I
always advertise for our EMS every chance I get – even during trips
out of our area. I’m very proud of our Fire and Police Departments
and consider it a privilege to serve alongside Byron’s Bravest and
Finest.
During a recent set of church
meetings I was conducting in another state the subject of Fire
Chaplain came up because of a Byron Fire Chaplain shirt I was
wearing. Here’s the response I got from this group: “What’s a
Fire Chaplain? Is that like working in a hospital?” This got me
thinking about how awesome it is that our EMS is way ahead of some
other departments in this area.
It was more than a decade ago when Pastor Randy Snider and myself
first started discussing how we can help families in distress due to
traumatic incidents in our community and at that time, the Byron
Fire and Police Departments could easily have said “thanks but no
thanks.” Let’s face it, our community has a comprehensive chaplain
program not just because of these two pastors (and one police
officer who serves with us), but because our Fire and Police
Departments also thought it was a good idea – to help enhance the
service provided to you!
Chaplains do much more than simply walk around an accident scene or
mingle on the fire ground sporting their Byron Fire Department
shirts or safety vests. Anyone who has ever been the victim of a
tragedy here in our district knows how important the presence of a
spiritual leader is.
The “customer” or victims of tragedy and traumatic incidents are
“serviced” or treated with dignity and professionalism, and also
receive the addition of compassionate spiritual care as well – all
at the reasonable price of just…oh, wait, there is no charge for the
chaplain’s service! That’s just part of the “emergency care package”
you receive for being a resident in our community. How unfortunate
that there are still departments out there who don’t offer their
“customers” this type of comprehensive care.
Sometimes a chaplain on-scene provides a friendly and comforting
presence. Other times the chaplain “watches” over a deceased victim
with prayerful compassion until the coroner has transported them to
the county facility. At times the chaplain will help emergency
workers with equipment and supplies. The chaplain helps coordinate
resources whenever necessary, and will serve as a support system for
the families until their own support system is in place. The role of
the chaplain is as varied and diverse as the needs of the “customer”
are.
If you have a question you would like to ask please contact us. You can email us or call 815-234-8032 or write us:
Global Harvest Church
Po Box 448
Byron, IL 61010-0448