bible Studies and choir practices. Notice that these are all activities that take place among believers within the confines of a church building or home. The Book of Acts certainly encourages the gathering together of Christians but what we often leave out in our teaching, is the influence Christians are to have outside those walls. In fact those walls are often seen as barriers to those outside.

Recently I have looked into the possibility of becoming a Corporate Chaplain. In Toronto we already have something called the King/Bay Chaplaincy downtown. A Corporate Chaplain however, would actually have access to the employees of a business. The purpose is not to proselytize but rather to give spiritual counsel and services to individuals who might request it. Having firsthand experience as a Police Chaplain, I know the influence chaplains can have in a workplace when done properly. Within the workplace there are always individuals struggling with things like stress, abuse, addiction and marital problems. The HR department of most companies do not have the resources or even the mandate to help employees with such issues. A Chaplain would come along side the HR folks and become part of what some like to call a "wellness program". In the U.S. Corporate Chaplaincy seems to have taken root but here in Canada it is in it's infancy. Only a handful of companies, mostly in Western Canada, have chaplains.

It is exciting to be involved in something new but there is still a lot of work to be done convincing businesses that this is something that would benefit not only their employees but also their companies. It has been shown that productivity increases in companies that hire chaplains. I'm sure more studies will need to be made to use this as a selling tool.

This is a job and yet it can be an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with people that would normally never hear about Christ. Going where the need is greatest can't be a bad thing and I believe Jesus and the apostles would be right there with me if they were living here today. A key for me is the ability to build relationships and with it trust. I will be blogging in the coming weeks, letting you know how things are developing. The challenge is big but the opportunities are endless.