Finding Good Help, Day 36

[Kimberly Kiefer]

“In Abu-Yasmin’s world, you grow up a shepherd. Bedouin don’t write textbooks. They pass on shepherding skills as the need arises and in their rich storytelling lore by the evening fireside. It’s caught more than taught�. page 238, Day 36, Finding Good Help

This interaction reminds me of the importance of mentors. For a majority of my professional life I was a Law Enforcement Officer. While I was in seminary, I discerned a call to be a Law Enforcement Chaplain. I could see how God was bringing together my experience as an officer and my heart for officers, currently working, to not be destroyed by their job. I saw myself change as my career began; I called it, the Human Robot. Once I put on my uniform, the general consensus of society and my department was, I was not a human anymore and that I should not have emotions or be affected by what I experienced during each 12 hour shift. As the years passed and I discerned my call to ministry to serve as a Law Enforcement Chaplain, my passion is to be a support and positive influence for Law Enforcement Officers, so the profession they are in does not ruin their lives.

I was approved by a Chief to serve as a Chaplain at a police department. There were three other Chaplains serving (volunteering) who were all full-time, lead pastors at different churches. The longest serving Chaplain became my mentor. When I read this comment by Abu-Yasmin, I immediately recalled the many conversations my mentor and I had concerning Law Enforcement Chaplaincy. He had a few articles and books he shared with me about Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, yet where I really learned how to be a Chaplain, was talking to him, watching him interact with officers, hearing his stories and encounters with officers. As he shared the reality of being a Chaplain with real world experiences, not just words on a page in a book, that really set up a firm foundation for me to build my Chaplaincy on. He challenged me to look at other viewpoints, see my role in a variety of ways, and broke the “box� I had in my mind about Law Enforcement Chaplaincy. I am forever grateful and indebted to his teachings, availability, and his heart for Law Enforcement Chaplaincy.

Recently, the exciting part of our relationship was me emailing him to let him know, I am now in the Doctor of Ministry program at GCTS. Several years ago he had to retire from serving as a Chaplain and pastor because of health issues. He rejoiced with me and the news of the journey I am on with the Doctor of Ministry! I am so thankful that I caught so much of what my mentor shared with me!

As of 2021 I have been serving as a Law Enforcement Chaplain for over 11 years. The last several years God has blessed me with opportunities to teach new Law Enforcement Chaplains. I pray that I continue the legacy that was given to me by my mentor, so others can serve God well as Law Enforcement Chaplains.